Senior leadership in an SME is a different kind of hard
The politics of a big corporate might be behind you, but what you've got instead is everything landing on a small team, decisions that have to be made fast with incomplete information, and the weight of knowing that when things go wrong, it's personal.
You're expected to be strategic and operational at the same time. To drive growth while keeping the wheels on. To develop your team while running at full pace yourself. And to do most of it without the infrastructure or peer group that leaders in larger organisations take for granted.
That's the context I work in. And it's the reason the leaders I work with come to me.
What this looks like in practice
This isn't a fixed programme with a set number of sessions and a defined end point. It's an ongoing coaching relationship built around what you need, when you need it.
Most engagements start with monthly sessions over six months. Some leaders prefer to work more intensively at the start, fortnightly until things start to settle.
Sessions run for 60 or 90 minutes depending on what's on the agenda. After the initial period, most of the leaders I work with choose to continue on a rolling basis because having a confidential thinking partner in your corner turns out to be something you don't want to give up.
What we work on is entirely led by you. There's no set curriculum, no workbook to complete, no boxes to tick. Some leaders come with a specific challenge. Others use the sessions as a place to think out loud with someone who understands the context and won't pull their punches.
Who this is for
This engagement works best for senior leaders and C-suite executives in SMEs. In practice that tends to mean:
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A CEO or MD who wants a confidential sounding board outside of the business
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A senior leader being developed to step up to MD or CEO level
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A director or head of function in their first executive role, finding their feet at a level that's genuinely new territory
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A leadership team where one or more members need individual support alongside any wider team development
If you're not sure whether this is the right fit, book a call and we'll work it out.
Why work with me
I've spent years in SME leadership, so I know this world from the inside. The pace, the weight of decisions when there's no big corporate machine behind you, and the particular kind of loneliness that comes with being at the top of a small team where everyone is looking to you for the answers.
That context matters because you don't have to explain it to me. We can just get into the work.
I'll challenge you to go for what you actually want, not just what feels safe or achievable right now. Some of the conversations will be uncomfortable. That's the point. But I'm also your biggest cheerleader, and nothing about what you bring to me leaves the room.
I'm an accredited executive and leadership coach and I've worked with senior leaders across a wide range of SME sectors. But the best way to know if we're a good fit is to have a conversation. You can find out more about my background here, or just book a call.
How does it work?
The level of support and the frequency and length of coaching sessions is tailored specifically to you
After our initial chat, we’ll agree how many sessions might be right and how often they need to be
Generally sessions are held on Zoom but if you’re local to Coventry and Warwickshire you’re very welcome to come to my office if face to face is more your thing
"Thank you so much Jacqui! I had so many knocks last year and felt I’d lost myself a little
You’ve made me believe in my style and approach again and I feel I’m starting to get “back in the game”