I was reading a thoughtful piece on LinkedIn about a culture specialist who managed to sustain a positive, valued culture right up until the day the business closed its doors. And I thought, Yes, that is lovely.  In some ways. And in other ways, I believed it - entirely - yet also found it unrealistic and almost pointless. When a business closes down, do the employees need to be left wanting more? Should they be left clinging to the wreckage thinking, "It will never be this g

We’re now on the exhausted sprint to the end of 2025. It hasn’t been the best of years, has it? If your business has smashed it, give yourself a pat on the back that knocks you off your feet. For everyone else — let’s just hope 2026 brings a lift. At OPCoachUK, much of our work is about helping people handle the rough as well as the smooth. Most of that happens in a work context: developing behaviours and attitudes that build resilience and performance. But this piece is abou

This month I’m focusing on classical music that brings electronic instruments into the orchestra – the theremin and the ondes Martenot....

We tend to think confident leaders are cut from the same cloth: bold, certain, and unshakeable. They stride into a room, take control,...

If you're going to force yourself to do anything, communicating - good and bad - is the best thing to choose. Much is written about...

Busy music to calm and focus the busy brain. This month: chamber orchestra music

Same people. Same resources. Better results. Psychological safety is everywhere right now . Like most buzzwords, it risks losing meaning....

A lot of people talk about team alignment , but it’s interesting how rarely it’s defined. In the broadest sense, it means everyone...

Unclear leadership causes more damage to organisations than poor strategy ever will. The frustrating part? Most leaders don’t realise...

Leadership comes with many demands, and "unclear" covers a multitude of sins. However, a surprising responsibility underpins them all:...

Music To Work By: August 2025 Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been rewatching Cosmos  by Professor Carl Sagan. If you enjoy Professor...

Is Someone in Your Top Team Fighting a Battle You Can’t See? The troublesome Imp Imposter Syndrome (IS) isn’t always obvious, but it’s...

July in Sound: Grit, Grumble, and the English Symphony This month's selection for the working brain is all-English — but don’t expect...

This month’s selection is curated for the busy brain — not for passive listening, but for real engagement. It’s for those of us who need...

Repelling the borders I’ve recently joined a fascinating project as a consultant for the AI Maturity Index—helping organisations assess...

Hybrid Working: A Model Worth Fighting For We have long championed the hybrid working model, even before COVID. It has transformed the...

In this article I’m going to talk about something close to a lot of UK SME leaders’ hearts; how to positively influence outcomes when...

We're going to call a spade a spade. The current economic climate in the UK is alarming and a lot of SMEs are having a rough time....