Claire Platt
Coaching & Consultancy

🤔 How do you lead effectively as a woman in a leadership position? How well do you orchestrate the range of different feminine leadership 'powers'? 🤔 How do you define success? Where did that definition come from? These were some of the questions we discussed during a fabulous couple of hours yesterday with a group of inspiring women in Plymouth who have become members of the Devon Women's Leadership Network. A big thank you to Robyn Vincent BA(Hons) NPQEL, MCCT for lead

I'm going to be really honest. 😬 I haven't started 2026 full of motivation and energy. 😬 I'm not feeling inspired and energised about what I'm going to do differently this year. 😬 If I'm honest, I'm not even 100% clear about what my goals are for 2026. Is it just me? But I've decided that it's ok. I don't have to have everything figured out on January 1st. I'm trying to listen to my body and ease into the new year at a sensible pace, but also recognise that we're enterin

When the boundary is crossed, if you avoid the courageous conversation, the problem does not go away. It grows legs and walks straight into your leadership space. A secondary headteacher I coach recently found himself in exactly that position. Eighteen months into his headship, he was still fighting to establish his presence. Why? Because the previous headteacher, now the trust CEO, could not resist slipping back into old habits. Regular walkabouts. Operational comments. Staf

🤔 It is remarkable how a difficult conversation can change completely, simply by how you position it. So many leaders walk into challenging conversations feeling tense, guarded or braced for impact. When a discussion is framed as YOU versus THEM, even the smallest issue can feel confrontational. It is no surprise that avoidance becomes the default, especially for women leaders navigating complex dynamics or power imbalances. A leader I recently coached was gearing up for a

So many brilliant leaders tell me the same thing. They can handle ✔️ complex strategy, ✔️ organisational change ✔️ and high-stakes decision-making, Yet one thing still ties them in knots… 😬 having a difficult conversation . Avoidance is more common than people think. CIPD research shows that 44% of leaders dodge challenging conversations altogether, often because they fear conflict or worry about harming relationships . For women, this is heightened. Studies by William

🤔 Have you ever seriously considered leaving a role you actually enjoy, simply to avoid a difficult conversation with your CEO, line manager, or trustees? I keep seeing the same pattern among senior executive women leaders. They are bright, trusted, capable and influential; yet they hesitate to voice concerns that are impacting their organisation, performance and wellbeing. Not feeling valued, an unmanageable scope of responsibility, unrealistic expectations, or the fear of

🎄 Our December Devon Women's Leadership Network events are nearly here… and I’d love you to join us. As we come to the end of the year, these final gatherings are a chance to pause, reconnect and enjoy the brilliant company of women leading across Devon’s public, private and third sectors. December always brings a relaxed, uplifting atmosphere and a welcome moment of breathing space, with some Christmas sparkle ✨ thrown in for good measure! Here’s what’s coming up: • Tuesday