University of Leeds – Adaptable Leadership

Another assignment from University of Leeds, this time with Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Culture.  With change and challenge presented by the current financial position across HE, we were pleased to be asked to deliver a new programme for the faculty exploring leadership in different contexts, leading change from an adaptive versus technical approach and using real world scenarios to collaborate across teams, to solve problems and explore new opportunities.

Thank you to our stakeholders for your trust in us, once again.

Posted by John Drysdale
7th August 2025
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University of Leeds – Adaptable Leadership

Another assignment from University of Leeds, this time with Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Culture.  With change and challenge presented by the current financial position across HE, we were pleased to be asked to deliver a new programme for the faculty exploring leadership in different contexts, leading change from an adaptive versus technical approach and using real world scenarios to collaborate across teams, to solve problems and explore new opportunities.

Thank you to our stakeholders for your trust in us, once again.

International Office with University of Huddersfield

Delighted to be working with the International Office at University of Huddersfield, on a new programme to help officers position the University as the University of Choice for international students coming to the UK to study.

It has been a pleasure working with key stakeholders in devising a programme to meet the needs of the business, and look forward to sharing more news as we roll this one out.


NEW: Heriott Watt University

We are delighted to announce we are now working with Heriott-Watt University to deliver the Welcome to Leadership programmes for their managers. The university has a large international presence with an ambitious strategy and we are looking forward to working with their Professional and Organisational Development team. Heriott-Watt is the latest University to join our growing list of valued customers within Higher Education and we are grateful for this amazing opportunity.

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Creating Action from Procrastination

Do you know how sometimes, you want to bite the bullet and make changes but you are a little afraid of the consequences, and perhaps, the reactions of others?

Procrastination I’ve found, aside from being the ‘thief of time’ is the enemy of positive action. Waiting for the right time can be a useful strategy in some situations, but more likely it becomes an excuse not to take action.

At the centre of all this, are the conversations we have – conversations that are decisive, action orientated and can resolve tensions or competing values. Conversations that boldly take us into new territory.

I noticed recently I was almost on the point of putting off a conversation I should be having. In spotting that I committed to practicing what I preach, by setting up, and hosting a conversation that mattered to me, and to others.

The results were good.

We managed to navigate some tricky terrrain.

The path ahead is much clearer.

Conversations are our route to taking action, moving away from tension or even pain, and moving towards better outcomes in work, and in life.

My e-Book ‘Find Your Voice’ – has strategies to help us host our most important conversations. It is FREE to download from my website and is ideal for those who want to stop procrastinating and start taking action.

You are most welcome to grab a copy and I’m available to run workshops to create better conversations within the workplace.

Find Your Voice and create action!

John

Conversations Procrastination FindYourVoice

Why be a coach or mentor?

I am a little biased but I love both coaching and mentoring. I used to enjoy being the ‘trainer’ which satisfied the performer in me but as I get older there is something that I find deeply satisfying in being a coach or mentor.

More than that, I find it a privilege to work with people.  People that trust you enough to share their greatest challenges, dearest hopes, deepest fears and core beliefs about life. I can think of few professions in business that afford you such intimacy. I feel lucky and grateful each and every session I get to spend with my clients. (more…)

Speaking Truth to Power

For those afraid of speaking …

(But) TED is a tough, pressured, hugely stressful gig, even for experienced public speakers, and I’m not that. Standing in the wings waiting to go on, I told the stage manager that my heart was racing uncontrollably and in an act of great kindness, she grasped both my hands and made me take breath after breath. And what you don’t see in the video – deftly edited out – is the awful, heart-stopping moment when I forgot a line, followed by another act of collective kindness, a spontaneous empathic cheer as I composed myself and found my cue. “That’s when the audience came onside,” an attendee told me. “You were human. That’s when you won them over.”  Guardian April 2019

 

This from Carole Cadwalladr, a journalist at the Guardian who has in this last year investigated the role of tech corporations and their platforms in influencing the workings of our democracy.  What makes her TED talk so compelling is because here she is facing those very same technology giants on their turf.  And speaking truth to power.

(more…)