While leaders often feel the pressure to act quickly and decisively, some of the most effective leadership comes from taking a step back and reflecting. For example, Bill Gates…
When the Roman’s advanced road construction, it enabled wealthy citizens to travel to their villas outside of Rome more easily and therefore, enjoy time away from the busy city…
In twenty years of professional coaching, it’s rare that I meet someone who really does not know (deep down) what they want or what they would like to accomplish…
Here’s a video update from me sharing a popular Brighter Thinking strategy that this month I’m *having* to deploy. My life coaching, business coaching and executive coaching clients also…
You did not become successful by accident. There are many talents, strengths, and qualities that you possess and deploy, that have enabled you to become the wonderful person that…
Happy New Year! I hope that 2024 has begun exactly as you expected and that you are excited about the year ahead. January always contains so much potential, endless…
Reflecting on the most popular topics that my clients have brought to their executive coaching engagements this year, in addition to career goals, leadership challenges, improving communication, decision making…
Performance Review: the words that can strike fear and dread for a leader, and November is the popular month for them to be scheduled (and unfortunately rescheduled!). I don’t…
How about this simple recipe for a happy, successful life: Grab a pen and write down everything that’s been upsetting you for the last month or so. All the…
Last week, faced with a fully booked Tuesday, I decided on a quick lunch consisting of an M&S* sandwich. Well, this being not just any sandwich (!), when I…
Welcome to the Brighter Thinking Holiday Reading List, curated specifically for busy executives and leaders seeking inspiration, knowledge, and a moment of reflection. In the midst of our demanding…
This year, I have embarked on an incredible adventure as a digital nomad, starting in Southwestern Asia and the Balkans, where I’ve not been before. By immersing myself in…
Spontaneity can be a wonderful way to add even more excitement and fun to your life. It’s also good for the brain: doing something new means the brain has…
Once upon a time, there was a town called “Dittoborough”, in the charming county of Samebridgeshire, where everything and everyone seemed to be stuck in their old ways. Don’t…
Back to Learning Hub How to Find a Suitable Executive Coach Finding a suitable executive coach is an important step in achieving your goals and reaching your full potential as…
Working in harmony with your brain will achieve increased productivity, reduced stress, and better mental well-being. Simple to implement, these brain-friendly strategies do not require any financial outlay, massive…
Staying motivated can be a challenge, especially in February! New Year, with all its plans and hope for the coming 12 months seems an age ago. For many of…
A very special party was held on The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California in 1986. Those attending were under strict instructions to come as they would be in…
Here we go, get ready! It’s that time of year again. Every article, social media post and email will be expounding the importance and desirability of setting goals (or…
Executive coaching clients frequently ask me for help and tips on staying focused, whether that’s on a specific task or at work in general. With working from home, a…
I recently coached a client in his late thirties with a young family and who was hungry for success. He was ambitious and loved personal and professional development. He…
Here’s a question: when did you last challenge yourself on your expectations? August is a great month for looking back and checking in on how the year is going. …
One of the clues that signifies to me that a coaching client is ready to make changes is a palpable tension. They are uncomfortable with themselves or their current…
Harley-Davidson, the oldest (and some might say the best) motorcycle manufacturer in the USA, started their business in a shed – similar to many businesses nowadays. And, from such…
How good are you at regulating your emotions? Is this something you consider an essential skill? Being able to manage your emotions is a key leadership – and human…
“You’re bored, aren’t you?” I observed. “Yes, I am. You’ve hit the nail on the head,” was the senior leader’s reply. I went on to learn that despite him…
Now is a critical time to evaluate your progress to ensure that you are heading in the right direction for 2022. How are you getting on with your daily…
Today, on 7th December, it is National Cotton Candy Day in USA, or candyfloss as it is known in the UK. Yes, this European creation whose production was mechanised…
Dubbed The Great Resignation or Great Reshuffle, life re-evaluations following the pandemic could create an influx of people changing careers (Kaplan, 2021). Over 40% of respondents in a 30,000 global…
12 weeks, 84 days, Q4. Whichever term you prefer (or prefer not to think about!), the 2021 finish line is now in sight. With this clear deadline that the brain…
With one decisive, confident step he appeared on stage, suddenly, and with presence. This was obviously not the first time that he had done this. As he appreciated the enthusiastic…
If you knew what to do, you would do it, right? How often do you deliberate all sorts of different scenarios and choices and feel that you remain stuck because…
The elite athlete that can access their decision-making capabilities and make split-second decisions under pressure will outperform those who rely on others to constantly instruct them during the match –…
“You knew that five years ago” I overheard a sister say to her brother in a shop last week. Apart from the obvious excitement and novelty at being in a…
Despite the tantalising carrot of forthcoming social fun, motivation may be proving elusive right now. Two months have passed since the heady excitement of anticipating what 2021 will bring, and…
Suddenly noticing strange, new shapes through the stark winter branches of the trees and metal fence, I stopped, confused. Had I been so unconscious of my walk that I’d taken…
Happy New Year! Whilst 2021 may not have begun with the social freedom that we were hoping for, I hope that despite the ongoing challenges, you are optimistic for the…
People shown pictures of mince pies and other traditional festive icons enjoy feelings of Christmas cheer, reflected in specific regions of the brain. Or do they? Whether you experience positive…
Your body never lies; however, this is not always true. There are instances where it does give erroneous messages to the brain, which consequently cause you to stop an activity,…
The bell for the last lap of the 2020 marathon has just sounded and Quarter 4 has begun! What are your thoughts about this? Is it something like “I just…
Sometimes it is the tried and tested reliable formula that guarantees goal achievement. Planning ahead and taking habitual action so that you exceed your weekly and monthly targets exemplifies this…
A day of online video meetings is potentially more exhausting, than face-to-face. Communicating virtually is more difficult, as unlike the body language available when we are in the same room,…
Whilst understandably the first half of 2020 may not necessarily be rated as one of the best six months to any year, I hope that you have found lots of…
I have not learnt a new language. I have not read the complete works of Shakespeare either. Nor have I taken the Lockdown opportunity to master baking sourdough bread.* However,…
“I’m working even longer hours than before” is what many of my executive coaching clients are lamenting right now. The switch from office to home has created even less of…
President Trump was right to reprimand the reporter for focusing on the negative during his daily press briefing yesterday. At any time, let alone a time of crisis, concentrating on…
When desiring to enhance their success and happiness, plus achieve the covetable skills of brain-friendly peak performance, numerous people (and organisations) make the mistake of initially attempting to fix the…
“The meaning of my communication is the response that I get” is a core principle of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which I first learnt, sixteen years ago. Neuroscience has since re-confirmed…
Happy New Decade! I hope that 2020 has begun well for you. This may include having created your personal Vision and goals for the year (in addition to those for…
‘Tis the season to be jolly… and out partying every night with “friends” who must catch up with you before the end of 2019 and the ubiquitous work Christmas “do”.…
The denial of pleasure is unfortunately a consistent trend that Brighter Thinking clients from all cultures discuss during their coaching sessions with me. There is an erroneous belief in the…
“You are doing better than you think you are” is something that I frequently remind my coaching clients. Unfortunately, we can get used to metaphorically beating ourselves up on a…
Renowned as the “September feeling”, there is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Refreshed with renewed energy following the holiday season, it is as if the…
Think of a banana. Depending on your previous experience of this edible fruit, whether actual memories or someone telling you about it, this will determine what neural pathways are activated…
Coaching corporate leaders and managers in organisations around the world gives me an insight into the values, culture and leadership ethos of those in charge. Despite being in different countries,…
Two years ago, I shocked the conference audience in Germany encouraging them to not always be focusing the mind, but also to let it wander and daydream. This was during…
“You don’t know it, until you do it” is frequently featured in my opening statement when presenting on stage. As you are an intelligent human being (and Brighter Thinker!), you…
Welcome to April… and the start of Quarter 2 (Q2) of 2019! With three months of this year having already passed, now is a great time to assess how you…
If you feel in control of your life, no matter what the circumstances and what life throws at you, you are more likely to view stress as a challenge to…
“Apparently, my towels are not big enough!” The older, male server in the department store chuckled knowingly, as I flung the three potential and very large man-size bath sheets on…
Happy New Year! I trust that you are feeling excited and optimistic about the next twelve months and energised about the beginning of a new year. As the usual ‘New…
Many people have told me that they have adorned their homes with Christmas decorations already and that this is much earlier than tradition. Perhaps, the festive celebrations are even more…
“Accept what you cannot change, change what you cannot accept” is taken from Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer, words frequently cited in addiction recovery programmes. Apparently, this week is International Stress…
There are now less than 100 days until the end of the year: 84 until the C-word. Have those two thoughts triggered some anxiety? If so, what is the reason?…
Welcome to the start of the “new term” as this time of year is affectionately known. It is not just me, is it? I have written previously about my excitement…
If you live in the UK and rest of Western Europe, the last few months have probably felt like a constant holiday with a continual heat wave as we finally…
I’m gripped by the mens’ World Cup 2018 football, so much so that I have not watched any other television since it began. The entertainment, the drama, the skill, the…
Have you wondered about whether you are actually being who you think that you are? Does your perception of who you are as a person match how you are thinking,…
Following the Easter holiday and now at the start of the second quarter of the year, you may be reflecting on how the year has gone so far and whether…
When you are at a noisy party or busy work networking meeting and suddenly hear your name mentioned in a conversation happening on the other side of the room, it…
Last month’s edition focused on how what you expect is critical to goal achievement. This belief will be demonstrated at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games which begin this Friday. I am…
Happy New Year! I trust that you are feeling excited and optimistic about the next twelve months and energised about the beginning of a new year. Do you believe that…
With only eight weeks to go until the C-word (or festive holiday week if you prefer!) plus for many of us the added pressure of shorter daylight hours, this can…
Amusingly, scientists do not agree on how many decisions an adult makes in a day, ranging from claims of 27 to 35,000 (226.7 of those on food, mostly non-conscious!) however,…
As we speed towards the final quarter of 2017, and as September is frequently considered optimal for a “new start” (or new term / academic year!) it is a good…
Many countries in continental Europe are already enjoying what seems like an official national holiday not just for school children but their entire nation. For many others, the month of…
Not allowing yourself the freedom to pursue or express your creative talents is a HUGE depressor of mojo and confidence. I use the word “depressor” deliberately. Many clients come to…
Shot on location in one of my other offices, this 1 min 50 secs video reveals what 1 small change I have implemented this month and the simple thing that you can…
How do you measure your own effort? How do you know when you have given something your all? How do you assess your performance (ahem, not for that kind of…
Last month, presenting a workshop in Mainz, Germany to a fantastic global audience (such as from Argentina, France, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UK) I shocked them first by starting…
There is something unseen which is often present when a client comes to me feeling stuck and with a desire to make changes in their life – and get their…
Oscar Wilde opined that life imitates art and this month, despite normally (and hopefully!) avoiding commercial clichés, here is a strategy that will win you the proverbial brownie points from…
Happy New Year! I sincerely hope that you are feeling excited and optimistic about the next twelve months and energised about the beginning of a new year. However, with all…
‘Tis the season to be jolly… and also when many organisations formally give rewards and recognition to their teams. In numerous studies, recognition has been found to be more motivating…
I am writing this standing up. No, I have not got one of those standing-up desks (yet). Unfortunately, it is because I put my back out last week. One hour…
Yes, I know that doesn’t sound very practical or scientific however the results of your thinking on another person’s brain can be directly and visibly measured. Ultimately, all emotions stem…
With a professional interest, I am already rather proud at GB achieving what no other nation has ever accomplished: namely to achieve more medals in the subsequent Olympics following hosting…
We have all done it. Sat watching television whilst simultaneously communicating to someone via our Smartphone (and also trying to answer our partner’s question from the other room). Attended a…
In my internal visual depiction of the calendar year, August is opposite December. This may sound strange, however we all have a representation of time inside us and also externally:…
“I’m going to go out there and try to win the tennis match. I probably won’t.” So said rank outsider Marcus Willis before his tennis match against seven times Wimbledon…
“I don’t think that Rachel should come any more” was apparently the phrase used by my piano tutor to my parents when reviewing my lack of seven year old progress…
“What is the ONE thing I can do to achieve X, such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” This question posed by property millionaire Gary…
If you don’t do anything else in 2016 with regards to ensuring that you are on track to enjoy a really happy, fulfilled and successful year, then the exercise in…
WHAT IS YOUR NEXT CHOICE? How the small decisions add up to success During delivery of a recent leadership skills training, I interviewed a top strategist working for John Deere. …
Close your eyes and imagine. Picture your ideal life. What do you see? What are you doing? Who are you with? What is your life like? For some people, when…
NEW YEAR: where are you starting from? Happy New Year! I hope that you enjoyed a lovely break over Christmas and that you now feel raring to go in 2016:…
24 DECEMBER 2015 STARS It is the final day of Advent and therefore the last in this series of Daily Gratitudes. Today, I am extremely thankful for stars. The artist…
23 DECEMBER 2015 LONDON Today, I am thankful for London, United Kingdom. Here are 10 things that you will never hear a Londoner say: 1. Hold on guys, I just…
22 DECEMBER 2015 HUMOUR What’s a sleeping brain’s favourite pop band? REM. What do you call an elf who sings? A wrapper. Why did no one bid for Rudolph and…
21 DECEMBER 2015 SEX Due to advances in technology, it may not be too long before humans start to have relationships with specially designed robots. Indeed, you may think that…
20 DECEMBER 2015 MY RED BRIEFCASE Thank you to my red retro briefcase. It has become part of my Brighter Thinking brand and a bit of a trademark. My clients…
19 DECEMBER 2015 SUNSHINE Today, I am extremely grateful for sunshine. Not least because if it wasn’t for the sun, none of us would exist. A lack of sunlight is…
18 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT Today, I am very thankful for sport. Not to be confused with what I experienced at school, which generally classifies as physical and mental torture. The…
17 DECEMBER 2015 TRAVEL The brain pays more attention to novel stimuli (especially if it is moving) and as well as good for the heart and soul, exploring new places…
16 DECEMBER 2015 EXERCISE Today, I am exceedingly grateful for the ability to move. I am thankful that I can move my body in all sorts of ways and for…
15 DECEMBER 2015 CONTACT LENSES “I can see, I can see!” was my enthusiastic reaction when first wearing contact lenses out to a student club. Having to wear glasses since…
14 DECEMBER 2015 MEN Today, I am thankful for men. Despite neuroscience finding that there is no significant physical variation, I love how their brain sometimes operates in a very…
13 DECEMBER 2015 TECHNOLOGY Life is one endless round of washing up and if it wasn’t for the invention of the dishwasher, I would still be doing the dishes with…
12 DECEMBER 2015 CREATIVE ARTS As a ballet-dancing bumble bee, I made my stage debut at three years old and can still vividly recall running (sorry, gracefully moving) onto the…
11 DECEMBER 2015 STATIONERY Computers were said to terminate the need for paper, however unlike the predictions from various strange cults around the world, the global stationery market decided that…
10 DECEMBER 2015 MY TEAM Today, I am very thankful for my wonderful team. Knowing that hours wasted perfecting the formatting of documents or learning how to use complicated online…
Today, I am extremely thankful for tea. That is “normal tea”. English Breakfast tea. With cold skimmed (0% fat) milk and made with boiling water at 100 degrees centigrade, served…
07 DECEMBER 2015 MY CLIENTS Today, I am extremely grateful for all my brilliant clients, past and present. You are the reason that I do what I do. I am…
Today, I am thankful for nature and for David Attenborough because he invented it. I love being outside in the elements and experiencing the peace, awe and wonder that the…
They say that home is where the heart is, however, mine is where I get to kick back, relax and indulge in passions including design and organisation, reading, cooking and…
Social isolation is more harmful to our health than cigarettes; alcohol, obesity etc combined which is one of the reasons why today, I am thankful for all my friends. The…
03 DECEMBER 2015 MY FAMILY I am very thankful for my family today. I was born into a small family on both patriarchal and matriarchal sides, which depending on your…
02 DECEMBER 2015 MY BODY Today, I am extremely thankful for my body. I am grateful that it provides me with the ability to move around and do so many of…
When I was a child, I remember wanting the chocolate filled advent calendars that my friends had, because they seemed far more exciting than my family’s picture-behind-the-door-and-nothing-more version each year.…
GIVE THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE: and your brain and body will reward you Like your muscles, your brain changes when you ‘exercise’ it and repeatedly use particular functions, actually changing…
MAKE DECISIONS FASTER: the 1 question guaranteed to help you make a choice One of the UK’s leading supermarket chains has announced that it is going to decrease choice…
ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH? No, it is not what you think! Over one million people from 250 countries had their sleeping habits examined for a study in 2000. Almost…
SURPRISING INSIGHT TO HOW OLYMPIANS KEEP FOCUSED ON THEIR GOAL On the long and often arduous journey towards representing your country at the Olympic Games, how do you keep…
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when creating them.” – Albert Einstein Yet, isn’t this what we often attempt to do? We think of the…
Earlier this year, Tony, a colleague in Texas emailed me an unusual request. He invited me to contribute to his neighbour’s son’s 6th grade World Geography class goal – to…
So the sun is shining, the days are lighter for longer and suddenly we feel like we are ready to start doing new activities. With our heady enthusiasm and natural…
Since 2010, I have been researching the impact of communication technology and like most things in life, there are both positive and negative outcomes in the advance of science. One…
So we have accomplished (or as some would say “got through”!) three months of 2014 and how are you feeling? Yes, really… how are you feeling? Have you checked in…
A year earlier and he had been a student sat in a cafe. Now, Donald Thomas was the 2007 World Champion in high-jump. The rookie with only eight months of…
This week, a coaching client said that during our session, he felt like he achieved the same mental state that he does in meditation – clarity and relaxed. Wow! Whilst…
As the first quarter of 2013 ends, I have caught myself feeling a sense of panic at the fact that three months of the year have passed and not thinking…
This year, I am excited to be celebrating ten years working as a professional high performance coach. Over that time I have loved motivating hundreds of clients to achieve their…
I know a wife whose husband gave her an unexpected present of a nightdress from Mothercare* for Christmas. This was understandably met with derision from the recipient, as the gift…
Albert Einstein famously said that insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Our brain is hardwired to automate and habituate thinking and action…
So the gold-medal euphoria maybe starting to diminish, however hopefully the inspiration from the London 2012 Olympic athletes will live on and serve as a powerful influence, not just as…
Despite the persistent rain in the UK, I am revelling in the current party atmosphere in London, which I know that Brighter Thinking Tips readers across the globe are also…
You know what is best for you. This is one of the reasons why I love coaching, because my role is to facilitate clients to choose their own path towards…
If you could achieve anything in 2012, what would it be? What would really make a positive difference to your life? On 31 Dec 2012, what do you want to…
I love the festive season, as apart from the traditional significance, it seems to be about packing as much fun things in a month as possible, often focused around being…
I’ve just celebrated submitting my first book proposal to a publisher! Although I know that readers and clients appreciate me sharing my own goals (this is what you tell me!)…
Like many people I have been battling with a horrid flu virus this week and attempting to combat it with every solution that I can think of, to no avail.…
Yes, my laptop has a name (!) and unfortunately at the beginning of this month, it was not ‘Derek’ that I was calling him. Having put up with less than…
I have really enjoyed watching The King’s Speech and Black Swan at the cinema recently. Both are very brave and moving films: the former is dialogue-heavy which is a risk…
How often do you cheer yourself on? My guess is that it is not as frequent as the times you berate and tell yourself off. Forget having endless negative lists…
Somebody once said that most of the decisions that you make in life are wrong. This seems like it could be worth remembering when we are wrestling with a decision…
I have been really enjoying the World Cup, although with Forl?n and Cavani (ahem, Uruguay!) out, it is not as exciting for me to watch now! As previously mentioned in…
Yes, a first quarter review is not necessarily just for work… and if this idea has you shifting uncomfortably in your seat, here are some questions to help you reflect…
We all face choices in life. Whether to remain in our comfort zones or to actually confront ourselves, face our fears, and exceed our own expectations. The single thing that…
This January, as well as noticing that many people have been on holiday for the whole month, I have observed lots of people asking if I have made any New…
I really enjoy helping my clients get better results through their communication. Typically, I enable people to develop their skills in relating to others, maximise their personal impact and increase…
Your Best Year Yet by Jinny Ditzler will help you to carry out a useful audit for 2009 and stimulate some new thinking about what you want to achieve in…
After decades of arguing, it seems that humans have a smaller capacity for attention than first thought. In this Information Age, your brain literally gets bombarded by millions of calls…
99% of the clients who ask for my intervention to develop their skills and abilities, at some point in the process consider their beliefs and thinking and whether these are…
I love September as it always reminds me of that ‘new pencil case’ feeling elicited by going back to school. Not that I ever bought a new pencil case… I…
Rachel has assessed the new coaching skills of professionals in UK, Italy & Spain for RCS Coach Connection on Mon 07 December had the most attendees this year… maybe it…
Most people are aware of stress and generally, we have been taught to view it as extremely negative and something to avoid at all costs. The affects of such bad…
COACHING SKILLS TRAINING Rachel is currently training professionals from Deloitte, secondary education, the military and business owners in brain-based coaching skills for RCS ASSESSING NEW COACHES Rachel is formally assessing…
In 2007, Helen (aged 30) came to me feeling a “loss of control, confidence and self-belief”. Through having a series of 12 coaching sessions with me, she gained a promotion…
Do you go about your daily life never really considering what you get done each day and what positive impact you had on others? Many people get really down on…
ASSESSING NEW COACHES Rachel is currently formally assessing professionally trained coaches and helping them to get Certified for Results Coaching Systems COACH CONNECTION LAUNCH Rachel’s new monthly meet up and…
Do you go about your daily life never really considering what you get done each day and what positive impact you had on others? Many people get really down on…
Easter Weekend is a traditionally a time of home improvement here in the UK as Spring naturally sees the time for renewal and ‘nesting’. With the forecast of rain, it…
RACHEL PRESENTING FUTURE LEADERSHIP AWARDS Rachel is delighted to be motivating students at Oxford Brookes University and presenting their Brookes Future Leaders Awards on 28 April. BE-FABULOUS Rachel will be…
Easter Weekend is a traditionally a time of home improvement here in the UK as Spring naturally sees the time for renewal and ‘nesting’. With the forecast of rain, it…
This was the powerful question that I was asked a few weeks ago from a coach whom I was assessing. This insightful enquiry was in response to my revelation that…
RACHEL IS NOW OFFICIALLY A RISING STAR! Nominated for the GLE Rising Star Awards in business, Rachel was shortlisted from 500 companies and received her Award at the ceremony on…
This was the powerful question that I was asked a few weeks ago from a coach whom I was assessing. This insightful enquiry was in response to my revelation that…
Meet Rachel at The Hot Date organised by moretolifethanshoes.com – chosen as one of the Courvoisier Future 500 – stars of the future! New date to be announced due to…
Yesterday was Groundhog Day in the USA which apparently means that if the Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Well, I guess we know…
Happiness often seems to be something that we are continually striving for, as if it is something elusive, only available in the future. I hear people actually say phrases such…
You may read this and now be thinking that this sounds rather obvious and that you do this all the time. However, do you consciously reflect on what you have…
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