We find ourselves in turbulent times with the outbreak of Covid-19 (Corona virus) and it has been fascinating to watch how the UK has responded to the crisis. 
 
I have a personal view that we are all leaders and it is how we choose to behave in these turbulent times that demonstrate the leadership skills we all have. 
 
There are days where I feel we are dammed if we do and dammed if we don’t. The opinions of others across the world over social media and journalists are impacting the decisions that individuals make, which cements my belief we are all leaders and have leadership traits which many will choose to follow.

• What would happen if our choices and decisions came from a place of love rather than fear?
• What would happen if we collaborated rather than competed?
• What if we all worked as a team rather than in silo?

 
These are questions that are relevant now, in the future and questions I’ve asked in the past as part of reflection.
 
What lessons am I taking away by leading through crisis?

• Challenge creates opportunity
• Our values drive behaviours
• Our beliefs drive behaviours
• Tough decisions must be made based on risk
• Fear and panic creates hysteria
• Communication is paramount for success
• Love and support creates harmony
• Collaboration is the only win/win situation

 
None of this is new, we just don’t consciously bring it to the forefront of our minds when we are busy. 
 
What opportunities does crisis bring?

• Learning & Growth
• Creative Thinking
• Strategic Thinking
• Implementation of new ways of working
• Teamwork
• Effective decision making
• Living life true to our family and company values and beliefs
• Challenge and conflict resolution
• Effective Communication

 
How is the current crisis affecting me & what am I doing about it?

• Home schooling – great opportunity to learn and connect with my boys to truly understand the challenges that they face in education and how things have changed or stayed the same within the education curriculum. 
• Effective Communication – being clear about the plan of action for the day. What the priorities are and valuing that we all give and receive information differently. Sometimes I must provide more information than I would normally like to receive and appreciate that others will process this information differently. They may want to be quiet and digest the information rather than talk about it aloud. 
• Getting creative – clients can still be coached over the phone and where they prefer face to face then embrace technology and utilise facetime and zoom. Explore what elements of my training programmes can be delivered online and learn the systems to educate myself and others
• Utilise my support groups – I’ve had more conversations with people over the phone, email or social media than ever before to seek to understand how I can help and support them as well as them helping and supporting me. A true example of collaboration over competition. 
• Remaining positive – I regularly talk about my emotional bank account and whether it is in credit or overdrawn. The more we give praise, support, words of encouragement and inspiration the more positive effect it will have on everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Home working – whilst I am now used to home working, the dynamics at home will change so we will need to play to strengths in our family team and understand the roles that we all play throughout the day, respecting the fact that we will all have different priorities to achieve and how can we make sure the deadlines are achieved.
• Basic needs of survival – food, water, heat & security. I haven’t gone out panic buying, believing that if we all continued buying our weekly food as normal there will be enough for everyone. I have clean running cold water out of a tap as well as warm water for a shower. In other parts of the world, people would give anything to have that. I have a roof over my head that is safe, secure and warm whilst there are people still living out on the streets wondering when they will next have their basic needs of survival.

 
All in all, I have a lot to be grateful for. My health which is my wealth, a family who love and support me even when I’m not firing off all cylinders and being my best self as well as a fabulous support community that I can pull on in times of crisis. I’m living life true to my family and company values and beliefs.

• How is the current crisis affecting you?
• What help & support do you require?

 
Please feel free to reach out to see what solutions I may have at claire@accendocoaching.co.uk. Thank you for reading this blog and let’s lead the way

International Women’s Day 2020
 
Sunday 8th March 2020 is International Women’s day and 18 months ago, Joanne Outram & I collaborated with 10 other women to bring ours and their stories together in a book titled Inspirational, Fabulous and Over 40.
 
I want to recognise these amazing women by giving you a snippet of their journeys.
 
Jane Dyer – A lady faced with a disability from birth who has never let this get in the way of success. In fact, she is determined to succeed no matter what and embraces the challenge of her situation by working with people who are in similar situations and demonstrates that through her business, Tudor Rose Business Services, where she provides her clients with solutions to their problems by being able to walk in their shoes “Empowering YOU to focus on YOUR dreams”. 
 
Debbie Inglis – I’ve known Debbie for the last 7 years and have the privilege to be an associate coach for her through her company Square Two. She lives and breathes her brand because Square Two is all about not going back to square one. Her chapter is called “Mentally Tough Me” and her story clearly demonstrates this as she shares her 7 learning points of her “Life CV”. If you asked her if she was “Mentally Tough”, her response would be “I’m working progress” which I think we all are.
 
Sarah Jones – The co-author that has not yet reached 40, however found her courage to “Break the Taboo” and follow her passion from being a brain surgeon to a self-employed funeral director! What a shift. I totally resonate with her journey of leaving a safe and secure environment with a regular income and final salary pension scheme, dealing with the challenges of others thoughts and feeling whilst knowing you have the support of those who love you, willing you on to live your true purpose with passion. As she says “If you never risk more than you are willing to lose then what is the worst that can happen?”
 
Katy Mason – I met Katy when we both started our coaching journey in 2011 and I smile when I read about “Chaos the chimp” because we all have one that sits in our head that triggers our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Sometimes this chimp can be helpful other times it can be a hindrance. Thankfully Katy has found “Anotherway” to help herself and her coaching clients move from “Middle of the Road to Loving Boot”
 
Ali Moore - Ali certainly “Finds her roar” as she shares her emotional story. The driving force being to learn to “trust” again. I love her mantra of “Dream more, See more & Be whatever you want to be!”. It’s good to talk and when the going gets tough, don’t be afraid to reach out for help & support to “Reconnect” with that is important in your life right now. 
 
Michelle Oxley – The title of Michelle’s chapter “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is so true as she shares her life of abuse resulting in turning the highly confident, full of life woman into a woman full of self-doubt, low self-esteem and lack of self-worth. Thank goodness she found the light and has gone on to huge success in her business and been a role model for her family.
 
Sam Parsonage – I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sam for many years and see her grow on her transformational journey. She “dares to be different” and I was so proud when at 50, she chose to follow her passion of vintage and sell pretty dresses in her own shop “Miss Samantha’s Vintage” which turns 2 later this month. 
 
Sally Penni – At the time of publication Sally had just turned 40 and what a difference she has made during her lifetime. A barrister of 20 years fighting the cause for others brings a sense of achievement and justice to those deserving of her time, energy and effort. Sally is a professional woman who fights for the rights of her clients whilst recognising there are people in the world less fortunate than her that she can help, support and inspire along the way which is why she raises money for charity and decided to donate all her proceeds from this book to Anthony Nolan and Royal Manchester Children’s hospital. “Whatever your dream, Every Penni counts” was a great title for her chapter and she is certainly living her life on purpose.
 
Janet Woodjetts – I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Janet for the last 5 years as part of the 3 Shires Coaching group and every interaction that you have with her is “with love, fun and gratitude”. As a proud baby boomer, she shares her challenges throughout the decades and the selfless actions that she took to be the role model that she is today to her children, stepchildren and their partners who now inspire her with their courage, knowledge and humility.
 
Lynnda Warsnop – A science teacher, who like so many became burnt out and stressed by the job. Lynnda was brave to take voluntary redundancy so she could support her son with his challenges. By doing so she realised she was “by myself, but not alone”. The power of building a team has been her success throughout all her career especially as a self-employed woman who frequently has the support of her “sparkling ladies” as part of “The Sparkling Business Club”
 
Joanne Outram – A hugely talented and determined woman who has learnt the hard way about the “numbers losing their crunchiness” and in the process found the “Law of Attraction”. Jo now works with women to educate them on their money mindset and from my personal experience can honestly say it’s been life changing. When the going gets tough the tough keep going and that’s what Joanne has certainly done.
 
Claire Cahill – What can I say about myself that you don’t already know? I’m determined to succeed no matter what. Impossible is I’m possible and failure is not an option, it’s just an opportunity to learn and grow. I have my Mum & Nana to thank for the woman I am today because without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Continue to “Dream, Believe, Achieve and Make it Happen”
 
If you have enjoyed this blog and the snippets of information I’ve shared about these truly Inspirational, Fabulous women who are over 40 then head over to Amazon where you can read their full stories on kindle or contact me at claire@accendocoaching.co.uk where you can purchase a signed copy of the book for £10