Claire Platt
Coaching & Consultancy

Are you avoiding having a difficult conversation right now? Because you’re worried about hurting someone’s feelings? Or anxious the relationship might sour? A big part of my work is supporting leaders with difficult conversations. Sometimes that means: • Planning the conversation so the language lands well. • Reframing it so it stays professional, not emotional. • Positioning it tactically, so it becomes a with conversation, not a to conversation. Most of the time, that prepa

Let's be really honest... Sometimes it's lonely being a leader. But how often do you hear leaders admit that they're lonely? Not often, I guess. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness: 45% of adults in England feel occasionally, sometimes or often lonely. This equates to over twenty-five million people. Researchers argue loneliness will become what obesity currently is: a major public-health problem, reaching epidemic proportions by 2030 unless action is taken (Linehan

The idea of a fresh start is seductive, isn’t it? New year. New goals. New energy. Except… sometimes the energy just isn’t there. A friend from the Devon Women’s Leadership Network recently recommended 'Wintering' by Katherine May. In it, she writes about the wisdom of the natural world, how it retreats, rests and recalibrates before growth returns. Nothing blooms on command. Nothing rushes. Change happens quietly, beneath the surface. And yet, as leaders, we are so often exp

Has your career been all smooth sailing? Or has the reality been much more ... complicated? This is the theme we will be discussing at the Devon Women's Leadership Network brunch events in February. We'll be discussing the many reasons why women who lead find that they face bumps in the road and long diversions before reaching their chosen destination. Members of the network will share their own circuitous routes to their current positions. For example, on Friday 13th Febru

I have a new recommendation! I recently completed a programme of coaching with Claire Thomson, an inclusion consultant. It has been absolutely fantastic to work with her as she shaped her vision of how she wanted to impact the education system as a leader. If you're looking for some leadership development, I have space for up to five new coaching clients, starting from April. Please message me to organise a free discovery call to discuss your requirements.

What are your goals for this year? I'm still forming my goals, as well as my strategy. And that's ok. I know ultimately what I want to achieve this year. ✨ I know that I want to continue to help leaders navigate change and complexity. ✨ I know that I want to build upon the foundations of the fabulous Devon Women's Leadership Network, that I founded just a few months ago. ✨ I'm determined to work on my weight, health and fitness, and have made a reasonable start, adopting a

It's time to reintroduce myself 😊 Family is really important to me. I'm really fortunate as although I've sadly lost both my parents, I have two really supportive brothers and their families. 👭 I also have my family of choice - my wonderful friends, both old and new, who bring so much joy to my life. 📆 I'm starting 2026 with lots to figure out. I'm newly single, and will be navigating living on my own, which might also necessitate a house move. However, I'm excited about