Work
Communications coaching – For the management team of a pioneering pharmaceutical research company on communicating a big change with clarity, empathy and compassion.
Employee value proposition – A nice, pacey project delivering an EVP for some of the smartest and kindest people I’ve ever worked with. And a together day at an old prison-turned-fancy-hospital.
Rebrand project – Bringing employees in to co-create a big change. At times it has felt a bit like this 👇, thanks to lawyers (doing their very necessary and important job). We’ll get there.
Company Principles – Designing and launching some Principles with a long-term client. And collaborating on an animation with Al Boardman.
Revamping Company Behaviours – In line with a new EVP I’d worked on in 2021. Also, learning how to create an emoji.
Business & career coaching – With some brilliant people, helping them unlock situations that were holding them back.
Reverse mentoring – Frank discussions with a CEO about diversity, equity and inclusion, and sharing my (good and bad!) experiences as a woman at work.
Growth
Learned how to work in the open – I loved Giles Turnbull’s Working in the Open course. His blog is worth a read and has inspired mine. Also learned how RSS readers can bypass the doom-scroll and be a source of joy and discovery. Appreciate I’m probably 20 years behind the curve on this one.
Learning how to coach – Learned (still learning) loads about psychology. It has opened my mind to how humans are both unique and extraordinary, and also quite similar on a fundamental level. Learned how powerful just listening is, and how to “tame my advice-monkey” (in spite of the fact giving advice is part of how I earn a living currently).
Biggest fail – Learned that perfection is the enemy of the good. I missed a critical window to get something pretty great out the door because we spent too long getting it perfect.
Increased my uncertainty tolerance – I enjoyed Sam Conniff’s Uncertainty Experts online course so much I did it twice.
Learned Sustainability Essentials for Business – Completed the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership course and got an actual certificate.
Launched this website – (After too long procrastinating about it) and learned WordPress. Thanks Chris! I love it!
Learned not to take a five year old to Paris. 🇫🇷
Family
Didn’t take enough holidays. I realised I may have taken fewer weeks off this year than when I was employed. That wasn’t the plan. Do better, next year.
I thought having two kids at school would create more space in life. Not this year, at least. I feel privileged to earn a living in a flexible way, so that I can deliver intense periods of work when clients require it, and make adjustments when my family needs it, too.
People
Worked with some lovely people who filled the team-shaped hole I’ve felt at times, working for myself.
It’s been delightful to watch some long-term clients making huge progress and needing me a little less.
In the same vein, continued to mentor a comms exec who doesn’t really need me anymore (but when we do meet, it’s always productive and joyful).
Made a new friend/work-friend locally (yay!).
Worked from home a bit too much. For me at least – we’re all different.
Didn’t see enough friends, enough of the time.
Community
Ran staff and parent engagement surveys for the school where I’m a governor. Worked together on action plans. Such amazing people, under such pressure. We really are blessed to send our son there.
Enjoyed getting to know my neighbours better after two years of waving at a distance. The ‘safari supper’ returned!
Next year
Developing my coaching practice – I’d like to work with leaders who want to work on getting their message across, connecting with their people, and building productive and engaging cultures.
Some associate work with some cool agencies, hopefully.
And more meaningful work with interesting people.
See ya. 🎄
