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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: Mentoring

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7 Career Development Strategies for Future-Proofing Your Career

What will your job look like five years from now? Will it even exist in five, 10 or 20 years? And what will happen to the organisation and industry you work for? Many roles are becoming extinct, being replaced by technology while brand new roles are popping up every day. And, as I outlined in

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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.

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

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How to Be a Brilliant Mentor: 7 Characteristics That Make the Difference

I still remember the first time I mentored someone formally. I wasn’t quite sure what was expected of me. Was I supposed to have all the answers? Was I there to fix things, or just to listen? The truth is, most great mentors start with similar questions. In today’s fast-paced, hybrid workplace, mentoring is more

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The Power of Storytelling in Mentoring and Career Conversations

Do you want your employees to really engage with what you are saying? Do you want to grab their emotions rather than just their logical brain? The secret is to use stories. Storytelling is the oldest and most powerful way to engage, excite and educate people. When people are inspired, they take action. That’s not

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Picture This! Harnessing the Power of Visualisation in Career Conversations

You want your employees to be successful, don’t you? In fact, you and they have probably used that word. But do you know what success really means to them?  Have they truly thought about it and discussed it with you?  People talk about success all the time.  But rarely do they define it in a

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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

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Role of a Mentor: How to Give Advice

A common question we get asked in our masterclasses is “How do I provide insight without direction? I want to help.  I know they’re coming to me for advice.  But I don’t want to tell them what to do?” And quite right too. This Huffington Post article says it well.  “While mentors can offer valuable

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