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The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

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Blog: Leadership Coaching

October 6, 2022

Antoinette named a finalist for two Stevie Awards

We’re delighted to announce Antoinette has been named a Finalist in two categories in the 19th annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. She will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award winner in the category ‘Mentor or Coach of the Year – Business’. She will also be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze

Four people clasp each other's wrists, forming a connected circle with their hands, symbolising teamwork, trustworthiness, and unity. The background is blurred with office documents and supplies visible.

October 28, 2021

How to Build Trust at Work: Practical Strategies to Strengthen Your Leadership and Relationships

In today’s world of hybrid teams, burnout, and generational divides, trust isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s a career necessity. Whether you’re a leader managing remote teams, an HR professional designing development programmes, or an employee navigating your own career path, trust is the glue that holds it all together. It’s also one of the

A man wearing glasses and a patterned shirt gestures while speaking to a woman with red hair during a conversation about their organisations mentoring programme in a bright, casual indoor setting.

November 10, 2020

A Year in the Life of an Organisation’s Mentoring Programme

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in-house with a wide range of organisations, navigating the ever-changing world of work. I’ve seen first-hand how powerful the right training and development can be – not just in transforming individual careers, but in shaping the culture and capability of entire organisations. One area that continues

A close-up of a compass with the needle pointing towards

October 2, 2020

25 Powerful Leadership Development Quotes to Grow Great Leaders

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” – Harvey S. Firestone In today’s fast-paced, hybrid, and often uncertain world of work, leadership development has never been more critical. HR and L&D leaders are grappling with new challenges – retention, burnout, multi-generational teams, and a growing skills gap. One thing remains

A group of people sit in a circle, discussing a large paper with the word

September 23, 2019

The Importance of Growth Mind-set for Career Development

Adaptability has always played a key role in workplace success. But it seems like now more than ever, our careers require us to be constantly evolving. The pace of change is accelerating. To succeed in any industry, and to be ready to take part in the next evolution of it, professionals must grow and develop.

Several paper boats on a light blue surface, with one red boat leading ahead of four blue boats that follow behind in a staggered formation.

November 10, 2018

Entrepreneurial Leadership Part 2: 11 Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Leaders

Welcome to my second blog post about entrepreneurial leadership. In my last post, Entrepreneurial Leadership: Why is it important? you read what it was and why we need it. A key message was that entrepreneurial leaders need to embrace high levels of change. And they need to thrive on the unique challenges posed by growth.

A person in a business suit holds a large poster with hand-drawn diagrams, charts, and icons under the word “INNOVATION” on a blurred background with circular lights.

November 1, 2018

Entrepreneurial Leadership: Why is it important?

Earlier this year I received an invitation from the President of the Mentoring Institute at the University of New Mexico. The theme of the 11th annual Mentoring Conference was to be Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They wanted me to deliver a keynote speech. The title was How to Develop Innovative, Entrepreneurial

A woman in a blue shirt smiles whilst writing in a notebook, facing another person in the foreground. They appear to be engaged in a friendly conversation, reflecting the collaborative spirit of good executive coaching in an office setting.

April 20, 2015

How to Get the Most from Executive Coaching

Let’s face it good executive coaching is not cheap. But it can be invaluable. Investing a few hours and a few thousand pounds can deliver significant increases in productivity and returns of hundreds of thousands of pounds. As long as the leader in question takes full advantage of the opportunity and makes the most of their

July 28, 2014

What’s the alternative to 360 degree feedback?

When it comes to leadership development, few tools are as powerful as 360-degree feedback. It offers a rich, multi-perspective view of how you’re perceived by colleagues, direct reports, and managers. It can be eye-opening, motivating, and – let’s be honest – a little daunting. In theory, most leaders agree it would be valuable. In practice,