Secrets From a Coach - Debbie Green & Laura Thomson's Podcast

268. Reflect, Reset, Renew: Step-by-Step Your Year in Review

Send us a textAs the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to pause, breathe and take stock. In this reflective, “get reviewing with me” style episode, we walk you through a simple, compassionate, step-by-step process to look back over your year with clarity, courage and kindness.We explore why intentional pauses matter, how rest becomes a radical act of resilience, and how reviewing the highs, lows, lessons and notable highlights can help you reconnect to what truly matters. We share our own reflections, invite you to scan your year with curiosity, and offer practical prompts around values, purpose and emotional wellbeing.We also discuss how journaling, technology and a sprinkle of AI can broaden your perspective and support future planning - including the Safe Hands exercise and the Six Box Method to shape a flexible, energising year ahead. Both tools work brilliantly as team activities too, making this a practical episode for anyone looking to refresh a team review session.Whether your year has been full, messy, brilliant or challenging, this episode helps you honour your experiences, celebrate your successes and reset your mindset with intention.Key themes: reflection, emotional resilience, intentional pausing, values, purpose, self-care, notable highlights, future planning, personal growth, compassionA grounding, inspiring listen to help you close the year well and step into the next one with confidence and calm energy. Taking just 10 minutes to look back over the past 12 months gives you the chance to notice and savour your successes;  boosting your courage and optimism for the year ahead.We are taking 2 weeks off until the next year when we will return on Fri 9th Jan 2026! With love and thanks, Debs and Lau xx

267. The Gift of Pause: Rest as a Radical Act

Send us a textIn this second in our 3-part mini-series inviting us to Slow Down to Go Faster, we reframe the concept of rest by asking: how would an athlete consider the concept of rest in their profession? A vital component for performance!  In a world that glorifies busyness, rest can feel like a luxury, but in this episode we explore why it’s actually a radical, life-changing act. We dive into the real meaning of rest, the myths that stop us from prioritising it, and how intentional pauses can transform not just your wellbeing, but also your performance, clarity and relationships at work.We share practical examples of how to build rest into your high performance routines, how to say no with love, and why protecting your energy is a life-leadership skill, not a guilty secret. We summarise tips for incorporating rest into your day, the power of micro-pauses, and simple ways to bring more ease into your team culture - including fun, innovative approaches to help everyone reset and stay connected.Whether you’re running on empty, juggling too much, or simply curious about how to work and live with more spaciousness, this episode invites you to rethink rest as a choice, not a reward - and to treat it as a strategic, courageous act.Key themes: rest, productivity, self-care, intentional pauses, boundaries, saying no, team dynamics, wellbeing, leadership, mental health, performanceA replenishing, perspective-shifting listen to remind you that rest isn’t a weakness - it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in yourself and your team.

266. The Constant Juggler: Staying Centred When Everything Is Competing For Your Time

Send us a textWelcome to the first episode in our mini-series where we encourage you to Slow Down to Go Faster. As life gets busier and louder, we share practical tools to help you reset your rhythm and finish the year feeling clear rather than chaotic.In this episode, we explore the reality of being a constant juggler in life: work, family, decisions, emotions, admin, other people’s expectations… all competing for your attention at once. Whether you lead a team, a household, a project or simply your own wellbeing, it’s easy to slip into overwhelm and reactive mode.We share five simple and powerful ways to stay centred when the demands build up and life threatens to spiral. Overwhelm clouds our communication, decision-making and sense of perspective: which is why slowing down isn’t a luxury; it’s a form of life leadership.A reassuring, practical listen for anyone feeling stretched, overloaded or pulled in multiple directions - and a gentle reminder that the more crowded life becomes, the more your clarity matters.Key themes: overwhelm, clarity, life leadership, prioritisation, staying centred, reflection, communication, focus

265. The Empathy Edge: Leading with Heart in a Tough World

Send us a textIn this final part of our 4-part Energy Refuel and Reset mini series we share 3 scenarios that demo the need and the challenges around balancing empathy with edge. Caring personally, challenging directly and practical examples for how to do this with peers, direct reports and managing upwards.

264. Back to Belonging: The Power of Psychological Safety in Teams

Send us a textIf you have to watch your back at work, it’s twice the workload: draining energy, morale and motivation. Over time it can lead to burnout, low engagement and good people walking away.In the third episode of our Energy Refuel & Reset mini-series, we explore the hot topic of psychological safety - what it really looks like in everyday team life (hint: it’s not just what the company website says).We strip it right back to the core ingredients that help people feel safe, valued and able to speak up: from everyday trust-building to small behaviours that make a big difference in team dynamics.Plus, we take a fascinating AI twist: what does belonging look like in hybrid teams made up of both humans and AI colleagues? Can we over-empathise with machines even to our own detriment? Debbie and Laura unpack why empathy is our greatest superpower, and how to use it wisely to stay human, kind and balanced in an evolving world of work. Humans cant help but become emotionally attached to those around them (think 'Wilson' with Tom Hanks in the film Castaway) which is both our superpower and our kryptonite. A thought-provoking and energising listen for anyone who wants to build (or rebuild) a culture of trust, connection and care at work.