This week I’ve delivered a client-centred leadership programme in Meriden, the centre of England. Centred at the actual centre – an intriguing metaphor? The centre of England is the point around which the country would rotate if you cut it out and balanced it on a giant pin. Being client-centred means supporting the other personContinue reading “Where coaching meets geography”
Category Archives: learning
Why I chose to renew my accreditation
Why bother with a coaching accreditation? If I’m honest, I had a few doubts when mine was due for renewal recently. First, in my six years of practice as a coach, no client has ever asked me for my qualifications. It’s all about trust, relationships and referrals. Second, coaching is an unregulated profession. Anybody andContinue reading “Why I chose to renew my accreditation”
Leadership development is about the medium, not the method
I spent the last week with a senior leadership team in beautiful South Wales to deliver a client-centred development programme. By the end, the leaders hadn’t just become more mindful and skilled in holding powerful conversations, they had become a team where people look out for each other. On these programmes we see time andContinue reading “Leadership development is about the medium, not the method”
Less effort, more impact
On 26 September 1983, the world was saved by one man whose heroic action was to… do nothing. Stanislav Petrov was on duty in a Russian bunker. He was monitoring the nuclear early warning system when it detected five US missiles flying towards the Soviet Union. Instead of immediately relaying this up the chain ofContinue reading “Less effort, more impact”
The next generation of geospatial is human
I felt sad to wrap up my 5-year engagement with the Geospatial Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) last week. All five PhD cohorts have shown great engagement, creativity and appreciation for the value of human skills. In today’s world the positive approach of their generation is a cause for optimism. Thank you to everyone atContinue reading “The next generation of geospatial is human”
What makes a good career?
What does a good career look like today? When graduates struggle to find work and midlife professionals dream of quitting, is that even the right question? As a seventies child I was part of Gen X, the first cohort to see cracks appearing in the promise of endless growth, predictable careers and secure retirement. TodayContinue reading “What makes a good career?”
On flying solo and the symmetry of mutual learning
How do you keep a group of leaders engaged in learning for a full week without a single slide? Today I’m wrapping up my first ever client-centred programme run on my own. Normally we have two facilitators but with a smaller group than usual I was offered a new learning opportunity: to fly solo. HowContinue reading “On flying solo and the symmetry of mutual learning”
Stepping into your own greatness
So far this year I have worked with school teachers, corporate managers and first-time geospatial leaders. And they all have something in common. They already have the capacity to lead and to coach – they just don’t know it yet. Because their head is getting in the way. Much of my work as a coachContinue reading “Stepping into your own greatness”
Reflective questions to review and plan your year
The end of the year is always a good time to reflect. My 2025 was a year of growth and adventure, but also challenges. Here are some questions I am asking myself. I hope you find them useful, too. Looking back on 2025 Where did I make the greatest impact? What was the most usefulContinue reading “Reflective questions to review and plan your year”
On the power of not teaching
This week my coach challenged me: “Thierry, you just said ‘maybe’ three times.” “Did I? Wow… Maybe I need to commit!” “You just said it again!” I was dumbfounded. And something clicked. First, I had just had a major insight about a personal issue I was discussing with my coach. Second, only a day earlierContinue reading “On the power of not teaching”
