London, England, United Kingdom
There's listening to reply. And then there's listening to inspire. Discovering the difference makes all the difference. I joke that I'm a recovering interrupter. Because even when you truly understand and practice the difference between these two kinds of listening (poles apart as they are) it's can still be a challenge to keep on listening to inspire. It's a forever journey, and all the better for it. I'm on a mission to help people escape from the time- and energy-wasting experience of working in groups or sitting in meetings where too much is said and not enough is heard. Our brains/ lives/ time are too valuable to be spent in this way. This is done by introducing people to the principles and the very clear structure of the 'Thinking Environment'way of being and I've been working this way since 2008. And I love to work one-to-one with those who crave a powerful, generative and truly safe space in which to dare to think as and for themselves. Provoking ideas and stimulating change that will work because you are the expert in your own life and the Thinking Environment honours that in every moment. Nancy Kline's renowned Thinking Environment specifically creates a way to work with people that brings clarity and energy; it has huge and immediate benefits, generating focus, ease, understanding and trust, leading to results in the room and afterwards. These Thinking sessions, courses and workshops help individuals to listen to understand each other better so that teams then work towards clear decision and solutions with more ownership and enthusiasm. Organisations who've invested in this forward-looking, dynamic and successful way of developing their staff through my Thinking Environment courses and workshops include The Arvon Foundation, the RNLI, Healthwatch UK, the Dudley Group NHS, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the National Audit Office, dunnhumby, Manchester Square Partners Midas PR, Glaxo Smith Kline, Praesta Ireland, Natural Motion Racing, Imperial College Birmingham City University The Thinking Environment principles combine with the practical steps taken on the training to encourage people to step back from their usual habits and structures (which aren't working well enough) and discover a much more dynamic and effective way to work with colleagues and clients.
I lead open and qualifying Time to Think courses in London and Dublin throughout the year. These include The Thinking Partnership 3-day course, the qualifying Coaching Course, the 2-day Foundation course and Facilitator Course and bespoke in-house training days including Leadership for a Thinking Environment/ Transforming Meetings. I facilitate groups and meetings from creative/ team development meetings to Boards, encouraging the highest possible level of engagement, decision making and creativity. Five years as the Chair of a grant-making trust has provided considerable insight into this. I provide 121 supervision for all students working towards a TTT qualification. My objective with each client group is work closely with them to create exactly the right environment for safe and generative exploration of key topics and problems, and to support each individual in the group in their clearest and most productive thinking. As a coach: offering a calm, generative space for clients to think through life choices and necessary change, create new solutions, make their clearest decisions.
Careers company aimed at graduates. Responsible for creation of consultancy, sourcing and training of consultants, ongoing careers work with students; supervision. Planning and implementation of careers programme for undergraduates.
CV and Personal Statement service to students and undergraduates offering interview skills/ job search strategies.
Commissioning and editing reviews of children's books from picture books to teenage fiction. Interviewing authors.