PORTFOLIO
Our work and impact
CASE STUDIES
The Clear Leader Program
Hall & Wilcox
The work
We co-designed and delivered this program for a group of 20 lawyers in senior and emerging leadership roles, to build greater self-regulation, awareness and capacity to lead in complexity.
The result
As a result of this program, participants reported being able to:
Do less ‘busywork’ and work more strategically
Better regulate their responses to stressful and conflicted situations
Navigate complex leadership challenges with greater clarity and purpose
“This course really helped me to see the way I work from a new perspective.
Bringing mindfulness to the centre of how I work has really helped me to act with more clarity, calmness, and intentionality.
This not only makes me feel more calm and in control, but it has also really improved some of my most critical work relationships.
I would highly recommend this course!”
Lawyer, Hall & Wilcox
University of Technology, Sydney
The work
Since 2018, we have co-designed and delivered The Clear Leader program for 10 cohorts of senior leaders and managers (each cohort has 12-15 participants) across the organisation. This program takes leaders on a deep dive to explore the challenges of leading well in complexity, drawing on mindfulness skills to do this well, and augmenting group sessions with small-group and individual leadership coaching.
The result
Via post-program interviews, program alumni report being less reactive, making better decisions about what they prioritise, and leading with greater values-clarity and purpose.
I found the program to be a refreshingly evidence-based, practical approach to mindfulness for busy professionals.
This is a skills-building process that requires concentrated effort; in my case the pay-off came in the form of an improved ability to match the increasingly rapid tempo of my workday, to confidently deal with difficult situations, and to maintain clarity when facing difficult decisions, with the added benefit of more free time (and energy) to spend with my family.
An entirely worthwhile investment in my opinion.
Professor Robert Fitch, UTS
The Family Court of Australia
The work
We co-developed and delivered this program for 30 leaders in the Parramatta and CBD offices of The Family Court of Australia. This program was tailored to meet the specific challenges of senior court officers, exploring ways in which mindfulness skills can help leaders navigate their most complex challenges.
The result
As a result of this program, alumni reported being a) able to stay focused on what matters and be less ‘hijacked’ by reactive ways of working, b) more comfortable navigating complex leadership situations, and c) better equipped to lead their teams with authenticity, care, and humanity.
Thank you, James for your calm, clear, and good humoured approach.
At a time when we are struggling with complex demands and funding pressures, this program and the coaching in particular helped me to find more space and bandwidth in my day – taking the pressure of myself and giving me more space and energy to focus on what is most important.
I also really loved the time to take stock and reflect on my values, and share this with colleagues. Thank you.
Senior Manager, Family Court of Australia
CASE STUDIES
Custom Designed
Leadership Programs
Sydney Metro
The work
We co-developed with Sydney Metro a bespoke leadership development program that focused on upskilling and supporting the 11 Directors responsible for implementing the $11 billion rail connection to the Western Sydney Airport.
The result
As a result of this program, the Directors identified and progressed 5 key leadership priorities, developed a team Charter that reflected their shared purpose and values, and identified “tension points” they resolved themselves to build alignment. In the context of the COVID pandemic and cost hikes, the project was delivered on time and on budget.
The sessions were really great. It was good to get the group together and have some honest conversations about what our priorities are, and what issues we need to focus on to grow our leadership impact.
James was great structuring and facilitating the conversation, and getting us to the key challenges we face and issues we need to focus on to move forward.
Project Leader, Sydney Metro
Deloitte
Co-facilitated the delivery of the Building Brilliant Leader’s Program for Deloitte, using an adaptive leadership approach. We co-facilitated multiple cohorts across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The program combined plenary activities, group coaching, and one-on-one coaching. The program received consistently excellent participant feedback, culminating in the program winning the #AITD 2023 Excellence Awards for Best Leadership Program.
This was a superb program that really challenged us to think differently about what leadership is and how to be effective.
I really enjoyed the time to reflect on my own leadership challenges, and also to share with colleagues.
The focus on adaptive leadership was great, and helped me to better see my blind spots, and what I need to focus on to make progress on my biggest challenges and grow my impact.
Senior Manager, Deloitte
PWC Indigenous Consulting
We co-designed and co-facilitated an interactive workshop on cultural resilience and leadership for 35 employees of PWC’s Indigenous Consulting business. The session was a co-designed conversation and exploration of challenges and needs for building cultural safety and leadership capacity within the organisation.
Thank you SO much again for yesterday, over the rest of the day, we kept hearing so much positive feedback on your session.
It was so valuable.
Senior Finance and Operations Manager, PWC’s Indigenous Consulting
Commonwealth Treasury
The work
We facilitated a half day session on leading in complex environments. The program focus was better understanding the challenges of leading well in complexity, and the inner habits of leadership required to do this well.
The result
Participants walked away with a clear sense of where their shared “pain points” are, and some of the habits they need to embed in their culture to be able to work well in a complex environment.
This was a great session. James really effectively delivered a session that was reflective but also challenged us to get out of our comfort zone.
We learned a lot about how we work as a team, and what parts of our culture serve us well.
We also got some insight into our blind spots and what parts of our culture we need to shift in order to become more inclusive and realise our potential.
Senior Manager, Revenue Group, Commonwealth Treasury
Naval Shipping Management Group
The work
Delivered a series of leadership sessions with NSMs Executive Leadership Team on behalf of Integral Development. We facilitated some tough but productive conversations on ways of working within the executive team and landed on some principles for working together.
The result
As a result of our sessions together, the NSM team developed a 12-month plan for addressing their most pressing strategic priorities, and began making progress on these, as well as developing a shared charter for how they wanted to work together moving forward.
Thanks for your work with us. Although some of what we did wasn’t easy, you helped us to make significant progress on the things we needed to focus on, and have the conversations we needed to have.
Your facilitation was great, and created an environment where we could have those conversations in a respectful but direct and honest way.
Senior Executive, NSM Group
TESTIMONIALS
Workshops
Mindfulness for Leading in Complex Environments
QANTAS
We delivered a series of 5 workshops on “mindfulness for being in the zone” to Qantas senior leaders.
“Just amazing!
I now catch my mind wandering off and have learned to refocus it and stop worrying.
James was very engaging.”
~ Senior Manager, Qantas Group
IBM Australia
We delivered two workshops on mindful leadership and managing stress, for IBMs Canberra office.
“Fantastic session. There should be more of this across the business.”
~ Manager, IBM Canberra
The Nous Group
This was a 2-hour workshop focused on practical tools for bringing mindfulness into a consulting context. Specifically, the focus was on managing stress and reactivity, and skills for increasing clarity of mind.
“I really liked it! Engaging facilitation style – nice tone and good use of engaging activities. Just for me personally I respond to science and facts better than surveys/studies of people.
So I really like those science tidbits.”
~ Consultant, Nous Group
NBN Co.
We delivered a 2-hour mindfulness for resilience workshop to NBN Co staff, as a part of Mental Health Month.
“This was an engaging, science-based presentation on why attention is perhaps our most important asset – and more importantly, some practical tools for using our attention wisely.”
~ Analyst, NBN Co
Raise Foundation
The work
This was a 2-hour online session on skills for managing fatigue and building resilience, using mindfulness skills, for leaders within the Raise Foundation. This was a facilitated conversation, aimed at building on existing habits and strengths, and learning together.
The result
Participants walked away with some practical tools to experiment with and a shared sense of how to bring greater mindfulness to their most pressing collective work challenges.
Transport for NSW
We facilitated a 2-hour interactive session on mindfulness, wellbeing and resilience for Mental Health Month. The session was designed to be engaging, interactive, and skills-focused.
Executive Coaching
Coached a Project Director at Sydney Metro, helping them to clarify their sense of purpose, contribution, and leadership values, and to bring these to the table in their more challenging relationships and conversations. As a result of our coaching, this leader was able to articulate their values more confidently, and have greater visibility and influence within the Executive Board.
Coached a Deputy Dean at UTS for 3 years, supporting them to make progress on their biggest priorities, and challenging them to bring their values and sense of purpose to their leadership decisions and tactics. Following our sessions, they successfully steered their faculty through the COVID-19 pandemic and boosted enrolments to ensure the financial sustainability of their faculty.