Articles & Reading

This article argues that a culture is not something you control by removing the people who struggle in it, but something you grow — and it sets out the four conditions every culture either builds or breaks, a simple diagnostic for spotting the warning signs, and ten practical ways for leaders to build a workplace people can thrive in rather than recover from.

Returning to work after maternity leave, burnout, illness or redundancy is never "just going back." With 964,000 UK workers suffering work-related stress and a quarter of returners receiving no support, Vicky Russ shares her own story and ten tips for returning on your terms — unapologetically and guilt-free.

Demographic projections say workers over 50 should be thriving. The reality says otherwise. This article examines both sides of ageism — the discrimination older workers face from employers and recruiters, and the self-limiting beliefs they may have internalised without realising it. Drawing on Becca Levy's Stereotype Embodiment Theory and UK workforce data, it asks an uncomfortable question: what if the most damaging age discrimination is coming from inside your own head? Includes ten practical strategies for challenging age-related self-limiting beliefs.

Feeling “stuck” is rarely a willpower problem. This article explains, through established psychological research, that motivation depends on conditions you can restore: autonomy, competence and relatedness (Self-Determination Theory). It distinguishes merely functioning from truly flourishing using Keyes’ model and Seligman’s PERMA pillars, then shows how positive emotions broaden thinking and rebuild capability (Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory). The article also introduces Psychological Capital (HERO: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, Optimism) as trainable inner resources that support recovery after redundancy, burnout or career disruption-arguing that deeper, psychologically informed coaching can help people move from survival to sustainable thriving.

Redundancy, restructure, toxic leadership, forced career change — these experiences can shatter a person’s identity, confidence, and mental health. So why does society still treat them as inconveniences rather than what they actually are: trauma?

The Redundancy Crisis: Why Losing Your Job Can Feel Like Losing Yourself. Redundancy is one of the most significant life events a working adult can experience. So why do we treat it as a purely financial and administrative process, and almost entirely ignore the psychological devastation it leaves behind?

The Retirement Crisis Nobody’s Talking About: Why We Plan Our Pensions But Not Our Purpose. Retirement is one of the biggest transitions in life. So why do we spend decades preparing financially and almost no time preparing psychologically?

Designed for leaders and individuals facing change, the podcast features real-life stories of reinvention, offering practical insight, reflection, and encouragement. Each episode explores how challenging experiences can be reframed into opportunities for growth, purpose, and renewed direction.

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How to get the most from your coaching course and ensure that the learning and development continues beyond your sessions.

An article that asks you to contemplate the paradoxical human desire to belong whilst also wanting to be different.

Read about the importance of identifying and developing your strengths to achieve a fulfilling and successful career. Includes Vicky's personal recommendations for further research and tools.