Field Notes

Last Thursday evening, I had an unexpected experience which taught me that you don’t always know the effect that you have on people’s lives. I was meeting Coachsource colleagues at a venue  close to the Bank of England, some of whom I have worked alongside for nearly 20 years. I…

Many leaders have started 2025 with high ambitions but their effectiveness can be derailed by a failure to manage a “red mist” moment. One red mist moment handled badly can take ten further interactions to repair. A “red mist” moment refers to a situation where emotions, particularly anger or frustration,…

Coach the Person, not the Problem Sometimes, we read a book that has a profound affect on how we view things and it changes us in some way. One such book for me was Marcia Reynolds’ “Coach the Person, not the Problem”.  I had the pleasure of meeting Marcia last…

Last night I attended the closing celebration of the Chief Community in London and while it was a bittersweet moment for the founders, what an enriching time it has been to be a Guide in this community of smart, sassy women leaders. Chief’s mission is to create a trusted private…

As a CHIEF Guide I am fortunate to be able to attend some wonderful events, most recently where Lisa Sun was the guest speaker. Lisa is person who embodies character, courage and candour in a way that is so engaging and inspiring that I felt compelled to share some of…

What Triggers You? As leaders, how we handle situations in full view of others can have grave or unintended consequences. Last week, I observed how two clients were triggered by situations and how important it is for such leaders to understand their triggers and how to manage themselves appropriately in…

This month, a dear friend and I had the privilege of visiting David Hockney’s exhibition: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) in London’s The Lightroom. One of Hockney’s most famous and innovative ideas was his use of “joiners” or photo collages. He would take multiple photographs of a…

As the beautiful lawn tennis courts of Wimbledon bristle with excitement this week, I had the privilege of seeing Billie Jean King at CHIEF’s In the Hot Seat interview a week ago, where she shared with us what tennis has taught her. One of the greatest tennis players of all…

One of the benefits of being in the CHIEF Community is the quality of speakers they invite to their clubhouses. Last night, I was totally inspired by Amal Clooney, Human Rights Advocate. Here are some of the key messages that I took away from her session with us. I hope…