Grow Coaching and Personal Development

Mental Health Awareness Week always feels like a good reminder that people are often dealing with more than we realise.

Not everyone will talk openly about how they are feeling.
Some people will keep going because they feel they have to.
Some will look completely fine on the outside while quietly feeling exhausted, anxious, low, overwhelmed or just not themselves.
And sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is not to try to fix it.
It is to notice.

To check in.
To listen properly.
To be a bit more patient.

To make it easier for someone to say, “I’m not doing great,” without feeling like they have failed.

Workplaces have a part to play in this too.

The tone they set matters.
The way they respond matters.
The space they create for honest conversations matters.

Mental health is not just about crisis points. It is also about the everyday things that help people feel safe, valued, supported and able to breathe.

So this week, maybe just ask someone how they are.

And give them enough time to answer properly.

I’ve added a new blog to my website:
How to Plan a Team Away Day That People Actually Find Useful

I wrote this because a good team away day needs to be more than a room, an agenda and a few activities.

At its best, it gives people space to step back, talk honestly, make decisions and leave with something practical.

At its worst, people lose a day to vague discussion, forced fun and a list of actions that never gets looked at again.

The blog covers some of the things I think about when designing and facilitating team away days, including:
What the day is really for
Who needs to be involved
How to shape the agenda
How to make space for honest conversation
How to turn discussion into action
How to build in follow-up, so the day does not just disappear into a photograph of flipcharts

I’ve also included a simple example structure and some FAQs.

You can read it here:

The GROW Coach | Leadership Coaching and Facilitation Manchester Planning a team away day or staff planning session? Practical advice on setting clear aims, building the agenda and making sure people leave with actions.

Mental Health Awareness Week always feels like a good reminder that people are often dealing with more than we realise.

Not everyone will talk openly about how they are feeling.
Some people will keep going because they feel they have to.
Some will look completely fine on the outside while quietly feeling exhausted, anxious, low, overwhelmed or just not themselves.
And sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is not to try to fix it.
It is to notice.

To check in.
To listen properly.
To be a bit more patient.

To make it easier for someone to say, “I’m not doing great,” without feeling like they have failed.

Workplaces have a part to play in this too.

The tone they set matters.
The way they respond matters.
The space they create for honest conversations matters.

Mental health is not just about crisis points. It is also about the everyday things that help people feel safe, valued, supported and able to breathe.

So this week, maybe just ask someone how they are.

And give them enough time to answer properly

When the Messages Never Stop, work gets harder than it needs to be.

Email, Teams, meetings, chat, notifications.

It all mounts up.

I’ve added a new page about my practical communication session for teams who want to reduce the noise and agree better ways of working.

www.growcoachinganddevelopment.com/effective-communication-at-work-training

I’ve recently refreshed my website to better reflect the work I actually do with clients across Manchester and the wider UK.

That includes coaching, facilitation, leadership development, communication workshops and support for teams going through change.

I’ve also simplified the site, improved accessibility and made it easier to navigate.

If you fancy a look: http://www.GROWcoachinganddevelopment.com

Today I’m working at the University of Manchester delivering a session on resilience, boundaries and handling difficult behaviour.

This isn’t theory and it’s not dressed up as something it isn’t.

It’s about what people could potentially deal with. Raised voices, personal comments and situations that knock your confidence if they keep happening.

We’ll get into the difference between complaints, frustration and abuse, why it can be hard to hold your ground in the moment, and what to actually say when someone crosses the line.

A big part of this is being proactive. Making sure staff are properly equipped before they need it, not after something has already gone wrong.

We’ll also talk about what happens afterwards. Because it’s not just the interaction, it’s how it leaves people feeling later.

As always it's simple, practical and grounded in real situations.

A busy few days.

Yesterday I was working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, today I’m at The Manchester Metropolitan University delivering “ When the Messages Never Stop - Communicating Well at Work” and tomorrow I’m at The University of Manchester working with front facing teams on Resilience.

It all feels like really worthwhile work and if you’d like to find out a bit more about any aspect of it please just message me below.

(Yes - the image is generated by AI but its actually quite a good representation - perhaps makes me look a bit cooler )

A busy few days.

Yesterday I was working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, today I'm at The Manchester Metropolitan University delivering " When the Messages Never Stop - Communicating Well at Work" and tomorrow I'm at The University of Manchester working with front facing teams on Resilience.

It all feels like really worthwhile work and if you'd like to find out a bit more about any aspect of it please just message me below.

(Yes - the image is generated by AI but its actually quite a good representation - perhaps makes me look a bit cooler )

People sometimes ask what it’s like to work with me as a coach.

The honest answer is, it’s pretty down to earth.

I listen properly, not waiting for my turn to speak. I don't trying to steer you somewhere. I listen so we can get to what’s really going on.

I’ll challenge you, but in a way that helps you think, not shuts you up. Sometimes that’s a question you haven’t considered. Sometimes it’s holding a mirror up to something you’ve said.

I don’t throw models and theories at you. There’s a place for them, but most people don’t need more frameworks. They need space to think, talk things through, and make sense of things in a way that works for them.

I work with you where you are, not where I think you should be. Dealing with real situations, real pressure and real decisions.

It’s practical and grounded. It’s focused on helping you move forward in a way that actually helps..

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just need a bit of space to think things through properly, that’s exactly the sort of work I do.

If you want to have a chat about it, drop me a message or email [email protected]

So pleased to receive this testimonial today.

“Coaching has genuinely transformed the way I think, lead, and respond under pressure in my role as a teaching principal. Through Peter’s sessions, I’ve developed greater clarity, self-awareness, and practical strategies that have fundamentally reshaped how I approach challenges and make decisions. Most notably, my stress responses are now calmer, more purposeful, and far more constructive, allowing me to lead with confidence and balance even in demanding situations. I am deeply grateful to Peter for his insightful, supportive coaching, which has had a lasting and positive impact on both my professional practice and personal wellbeing.”

Laura
School Principal