Journal
Opinion- We need more female leaders.
“It's time to dismantle the barriers that continue to hinder women's progress in leadership. Let us advocate for policies and practices that promote gender diversity and inclusivity in decision-making processes. The power to create a more balanced, just, and prosperous world lies in our hands, and together, we can cultivate an environment where all leaders—regardless of gender—can thrive. “
Opinion- Is fear killing leadership?
“We are seeing too many ' at the top', the 'showbiz execs' - parading as leaders - but doing nothing more than 'managing' things.
This is not because they are managing people - if only. No; it's because all they are doing is 'managing the status quo'.
If fear is what stops those with influence from acting, let's change the definition of management, to recognise what we are seeing.
Let the dictionaries and role profiles be amended; I say and let it be writ large, that:
"Management is”
Taper - Stefan’s Week-Notes 15/11/2024
“This week I read a brilliant article on Decision-making in the Broadening perspectives on risk article from the British Psychological Society. What particularly stood out for me within the context of decision making and preventing group bias were the elements of a ‘critical friend’ and ‘reflective practice’. As a coach; thats just the world I believe we should all be operating in”
Sustenance - How Good People Sustain Themselves…
“My client could not have envisaged how much of difference and how revived they could feel after only re-introducing some of the sustained elements, they needed. All it took was ‘Just’ enough for them to get started, see some results, no matter how small and have someone with them to help them keep leaning in - gently at first”.
1-1 Coaching Case Study - The Director…
“This wasn’t just a leadership pivot. It was stewardship in action: less about control, more about care; less about doing, more about enabling. By stewarding responsibility differently, this leader unlocked not only their own presence and impact, but also the potential of their team.
What began as a personal coaching journey became a catalyst for cultural renewal and systemic transformation - one that continues to grow in scope and influence”.
Absorb - Stefan’s Week-Notes 09/11/2024
“Think, “I want to serve the country” and “I want them to have a service which serves their needs” kinds of good people and “I want to help the NHS be the service we all know and want it to be”.
Play - Good People Play Games too.
“Quite simply, games are being played in work, which effect the delivery of great work by good people. Now, I don’t mean ball games, backgammon or chess or hide and seek as I saw branch teams use as pre opening energisers, in the building society I worked for. No, I mean the political games needed to get ahead, which create the opportunity for good people to lead great things and change”
Case Study: GOV.UK Design System - How Coaching, Culture, Confidence & Collaboration
“The GOV.UK Design System team sits at the heart of UK government digital delivery—high-impact, high-visibility, and high stakes. The scale and reputation of the work creates both pride and pressure, with team members often feeling exposed in the “limelight.” While the team was delivering well, there was untapped potential in how they collaborated, reflected, and grew together”.
Activist* - Stefan’s Week-Notes 2/11/2024.
“Societal Focus. What this means for me, is that they can at least unconsciously connect the work they do and the change they want to make to everyone in ‘their’ society i.e. their team and organisation and explain this to those around them. The real growth, through coaching comes in being able to consciously do this across their organisation developing a string foundation for sector wide and cross sector influence”.
Work - Good People Have CAUSE.
"The Good People I see who affect the most change, are clear on and can deliver on their C.A.U.S.E. My role as a coach is to help bring this about”.
Advocate - Stefan’s Week-notes 25/10/2024
“if someone believes really strongly that we should do something, whether it's the assistant producer or the executive in charge, we generally do it. Enthusiasm trumps apathy."
Simplicity - Stefan’s Week-notes 20/10/2024
“I know that I usually cant sleep when I sense a crescendo of creative, life and work elements coming together and when growth is taking place”
Between the Sessions: How to Stay Motivated IF the Buzz Wears Off
“In the moment, coaching can feel like a switch has flipped.
You feel clear. Connected. Motivated.
You walk away with a plan. A direction. A sense of possibility.
Especially after Session One — there’s often a sheen, a surge of relief and clarity.
You’ve named what matters. You’ve felt seen. You might even feel a little lighter.
Finally — this is going to move forward.
And then… life happens.”.
Sustenance - What’s that then?
“To understand and be understood is to be free” says Daniel Johnson and in my experience he is free. How do we become understood? We invite questions - from ourselves and others. How do we understand? We honour others by asking them questions too. “
Consistency - Stefan’s Week-notes 12/10/2024
What do you want to be known for? Coaching Examples
"Even more importantly you can use (the question; what do you want to be known for?) 'it' to drag yourself out of a hole, overcome procrastination and even imposter syndrome when you recognise you ARE being that and/or ARE doing what is needed, consistently, to be that (no matter the reason at this stage).
And YOU CAN celebrate deep down to your core when you are being and doing what is needed and known for that which you 'seek'"
Play - What’s that then?
"Part of helping good people lead great things sometimes includes looking at how they introduce play back into their weekly and monthly routines. A number of my client work involves working out their ideal bi-weekly and monthly patterns and mapping activities into their diaries.
That planning might sound like ‘hell', but my oh my, it works."
Passion - Stefan’s Week-notes 06/10/2024
"...she is a wise sage and it’s always wonderful to receive so much value from ‘just’ sharing whats going on in our lives"
Rest - What’s that?
"...like the bike races I do, leadership and change are an endurance race and those, like leadership aren’t won in the first pedal strokes, but can be lost by over ‘egging it’ and ‘burning brightly’ too soon".
Restore - Stefan’s Week-notes 29/09/2024
"Helping others to transition from an idea into a cultural norm and a way of working, living and being takes energy, it takes commitment AND almost as importantly pacing and recuperation’.
Like the bike races I do, leadership and change are an endurance race"