Navigating the New Year Ahead

3 min read December 11 2020

Hello,

As we come to the end of 2020, and what a year it has been, we wanted to give you an issue that may provide a new perspective and give you some practical ideas to move forward positively into 2021.

It’s the time of year that many of us start thinking about the new year ahead, and I start this issue exploring goal setting, with a piece entitled ‘Don’t set any goals for 2021’. Drawing on neuroscience I challenge traditional thinking about goal setting, but also give you some tips that can help you look forward with a positive focus for the year ahead.

So many of our clients have found their boundaries have blurred over the last few months. Debbie Moore shares tips on how to talk (successfully) to your boss about balance and boundaries. Many can feel fearful of such conversations – I include at the bottom of the piece a case study from a law firm partner about flexibility and boundaries.

Executive Coach Gemma Bullivant explores how our natural leadership style can shift when we are stressed, and how this awareness can help us adjust our approach and mitigate the effects of stress on our wellbeing.

Taking a fresh look at boundaries at home, ECC Client Manager and mum of three Fiona Martin shares her tips to regain a little balance and calm.

Executive Coach Hannah Cleaton-Roberts explores authenticity and the tension between authenticity and the need to adapt our style for other people and organisations.

Disability equality trainer and campaigner Mary Doyle Explains the Social Model of Disability, shares her view of the common barriers in society and highlights what others can do to support inclusion and become a Disability Ally.

CEO of the Good Business Initiative Michelle Weston explores why the unintended redundancies are reportedly rising at their fastest rate since 2009 in the UK and will no doubt continue to be a necessary corporate action for some.

Finally, some of you may have read and accessed the Parent Resources we curated at the start of the first UK lockdown to help our readers navigate the then ‘new normal’, we have since updated these resources to reflect where we are now and hopefully provide you with some helpful content to plan, consider and reflect as a working parent.

We do value any feedback or suggestions for future issues. In the meantime, I wish you all the very best for a healthy and relaxed festive period.

CEO – Geraldine Gallacher

In this Winter Coaching Comment issue:

5 min read

How Stress and Conflict can affect our Leadership Approach

8 min read

Brutally honest or just brutal?

Redundancies are reportedly rising at their fastest rate since 2009 in the UK and will no doubt continue to be a necessary corporate action for some. Still, it may be seductive in this crisis to kid ourselves that for some of the tough decisions we make on employee cuts, the end will justify the means

6 min read

Well Behaved (Disabled) Women Seldom Make History

In recognition of UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities today on the 3rd December 2020, I’ll let you into a well-known secret, Disabled people are everywhere. I’m like a skilful ninja, you may not see me, but I can assure you I’m present. Disability has always existed, it’s part of life and will continue as part of the diversity of the human existence, naturally or acquired through life due to trauma, disease or age.

2 min read

Shifting the Needle – Episode 2

In this episode, we focus on an issue that has been front of mind at ECC over the last few weeks. How we work together to effect real change has always been important. However, following recent events, we have seen the focus on diversity and inclusivity, particularly around the topic of race, significantly rise up the agenda.

3 min read

Get set for the re-integration back to work

Welcome to this Summer issue of Coaching Comment. I know you have all had your own experiences in Lockdown and for some it has been an immensely challenging time. This issue, we have curated a range of pieces to help you make sense of the last few months and to be well resourced to prepare for your own, your team’s and your families’ psychological and practical transition back to the new normal over the coming months.

6 min read

Inclusive Leadership – Why & How

Executive Coach Jane Storer explores the need for change in how organisations and leaders find ways to build more inclusive cultures.

6 min read

Three Practical Ways to Support Your Wellbeing During Change & Uncertainty

Executive Coach Gemma Bullivant shares what you can do to proactively support your wellbeing, as we continue to adjust to a changing world.

6 min read

Daily steps to support health and mitigate the impact of stress

Women’s health expert Jessica Ferrari-Wells shares her tips to help mitigate the impact of stress, even in the busiest of times.

< 1 min read

The Parental Fog Index Report 2020

Our second edition of the Parental Fog Index ranks the websites of the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers by how transparent their support is for working parents. The report calls for employers to not just be transparent about the support offered to working parents, but radically transparent about the impact that support has on the pay and progress of women's careers, and for men to equally share work and care.

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Navigating the New Year Ahead

In this Winter Coaching Comment issue: