I was standing in a coffee queue in one of the lovely coffee trucks in Cirencester recently when a slightly varied chain of events unfolded. My Cockapoo decided that the cyclist locking up his bike was definitely her new
The Photo That Captures It All Look at the image. Two people on a boat, side by side, looking out at the same horizon. No desk. No performance review form. No agenda on the wall. Just two people, present with
Let’s start with a slightly uncomfortable truth: Most workplace frustrations aren’t about competence. They’re about communication. The colleague who sends three-word emails that feel blunt. The manager who wants more detail… and then even more detail. The team member who
Investing in people development is one of the most powerful decisions an organisation can make. It shapes culture. It influences performance. It impacts confidence, retention and growth. But not all development is equal and not all providers approach it with
Across industries and organisations, one challenge appears again and again: capable, hardworking individuals are promoted into management roles, yet are rarely given the space, structure or support to truly learn how to lead. Technical expertise doesn’t automatically translate into confident
You know that feeling? You’re deep into a project, everyone’s enthusiastic, and the energy is high, but… are you actually making progress? Fun without forward momentum can quickly turn into frustration. This is the tightrope walk for every
Have you been sticking to those tiny Kaizen steps we talked about in our Jan Blog last month. February is the perfect time to talk about a skill that sits right at the heart of brilliant leadership: Self-Awareness. Being
Phew! January is here, and we at Athena Evolve are shaking off the last of the Christmas pudding and diving back into the proper work. We always dress up as something for our grandchildren on Christmas Day. This year was
Practical Design Tips for Trainers: Interactive Activities, Timing, Energy Levels. We’ve all been there. You arrive at a workshop full of good intentions and within 20 minutes your mind is wandering, your inbox somehow becomes irresistible, and you’re counting down
Most organisations know when hiring, rent, or tech spend is out of control. What they often miss is the slow, invisible drain caused by poor or undertrained managers: higher turnover, quiet disengagement, daily conflict, and productivity that leaks away like
A DISC-Based Look at Team Dynamics and Communication Friction Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why do they always react like that?” or “We’re saying the same thing, but somehow it turns into a clash”? Welcome to the fascinating world
A Step-by-Step Guide to Avoid the Common Traps and Start Strong So, you’ve just been promoted, or hired, as a manager. Congratulations! But now what? The first 90 days in a management role can set the tone for your
There’s a moment that happens in a lot of workplaces, often quietly, sometimes overnight. A brilliant technician, manager, or subject matter expert is asked to run a training session. And just like that, they’ve become a trainer. No formal prep.
I learned Latin at school. Still not entirely sure why. What I do know is that I was terrible at it. So terrible, in fact, that I once started a competition with my friends to see who could get the
We’ve all seen it or felt it: the magic of a high-performing team. The energy is contagious, the results are impressive, and everyone seems to be rowing in the same direction. However, behind that synergy isn’t luck or charisma. It’s
DISC is a behavioural assessment tool that identifies four primary behaviour preferences: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Based on the pioneering work of Dr. William Moulton Marston and developed further by Walter Clark, DISC has helped organisations for nearly a
Yesterday, I did something that truly pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was invited to London as a guest on the GAEA AI Talks podcast to discuss the topic: “AI will never replace human emotion.” Now, let’s be
Understanding the distinct roles of mentoring and coaching is essential for personal and professional development. However, many misconceptions persist. For instance, I often hear people say they are coaching when, in reality, they are mentoring. These two approaches are very
With over 1 million words in the English language, as suggested by Merriam-Webster, each word carries its own unique power. Some words inspire action, while others create hesitation. Imagine if changing just one word in your vocabulary could transform
Who loves how certain words and idioms carry deep meaning? I do and one of my favourites is the Japanese word Kaizen, which stands for continuous improvement. 🌱 It’s a reminder that we all have the chance to get a
What are your thoughts on this? 💡Everything in life starts with your mindset first and your actions second. Your actions follow your thoughts, your beliefs and your ideas. So, start with getting your mind right, then act.💡 With longer,
Understanding the distinct roles of mentoring and coaching is essential for personal and professional development. There do, however, remain some misconceptions around what each approach is. For example, I often hear people say that they are coaching when it
This picture may look ‘routine’ but, for me it’s HUGE!! I am driving again!! Writing about my experiences is not something that I like to do. However, the message of this is more about being comfortable with the uncomfortable. I’ve
This is a personal story but, nonetheless, is a fantastic example of ‘Never Say Never’. My son recently completed the Bristol Half Marathon in aid of Parkinson’s UK. I’m, of course, a proud Mum! He hit his target time, ran
At various times in life, we find ourselves at a point where a little guidance or assistance can make all the difference. Whether it’s navigating personal challenges or professional endeavours, recognising when and where to seek support is a crucial
When you have a goal in mind, do you ever find yourself envisioning it, feeling the accomplishment, or hearing the applause before you’ve even achieved it? This phenomenon, known as visualisation, holds incredible power in shaping our reality and achieving
IMAGINE BEING ASKED, “WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER?” What would you say? I was asked this question the other day! Sounds like a fun question, right? But let’s be real – it’s not always easy to pinpoint our awesomeness that makes
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve
What are values and why are they important? Our values are an essential component of our psychological make-up and identity. They are our moral compass for life based on our standards of behaviour and our philosophies, impacting our motivation
Firstly, let’s understand what coaching is. The definition of coaching is eloquently defined by The International Coaching Federation (ICF) as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential”. Put