The Leaders Friend

One week to Christmas ... and this my reminder ...

You don’t need to do it all (you can make it easier)
It doesn't need to be perfect (because there's no such thing)
You can slow down, protect your energy, and be present making memories that matter.

This is your time to stop and take time out too.
It's not just another list to complete.
Or another performance.

Turn on the out of office. Switch off and enjoy!

Let it be good enough. Let it be yours.

10 Leadership Blind Spots That Might Be Holding You Back
⁠
You’re great at what you do. But even high performers can get caught in patterns that quietly drain their confidence, energy, or impact.⁠
⁠
Think: overfunctioning, overthinking, perfectionism, people pleasing…⁠
Sound familiar?⁠
⁠
I see these patterns of behaviour all the time in coaching – especially in agency, marketing, and creative leaders.⁠
⁠
In my latest blog, I talk about 10 of the most common ones – plus how to spot them, what causes them, and how coaching helps you break the cycle.⁠
⁠
You’ll probably see yourself in more than one. That’s normal.⁠
⁠
📖 Read the blog via the link in bio
⁠
💬 Which of these do you recognise in yourself? Comment below or DM me if you want to explore them in a coaching session.⁠
⁠

If confidence feels harder right now, you’re definitely not alone. Every one I seem to be coaching is suffering.

We’re all living in a world where comparison is constant, pressure is subtle, and everyone else’s highlight reel is just a swipe away. No wonder so many people feel like they’re “falling behind” or not doing enough.

So this is your reminder.

You only need to compare yourself to two versions of you – the one you used to be, and the one you’re becoming.

Future you won’t care about perfect posts or polished profiles.And if confidence feels wobbly at the moment, that’s okay.

It’s human. It’s normal. And it’s something you can rebuild — gently, honestly, and at your own pace.

If you’d like support with that work, my inbox is always open.

Sarah x

We’ve all been there…

That moment in a meeting when your face goes red, your heart’s racing, and you can feel yourself getting properly p*ssed off.

The tantrums. The throwing the toys out of the pram. The ego clashes.

It’s a nightmare. And it’s stressful.

So what do you do?

👉 Swipe through for 6 ways to keep your cool when conflict erupts in a meeting.

What’s your go-to trick for staying calm under pressure?

We don’t talk enough about how success changes as we do.

I was chatting to a friend about success the other day.

A few years back, for her, it was all about the next thing
💰 the bonus
📈 the promotion
💼 the job title that proved her worth.

But now? Success looks very different.
🌱 Being happy.
👨‍👩‍👧 Being present for her kids.
⏰ Having time (and not waking up at 5:30am — even though she still does!).

And honestly, I couldn’t agree more.
Because success isn’t always about climbing higher, it’s about deciding what your version looks like. Remember you may have already ‘reached the top’.

💬 So, what does success mean to you right now?

Micromanagement...

We’ve all experienced it in some form – the hovering, the constant checking, the pressure that makes you second guess yourself.

It chips away at your confidence. You shrink. You overwork. And you can start to feel powerless.

It's not that the boss needs to change. You do.
When you set boundaries, shift how you show up, and rebuild your confidence, the power dynamic changes.

That’s the journey I see so many of my clients take – from micromanaged to empowered.

💬 Have you ever worked for a micromanager? What helped you handle it?

👉 If you’re ready to reclaim your confidence at work, drop me a message - I’d love to chat.

The best piece of business advice I was ever given came in my very first full-time job.

My boss told me: “I run my department like it’s my own business”.

And she really lived by it - proactive, accountable, empathetic, and focused on what mattered. Watching her taught me that leadership isn’t just about hitting targets. It’s about ownership, integrity, and kindness in the little moments too.
It’s a mindset that’s stayed with me ever since.

Whenever I’ve felt stuck, frustrated, or caught up in politics, I come back to one question:

👉 If this were my business, what would I do?
It always brings me back to clarity

💬 What about you? What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given? I’d love to hear it.

Confession time…

I like to be organised.
I don’t like last minute.
I like to know what’s happening so I can be prepared for whatever might play out.

And that’s a strength – until it tips into something else.

Because sometimes, I’ve realised, it isn’t organisation.
It’s control 😬

Control shows up as a protector. It tells you you’re keeping things safe. But in leadership, it often does the opposite:

It demotivates your team 😩

It piles on pressure 😖

It puts you on the fast track to burnout 🥵

The reality is, it’s not safety. It’s a pattern.

So I’m sharing this because I’ve been there too.
And I’m still learning where the line is.

👉 Read through the carousel — do any of these patterns sound familiar?
👉 What resonates?
👉 What might you change?

Go on… I dare you.