Feeling Good

Hello everyone,?

A big warm welcome to those of you who are new to my world. Thank you for joining us.?

Those of you who have been following me for a while will know that I am always very honest about how I’m feeling and it’s not always positive.

Last month, I felt stuck.

This month, I am feeling really good so I’m pausing to appreciate it.

Something has shifted for me physically which I am putting down to my newfound manifestation practice (if you’re laughing, I invite you to read ‘Mind Magic’ - see below) and my new physio ( Sharron Sequeira , I love you).?

I’ve also just signed on the dotted line on the biggest investment in my business to date. Having agonised over the decision for a few days, I am now leaning into the excitement of what changes it will bring. My toddler is growing up! More to come.???

How are you feeling? What is your inner world telling you that you need?

As ever, I’ve got lots of stuff for you this month!

New blogs

Two new blogs:

Our relationship with expertise is getting in the way of individual and organisational flourishing. Most of us, myself included, value expertise. And because we value expertise, we are tempted to view people who have it, or have relatively more of it, more favourably than those who don’t - and this gets in the way of our individual and collaborative efficacy. In my humble and non-expert opinion... ??

Why do people work so hard? Relentless hard work, busyness, being always ‘on’ has become the norm for most of the leaders I work with. Most of my clients put this down to the sheer volume of work expected of them. When we dig a little under the surface, we find there is much more to it than that. This blog unpacks everything I have learned about the ‘busyness epidemic’ in my years of coaching executive leaders. ?

Other people’s stuff to explore

This month, I’d like to spotlight:

Book: ‘Mind Magic’ by James R. Doty, M.D. - I’ve become a big fan of James Doty recently. The way he blends what we know about neuroscience with ancient, traditional wisdom is enticing and accessible to all. In this book, he offers some highly practical advice on how to work with your brain’s natural ability to work for you in order to manifest what you want from life. I’m now going through the programme step by step and can already feel its power.?

Podcast: You’re going to notice a theme here! The power of compassion with James Doty and Jacinta Jimenez on The Courageous Life with Joshua Steinfeldt, MAPP, PCC . If you were ever in doubt about the power of compassion (including self-compassion) for human flourishing and organisational performance, this is for you. It’s also hugely practical with advice on where to start if this feels uncomfortable. I’ve now listened to episode 1 in the 4 part series and look forward to the rest.?Thank you, Joshua Steinfeldt, MAPP, PCC - I am really enjoying discovering your work through the podcast which is new to me.

TV: It has to be Inside Out 2 - What a movie! The original was the inspiration for the title of this newsletter and my resilient leadership development programme because of the way it invites us to think about our inner world and how it affects the way we show up for ourselves and with others.? I love the exquisite, tasteful and compassionate way that Disney managed to convey some of the most complex systems that drive human behaviour. Be prepared to be amazed and to come out with more lessons than you bargained for! Delectable viewing with children who instantly get it - mine have so much more wisdom than I ever did at their age as I officially declare Disney their third parent.?

Updates

‘Inside Out: A Pathway to Resilient Leadership’- September cohort is FULL!

That’s 30 more leaders signed up to go through their own personal journey of discovery in a safe and confidential space - our 6th cohort since we started delivering in April 2023. There is some BIG news coming out soon about our plans to scale and expand our reach as word spreads and interest grows. Stay tuned!

For those who aren’t familiar, Inside Out is a programme for leaders who are passionate about their work and dedicated to their staff and beneficiaries and who want to build their resilience to sustain themselves and their organisations in these complex times.

Inside Out has had a statistically significant and positive impact on 12 measures of resilience and wellbeing in leadership, including: the ability to let go of worrying about work outside of work, the ability to hold boundaries, the ability to notice their triggers and the impact of those triggers on their thoughts and behaviours.?

We could not be more delighted with these findings and are happy to share a full deck with anyone interested in delving a little deeper into the data.?

Our next cross-organisational cohort will start in January 2025 and will be co-facilitated by me and one of our new associates whom I know you will love - please get in touch if you are interested: [email protected]?

New Group Coaching Programme for Headteachers in Outstanding secondaries or on the road from Good to Outstanding

I have two fabulous headteachers who want to form a group of four to enter into a group coaching programme together over the course of next academic year. They are specifically interested in working with peers who are in similar settings and on similar improvement journeys to them.?

Are you the person they are looking for???

Here’s what previous participants have said:

'Group coaching was new to me and when I started I wasn't sure how I'd benefit compared to my previous individual coaching. I found the group setting helped me see how other female leaders face many of the same issues despite being in very different organisations and sectors. I found the more I heard and related to their issues, the more confident I felt to surface (and solve) challenges that I might have otherwise left on the back burner. Highly recommend curious minds to give it a go.' Female leader, non-profit sector.

‘Astrid thoughtfully brought together a brilliant group of women leaders, nurtured the group and enabled and empowered us to work through our challenges and take ownership of our solutions. We have developed a strong bond and I hugely benefited from the space Astrid created for each of us in every session.’ Deputy CEO, public sector professional body.?

For more information on how these groups would benefit you and your leadership, click here.?

If this sounds interesting, please get in touch, or reach out through LI or via email: [email protected]

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That’s it for this month. Before I go, a HUGE thanks to all of you for being valued members of my network. I appreciate you deeply and look forward to our next interaction.?

Astrid