As this year of turmoil, uncertainty and (for some of us) trauma comes to a close, we now have the opportunity to reflect and start thinking about what we'd like to be different. What we want to let go of, what we want to shift, what we want to attract.

I'm just back from a proper "switch off your laptop and don't look at emails" kind of break feeling all kinds of refreshed. The kind of break that can be really really hard to get when you have your own business because we can often feel like we can't justify time off, we have to be planning or using our time well, financially it might be harder, or that we just love what we do enough that we're thinking about it all the time.

2020 just isn't getting any better is it?! We're now on the tailwind to the end of the year and back in lockdown so it's only natural for us all to be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, uncertain, unbalanced, and any other kind of icky discomfort that makes it hard for us to keep a clear head.

One thing that is incredibly helpful in these situations is tapping, or EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which is a powerful energy therapy I have in my coaching arsenal.

This week I want to share something which comes up for my clients quite regularly, and that's the impact of unresolved childhood traumas on our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours as adults.

Firstly, know that when I say "trauma", I'm talking about anything which causes us to experience the "fight or flight" response. This might be something big that we typically think of when we say trauma, but it could also be a humiliation, playground bullying, divorcing parents, and many more.

To illustrate, I'm going to tell you a (made-up) story so you can see how these seemingly small moments in childhood can impact us into adulthood.

Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, has become more and more important as a skill for leaders in business to motivate, grow, build and drive teams to excellence. In the world of Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, it has never been more important. My prediction is that businesses which have prioritised technical skills and IQ over EQ and empathy, and the ‘mechanising’ of people and processes over understanding the behaviour of individuals are going to find this harder, and over the long-term are those who will struggle to retain talent, motivate teams, and adapt to this new world. Managers who are not trained or equipped for challenging times and difficult conversations, who are not ready to lead (versus manage) are going to be the ones that fall apart. Businesses with leadership, not just management, will be those that thrive.

I had a lovely chat recently with Carole Ann Rice, who was actually my coaching trainer when I studied to become a coach. We talked about what led me to coaching, the benefits of EFT for releasing limiting beliefs, and why I believe every woman deserves to love herself completely.

I've spoken to a lot of people recently who feel their leaders aren't stepping up in the wake of the current wave of the Black Lives Matter movement. If you’re a manager or a leader who is feeling overwhelmed, that you don’t know what to do, or how to lead your team into a future that is more diverse and inclusive, here are some questions to ask yourself.

Keeping motivated can be hard if you’re not prepared. In time of difficulty it can be even harder. Instead of working towards your goal it can be tempting to ignore it in favour of curling up and eating crisps. I’m all for crisps, but if you’ve got a goal that you’re working towards at the moment and you’re struggling to keep focused, I’ve got a few tips to keep you on track.