Welcome to Natural Steps
Leadership, Coaching and HR, naturally
My story
It was 8am on a Tuesday when I got the call. ‘I think I need your help’. I immediately went over to his office – and found him sitting at this huge meeting table, head in hands. He looked so small. The man I was meeting was a very senior leader – someone held in the highest of esteem, feared by many, he was at best, direct. I was just an HR person. I was not anyone in the hierarchy. What followed made me realise what I do best.
This leader was having a crisis. For months he had been struggling with his mental health; something he had hidden from everyone but his wife. The pretense was coming crashing down – keeping up the façade at work had taken more effort than he had resources, and he was at the edge of panic.
I sat with him and we made a plan to get him some time away from work, and support, immediately. The focus was short term; I stepped into his space and held up the façade, managing communications with those who needed to be included, and ensuring key priorities were delegated or moved. All the while supporting him with reassurance, compassion and empathy. This let him pause, breathe and take stock – the unmanageable became manageable. After time away, I helped that leader bring together who he was now, with the role he had. Because he was willing to be vulnerable with me, I was able to help him take the pretense down, brick by brick and rebuild. What he rebuilt was better – stronger – his experience enabled him to show his empathy (his biggest gift) and relate to his team and the struggles they were experiencing. Discovering, accepting and celebrating who he really was now – and leading from there – energised him. He was leading naturally.
I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders during my career; I’ve seen the personal cost of stress, a lack of confidence, and trying to fit into roles and ways of working that just don’t work for the individual. My perspective comes from a deep belief that everyone has gifts to offer, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, and high-performance at the expense of everything else isn’t sustainable.
What I do and how
I help leaders to lead naturally. Natural leadership is about finding and honouring who you are in how you lead. Finding your natural place in the world brings ease, flex, and strength. Leading from anywhere else is forced – it requires effort to maintain two different identities (me and work me). Leading naturally requires you to understand, accept and welcome who you are and what you bring.
Bringing consciousness and awareness around how you are leading is often enough to spark a significant change. Too often we become ingrained in our habits, perspective and routines without pausing to check how, or if, they are supporting you.
My inspiration comes from nature. I grew up in Cornwall and enjoyed a childhood built around the outdoors. It wasn’t until much later in life that I realised the outdoors is where I do my best thinking – whether it’s an early morning run or thinning seedlings in my garden, being outdoors brings me perspective, solace and calm. It helps me calibrate what matters and what’s out of sync. It was on an early morning run that the name of my business was born, because I wanted to work with people in a way that was natural – relationships that develop in time, from mutual respect and compassion.
Nature brings perspective, and enables us to see our place in the world and the relationships between all living things. Even the strongest of plants will fail in the wrong conditions; understanding what creates the right conditions for you is critical for you to flourish. Understanding what’s polluting that environment is the first step to changing it.
I work in partnership with all my clients. Whether it’s a coaching relationship, an HR challenge or helping you take your leadership team to a new phase, my approach is side-by-side. I will create the space and permission for you to explore what matters to you. My gift is untangling the knots, bringing challenge, quiet observation and support to those that need it.
About me
I’m a qualified and experienced HR practitioner and coach. I’ve worked in and with a range of different businesses, from small start-ups, to established Bcorps and Universities. My strength lies in my ability to ask great questions – I can quickly unpack situations, problems and perspectives and bring insight and practical action with accountability and heart. I work at an individual, team or organisational level, dependent on client need.
I work with my clients as a trusted advisor, which means my advice is sought on anything that matters to them. I am intentional about paying it forward and doing the right thing, and that’s how I operate my business.
I haven’t always worked in HR – my experience in projects, and publishing means I understand what it’s like to be in a team and need to deliver results. I also know what it’s like to be a customer of HR!
I have two young children and a passion for the outdoors. In my spare time I love running, weight-training, gardening and enjoying life with my family.
I offer three core services: