#neuroscience #coaching #confidence

3rd February 2025

Finding it hard when you can’t please all the people all the time?

I recall one of my earlier leadership positions. A colleague I’d got on well with didn’t like my decision, ‘you’ve changed’ they said, in an unpleasant way!
It hurt, because I like being liked. Yet, leadings about doing the ‘right’ things.

As leadership roles change, we know your responsibilities do too, often getting bigger and hairier!
A skill that is worth building: EMPATHY
Empathy, the ability to connect to the various impacts decisions and actions will have on others. So you can prepare people, provide messaging that shows your considerations and recognise the challenges involved.

When you know you’ve taken time to consider your decisions from all angles, it’s easier to hold your line with confidence and kindness; and not be as deeply hurt by the criticisms of the disappointed.

What can help build this? Coaching naturally, but if that’s not in your plan, my advice, SLOW DOWN

⏰️You have more time than you think because slowing down doesn’t take as long as you imagine.

🪞Take moments to ‘be’ those others that your leadership choices effect, and check your thinking in advance with someone you trust who can question it and help you fine tune it.

If coaching is in your plan, message me to find out how we could work together

Messsage me for more info

24th June 2024

Are you open to challenging your beliefs?

One articles in this months newsletter invites you to ask yourself four questions to inquire into the truth of your beliefs.

I was introduced to these questions earlier in the year and to ‘The work’ of Byron Katie. Coaches need coaches and these questions have helped me to question my perceptions and as necessary, update them.

Click here to read on

Leaders can’t and don’t always get it right

Read about ‘Sam’ whose use of language meant he took on far more than his own responsibilities.

The coaching that he embraced gave him heightened awareness and consciousness of the words he was using. It had a big impact on his team’s performance, focus and motivation. The newsletter contains a focus for using the right pronoun at the right time.

Enquire here – H4L’s coaching services

Subscribe to H4L’s Newletter here

24th October 2023

Planning for New Managers and Leaders in 2024?

Does the plan include preparing them for the challenges ahead?

Here is an offer to get them off to a great start! – Offer ends Nov 30 2023

Head 4 Leadership’s Mission:

To increase leadership resilience, courage and compassion

About this offer

For you if your are:

Working in HR on talent planning and leadership development
A business owner preparing to increase your workforce
Trying to provide new manager development from a modest budget.

This offer provides:

Awareness, insights and tools for better management of resilience and effectiveness
Self-assessed levels of mental strength and methods to improve stress management
Indicators for engagement, positivity and ‘can do’ thinking and how to work with them
Knowledge of relationships with risk and conflict
Intention levels for setting and achieving goals

All of which positively influence the handling of key relationships and situations.

Why it’s important to focus on EQ and Mental Strength Skills?

Studies show we naturally have different resilience traits and tolerance levels. This can be significant to how new managers and leaders are selected, and how they are prepared for transitioning into their responsibilities.

“In a study of skills that distinguish star performers in every field from entry-level jobs to executive positions, the single most important factor was not IQ, advanced degrees, or technical experience, it was Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Of the competencies required for excellent in performance in the job studies, 67% were emotional competencies.” Daniel Goleman US Psychologist

Apply now

Leaving your name, email address, using ‘Ready to Lead 2024’ in the subject and, in the message box, please indicate if you are enquiring on behalf of an organisation or for your personal use.

Special price to 30 Nov 2023 £149.00 – scroll down for what this includes.

Give you future talent a head start

This opportunity gives those you are considering as future managers or leaders a greater chance for success with expert guidance from Head 4 Leadership.

Head 4 Leadership provide an EQ self-assessment that measures four key areas that impact resilience levels: control, commitment, courage and confidence. The 4 Cs. Each ‘C’ can be developed to increase resilience and optimism for challenging times. Your mental strength works on a continuum that varies from sensitive to tough. It will alter at separate times, with different people and situations. This well researched and peer reviewed assessment explores where you are now, how this can help or hinder and ideas to build and apply your strengths in the best way.

A very affordable investment

The offer, until Nov 30^th 2023 includes:

A self-assessment (via online link)
1 hour for online feedback via Teams or Zoom*, to understand the results with Dominique, our leadership and neuroscience coach
All for just £149.00 per person (Normal price £250).

Apply now

Leaving your name, email address, using ‘Ready to Lead 2024’ in the subject and, in the message box, please indicate if you are enquiring on behalf of an organisation or for your personal use.

Ts and Cs apply, *Face 2 face feedback and group sessions can be discussed and can include additional charges.

27th March 2023

Driving Growth through Remote Coaching

Global boarders are not a barrier

Dominique – Leadership and Neuroscience Coach

‘Thank you again for your amazingness – you have really made an impact on my professional and personal life – life-changing!’
Operations Manager, based in South Africa, after completion of my remote coaching programme

I as a leadership coach, used to think that online wasn’t as good as face to face coaching. Even though it always played a part in with my twenty years of working with leaders in global organisations on leadership and other skills.

I generally felt more confident when face 2 face, partly due to my lack of practice with technology and it’s sometimes wavering connectivity. Only this week, my laptop wouldn’t connect to the internet!

It’s frustrating for all parties. Trying to communicate the problem, to work out where the issue is and how to solve it. Yet I have a tripod, I set my phone up, we went via 5G and although a bit of time was lost, we kicked in and the session went ahead with good result.

How do I know that? Because my session round ups, whether in person or remotely explore the value of the time and what is motivating my coachee’s focus and areas to build on.

Looking for a leadership coach?

Pre-Covid 19 ways

In the ‘old pre covid days’ travel budgets were bigger and when working with virtual clients, (I am base in the south UK), there was usually at least one face 2 face built in to a program, either in their or my location. To be honest, it was a joyous bonus, seen then as an essential part of a programme to meet the clients; especially as being in their environment can provide some unseen context.

Is it detrimental to the coaching if I coach you without personal context of your environment? No, because as your coach I’ll enquire into your perception of it, and test what that view is based on.

The online reach

Almost everyone is now used to virtual, which gives you greater scope to find the best coach for you! My current clients are spread all across the UK, in California, USA and South Africa. The added benefit to you of these more accessible arrangements includes the wider perspective of our different cultures to the challenges and opportunities you are looking to work on.

Are different skills employed for virtual coaching?

I believe not, I believe it’s more about attention. The ability to meet you where you are, to create a virtual environment of trust that allows for your deep thoughts to be raised and worked through. Where space is made for your opinions, feelings and ideas to be heard and examined with out judgement. A place that stimulates your accountability in a way that motivates you to practice new ways and test the impact.

Tips for for a successful remote coaching session

Remote location choice – Maintains privacy, is comfortable and has limited distractions.
Tech – You know how it works (e.g. share screen), have a back up plan when it doesn’t and have other contact methods.
Preparation – Be ready in advance, have what you need handy, check your mindset
Attention – Turn off other electronic distractions, be time smart, stay focused on the coaching

Coaching helps you to standout in the global talent pool

The workplace is more global now than ever. Meaning that we all face competition from a wider talent pool. More people and businesses are available for every role and service. Your record, reputation, performance and impact are being compared with a greater number of people. This makes coaching for growth and progression an even more valuable choice to help leaders stand out.

Looking for a Leadership Coach?

Realising courageous, compassionate and competent leaders

Coaches often have a niche area. Something they are passionate about and focus on. Mine derives from the lessons and experience of overcoming my own personal challenges (coming back from a business loss in my twenties), changing and building my career, as well as hearing many stories from those on the end of toxic and diminishing leadership relationships.

My aim is to, ‘realise courageous, compassionate and competent leaders’ and I apply neuroscience to support the mental robustness that goes with the realities of leading – constant change and frequent uncertainty.

My Mission:
‘Promote the value and skills for honesty, resilience and kindness in every workplace’

Got a question? Please ask it.

8th July 2022

Does your work fulfil your purpose?

Three steps to finding your purpose and fulfilling it.

Do you ever have moments where the work you do, who you do it with and how you do it starts to niggle?

Something doesn’t feel right anymore, and you may or may not know what is causing that.

Covid lockdown and remote working created space for considering how we live our lives and how we earn money to live that life. Many renegotiated their hours, where they work, and a high number of people resigned.

Resigning is a big step, and for some, that decision may have been made in haste.

Will resigning be the best step toward your true purpose?

One way to check this is to establish or re-establish connection with your purpose. Your ‘Purpose’ is defined by your reason for being, it is what gets you out of bed in the morning, it gives you a drive, direction and motivation.

Your purpose changes through life and your may not have realised a change in yours.

You have an inbuilt neurobiology to find connection and shared purpose with others. It is what helps humans survive and thrive.

When there is disconnection through shared purpose it creates unsettling feelings, raises stress levels and can impact your confidence and self-belief. Your work-place is an important arena for connection with others and knowing your purpose can help you assess why you do what you do and if you are in the right environment.

Find your purpose using IKIGAI

Ikigai is a Japanese word that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.” IKIGAI in terms of your career, is the sweet spot, where three key areas align with the work you do now or can steer some changes in your career.

Want help finding you IKIGAI?

Three steps to identifying your IKIGAI / purpose

Step one – Self-reflection – without boundaries

Step two – Reflection analysis – What purpose has been revealed, how close are you to living it, how does your current work situation fulfil it or not?

Step three – Plan the changes that can give you that fulfilment.

My IKIGAI

Your purpose, your IKIGAI, enables you to bring your authentic self to the workplace.

Some may say values do that, and they are an aid. The piece about what the world needs is what makes the difference. Being able to connect to it, express it, stand up for it and represent it.

Not everyone will agree with your purpose or like you for it, yet they will see the real you.

If you are unable to do what you love, unable to do what you are good at and see that what you do makes a positive contribution to the world, it could be time to start looking at your career choices?

Does the organisation you work in have a purpose you connect to?

If so, the opportunity of doing a little more of what you love and are good at is all you need. Some organisations give people time in the year to do something that matters to them or to learn something in which they are interested. That might be all you need.

What next?

Have a go at finding your IKIGAI
Share it with your leader/manager/team so they can understand you even more. compare with their purpose
See how any gaps can be filled in work or outside of it – sometimes it’s not paid work. It could be raising money for something or volunteering.

Want help with this or to learn about how else I can support leaders to be their best for their teams and their team’s performance and engagement

Get in touch

Learn more about my Headstrong Coaching Programme – Reach New Heights in Leadership and Life

Headstrong Coaching Programme