The Tara Birch Newsletter #7

I’m pretty sure that most of you know me well enough by now to know that I try not to sugar coat or fancy filter things. So, I’m telling the truth when I say that this September was a tough month for me and not a big improvement on August!. In my mind, I had believed that August would be fun-filled, thanks to a wonderful family holiday filled with connection, sunshine and family fun. But if you read my last newsletter, you’ll know that was not the case. Far from it.

The fresh start I was longing? for in September didn’t unfold quite as planned. I was eager to dive back into my work, my husband, a dedicated LFB firefighter, had hoped for a well-deserved break and our girls were excited to return to school, but the reality of our family holiday didn’t align with our expectations - at all.

After the chaos and disappointment of what felt like a ‘holiday from hell’ and the inattention from Love Holidays , we were left feeling frazzled, drained and far from refreshed and recharged. So, September got off to a sluggish start, although I am starting to find my feet again now.?

But let’s shift gears and focus on the brighter moments that September brought!

I had the privilege of attending the Women in Security Awards , thanks to the wonderful Liz Lloyd . My latest blog, “Embracing The Chaos ” captures my unfiltered experiences and the mix of joy and anxiety that accompanied this journey. It’s a raw and real reflection, and I invite you to check it out if you haven’t already!

One of the most exciting developments this month has been the launch of the second season of my EVOLVE online coaching series. These sessions are all about leveling up your soft skills to help you grow both personally and professionally. When you focus on enhancing personal communication, emotional intelligence, and confidence, you feel a boost in professional engagement, performance, and retention. The EVOLVE sessions are designed to empower you, fostering adaptability, goal-setting, and building stronger relationships along the way.?

I previously ran EVOLVE with a fantastic group, most of whom were new to each other, and it was incredible to witness the connections and collaborations that blossomed. To maintain that intimate atmosphere, I keep the groups small - typically around 4-5 participants. The first group is already filled with a small team from one organisation’s team - it’s always so satisfying to see leaders encouraging their teams to learn together, as shared experience not only promotes accountability but also enhances the overall outcome.

However, I still have individual places available for participants looking to form a second group. To facilitate this, I’ve extended a special 20% discount for a little longer. The sessions will kick off on October 17th, with a break to accommodate school half-term holidays, ensuring that working parents can participate fully. If you or someone you know is interested in developing soft skills, please DM me! Let’s chat and see if this is the right fit.

In addition to this, I’ve been fortunate enough to be featured on several vodcasts recently, with more on the horizon. This week Helen Attia Tolken of Kadence shared a vodcast where I discussed with her the value of community building, human-centric change and the future of work. If you haven’t tapped into it yet, please do.

On another exciting note, I had a long, long overdue conversation with Tracie Gildea , one of the most respected senior female leaders I know, who graciously invited me to the prestigious CogX Summit in London. It was great to connect with her and also Kristof Harling , CEO of Human Thinking , who sponsored this incredible event. I genuinely expected to feel completely out of my comfort zone, which doesn't phase me, as the event focused on the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) .?

I need to give myself credit for being so self-educated. I not only understood most of it, but also the potential for individuals and business when we start to fuse human-centricity with intentional and strategic AI upskilling to educate and super power humans!

CogX was the event that just kept giving and the power of LinkedIn played its part… I received a wonderful message and a there was a tap at our Human Thinking Gold Box door… Camilla Young (Sorry Camilla… a speedy poor selfie!).

Thank you for being a crucial part of my journey. I love connecting with you all and your support means the world to me. Don’t forget, you can DM me with any suggestions for future newsletters or blogs, ideas for collaborations, or just for a chat!?

Here’s to a month filled with growth, connection, and new adventures!