Many people I coach struggle to manage the demands on their time. They are super-busy. Their jobs and responsibilities are overwhelming, their diaries are full, and in their non-work time they find it hard to switch off even though they yearn for quality time with families or leisure activities. Does this sound familiar?

If so, you may have tried time-management approaches such as tools for delegation and prioritisation, e.g. the Eisenhower Matrix – named after the US President Eisenhower’s approach to decision-making according to whether things are urgent or important: https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/.

Other time-management approaches include not over-committing by agreeing to every request. This encourages you to say “no” if you notice that you’ve been saying “yes” for the sake of being nice or helpful (which doesn’t necessarily bring about positive benefits).

Another approach is time-blocking, which is not only effective for creating space in one’s diaries but also for affording yourself some time to breath – and to reflect.

Even with time-management approaches, there may simply be too many tasks for the hours you have available. But if you’ve allowed breathing space in your schedule, you can at least take a calm moment to reflect on what’s achievable. Pausing to reflect is also an opportunity to consider one’s relationship with the state of being busy – and this can shift your whole approach to a deeper level.

Is busy good?

There’s a saying: “if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person.” The subtext is often born out: busy people are - out of necessity - efficient with their time, and this can get results.

Similarly, a mantra when I was growing up was “always keep busy”. Being busy was something to aspire to; it was the antidote to idleness and it carried with it the idea of being productive, being a contributor, and of doing something of value.

Surely, these are qualities we can all believe in, aren’t they?

Yet, the term busy has, in my view, side effects that are less positive. Being busy brings degrees of burden and of being un-free. The term carries expectations and can sometimes convey judgement - of oneself, of others - as well as judgements by others. For example, a busybody can be a derogatory label for someone who is overly active or even meddlesome.

By contrast, the frequently-used enquiry “how’s life - are you busy?” is usually well-intentioned but can trigger a pressure to answer in the affirmative (even if you’re not busy) in order to give the expected response, i.e. one which conveys socially-desirable states such as being fulfilled, in demand and sought after.

There again, being too busy can leave one feeling locked in a pattern from which there is no respite. “I’m sooo busy” we exclaim in exasperation. Or sometimes it’s a phrase used to promote an image of importance in which a person is so in demand that their time is unbookable. “I’m very busy, but I may have a window (to see you) in about … three months time?!”

Indeed, busy can specifically mean unavailable, as in “the line is busy – you can’t get through.” Or it can describe undesirable conditions such as being over-crowded: “the train was horribly busy.”

The busy-ness of business

Interestingly, it is from the term busy-ness that the word business was derived in the 15^th century, meaning occupied and engaged. There was also a term in use then of busy-less meaning at leisure or unemployed, which illustrates how the origins of busy extended beyond the world of work – business – to describe a state of being, with a busy-less state allowing for leisure or non-work. In the language of today, a term we might use for managing ourselves in these different realms, is agency.

If you are experiencing overwhelming busy-ness, try asking yourself:

● Has busy-ness become a habitual state?

● How much control is being applied towards the things that are demanding your time?

● Who’s in charge? (of how you live your life – not just your job!)

● When you are busy, do you have agency?

A world without busy?

Agency, in a nutshell, is defined as the ability to take action or to choose what action to take. With agency you apply intentionality to the actions you take. In doing so, you can still avoid being idle or unproductive, but you can engage your time in ways which align with your values and choices. Your schedule may be full, and you yourself active, but shifting one’s attitude from being busy to having agency can provide a sense of feeling freer in the management of one’s time.

Even using a term like active instead of busy can help to generate a greater sense of having agency. Will you still say “I’m sooo busy” when you’ve reclaimed agency over your schedule?

Or, when someone asks you “are you busy?” could you try saying “no, I’m not busy. But I am active / engaged / occupied with […the activities you have chosen to apply your time to].” All these terms imply greater intentionality than simply saying busy.

And, with regular moments of reflection about the state of being busy, maybe you’ll find yourself thinking, “actually I’m rather enjoying being busy-less at the moment!”

These musings have emerged from Jo Elms, executive coach and mentor. Jo is also a co-director of TopHat Discovery CIC, which is a social enterprise providing coaching-based services for social impact.

What are your thoughts? Like, disagree? Share and get involved! And contact us HERE to find us for your coaching needs.

(Image: NASA)

In April, I found myself inspired by Artemis II programme and the space ship Orion. For me, there is nothing like a refreshed photograph of our most beautiful, shared home-planet captured from a rocket to offer pause for thought. Appropriately, it was also Earth Day 22^nd April offering a day of celebration and reflection to carry us into May.

For me, the adventures of the intrepid astronauts, their intense focus and sense of purpose stood in stark contrast to the other headlines of the moment replete with tales of hasty, apparently poorly thought through brutal conflict and destruction down here on Earth.

In the aftermath of their return, as he stood before the welcoming crowd at the news conference, the almost tearful team-leader said he was lost for words. Fortunately he found them and when he did, he talked of being changed forever by the journey; connected and bonded to the team in indescribable ways; profoundly affected by being 200,000 miles from home.

There are many questions relevant to our human potentiality that this recent marvel of space travel raises for me as a coach and a human:

Perspective

This is perhaps the most obvious one.

● What insights do we each gain when we view Earth from this new perspective? It is both from a distance and through the eyes of the astronaut who took it.

Cost benefit

For me the adventure - however marvellous - highlights a dilemma. The rocket that brought us this beautiful view and no doubt additional scientific understanding generated enormous amounts of environmental pollution to do so.

Let’s hope we never become as blasé about space travel as we have about earth travel. Every day, according to US FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) website, more than 44,000 flights and more than 3 million airline passengers across more than 29 million square miles of airspace are served. Currently the emissions from air travel outweigh that of one occasional rocket.

Earth Day serves as a reminder of our collective human responsibility towards our planet and is a day to celebrate the progress made in environmental conservation and recognises the ongoing challenges we all face.

● How should we make our choices in the face of these cost-benefit dilemmas?

The cost of the Artemis programme in 2025 is estimated at c.$100bn. The programme generates around 350,000 jobs, scientific data and returns on that investment. This is roughly the same as the global aid budgets before they were severely cut last year. It is estimated these now lost funds saved 3.3million lives each year and also generated hundreds of thousands of jobs and opportunities worldwide.

● How do we steer our decisions individually and collectively to make good use of resources we have?

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Our Inner Artemis

Two and half thousand years ago, Artemis was revered by the Greeks as the goddess of hunting, the wilderness, wild animals, transitions, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. A wide remit! Like all the Gods, she was believed to live on Mount Olympus, the highest place in that part of the world. Like her 2026 namesake she must have had a great view of the, then much less cluttered, landscape enabling her to view her humans and wonder at their behaviour – and maybe those of the other Gods too!

In our recent group coaching series we have been thinking about being human. We have explored our resourcefulness; how we look after, govern, inspire and orient our human. We have thought together about what we might be missing and what matters. Space travel and Earth Day put me in mind of the universal and deeply human attributes of wonder and curiosity.

As you read this I am freshly returned from Orkney. A place far north and with evidence of inhabitation from 8500 years ago; predating Artemis. The perspective of ancientness and distance from home has offered an opportunity to refresh my view of the world and my role in it.

EARTHSET Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis Il crew’s flyby of the Moon. A muted blue Earth with bright white clouds sets behind the cratered lunar surface. Image: NASA

This months’ ponderings come from Harriet Dodd - Executive and Team Coach.

Share, like, dislike, get involved! And contact us HERE to find us for your coaching needs

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What is this “Calm”? I am referring to a state of mind, not the weather, although calm in stormy weather can be a good thing. Being calm in the face of most situations in life is very beneficial.

In my case, I experienced an extreme situation this week when my wife was hurt in a skiing accident. A myriad of emotions came thick and fast: alarm, anxiety, anger and irritation- all at once.

Calm is about taking the time to live with the emotions of the moment and to glean whatever benefit or opportunities might come from them. “Being” calm is how you’ll find them. It helps you deal with surges of fear, shame, worry, unhappiness, disappointment, irritation etc. - signals from the brain to warn us that something isn’t right.

At the time of my wife’s accident, I consciously drew on techniques from Positive Intelligence, engaging what I call my inner management system - my five calming powers: to explore, empathise, navigate, innovate and activate my response to the accident. Positive Intelligence is a powerful technique that helps us to quieten self-saboteur emotions and this starts with an active decision to engage your calming management system.

First, step into your position of calm. Pause and breathe. Listen to your breath. Or breathe and notice a specific object and its qualities. Or look deeply at your palm. Doing this for 10 to 20 seconds will bring your attention back to a physical focus, away from undefined emotional dimensions.

Then ask yourself if this “situation” needs immediate attention or can it wait? In the grand scheme of things, is it something to act on or can you safely let it go? For me the accident clearly needed my immediate attention and I moved to face this by engaging my 5 calming powers.

Explore where these feelings come from. What’s driving it? A person, or a chain of events? There are many possible “why”s and once aware, the aim is not to judge but to figure out the feeling and its constituent parts. For me, I worried for my wife’s wellbeing as well as irritation that our current (and future) plans had suddenly been disrupted.

Empathise with yourself and others by acknowledging that what has happened is real. Accept the emotional impact as an alarm bell to prompt a calm response rather than panic, efficiently and smartly. This can also be applied to other people involved. Realising that my wife was in pain and needed help and putting myself in my wife’s place helped me shift my perspective in a positive way with a focus on what mattered most.

Navigate by looking at the actual scene in detail and find positive ways of handling it; Is it as bad as you first thought? What can work in your favour? If it was an event, was it really all to blame or was it only part of the problem? In our case, my wife, and my son who was with us, quickly ascertained that luckily the accident happened close enough to safety which meant my wife was quickly rescued. It could have been far worse if it had happened further afield. So in other words, there were positives - we just had to find them.

Innovate by opening up possibilities. Start with an idea, no matter how strange it might be and build from there: “I like that idea because it achieves <…> and I would take it forward by <…>”. A few rounds of this kind of thinking often reveals interesting roots, shoots and new thinking. The principle is that no matter how wacky an idea might sound, at least 10% of it will be valid and you then work with that. Good possibilities will emerge from this type of exercise which is the basis for the final stage.

Activate by choosing the best option and take the first step. In our situation, that meant my son climbing up the slope to the nearest chairlift to raise the alarm there.
It was a simple and smart move. And it worked. A medic team was by her side in minutes. Whilst my wife’s accident was extremely worrying (and inconvenient) her safety was secured.

What this experience showed me was that engaging this calming technique accepted the initial rush of emotions and prompted me towards calm and a correct course of actions when faced with emotional turbulence. I avoided making mistakes. It was a way to extract something useful even in this difficult moment.

You don’t always need all five powers. Sometimes, one is enough. Pause, breathe and look at what is in front of you and ask yourself: what is needed now? If the answer is clear, take that first move; if not, your state of calm will guide to whichever of your calming powers is needed first.

Interested in knowing more about Positive Intelligence and your saboteurs? Please contact us.

TopHat Discovery News Flash!

Our season of online Group Coaching: ‘My Human Matters’ and places are still available for the remaining sessions.

Every week from now until May 5^th, participants will work together to share their experience of living in times when much of what we believe, such as commitments to humanitarian work grounded in human rights, is being profoundly challenged. The sessions consider our humanness as the bedrock from which we engage with all that’s going on, because how we meet change matters as much as the change itself.There are three price points:

A single session for £25. Four sessions for £80.

To enrol, follow the link www.tophatdiscovery.com/myhumanmatters

Disruption

Calm, assuredness, things keeping steady – these are qualities that most of us like in life. So when events disrupt our habitual patterns, it can be anything from upsetting to disorientating … or horrendous.

I’ve experienced some disruption recently – and from a positive situation: my wife and I bought a house. For us, the disruption is not horrendous, but it is disorientating.

The disruption comes because the house needs a massive amount of work doing to it, far more than we’d expected. We’re spending all our time on sorting things, planning things, finding the right contractors, worrying about costs, making decisions about things we weren’t expecting as well as being up step ladders and doing our best with DIY…. And - inevitably - stressing about everything along the way. All the normal stuff has had to be rearranged around the new house tasks. It’s like: the house has landed, everything else - move aside!

This is, of course, a “nice problem,” i.e. I’m fortunate to be a house-owner and the disruption is in the context of a life-enhancing situation. Numerous causes of disruption are far from nice and are at the horror end of the spectrum. And it’s probably fair to say that most of us experience some disruption just from the feeling that unwelcome events are happening and the world is not as we like it to be, whether from geo-politics, conflicts and war, climate breakdown, economic hardship, or personal issues around health and wellbeing.

Whatever the magnitude, there’s a question that all disruptions present: how can we accommodate the disruption we experience in a way that isn’t … too disruptive?

I’d like to share eight tips that seem, to me, to be powerful ways to do this.

1. A good starting point is to stabilise oneself; “stabilise to strategize.” First take stock of your own state of being so that you can be ready for what lies ahead. If calmness is needed, you may like to do breathing exercises, hydrate yourself, go for walks, and think about ways of resting. Ask yourself, what would make me feel a little bit more regulated right now?

2. Then, name what’s actually happening. If the situation feels overwhelming – in fact especially if it feels like an overwhelming blur – step back and look at it, identify what’s changed and what remains stable, separate facts from interpretation, and ask yourself, what’s in my control and what isn’t?

3. Keep connected to your core values – it’s always restorative to do this. Take a moment to consider, what do you cherish, what behaviours do you aim to uphold? Love, family, dignity, independence, respect, integrity – whichever values are key drivers for you, let them guide you.

4. Make a manageable time horizon so you can allocate tasks in an achievable way. Prioritise by focusing on the more immediate timeframes to get certain things done. What can you do next week (rather than next year)? And yes, feel good about ticking things off the list – celebrate the completions!

5. Strengthen your support structures. Isolation magnifies instability – so think about who’s around that can be of help. In what ways can they support – some may be emotional, some more strategic or practical. Involve them. It may also be worth recognising those around who can be a hindrance or who induce panic – if so, reduce your exposure to them.

6. Guardrail your key routines. It’s stabilising to have one thing – or a few things – that you know you like to have in your day or week. That morning coffee ritual, visiting the gym, family time at certain times – whatever it might be, take a moment to identify what are your anchors that will steady your equilibrium.

7. Expect energy dips: our moods will naturally swing from being motivated to feeling tired, exhausted and fed up - we’re human! Just noticing the moods and how they change allows us to accept them. What are the things you can do to take care of yourself and those around in the downward mood swings?

8. Finally, from all of the above, see if you can reframe the disruption. Perhaps the situation can generate positives, for example, disruption often precedes growth. Try asking yourself, is there any useful learning to be gained from this? Equilibrium isn’t about returning to the old normal. It’s about finding a new internal steadiness that can flex with change.

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TopHat Discovery News Flash!

We’re launching our new season of online Group Coaching: ‘My Human Matters’ and places are available! We have a new start date: the first session will be on March 17^th.

Every week from then until May 5^th, participants will work together to share their experience of living in times when much of what we believe, such as commitments to humanitarian work grounded in human rights, is being profoundly challenged. The sessions consider our humanness as the bedrock from which we engage with all that’s going on, because how we meet change matters as much as the change itself.There are three price points:

A single session for £25. Four sessions for £80. Eight sessions for £136

To enrol, follow the link www.tophatdiscovery.com/myhumanmatters

Here are some impressions from comments people made in our 2025 Group Coaching sessions:

“It’s a safe and welcoming space to have wonderful, engaging and thought provoking conversations”

“An incredibly liberating and relaxing moment of deep connection with other humans who are faced with similar issues and questions”

“A breath of fresh air”

“The solidarity and connection is really wonderful”

Do come and join us – we’d love to see you there!

I’ve been thinking. Given all the chance meetings of our ancestors that it took and with all the twists and turns of fate along the way, it is truly a miracle that any of us are born. Each of us is a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses with muscles to move, feel and choose. It’s what we do with that miracle that is us that matters.

And yet. As I did the “Happy New Year” rounds this January a number of people reflected on how more than usually exhausted they had been as they reached the end of 2025.

Then came 2026. Only a month in and I feel as though we have had enough news and noisy headlines for the whole twelve months already! There seems to be no shortage of change to potentially worry us. It might be the broad swath of current events and the shifting -ruptured?- world order, or be closer-to-home work worries around restructuring, job cuts and plain old satisfaction. Clients share with us anxiety about the longer term impact of climate change, pushed, as they see it, to the back of the political priorities. Or, they reflect that AI is challenging the supremacy of human intelligence, upending work patterns and has pushed us into polarised spaces on social media in echo-chambers of information and distraction. (I too can spend hours scrolling Insta’ for pictures about otters).

So the miracle that is us is a troubled, distracted and less clever miracle than we might have at first thought! We worry about our worth, our capabilities, our levels of knowledge and our readiness for the new age of change. But my thoughts led me to asking: Is it being human and our humanness we need to understand better to navigate forwards? While there is no shortage on my feeds about how I should better engage with AI, not to mention strange tales of Moltbook chat rooms, it seems to me that I would do better to spend some undistracted time considering what it means to be truly human.

My thinking has led me to ask: What is deeply, special about me? What choices might I have? and, What might I be relinquishing or neglecting as I am buffeted by the emergence of 2026?

The following is my pondering about how we thrive as humans and what remains unique and real about us in this age of the artificial

Please add your wisdom by commenting and join us in the new Group Coaching seires MY HUMAN MATTERS to (re)discover those parts of you that can step into change. To read about this and to reserve your place, more details here.

Considering Humans

In addition to being our own discreet miracle, in order to thrive, each of us has three distinct areas of need that overlap in relationship to one another: a livelihood or source of food, water and shelter; health and well-being; community connection and space. There is a balance required between them as we navigate the contexts in which we live. For me, this is a constant balancing and recalibration exercise.

Having drawn the circles ask: What is going on in those overlapping areas? How does one area specifically support or affect the other? (eg is work easier when I am fit? How does work affect my mental well being? etc)

Considering Humanness

There are some things that are common to us all, that define us as humans as opposed to other life and those pesky AI bots. Are they so common to us that we don’t notice them, maybe don’t exercise them and refine them and risk overlooking them as a resource? The following list came out of a discussion with other real humans so some of it must be relevant. The questions are ones I ask myself:

We are curious and discerning about what we are told and discover. We seek new things and new ideas.

• What could we be more curious about in 2026?

• How often do I verify AI outputs against primary sources?

We are warm. In a world saturated with deepfakes and generative texts, real humans cannot be “downloaded”. The warmth of a handshake, the response to an in-person argument, the messy unpredictability of a face-to-face conversation replete with disagreement or laughter feel wholly different from online interaction.

• How often are you connecting in person with people you know and strangers each week?

• How do you build trust and understanding around meaningful issues?

Humans are flawed. Words said in person in the moment are seldom misunderstood and can be course-corrected to deepen mutual understanding. Beauty often lies in our “glitches”—the cracking of a voice during a song or the unique brushstrokes that a machine would have “corrected”.

• Which human flaws have you celebrated recently? Your own and others

• How do you encourage others to check your beliefs?

We are playful and creative. We can imagine tangents and alternatives, play with materials and sounds apparently without purpose to generate wholly new understanding and meaning

• How is -off-line- play and creativity part of your life?

• How often are laughter, song, movement and random association part of your life and work?

We are purposeful, wilful and judge ourselves and others- and AI - accordingly

• How clear are you about matters most for you the human thaht you are in 2026?

And incase we forget in the month of St Valentines Day perhaps our most powerful difference: we are loving.

• How do you show your love for others?

Forwards bravely into 2026!

AI and our online lives are here to stay. They are shaping our world. Perhaps if we deepen our focus on what it is to be human we will use it to be the brave architects of our futures rather than become lost in its flow.

An AI chat bot told me this week: We have to work harder to maintain our attention spans and protect our “cognitive sovereignty” from algorithms designed to keep us scrolling. Oh the irony - but that too is a human trait!

TopHat Discovery Update.

1. Contact hello@tophatdiscovery.com for information on joing the next Group Coaching My Human Matters

2. A new team coaching programme is getting underway in Scotland. Team coaching is a process of deep exploration, reflection and decision-making within a team. It results in the enhancement of team performance and value-add within the system it serves. If you would like to know more get in touch!

3. Coaches wishing to practice coaching methods, to receive coaching and to discuss their craft with peers peer-to-peer sessions, not join the Be a Better Coach Programme. Click the brochure to find out more

TopHat Discovery Coaching Services.

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A very happy New Year from all of us at the TopHat Discovery team.

As we return to our pre-festive rhythms replete with good wishes exchanged with friends and family, we also step into a year marked by deep uncertainty. It is a remarkable time to be alive and yet one that increasingly demands new personal balancing skills if we are to remain alert to new opportunities and risks in a challenging landscape.

Although it is not realistic to expect to be completely balanced at all times within ourselves, our relationships and our performance, recognising when our state of mind is out of kilter is key for course-correcting. That awareness alone opens the door to acting differently and avoiding traps. And with practice we can improve so that the swings between being in and out of balance become less extreme.

I recently experienced what this sense of (im)balance can mean in practice and what that has meant for my well-being, my relationships, and ultimately my performance in my working life.

Following a lengthy period of misunderstanding and some poorly timed communication, I lost touch with someone close to me both personally and professionally. While our relationship had previously been warm and effective, it now felt strained and unresolved. I felt the loss keenly and its impact began to spill into other areas of my life. I was out of kilter as if I had a limp and an additional weight to carry!

And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to reach out. Instead of acting, I worried. I replayed scenarios, imagined responses, rehearsed conversations that never happened. Round and round it went. I was avoiding the issue while still suffering its effects.

With safe, non-judgemental coaching and self-reflection, drawing in particular on Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework, I began to understand what was really happening. I wasn’t being “hammered” by the other person; on the contrary, I was doing all the hammering myself! I told myself I would be judged as irresponsible, uncaring, and naive; an unworthy business partner and a disappointing friend. I concluded I would be ignored or put down or worse. I was amplifying the situation, narrowing my perspective and blocking effective action, all by myself.

The coaching helped me explore how deep-rooted habits were barriers to effective innovation and action. I needed to put judgement to one side and be more curious with empathy about the other person’s point of view, to imagine being in their shoes and to find a way to reconnect despite my fears.

Eventually, I mustered the courage to write. It felt deeply uncomfortable, vulnerable but - crucially - necessary to let go of inaction and face the fear.

The response when it came back was far better than I had hoped. The relief was intense! The connection has been re-established and with it came a deep sense of restored equilibrium. A major internal distraction has disappeared and I find myself more present and more available for others around me. The ripple effect has been unmistakable.

As 2026 begins, you may have set intentions or resolutions.

• What are your plans?

• What might effect your balance and resolve in achieving them?

• Which old habits may sabotage your success?

If this has struck a chord becoming PQ Powered might be what you are looking for. Three of our coaches at TopHat Discovery are PQ-trained and would be happy to support you.

Please get in touch, and let’s have a conversation.

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TopHat Discovery Update.

1. Watch this space for the launch of our next Group Coaching season building on the success of 2025

2. For coaches wishing to practice coaching methods, to receive coaching and to observe coaching sessions, for group coaching and peer-to-peer sessions, why not join the Be a Better Coach Programme. More information here.

TopHat Discovery Coaching Services.

View our Brochure

As we reach the end of this solstice and the calendar year 2025, here are a few thoughts and warm greetings to you, our clients, fellow coaches and friends.

We want to share our TopHat Christmas tree replete with a few baubles for which we are grateful. We look forward to continuing to support social impact through coaching in 2026 and wish you and your families safe and peaceful times ahead.

First…

A moment of reflection:

Winter solstice falls this year Dec 21^st 2025 when, in the northern hemisphere, we have the shortest day of the year and the light once again begins to lengthen.

The photo here shows the first solstice dawn light entering the perfectly engineered Newgrange burial site in Ireland, as it has been doing for 5000 years (yep! Older than the pyramids in Egypt). Many other ancient wonders do the same. From England to Peru, India, Egypt and more. Colossal ancient sites such as Stonehenge; Machu Pichu; Chichen Itza; Karnak Temple; Karahan Tepe; Jantar Mantar were built to capture and celebrate the star on which we all, have always, depended.

More recent religions including Judaism and Christianity all have celebrations in December. Perhaps there is correlation for the timing here? All this is to say the end of the year gives pause for thought. Whatever your beliefs, it offers a space for reflection, contemplation and celebration.

2025 has not always been comfortable. Unexpected changes have impacted our clients and their teams. In this liminal space before the new light, and new demands of a new year, we are asking ourselves:

• What have we done, not done and done well?

• Who have we been, not been, and been well?

The TopHat Discovery Christmas Tree

And use some of the good stuff to decorate your tree! No one seems to know why we decorate trees for Christmas. It probably predates the religious festival, but they are very pretty, lighting up many winter windows. Not only that, they provide a great metaphor for joy and celebration with each bauble - here are ours!

THE BAUBLES

1. 250 Hours of 121 coaching

2. Partnership work with 15 organisations

3. ‘Be More Octopus’ to 30 unsuspecting people

4. ‘Unlock Your Leadership’ to 20 leaders

5. New opportunities for TopHat Associates

6. Coaching in French

7. Low-bono accessible coaching to 10 organisations using our surplus

8. Group coaching for Resilience to 80 leaders

9. A stand at Scotland international Development Alliance

10. 12 editions of Potentiality Explored

11.Our first ‘Be A Better Coach’ Retreat!

12. ‘Be A Better Coach’ Club expansion

And if there is a ribbon around the base it is the supportive, challenging and creative network of TopHat Discovery

…AND THE ROAD AHEAD

As the days grow longer here are our hopes and plans for 2026. Join us and make them real!

1. Creating new partnerships to support organisations with group and team coaching through change

2. 121 Coaching unlocks courage and value in new clients

3. Be a Better Coach expands to reach more with support they need to unlock their best

4. 8 new organisations benefit from low and ‘mo-bono’ social impact coaching services

5. Collaboration with social-enterprise and social good organisations for wider impact

6. Another retreat

7. Did I mention World Peace? 😀

Stay well and see you on the other side. You know who to call if you need accessible coaching or coaching-led services. Like and share with others who do too!

Today we’re discussing energy levels, which seems appropriate as December starts and we look towards the festive period and all that might require of us, as well as the start of a new year.

Over the last couple of weeks our group coaching sessions have been using the metaphor of The Battery Pack. It’s a fun theme. People shared ideas about what a battery pack means for them: “it’s how my electric bike is powered … it’s how I recharge my phone … it’s what I need when I forget to stop for lunch!”

What these sessions have really been about is resilience – when do we have it, what do we need it for, how do we build it and how do we sustain it. They’ve brought up interesting reflections about our energy levels - a key aspect of resilience – so we delved deeper with various questions, such as:

• what levels of energy do we need

• what do we do to ‘recharge our batteries’

• what are the emotions of energy

• what’s the effect on those around us when our energies are low

• is it OK to not feel energised?

As you move through this final month of the year, you may find yourself reflecting over the year to date. As you do, try asking yourself: when did I feel most energised, what about the times when I didn’t, how did I handle it?

Recharging our batteries

Has this year been more challenging than previous ones? We all have different experiences to draw from but there has certainly been discussion about needing resilience for the things that have been taking place and, looking ahead, what the world needs from us. That’s probably why the conversations about our reserves of energy have been welcomed by the people taking part in the group coaching sessions.

One of the joys of this type of coaching is how nuggets of wisdom are shared between the people in each group. If you’re wondering how you can summon up the right levels of energy, whether it’s for handling the things that are going on now, or for things that are coming down the track, have a look at these seven top tips that emerged in the group coaching sessions:

1. Notice yourself and what’s going on. There is restorative value from simply taking stock of the feelings and emotions that accompany our energy levels.

2. Be aware of things that draw you to the negative; awareness can encourage us to change behaviours or try a different approach towards those things.

3. Reflect on what gives you joy and meaning. Reconnecting with our values can provide a motivating sense of purpose.

4. Take a break, e.g. look out of a window for a few minutes or even enjoy being outdoors in nature if you can. A break, particularly if it involves natural light, boosts energies when we’re feeling depleted.

5. Give attention to breathing, nutrition, movement and hydration – intentional approaches to each of these can stimulate a sense of control and equilibrium.

6. Consider your relations with those around you, and model the connections you want to have.

7. Know yourself: your strengths and weaknesses, your biases and fears. There are times when it’s OK to not be functioning at optimum energy. Be kind to yourself!

What tips do you have for managing your energies? And how are your energy levels now?

Make a seasonal gift of coaching!

If you’re enjoying the effects these coaching thoughts are having (and do look back on previous editions of Potentiality Explored, which can all be accessed via the TopHat Discovery website), then why not make a gift of a coaching session for yourself or for someone you know? If you’d like to book, just drop us an email: hello@tophatdiscovery.com. We’d love to hear from you.

I have been collaborating on a community project recently. In the end it was a great experience but I’m not going to lie, I didn’t find it easy. The experience made me think. Often promoted as a great way to do things it can sometimes feel more cumbersome than doing it yourself.

What is collaboration as distinct from other ways of doing things; why do it; how is it best achieved; and when? Here are some thoughts, tips and tools. Please comment and add your own thoughts below so we all prevail (thanks Darwin)!

WHAT IS IT?

I think collaboration is a cooperative effort between people working on equal terms with shared leadership to get things done. Collaboration seems to enable us to achieve what we cannot do alone and in ways that are distinct from one leader telling us all what to do.

WHY DO IT?

There are a number of reasons, among them:

1. Shared skills and perspectives. When the tasks requires skills and resources we dont have working with others brings a diversity of perspectives and skills in solution-building and defining impact.

2. Reduced error. When the question is complex and the solution and its outcome is not obvious thinking through and working together can result in fewer major mistakes. Equality means that assumptions and plans can be challenged along the way and course-corrected.

3. Motivation for Completion (fun even?). The work might be hard and sometimes dull requiring stamina or staying power. For many, working with others is simply more interesting and fun enabling us to continue to completion holding ourselves accountable for the shared success and even failure.

4. Mutual ownership. This has the dual effect of supporting courage when its needed and deeper lasting impact through the multiplier effect.

HOW?

Thats all very well but collaboration is not for the faint hearted! It has been called Fierce Cooperation and at its core is the challenge of working as equals and with mutual benefits. Much easier said than done, among the challenges, to do it well are:

• self declared leaders and experts may need to come to the painful realisation that they are getting in the way;

• everyone needs to admit the likelihood of bias and mutually owned error;

• no one can hide from their accountability to others; and,

• shared interests need to be openly discussed.

The following top tips can be useful

1. Get clear on the purpose of the collaboration and return to regularly

2. Know what a good outcome will be and for whom

3. Agree: Who leads and when? How do we communicate so that we actually listen to and hear each other? How do we celebrate success, pause to learn and notice? How do we resolve the conflict when (not if) it arises?

4. Use a mirror and take a selfie! Am I a good collaborator? What am I doing that is helping and hindering collaboration for success? What are my motives (noting they may change over time!)? What do I need to let go of to enable success?

WHEN? How do you decide?

This simple matrix illustration shows the balance between importance of GOAL (what needs to be done) and RELATIONSHIP (the need for others in doing it). If the need to deliver the goal outweighs the need for the input of others a competitive approach is needed, potentially at the expense of relationships. If the achievement of the GOAL is dependent on the RELATIONSHIPS and vice versa then collaboration agreement must drive the behaviour.

The two lower quadrants show a place where neither goal or relationships matter. You may just avoid that effort! And an area where the goal is unimportant but relationships matter you may just be friendly!

THE TWIST IN THE TALE

The dark side of collaboration is treacherous acts of collusion with the enemy in contexts of conflict or political tension. Collaborators face communal hatred and often severe punishment as they are seen to “side” with the enemy. Same word, different thing surely?

Studies of war time collaboration show that collaboration is as old as war itself and hasn’t always been seen as treacherous. Like virtuous collaboration, it is driven by a clear purpose. Sometimes this is survival; or a longer term strategies to reduce casualties. At others collaborators have broken accepted boundaries along lines of belief and political aspirations.

The similarities seem to be that it always requires risk taking, trust and courage, clarity on purpose and adding value through collective action.

What else? Please like share, shout, shoot the breeze and generally help our thinking continue.

TopHat Discovery Coaching Services.

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Mont Saint-Michel may be the best-known landmark, but really, the whole coastline is shaped by this dramatic rhythm. It’s a landscape that changes constantly: bays emptying into vast sands and then filling back with waves from the ocean’s depths; boats in village harbours alternately resting on their sides and then floating tall with sails unfurled.

Watching this cycle in Dinard, I began to realise that these tides offered me a personal way of thinking about how I manage my ups and downs. That I can use this natural phenomenon as a way to inspire me in a practical way to navigate my moods, energy, and my reactions to things I feel I have little control over.

Photos taken in Dinard in September 2025.

As I took photographs of the coastline, it really struck me how useful these visual movements of the water, clouds and birds are when you are looking at creating a new perspective on what life comes up with. They turn something familiar into a lens for reflection. What I found with the tides is that they translated into states of mind, interlocked states of mind or in other words, they could become for me a way to manage change in how I interact with my world. These tides can help me explore how I move from stillness to action, from high activity to reflection and how each stage has value.

Of course, I’m not the first to see tides as a useful parallel to describe how one handles life. Writers, psychologists, and coaches have long drawn on nature’s rhythms to make sense of our inner worlds. But what struck me in Dinard was how immediate and personal the tides felt. Standing there, watching the boats lie stranded and then slowly lift back into motion, I realised each of us has our own inward tidal story, our own way of rising, pausing, receding and beginning again. Does that make sense to you?

Here’s how I’ve mapped it into five stages so that I can identify where I’m at when something comes up that needs my attention. Where am I when this happens? I could be in any one of these stages:

1. Low Tide – My boat is lying on the sand, not moving but not useless either. I am in a contemplative stage. It’s a time for rest, reflection and letting my thoughts settle like birds on the hulls. I’m noticing the light, the winds, the smells of the sea and the beach.

2. Rising Tide – Activity begins. As the water comes in, my keel starts to straighten out, I am noticing what is coming up, what is of potential concern and needs my attention. My boat steadies upright and I can start to unfurl my sails as I check the winds, currents and start to plot where I want to go and what course I should follow. This is the planning stage where ideas formed in quiet begin to take shape.

3. High Tide – Now is the time for action. All hands on deck, as mariners say! I am fully afloat and the winds and currents demand my full attention. My energy is high and now that my plan is being implemented, this is where I need to be careful of potential risks - unseen rocks, other boats - to identify them and act to avoid flipping into an overwhelm situation and potentially capsizing! My navigation here requires focus and resilience.

4. Receding Tide – The tension eases and momentum slows. What was hidden beneath the waves is revealed again. The bottom sands have shifted a little and this is a time for me to learn and integrate, to notice what has changed around me.

5. Returning to Low Tide – Reflection deepens. I hope to see clearly what’s changed since the last cycle and prepare for the next one.

Used as a coaching tool, the tides reminded me that we’re not meant to operate at “high tide” all the time, that my life moves in cycles. By recognising where in this tidal cycle I am finding myself, I might be able to choose how best to use my energy.

• At low tide, reflection and planning are more fruitful than forcing action.

• At rising tide, it’s time to prepare, align my support systems and set direction.

• At high tide, bring my full resources and courage to bear but stay mindful of overwhelm.

• At receding tide, pause, learn and consolidate.

This exercise of reflection has helped me to realize that it’s OK not to operate constantly at 100% efficiency and it’s actually not a bad idea to let go of that need. I’ve figured that to use my tidal cycle in a harmonious way will result in a more positive mindset about handling what I have little or no control over and to better manage aspects of life where I do have agency. Just as the tides are ever-changing and influenced by the pull of the moon and sun’s gravity, so too are our inner rhythms.

If everyone has their own inner tide, the question is: how might you listen for yours - and what could change if you began to sail with it rather than against it?

Written by Edward Jospé

At TopHat Discovery, we love a metaphor and we’d be interested in hearing from you. What are your favourites? Do you use them often to describe how you are feeling about an upcoming project? Let us know. Contact us here.

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TopHat Discovery Update.

1. Day-Retreat for coaches. 8th of November in South Park, London SW6. From 10 till 4, a day of reflection, re-charge, reignition and resolve. More information here.

2. Our group coaching programme, Navigating Change 2.0 Resilience in Action is into its 4th week; you can attend just the one - bound to be beneficial! More information here.

3. For coaches wishing to practice coaching methods, to receive coaching and to observe coaching sessions, for group coaching and peer-to-peer sessions, why not join the Be a Better Coach Programme. More information here.

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TopHat Discovery Coaching Services.

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Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, “What road do I take?”
The cat asked, “Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know,” Alice answered.
“Then,” said the cat, “it really doesn’t matter, does it?”

Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carrol

We make hundreds of decisions every day with ease but the big ones can tie us in knots. They feel like moments where the course of one’s life will change by the path we choose.

For example, if we are fortunate enough to be buying a house the decision of choosing which house carries with it the unknown elements of what life will be like in that house, as well as other questions about the house itself and what may lie beyond (will I want to sell the house later, will the value increase… etc?). When facing a change in job or career, there are all those questions about what might be achieved in the new role, what will be my working environment, will I be able to do it and who will I become in this future identity?

As the Cheshire cat suggests to hapless Alice, the choices we make depends on the outcome we want.

Yet objectives need not be set in stone in order to offer us direction. Rather than be locked on a fixed notion of our goals, can we hold them loosely enough to allow for exploration, creativity, and a willingness to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances?

Change can feel overwhelming. Whether self-imposed or the result of changes in context, change may involve a shift in career direction, the end of a job, a move to a new environment, a new workplace or team. In moments like these the pressure to make the “right” choice or decision can be bewildering and the sense of needing to choose wisely can feel intense. There may be fear of making the wrong decision or a feeling of urgency to pick the right one.

But what if the choice is not binary: a right way or a wrong way? What might happen if we let go of the belief that there is a single “correct” path?

“ ‘Curiouser and curiouser!’ Cried Alice.”

Here are some questions we have found useful in dealing with these troublesome forks in the road:

1. What is the larger journey that this decision is part of? It can even be reframed it as an experiment: “What can I learn from this experience regardless of where it leads?” This allows a focus on the process of learning and growing rather than simply on the immediate outcome. Each path will shape us in different ways. The key is to approach the fork with curiosity rather than with apprehension.

2. What was the last fork we faced and what did we learn that might be useful at the next? Often the path from one fork leads us to another fork. Life is rarely a straight line and we will experience multiple pivots, particularly in our careers.

3. How much is our choice of direction one which later, if it’s not the right fit, can be re-evaluated for a possible a course-adjustment? This flexibility, combined with a willingness to embrace imperfection, allows for a more resilient approach to facing our decision-points.

Will you still be you?

The choices we face, the decisions we make and our experiences of them reveal a lot about our values and what matters to us.

Often we explore values in coaching sessions. The powerful part of the exercise is when you reflect on the priorities you’ve given to the values you’ve come up with and how these push you away from some circumstances and towards others. It works like a self-affirming mirror of key elements of who you are and it provides a context for planning the pathways ahead. I like to imagine that our values can be like stars in the night sky that we can use to guide our journeys towards meaningful destinations.

How can the uncertainty we feel about the choices we face be balanced with what we know about who we are?

Where is your arrival?

A values-based approach in periods of change allows us to pivot when needed and reassess what we may be aiming towards. How fixed are our goals? Can they offer us room to manoeuvre and enable us to be who we want to be?

Re-evaluating goals creates the space to update them as we gather more information and consider how they align with our values. It becomes possible to embrace the discomfort that comes with not knowing exactly how things will unfold and to make decisions from a place of openness and growth rather than being fearful of which path we should take.

GROUP COACHING

In case you’ve not yet looked at our forthcoming programme of group coaching sessions – please do so! We’re running fortnightly sessions from Sept 9th. Each has a theme within the broad topic of ‘Navigating Change’ – Please spread the word, and why not come and join us? For more info, write to us at hello@tophatdiscovery.com

Credit: Harriet’s Postcard

In his excellent work “The Five Maturities: A New Paradigm for Coach Development”, David Drake makes the point that coaching the deckchair manager for high performance on the Titanic might have been pointless. To be fair, you could argue they weren’t able to see what was coming! But what if they could?

A few years back Peter Hawkins posed a similar question about the role of coaches in an uncertain world. Reflecting on how many leaders implicated in the catastrophic financial crash of 2008 were probably at the time working with coaches he asked: What could or should the coaches have done differently?

In case we need reminding, that disaster had a global impact. Millions of lives were profoundly affected as poverty rose through unemployment, underemployment and homelessness. The Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco estimated that in 2018 GDP in the US was estimated to be 7% less than it would have otherwise been ten years following the crash.

Now, arguably, in 2025, the world and its people are yet more vulnerable. Together – although with vastly varied levels of assets and resilience, we face the poly crises of conflict, poverty and insecurity together with climate emergencies, yawning inequality, disinformation and more. The International Coaching Federation estimates from its surveys that there are more than 100,000 coaches operating worldwide with increases in all regions of the world. And the industry is growing. With profound turbulence and change, what now is the role of a coach?

You may be using an AI bot for your coaching needs. If so, it will be unaffected by fear, thirst, hunger or feelings of injustice. If, however, your coach is human and not a robot, he, she or they joins you in the coaching space where you will think together about a life and a future that is in some way shared. Your respective values and experience will influence the dialogue and its outcomes. In this coaching space, you both have the potential to learn, reflect and expand your thinking and discover wisdom for the way forward.

At TopHat Discovery we have noticed that 2025 is demanding more of us than knowing how to arrange the deckchairs well. World events and their multiple impacts on everybody’s lives has required new thinking and new ways of working together.

With this in mind, in February, building on our regular 121 services and business-support programmes, we launched a group-coaching programme that has offered our clients a new experience. Supported by a TopHat Discovery coach, small groups have come together online and across various time zones to explore their potential and to find new ways forward together through turbulent waters.

For everyone participating, it has surpassed our expectations and offered new possibilities for the role of coaching and coaches.

● Participants have felt less bleakly isolated

● They have met others from some 10 different nationalities and professional backgrounds to share ideas and experiences,

● Together we have remembered our options and the still immense possibilities before us

Sometimes we are sharing the profound pain of loss – of jobs, of certainties and of once clear plans. Decisions may be taken and actions identified for going forward. Or not. At others there is even laughter at the absurdity of our situations.

Our new series begins September 9^th and runs every two weeks. Like all our coaching it has been designed and priced for your accessibility. We would love you to be with us! Email hello@tophatdiscovery.com to join in!

What TopHat Discovery Does

Four interlinked programmes of coaching-led services for social impact:

As well as holding our prices down to support access, we use a percentage of our surplus to pay forward for those who would otherwise never be able to afford coaching. Everyone becomes part of the solution.

• Get in touch to find out more!

• Share this with others to share the love!

• Comment to help us believe you are out there!

So you’ve being thinking and realised something’s got to change at work or more generally in life. You know you a falling short of your full potential.

As coaches ourselves, we would say this, but as well as coaches we are also users of coaching services and can attest that there is a certain magic in the way a good coach offers space for us to think, enabling possibilities we only half believed were there. The impact over a course of sessions can be profound!

As you choose your coach you will need to think about these 4 steps

• What kind of coach?

• Are they legitimate and properly trained to offer the service?

• Are they right for you?

• What will it cost?

1. What kind?

A quick search and you will find life coaches, business coaches, finance coaches and career coaches to name a few. Its crowded. Check out last month’s Potentiality Explored for Team Coaching.

Before you begin looking, think about what you are trying to acheive and then match that to the coaching you need. For example:

• If the need for change is centred in your business, executive coaching to help figure out how to rebalance priorities my be what you need

• If its centred in personal achievement or finding new pathways and facing uncertainty life-coaching may help.

Matching your coach’s expertise and experience to your unique challenges can be beneficial but the main benefit is having a coach who understands what “being in your shoes” might feel like.

2. Is your coach legitimate?

Although many of us have experience of being guided by friends or colleagues without any coaching qualifications, for a focussed investment in a professional service, we recommend that you choose a coach who is qualified and whose diploma has been accredited by a regulatory body.

The International Coach Federation (ICF), the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC); and the Association for Coaching (AC) have together established the bar for ethics, competency, and experience, that you can trust.

When contracting with a coach to provide your service, do not hesitate to ask for proof of their qualifications, their insurance and their complaints procedures.

You may use your coaching to share sensitive and confidential information. Keep it safe!

3. Are they the right coach for you?

For coaching to work and before you invest, you need to know you can work together effectively. The so called Chemistry has to be right.

Most coaches offer some kind of introductory session to establish your respective values and attitudes. Use this time to ask questions to see if their values resonate with yours. Such as:

• How did they came to coaching?

• What do they like about it?

• How long have they been doing it?

• How would they describe their style of coaching?

Be ready to be asked questions by your coach such as:

• What is making you seek coaching?

• If it goes well how will you know?

• How do you like to be made to think?

Both you and the coach will be asking yourselves: How do I/they want to be challenged? Does this feel right? If yes - great! If not, that’s okay. Keep looking.

4. What about the price tag?

You are investing in your future so figure out what you can afford. Discuss any issues regarding payment with your coach. In TopHat Discovery we have a saying: don’t let money get in the way of a good decision!

According to ICF, average prices in UK for coaches personal or life coaches average cost is between £125- 150 per hour although some people feel they should pay more so that it is reliably expensive! Corporate or executive coaching sponsored by businesses tend to be higher at between £200-260 per hour.

Like others, at TopHat Discovery we offer some charities, social enterprises, and education sectors access to lower rates. This depends on size and ability to pay. For example, THD offer reductions and uses some of its surplus to offer low cost coaching as part of our commitment to coach for social impact.

Your coach will send you a draft agreement before you commit to anything! This will inform you about their cancellation policies and much more. A good agreement sets up the relationship.

And finally..

Once you’ve chosen your coach, remember, success isn’t always instant or obvious or pleasant. A good coach will support you to dig deeper in ways that might not be comfortable; they may challenge your well constructed comfortable assumptions about yourself and others; they may feel like an overly honest mirror when you preferred the blurred moment.

If change were easy you wouldnt need a coach!

If you’d like a sounding board on where to start unlocking your potential further, or want to explore coaching with us, please contact us. At TopHat Discovery, we charge for the first session only when you choose to continue.

Food for thought:

The other morning, I was practicing Tai Chi on my terrace in London and drifted away. Here I was on planet Earth which was happily rotating on its axis and around our Sun as part of the solar system and also spinning around the wondrous Milky Way.
To come back to the same spot in space relative to the center of our galaxy would take me +/- 225 million years.

There is nothing like being in the present so I continued my practice.

If you are in UK, you may have seen recent debates about how the National Health Service could learn from Formula One to create better teams and teaming and therefore efficiency. This fascinating clip shows you how team efficiency can change over time. It prompts some great questions.

First question: What is a team?

Wiki and AI kindly offer us the following: A team is a group of individuals who work together to achieve a common goal or purpose, relying on each other's skills and efforts.

Thanks AI, but like all robots you’re not real and you have forgotten some key real life elements:

First, you forgot the word “changing”.

Almost all teams change. People leave and new one arrive; people within them change and develop and so on. Goals change too. These changes, whilst offering opportunities, can be deeply challenging

Second, you forgot the word “diverse”.

Almost all teams are, indeed need to be, diverse. Gender, race, neuro-diversity, age, cognitive ability as well as personal histories and biases all play a role in creating a collective whole. This is both enriching to the whole perspective and yet can slow down decision-making

Third, you missed out the phrase “within an ever-changing context”.

Unexpected changes and new demands on the skills in teams affect individuals personally and/or require quick collective decisions. Changes such as rising costs, cuts in funding, shifts in international politics, new legislation etc. Changed plans contribute to tensions, debates and workloads with an unclear picture of what’s coming next. This will sound familiar to international development and humanitarian teams, universities in UK and US and many businesses faced with the impact of recent tariffs.

Fourth, that point about the purpose. While together a team may set its goals, the point of the team is not set by the team but by the wider organisation, community or system of which it is part: for instance, as a project ends, the need for the associated team might end.

​So: a team is a changing group of diverse individuals who work together in service of a purpose, setting goals to meet the challenge of an ever-changing and often uncertain context relying on each other's skills and efforts.

Second question: What is teaming?

Put very simply, Teaming is when a group of people or animals work or act together.

It implies joint effort for a greater output than a simple multiplication of effort. In teams effort includes building trust, intuition, creativity, vulnerability and innovation to support teams overcoming apparently insoluble problems and challenges.

Third question: How do you know if your team is doing well?

USE DATA - In addition to business bottom lines, tracking unexpected turnover, low engagement scores, complaints by your customers all carry strong indicators of team health. This has been key in Formula One’s decision-making.

NOTICE CULTURE – Knowing how your behaviour impacts effectiveness. Give yourself and/or your team a score out of 10 in these four questions:

1. How often do we review our mistakes and take agreed actions?

2. How valued do I feel my skillset is in this team?

3. How supported do I feel by each member of the team to perform at my best?

4. How free are we to challenge each other?

Low scores indicate a culture of fear or, at least, carefulness where team members will hold back ideas and effort. This impacts team effectiveness. It may increase safety risks important to both the NHS and Formula One!

Fourth question: What do you do if you see the need for improvement?

Teams may use several approaches:

1. Team building and strategy discussion awaydays for mutual understanding

2. Training to cope with a new business needs and competency gaps

3. Changing team membership using restructuring

Like most short term interventions these have some success. They can also be a total waste of time and money as the benefits of awaydays often evaporate back in the workplace; training is often not used; and costly restructuring may not solve the problem.

Team Coaching

4. By contrast, Team Coaching offers a deep, slower exploration for development and change over time. The results can be an extraordinary combination of team strengthening, skills improvement, deepened impact and increased engagement of individuals in the team saving time and costs. Coaches work alongside the leader and team members reflecting, facilitating and challenging glib fixes, staring the medium and long term in the face and asking:

What does the world of tomorrow need us to be doing now?

Team Leader comment following our work together:

“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have learnt so much about my team and honestly, without this work I am not sure I would still be here”

Team Member: “I know [now] where we fit and how to explain ourselves to others. We work better now. I know so much about my colleagues and how they think and work. It’s been amazing. Thankyou.”

Goes without saying but if you want to know more. Get in touch

It’s May! In the UK, Spring was (until today!) feeling like Summer and, if not thinking too much about this being a symptom of our climate changing, it is easy to enjoy the effect of everything starting to bloom in nature around us and the lightness of mood from sunny weather.

Can we, by just ‘taking in’ nature, find calm from the things causing us worry and stress?

I’ve noticed many coaching clients have been expressing their feelings of stress, worry and overwhelm in recent times. With this in mind, our group coaching sessions on Navigating turbulent waters of uncertainty are providing a popular sanctuary for reflection. When considering uncertainties, participants have been describing feelings of shock and fear about what’s coming down the line, and concern for those around.

The term ‘resilience’ comes up quite frequently. It’s a concept that offers fortitude in the face of ominous uncertainties. There is an implication that resilience, when achieved, provides strength within us.

Is there something in how we take in nature that can build our inner resilience?

Coaching conversations bring value from not only acknowledging what we feel within, but noticing the connections with what’s going on around. Change - out there - may be beyond what we can control, as it is in nature, but it can provide a fertile context for observing where we are and what we have within.

There’s value in stepping back – in our minds – from the noise and stress of the things that disconcert us.

Visualising nature

An inspiring way to do this is to think about something from the natural world and visualise its changing elements. For example, try thinking about a river:

As you picture a river, consider how fast does the water flow?

Is it translucent or opaque; can you see beneath its surface?

How does the light reflect and what patterns are formed as water finds its way around or over rocks and obstacles?

Expand your visualisation to include other senses – does the river make a sound? What smells are in the river’s air? How would it feel to be in the water?

Then, view it from the air. Where does the river flow? How does it twist and turn its way through the contours of the landscape? For some travellers, the river may be a barrier obstructing their journey; for others, it may be a channel for transportation.

Ask yourself, what is the river to you?

In thinking about these questions, notice any change in how you feel and see if your perspective has changed about the things that are uncertain around you.

You may have other river images or different examples from the natural world you’d choose to consider. If so, wonderful! Whatever the image in your exercise of visualisation, look for metaphors that can offer pathways for thinking differently about the things you are grappling with.

Can this help us consider our responses to constant change and disruption, the fears we may have about big and small things, whether climate change, global affairs or workplace stress?

In finding the connection between our inner feelings and what we can visualise in nature around us, can we grow a more resilient viewpoint for accepting uncertainties, and more empowered to cope with the changes that are going on around us?

This month’s newsletter has been written by Jo Elms

Jo’s random thought … when cockatoo's move to the beat of music, are they dancing?

Coming up at TopHat Discovery:

Be A Better Coach: a regular online forum for coaches. Three types of session are held:

· Trio coaching, twice a month (for coaches to practice and learn by coaching and observing each other)

· Peer-to-peer learning, every other month (for coaches to share learning from their coaching experiences)

· Group Coaching practice, every other month (to refine and improve approaches for group coaching)

If you’re a coach, whether very experienced practitioner or learning to become a coach, and you’d like to join, send a note to: hello@tophatdiscovery.com

Navigating turbulent waters of uncertainty: online Group Coaching.

£25 per session, or £100 for five sessions. Enquire at hello@tophatdiscovery.com

Sessions are held every other Tuesday evening at 5pm GMT+1

Date

Theme for session

6 May 2025

How can we take care of ourselves as we care for others?

20 May 2025

What does it mean to maintain equilibrium in an unbalanced world?

3 June 2025

How do we locate the courage we need when facing our challenges?

17 June 2025

What needs to shift for us to move beyond negative towards proactive?

1 July 2025

How can I create effective collaboration as a strategy for resilience?

15 July 2025

How can we adapt ourselves to reframe our ways forward?

29 July 2025

How can we draw from group dynamics to maintain motivation?

Navigating Climate Anxiety with Coaching: A Call to Action for Earth Day

As Earth Day approaches on 22nd April 2025, I find myself reflecting on the climate movement. Despite years of progress in reducing carbon emissions and increasing environmental protection, recent developments, particularly in the USA, have caused setbacks. With this in mind, the question remains: What’s next?

Coaching can help us manage the emotional challenges of the climate crisis, offer actionable ways to engage for Earth Day, and introduce tools to reflect on your role in shaping a more sustainable future.

Why Link Earth Day to Coaching?

As a coach, I often witness the frustration of individuals and organisations overwhelmed by the climate crisis. Despite scientific advancements, the shift towards sustainability feels slow and uncertain. But coaching offers a powerful way to navigate these emotions, reframe perspectives, and move forward with hope.

In my work with TopHat Discovery and the Choose Change programme, I emphasise optimism and action. Through coaching, we can connect with our purpose, align our values, and shift our mindset to become active agents in creating positive change. This is crucial as we work together to build a future where both the planet and its people thrive.

Why Earth Day Matters to You

Earth Day, created by the Earth Day Organisation, calls for action across every sector of society to address the climate crisis. The challenge lies in turning large-scale goals into personal, meaningful actions. You might wonder: Why does this matter to me? How can I make a difference? The answer? You do.

Your individual actions matter more than you may realise. But turning that sense of urgency into tangible change often requires a mindset shift, and coaching is key to making that transition.

How Coaching Can Make a Difference

Coaching helps individuals process the overwhelming emotions that come with the climate crisis—whether it’s fear, frustration, or anxiety. It enables people to reframe their thinking, break down the barriers preventing them from taking action, and make sustainability an intrinsic part of their daily lives.

In the Choose Change programme, we help organisations and individuals explore their sustainability and social justice ethos, and guide them to a mindset of possibility and action. Through a combination of executive and team coaching, and workshops, we help participants find clarity, build courage, and develop actionable strategies for change.

Coaching also encourages collective involvement. We can guide individuals to make eco-friendly choices—whether it’s reducing energy consumption, supporting local businesses, or adopting greener habits. More importantly, coaching fosters collaboration, helping individuals connect their personal efforts to the larger climate movement.

The Power of Group Coaching

At TopHat Discovery, we’re currently using group coaching to help professionals in the international aid sector and other social impact areas navigate the complexities they face. (See below for our current programme).

This programme, with its focus on collaboration, courage, and action, is an ideal setting for these kinds of discussions. By bringing individuals together, we can create a space for shared insights, innovative thinking, and actionable steps toward sustainability.

We’ll be expanding these efforts to explore climate anxiety and support individuals in building resilient, collective responses to change.

Supporting Climate Innovation through Systemic Team Coaching

In addition to individual coaching, systemic team coaching is a crucial tool in supporting climate-focused organisations. Many start-ups and companies are driving the renewable energy and sustainable farming revolutions. However, the emotional toll of working in high-stakes, mission-driven industries can be overwhelming.

Through systemic team coaching, we help organisations align their internal dynamics with their external impact. This process strengthens collaboration, fosters adaptive leadership, and builds resilience. It ensures that teams stay focused on their mission to create climate-positive innovations, even as they navigate the challenges of scaling and complexity.

At TopHat Discovery, we work with teams to foster cohesion and clarity, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. This is a vital part of the Choose Change programme, which aims to support organisations in making sustainable choices that align with both their internal culture and their external impact.

A Coaching Tool to Reflect and Take Action

To support your reflection on the climate crisis, I recommend using a coaching tool adapted from Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence & Concern. This tool helps shift the focus from frustration and helplessness to proactive action. Here’s how it works:

1. Draw three concentric circles:

   • The innermost circle represents what you can directly control.

   • The middle circle includes what you can influence but not control.

   • The outer circle contains concerns beyond your control.

2. Reflect on these questions:

   • What concrete steps can you take to contribute to sustainability?

   • How can you use your influence—through conversations, voting, or advocacy—to push for systemic change?

   • What concerns you, but is out of your control? How can you redirect that energy into action?

This tool empowers individuals to focus on what they can change and move beyond feelings of powerlessness.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Change Together

To navigate the emotional challenges of the climate crisis, we must ask ourselves powerful questions and the Choose Change programme helps guide organisations and individuals through these questions, offering the space and support needed to choose sustainable paths. Together, we can create the change our planet needs—one action at a time.

Check the BBC’s Earth Shot Report 2024 to have a look at tremendous initiatives happening all over the world. Google Earth Day 2025 for events where you live.

This month’s newsletter has been written by Edward Jospé

April Offer and More

Our group coaching programme, “Find your way forward in times of uncertainty”, was sold out for our last session; we still have places left for the next few dates which are:

8 April 2025 What opportunities can I find within the changing context?

22 April 2025 How can we manage the polarised views affecting ourselves and others?

6 May 2025 How can we take care of ourselves as we care for others?

20 May 2025 What does it mean to maintain equilibrium in an unbalanced world?

3 June 2025 How do we locate the courage we need when facing our challenges?

17 June 2025 What needs to shift for us to move beyond negative towards proactive?

1 July 2025 How can I create effective collaboration as a strategy for resilience?

15 July 2025 How can we adapt ourselves to reframe our ways forward?

29 July 2025 How can we draw from group dynamics to maintain motivation?

If you are in a state of flux, come along and participate. It will be worth your while.

Apply and pay for your sessions here and/or contact us for further information.
£25 for 1 session or £100 for 5.

Edward’s random question is:

I have had an irresistible wish to take a ride into Space since I was a kid.
I wonder why?

Thanks for reading. If you have enjoyed this, please:

• Like – we’ll feel the love;

• Share – we’ll spread the love;

• Comment – we’ll be there!

hello@tophatdiscovery.com for info, prices, and more.

This image is from HSBC’s thought-provoking marketing team from around 2017

This has sometimes felt like a month of deeply unsettling change and upheaval. The tumble-dryer effect. As we tumble about how are our biases showing up? Our newsletter offers some points for reflection and action, invites you join our group coaching and answer a random question!

March Thoughts

In an ideal world, UN days wouldn't be necessary. As it is, they give us an opportunity to pause and reflect to become aware of our own responsibilities. There are three in March which focus on people who routinely face both conscious and unconscious bias and others across the UN annual calendar.

With this in mind, we are thinking about unconscious bias. We mean those sneaky unconscious forms of discrimination and stereotyping based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, age, and so on that sometimes slip into language and attitudes.

They are kind of “brain shortcuts” and they are amazingly nuanced and deeply embedded. We most often recognise them when we are on the receiving end (ouch!) Yet we all have them and they can be helpful and harmful.

On the good side, a bias can aid fast decision-making potentially moving you more quickly away from potential danger, helping us develop strategies for testing and often helping find friends and a sense of community.

Much less great, are the missed opportunities for you and the object of your biases. Being routinely stereo-typed creates barriers to understanding and opportunity. Lots has been written about the value-add of diversity. Teams with mixed race, gender, ability, age, neuro diversity and thinking processes do better. Biases literally make us all poorer.

The trouble is as the name suggests, unconscious is, just that, unconscious.

Unconscious bias spotting! Here are four things to try

This year the theme begun on UN Zero Discrimination Day (1^st March) is “We stand together”. In the tumble dryer the clothes fall over each other each one on its own. How might curiosity and action over our biases help usb this year?

March Offer and More

Harriet’s Random Question

Last but not least a random question: Are humans the only species to clap? I found myself clapping at a concert recently thought how strange it is that we do. Please comment!

Thanks for reading. If you have enjoyed this, please:

• Like – we’ll feel the love;

• Share – we’ll spread the love;

• Comment – we’ll be there!

hello@tophatdiscovery.com for info, prices and more

This year is still only just off the starting blocks and is already filled with changes and new challenges. Is your work demanding new skills from you? Are world events testing your resilience and motivation? Or is just standing still requiring courage?

And with these questions do you wonder if you’re the right person for the job, or, that you chose the wrong path because you’re not up to it? And then the doubts … maybe you don’t have what it takes? Looking in the mirror you do not see the smart confident person you think you need to be, but something quite different?

You might be experiencing the frequently referred to condition: Imposter Syndrome - that monster in the mirror that whispers messages of doubt, our own confidence-underminer. It is a dramatic name: ‘Imposter’ suggests something quite intrusive, a sense being out of place and a feeling of not belonging. ‘Syndrome’ carries implication of a medical abnormality. And yet, this non-syndrome (it’s generally not pathological), was first called the less catchy Imposter Phenomenon in 1985. It referred to intense feelings that a group of women had that their achievements were undeserved. They worried that they were likely to be exposed as frauds. This is turn affected their well-being. They were not alone. According to an article published in the International Journal of Behavioural Science, approximately 70% of people experience impostor feelings at some point in their lives.

So, in fact it’s stranger if you don’t feel it! Even your coach may have their own fears that you will find out.…

These feelings are the typical noise of our inner critic. We all have it and coaching can help diminish the negative impact of the thoughts and feeling that come with it. We suggest a few things to support your thinking:

o FACE IT – Get to know your inner critic well, consider where it comes from and what its intention might be, what agenda it may have for you.

o WELCOME IT - Face the areas where you feel less certain. Listen to the inner critic as a voice that questions but not to the point of undermining. It can offer seeds of truth which have value when not blown out of proportion.

o WORK WITH IT – Introduce your inner critic to your ‘Strengths Friend’ (e.g. try compiling a success inventory) and consider how they could have a constructive relationship. Explore how your strengths can be channelled to address your perceived areas of weakness. It’s a time when self-trust is a valuable concept to counter-balance feelings of doubt.

As you do this work you will be developing a better relationship with yourself by developing your ‘mental muscles.’ For example:

o The muscle that is comfortable with the discomfort of not knowing

o The muscle that learns to ask for help

o The muscle that harnesses strength from your values

o The muscle that coalesces self-awareness from noticing small wins every day.

Thanks for reading. If you have enjoyed this, please:

• Like – we’ll feel the love;

• Share – we’ll spread the love;

• Comment – we’ll be there!

New News!

TopHat Discovery CIC is offering group coaching

These sessions are opportunities for a group of people to come together to focus on an interest in the theme provided. Sessions will be 90 minutes and cost £25 per person per session.

It is our experience and belief that everyone present has wisdom to share.

The 1^st session will be this month – February 2025. The date & time will be confirmed soon.

The theme for this session will be Finding your way forward in times of uncertainty.

If you’re interested to join us, and/or if you think you or a friend/colleague might be interested, please get in contact and we will update you with further details.

hello@tophatdiscovery.com for info, prices and more.

So we wrapped up 2024 and were offered a chance to think back over the year. What went well? Where were the surprises? What did we notice about ourselves? How did we change physically and mentally?

If you’re anything like me, 2024 served up some deep troughs of pain but some great moments of joy and hope. Maybe, in fact in the balancing act that is life, you can’t truly have one without the other.

And now that we have emerged blinking into 2025, what new opportunities lie in store, this year and beyond? How can we grasp them and, more importantly, stay grasping them?

Goal or Gaol?

At the pub this weekend, there was the usual chat about New Year’s Resolutions. What’s yours? Maybe you’re looking for a change and are planning to get thin; get rest; give up meat; get a new job; write the book; go on a silent retreat; or run a marathon? These and many similar aspirations come into coaching sessions at the start of the year.

But here’s a thing: goal-setting like this seldom leads to the change you may want and conversely maybe you wont achieve these goals without deeper thought. So-called SMART goal setting risks reducing and even constraining our lives and our work to some kind of project management.

If they are easily achieved because you’re going to do it anyway, is it really a change? Many year-end - or even sooner, say, late January - reflections show, these “I’m going to change” projects are often abandoned when conditions change. Failure to keep them can make us feel that we have let ourselves and others down. Our brave goals become our gaol, imprisoning us in the if-only self-assessments: “I meant to...”, “I should of…” etc. I have met some who refuse all thoughts of resolutions to change because they know they will never keep them. As this British Heart Foundation survey from the start of 2024 shows, people often want to make a change but they get stuck

In reality, many of us get bored with our own plans. Perhaps we only half-believe we can or even want to reach them. Or maybe we lack confidence in our convictions.

January Top Tip: HIT it!

If you want to make a change that matters in 2025 try this thinking (complete with a helpful mnemonic):

Start first by pausing to consider who you are now, in what ways you are special and what that is telling you life needs from you (note, not the other way around). As you consider the answers, put your plans to the HIT test:

• Hard? - Is the plan challenging enough so that the thought makes you take a breath? Or leaves your hands feel a bit sweaty?

• Important? – Does it matter enough to you that other stuff will be put aside and that you will return to it even when you may get distracted from time to time?

• Thrilling? – will you share it with excitement with a close friend or loved one so they can share the excitement you feel?

Three yes’s and you have the basis of some great work! Fewer than three and some more thought might be needed. Get in touch and we can get started.

Why this, why now?

TopHat Discovery CIC grew out of a former business in 2024 and provides coaching-led services for social impact. We intend to support those working in non-profits and businesses with the aim of making a positive sustainable change as well as using surplus to make coaching services accessible to a wider range of clients and supporting coaches too. This newsletter is part of our aim to collaborate, share and extend our reach.

When you subscribe, we will be grinning from ear to ear and, more practically, joining a community of clients, coaches and colleagues moving us forward with a momentum for change towards great impact and sustainable change. This newsletter will reach you monthly at the start of the month. Hopefully it will grow in sophistication as we get better at Substack! In it, we will share thoughts and tips from our work and ask for your comments and your wisdom. Join in!

Subscribe now

My client, a director in her organisation, felt overlooked in strategy-level conversations.

In spite of her seniority and 25 yr career, she felt invisible. Her confidence was eroding.

In our 1st session she mentioned, in passing, an opportunity: a well-respected organisation was seeking a Board Chair – a role all about strategy. She had the right background but, she shrugged, the deadline was Sunday and there wasn’t time to apply. We were talking on the Friday.

How long do you need? I asked

4 hours, she said. I don’t want to sell myself short. But I don’t have 4 hours, I’ve other deadlines, and my teenagers need my time this weekend.

If you were the recruiter, I asked, and someone with a career like yours applied, would you want to meet them?

Yes I would, she said. It’s not easy to find good people.

Noticing a more confident tone, I asked: What if you didn’t write an amazing application, just an OK one? Enough to show your career – how long would you need?

She thought for a minute. Maybe 2 hours. Actually I could probably find 2 hours this evening…

You can guess what happened next. That evening she wrote the application – not a work of art, but good enough – and they asked her for interview. We had a coaching session before it. Then they appointed her as Chair. We had a session for the first Board meeting too.

Importantly, her self-esteem grew. A few weeks later, she was head-hunted by a competitor organisation for a director role. She accepted but with a condition – she’d need a voice in organisation’s strategy discussions. They agreed enthusiastically!

Furthermore, the organisation that she left offered her roles on various committees to persuade her to stay. Unconvinced, she said no – which made her feel even more empowered.

My reflections from this:

• For a person wanting to change their situation, actions build confidence, and confidence can be transformative. Consider barriers you may be imposing on yourself, like my client needing 4 hours to write a strong application when an OK one was good enough. The adage, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, might apply here.

• For me, the coach, a reminder that a throwaway remark can open doors to revealing thought processes. My client had clocked an opportunity and almost dismissed it. Almost, but not entirely. When she mentioned it, it seemed significant so I presented it back to her.

• For the old employer – they lost someone good! It probably cost thousands to fill the vacancy. If 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘥 provided the coaching she would have felt valued and her growth in confidence would have brought convincing return on investment.

• For everyone: a coaching conversation can enable you to reveal to yourself a path for doing the things you are struggling to figure out.