Rachel Dubourg Coaching

I’ve always lived by a simple value: the most important thing in life is to be kind.

After years in leadership roles — and now coaching leaders myself — I’m more convinced than ever that kindness in leadership isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a strategic advantage.

It isn’t about being soft or fluffy. It’s about practising kindness through clarity, respect, and genuine care for the people you’re asking to do hard things.

Kindness builds trust.
Trust fuels performance.

It also means not avoiding difficult conversations but holding them with courage and consideration. Being clear about what’s required while listening fully and acknowledging effort.

Lead well. Choose kindness.

As we say goodbye to 2025, I’m grateful for all the love and support I’ve received over the past 12 months. I cherish every moment of joy, laughter, silliness and fun.

As we prepare to ring in 2026, here are my 5 goals and wishes for all of you for the year ahead ...

1) Be kind. To others and to yourself.
2) Compliment others. Be the first to say “hello”. Brighten other peoples’ days.
3) Take a moment to breathe, pause, and appreciate nature.
4) Love fiercely. And don’t forget to tell people how much they mean to you.
5) Draw on your inner strength when you need it most. Trust that it’s always there, even on the days you can’t feel it.

Wishing you a wonderful 2026, with love, laughter (and really cute dogs).

This is Clover. She's a sweet, gentle soul with an endless capacity for love.

Spend a little time with Clover, and she'll show you the art of truly living in the moment.

She finds happiness in the simplest things—the warmth from a patch of sunshine, a satisfying stretch first thing in the morning, or the scents carried on a light breeze.

She revels in a cozy snuggle or a gentle ear rub, her happiness unmistakable.

She radiates joy, bounces like a lamb and gives an excited 'bum-wiggle' when she goes to greet the people she knows.

Her infectious enthusiasm and boundless affection are a reminder of how much we could all embrace the present, with a little more joy and love.

Did your first day back at work leave you feeling heavy, with a tightness in your chest or a cloud of low mood hanging over you?

Perhaps you wished you felt more energised, motivated, confident, and ready to embrace the opportunities of the new year.

Coaching can help you reconnect with what truly matters, spark the inspiration to believe in your next steps, set meaningful goals, and enjoy the journey towards achieving them.

Reach out today for a free online discovery call and explore how coaching can support you in finding happiness, success, and personal growth in 2025.

This year, I've decided to focus on New Year's goals rather than resolutions.

A resolution is a promise, often rigid, and can easily become a source of stress or frustration. The weight of that promise to ourselves can be overwhelming, especially when we realise it’s harder to keep than we anticipated. We are only human, after all. A lapse here or there can lead to discouragement, and before we know it, our resolution seems like a distant memory.

On the other hand, a goal is more fluid. It’s a direction rather than a destination, an aspiration rather than a demand. Goals allow us the space to grow, to stumble, and to rise again without labelling ourselves as failures. Instead of seeing a minor setback as the end, we can view it as an opportunity to adjust, to learn, and to continue the journey. Goals are about progress, not perfection.

So this year, I choose to embrace the fluidity of goals. I will focus on progress, on growth, and on striving, rather than on rigid resolutions that can lead to self-judgment. I will allow myself the kindness to evolve, knowing that every effort counts, and that even the smallest movement forward is a win.

Embrace the beauty of self-discovery and personal growth.

Being a civil servant today is hard. Extremely high workloads have huge numbers of people at breaking point. Everything has to be done at 100 miles an hour, working for an increasingly reactive and short-termist government. The desire to do quality, impactful work to serve the public is often thwarted by the push from others to please the ‘people at the top’ and make them look good.

As an ex-civil servant with over 20 years of experience working in central Government Departments, I understand those pressures only too well.

With just a few online coaching sessions, I can help you:
- Find your strength and confidence.
- Deal effectively with stress and overwhelm.
- Re-establish work-life balance.
- Manage challenging relationships and resolve conflicts.
- Develop your leadership skills.

For the first half of 2024 I’m offering reduced rates for all new clients. Email me on [email protected] if you’d like to find out more.

How about you? Is self-care or self-discovery on your 'to-do' list?

We often dismiss prioritising ourselves because we are 'too busy' or because it's an 'indulgence'. But what if it isn't? What if it's a necessity? What if it's the only way to find our strength, our answers or our way forward?

Consider taking time for YOU. You won't regret it.

I help people achieve clarity and confidence, without feeling judged or dismissed, through warm, friendly, supportive coaching.

Wherever you are in your career or life, I can empower you to draw on your strengths, skills and values, and overcome any obstacles and challenges that stand in your way.

Get in touch with me now if you're interested in having a chat about what I can offer you.