Working Together - Working Systemically
I bring a systemic lens to all of my work — whether with individuals, groups or organisations — which means I pay attention not just to the visible parts of a system, but to the relationships, dynamics and unspoken patterns that shape them.
The Orchestra: Listening to the Space In Between
Systemic work is like listening to an orchestra. You might focus on a single instrument — the violin, the drums, the piano — but what creates music is the relationship between them.
Each person in a system plays their part. They may be skilled, committed, even brilliant. But when something feels off, it’s rarely because a single player is “wrong”, it’s usually because something in the whole system is out of tune.
Systemic work doesn’t just look at the individual.
It listens also to the space between: the timing, the emotional tone,
It senses dissonance as an invitation to work with the field.
The Tree: Working with What’s Beneath the Surface
Most of what shapes a tree’s life happens underground.
The roots hold the story, where it came from, what nourishes it, what it leans toward or away from.
In individuals and systems, it is the same. We often focus on what we can see: outcomes, performance, roles, structure. But what truly shapes behaviour are the root dynamics, the histories, loyalties, identities, exclusions, fears, longings.
Systemic work helps us look below the surface. Sometimes we are not stuck because of what we are doing,
but because of something we are holding that cannot be seen.
We cannot force a tree to grow but we can create the conditions that allow it by paying attention to what is underneath.
I like to work with the space in between and what is beneath the surface.
“The system is not the sum of the parts — it’s the product of their interactions.”
Barry Oshry
Consulting
While I have engaged often in the strategic process directly, my primary role nowadays is not to design the strategy itself but to help unlock it — through better conversations, deeper clarity and collaborative thinking. Often, the most important yet overlooked parts of strategy are the most human: alignment, biases and engagement; a lot can be addressed through meaningful dialogue.
For example, I once worked with a leadership team who were stuck on the purpose, timing and investment for their stakeholder engagement plan. By creating space for the right conversations, we surfaced key assumptions, clarified priorities and shaped a more effective path forward — turning what felt like a lukewarm plan into a powerful part of their overall strategy.
“In the absence of clarity, people create their own.”
— Patrick Lencioni
Coaching
I work with individuals — often at key moments of change — to create space for reflection, awareness and aligned action.
Coaching is not about fixing; it is about coming into deeper contact with what matters, and finding a way forward with more clarity, confidence and choice.
An image that often speaks to this relationship is that of two boats sailing in the same sea. I am not standing on the shore giving directions and I am not on your boat steering for you. I am in my own boat, nearby sailing alongside you, offering perspective and insight from my own navigation.
While your journey is uniquely yours, I bring my experience - not as someone who has it all figured out - but as someone committed to navigating with presence, honesty and care.
You steer and choose the course but you are not alone in the waters.
“The coach holds the space, but the client holds the answer.”
Julie Starr
Group & Team Coaching
I also work with groups, tailoring experiences that meet them where they are.
Together we identify themes that matter most to the group, whether personal, professional or collective in nature. What we create is often more than the sum of its parts. There is a quiet magic that happens when people gather with a shared intention — stories resonate, insights ripple and new possibilities begin to emerge.
I pay close attention to the dynamics, holding a systemic view that allows patterns and hidden structures to come into awareness to the group generating true insight and reflection.
“The space between us holds the possibility for something new to happen.”
— Peter Senge
Facilitation
I design and hold spaces where real conversations happen — in teams, offsites and workshops. Whether you're launching something new or navigating something complex, facilitation creates the conditions for shared insight and aligned action.
Depending on the needs of the group, facilitation may include systemic mapping to make invisible dynamics visible, a journey to explore purpose and direction, transition frameworks to navigate change with greater coherence or storytelling practices that surface wisdom and create connection.
Each approach is chosen with care to meet the moment and support what is emerging for the group — creating the conditions for co-creation, insight and movement.
“When we begin to see systems, we stop being fixers and become facilitators of emergence.”
— Margaret Wheatley
Mentoring
I offer mentoring for people who are navigating moments of professional or personal transition. This includes people in career changes, reimagining their next chapter or seeking more meaning and alignment in their work and life.
Mentoring is different from coaching in that it includes a more active sharing of perspective, experience and structure. It often involves co-creating a path forward together, offering frameworks, tools and thoughtful guidance alongside deep listening and reflection.
Sometimes the work is about unlocking clarity. Other times, it is about building a plan and having a trusted partner to walk beside and step into something new.
“Change is situational.
Transition, on the other hand, is psychological.”
— William Bridges
Tailored Collaboration
Every project is different. When the work requires, I partner with a network of facilitators, coaches and consultants to shape an approach that meets the moment and supports the work required.