Everyone seems to have a coach these days. But what coaching actually is and what makes it distinct is less well understood than you might think. This is the fifth in a series of blogs exploring how we naturally help people make change. If you haven’t read the first piece yet, start here: [Link here] Everyone seems to have a coach these days. Business coaches, life coaches, executive coaches, health coaches, mindset coaches, performance coaches. Coaching programmes, coaching

This is the fourth in a series of blogs exploring how we naturally help people make change. If you haven’t read the first piece yet, start here: [Link here] Consultancy diagnoses, advises and often fixes. Coaching does something else entirely. A significant part of our work involves partnering with organisations to design and deliver internal coaching and facilitator programmes and Leader as Coach initiatives. That’s consultancy work and there’s expertise involved, there’s a

This is the third in a series of blogs exploring how we naturally help people make change. If you haven’t read the first piece yet, start here: How You Help People Make Change I want to be upfront about something before I start. I’m not a therapist. I’m not trained in counselling or psychotherapy. And I don’t pretend to be. That matters here because this is probably the distinction I get asked about most and it’s one where getting it wrong has real consequences, both for the

Coaches spend most of their time resisting the urge to give answers. Mentors spend most of theirs learning when to hold their experience back. Neither is wrong but knowing which one you're doing, and why, changes everything about how the conversation lands. This piece breaks down what coaching and mentoring actually require, where they overlap, and why the best mentors quietly use coaching skills. Then find your own natural helper archetype with our free quiz.

Most of us have a natural default. Here's why it matters and what it could tell you about the way you work. A few years ago (a few more than I am willing to admit) I was offered a place at a university in Australia to train as a teacher. I knew I wanted to help people. I knew I wanted to work with others in a meaningful way. But something didn't quite connect. I deferred for a year, kept exploring, deferred again and eventually came across coaching, which I had already been d