Coaching Skills for Human Leaders with Donna Ward-Higgs

Coaching Skills for Human Leaders with Donna Ward-Higgs

In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Donna Ward-Higgs, founder of Learning Partner Solutions, where the belief is simple: people drive performance. Donna brings a refreshingly human perspective to coaching skills in the workplace and makes a compelling case for why coaching shouldn't be a bolt-on certification programme, but a built-in way of leading every single day. With a background forged on the operational front line rather than in traditional L&D roles, Donna has a rare ability to connect the theory of coaching with the realities of what managers and leaders actually face. This is a conversation packed with practical honesty about what's working, what isn't and what HR leaders need to think about before investing in a coaching culture. The main topics include: * Why human skills, not processes, are the real driver of workplace performance * The difference between coaching and mentoring, and why the confusion matters * The hidden costs of internal coaching programmes done as a bolt-on * How the major coaching accreditation bodies differ * Why a coaching culture won't stick if the system isn't ready for it * The role of self-awareness in developing genuinely human leaders * Why clear expectations set upfront are the most underused leadership tool This episode is a timely reminder that coaching culture isn't something you can buy off the shelf. It starts with being honest about your system, clear about your outcomes and willing to role model the behaviours all the way from the top. Resources & Links: * Learning Partner Solutions: https://learningpartnersolutions.com/ [https://learningpartnersolutions.com/] * Connect with Donna Ward-Higgs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-ward-higgs-8194a969/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-ward-higgs-8194a969/] * EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council): emccglobal.org [http://emccglobal.org] * ICF (International Coaching Federation): coachingfederation.org [http://coachingfederation.org] Find out more about more about Anwen Bottois here: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/] Purple Sky Consulting Website: https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/ [https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/]

Multi-Generational Workforces with Liz Atkin

In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Liz Atkin, consultant, facilitator and founder of Refreshing Comms. Liz brings a wealth of experience in workplace communication and intergenerational strategy, and in this conversation she makes the case for why HR leaders need to treat generational differences not as a problem to fix, but as a strategic opportunity to leverage. From her time as a CEO navigating a toxic culture, to years on the road working with manufacturing and engineering businesses, Liz has seen first-hand how the people side of organisations is almost always the real issue and how communication sits at the heart of it. If you're navigating friction between experienced and early-career employees, struggling to retain younger talent, or simply not sure where to start, this episode gives you a practical and honest framework for moving forward. The main topics include: * Why the intergenerational workforce is now a strategic priority for HR * The risks of leading with stereotypes rather than strategy * How to build a shared leadership narrative around generational difference * The latent potential of the midlife workforce and why it gets overlooked * What Gen Z actually need from their managers — and why mentorship matters * Why lateral career growth is replacing the traditional corporate ladder * Designing intergenerational workshops that link to real business goals * The role of co-creation in building policies and practices that stick * How communication underpins every generational challenge in the workplace * Where HR leaders should start if this feels like unfamiliar territory Resources & Links: * Refreshing Comms: https://refreshingcomms.co.uk/ [https://refreshingcomms.co.uk/] * Refreshing Comms — the book: available on Amazon and Waterstones * Find Liz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-atkin-4400a9250/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-atkin-4400a9250/] This episode is a timely reminder that the organisations attracting and retaining the best talent are the ones doing certain things intentionally. Start with strategy, not stereotypes and get people talking. Find out more about more about Anwen Bottois here: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/] Purple Sky Consulting Website: https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/ [https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/]

Performance Enhancement Systems with Roxy Allen

In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host and founder of Purple Sky Consulting) is joined by Roxy Allen, a workforce transformation specialist working in the gas industry, with a background spanning Agile HR, design thinking, systems thinking and socio-technical systems. Roxy shares how she has applied systems thinking to reshape how managers approach performance conversations and why starting with conditions, not targets, is the key to unlocking real organisational performance. Whether you're an HR leader trying to make sense of performance frameworks or someone looking to bring more strategic thinking into your people function, this conversation is packed with practical insights and some genuinely fresh thinking. The main topics include: * Why HR functions struggle to see performance as a system * The difference between managing the system and leading the people * How Roxy developed and adapted the Performance Chain framework for her organisation * Practical approaches to embedding systems thinking in performance conversations * Where HR leaders should start if they're new to this way of working High performance isn't necessarily built through more activity but through better conditions. Resources & Links: Six Boxes Performance Thinking: https://www.sixboxes.com/ [https://www.sixboxes.com/] Agile Culture Development Matrix: https://toolkit.agilebusiness.org/agile-culture-development-matrix [https://toolkit.agilebusiness.org/agile-culture-development-matrix] Find Roxy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missroxanneallen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/missroxanneallen/] Find out more about more about Anwen Bottois here: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/] Purple Sky Consulting Website: https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/ [https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/]

Successful Engagement of External Experts with Jessica Lorimer

In this episode, Anwen Bottois (your host) is joined by Jessica Lorimer. Jess is an expert sales training consultant with her business Selling to Corporates and is the founder of the Expert Services Directory and during this episode Jess shares advice for HR leaders on sourcing and managing external suppliers, making strategic decisions, and fostering productive partnerships that drive organisational success. Whether navigating the complexities of hiring external experts or building internal capabilities, this conversation offers practical insights to elevate HR practices and business outcomes. The main topics include: * How HR can effectively source external consultants and suppliers * Differentiating between interim support and specialist expertise * The importance of clear briefs and honest internal discussions * Building sustainable relationships with external vendors * Upskilling internal teams alongside external support * The role of credible directories in supplier selection * Cost-effectiveness of external expertise versus internal hiring * Managing junior HR staff in sourcing decisions * Strategic decision-making processes in outsourcing * Developing business cases to justify external investments Resources & Links: Expert Services Directory: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/] Selling to Corporates: selltocorporates.com [http://selltocorporates.com] Connect with Jessica Lorimer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesslorimer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesslorimer/] This episode underscores the value of honest communication, strategic decision-making, and leveraging credible resources to optimise external supplier engagements. Find out more about more about Anwen Bottois here: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-bottois-leadership-coach/] Purple Sky Consulting Website: https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/ [https://www.purpleskyconsulting.co.uk/]

Team Climate with Sean Spurgin

In this brilliant interview, Sean Spurgin, Learning Director at Elev-8 Performance joins Anwen Bottois, to share his journey into leadership development, the importance of team climate, and practical strategies for HR leaders to enhance organisational culture and performance. The conversation highlights the distinction between culture (the personality of an organisation) and team climate (the day-to-day mood), emphasising that while culture is challenging to change, team climate can be more easily influenced by leaders. The discussion also covers the significance of mindset, capability, and reducing friction in leadership roles, as well as the need for continuous performance conversations and psychological safety. The episode underscores the value of investing in leadership development to drive engagement and performance improvements. Key Topics * The role of team climate in organisational culture * Practical leadership behaviours for immediate impact * The importance of diagnosing capability gaps before training Find Sean on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/seanspurgin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanspurgin/] The Book: Dropping the C-Bomb: Why Team Climate Crushes Culture: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dropping-C-Bomb-Climate-Crushes-Culture-ebook/dp/B0FN4JV2MZ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dropping-C-Bomb-Climate-Crushes-Culture-ebook/dp/B0FN4JV2MZ] Find Elev-8 Performance here: https://elev-8.co.uk/ [https://elev-8.co.uk/] Find out more about more about Anwen Bottois here: https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/ [https://expertservicesdirectory.com/directory/anwen-bottois/]