From Summer Stillness to Strategic Shifts
To You, My Thinking Partner
Mid July to mid-August always feels like a natural pause in the year. The pace slows, inboxes quieten, and there’s a little more space to breathe. Whether you’re reading this from a beach, a boardroom, or somewhere in between—I hope you’re finding moments of rest and reflection. This month, I’ve been thinking about three themes that feel especially relevant for leaders right now: the power of true rest, the messiness of change, and the evolving reality of remote work. As always, I’d love to hear what resonates with you.
Thought for Today: Rest is a Leadership Strategy
We often talk about rest as a reward—something we earn after the work is done. But what if rest is actually part of the work?
This summer, I’m encouraging the CEOs I work with to take a real break. Not the kind where you bring your to-do list to the pool, but the kind where you disconnect, recharge, and reconnect with the people who matter most – play on the beach, jump into the pool, meet friends for a picnic…
“The space between effort is where insight lives.”
When you step away, you create room for new thinking. You model balance for your team. And you return with clearer eyes and renewed energy. So take the holiday. Leave the laptop. Read some books. Let your mind wander. You might be surprised what it brings back.
Insight: Change is Messy—And That’s Okay
Scaling a business means constant change—new people, new processes, new pressures. And while we often crave clarity, the truth is: change is ambiguous.
One of the hardest parts of senior leadership is learning to sit with that ambiguity. To hold the vision steady while the path feels uncertain. To manage your own discomfort while helping your team navigate theirs. Consistency is key. Not just in messaging, but in mindset.
The leaders who succeed through change are the ones who stay the course—not the ones who pivot every time it gets hard. And when the noise rises (as it always does), your job is to filter it.
To listen, yes—but not to let it derail momentum. Leadership is about creating calm in the chaos.
Reflection: Remote Work - Freedom or Friction?
As a freelancer, I can work from anywhere but obviously family commitments – school and face to face time with my clients, which I love, keeps me at home most of the time.
This summer, I decided to spend a month in Spain with my family where I am working remotely in the sunshine. Over a week in its going well – we have a nice routine going, gym in the morning, shopping, some calls and client work and then the pool or beach for the afternoon. I am not working full-time and enjoying just enough. The interesting part - more new work has come while I am here and my tan is coming along nicely too.
So this little experiment got me thinking about remote working more generally for the businesses I work with – while we all know now it’s here to stay it’s not without its challenges.
The benefits are clear: flexibility, access to talent, autonomy. But so are the tensions: blurred boundaries, cultural drift, communication gaps.
For CEOs, the question isn’t “Should we be remote?” It’s “How do we lead well in a remote world?”
How do we build relationships and trust without proximity?
How do we maintain culture without the corridor chats?
How do we ensure alignment when everyone’s on different schedules?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But the best leaders I know are experimenting, listening, and evolving. They’re not trying to replicate the office—they’re reimagining what great work looks like.
What’s one thing you’ve done this month to keep your remote team connected? I’d love to hear your ideas.
Let’s Work Together
If you’re a CEO navigating growth, change, or complexity—I’d love to support you. Here’s some ways we can work together:
Thinking Partner: A confidential space to explore decisions, challenge assumptions, and create momentum.
Scaling Your Business: Strategic support to bring clarity, structure, and accountability to your next phase of growth.
Leadership & Team Coaching: Elevate how your leadership team thinks, decides, and delivers.
If any of this resonates, let’s connect.
