THINKING
Thinking out loud about leadership.
Most training tells managers what good looks like. We start with why they behave the way they do, especially under pressure, using psychology, neuroscience and coaching. Here are the ideas and tools behind our work.
THE IDEAS
Understanding yourself
Emotional intelligence
Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill, drawing on Daniel Goleman's work. The better I understand myself, the more choice I have in how I show up with you.
Your window
Experiences, beliefs, values, expectations and strengths shape what we think is happening. Your perspective makes complete sense to you, because it's yours.
Triggers and the stress response
Why reactions happen faster than thought, and how to create space between the trigger and the response. Draws on the neuroscience of threat and the window of tolerance (Dan Siegel).
Overdone strengths
Every strength has a point where it tips into a liability. Caring becomes rescuing. Ambition becomes relentless.
Intent and impact
We judge ourselves by our intentions. Others experience our impact. The gap is where most leadership friction lives.
Understanding each other
SDI (Strength Deployment Inventory)
A way of understanding what motivates each of us, and what happens in conflict, so teams can use their differences.
The SCARF model
Five things the brain is constantly scanning for at work: status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness (David Rock, NeuroLeadership Institute).
The Drama Triangle
Why some conversations get stuck in blame and rescue, and the way out (Stephen Karpman).
Parent, Adult, Child
Why some exchanges feel like telling off or being told off, and how to stay adult to adult (Transactional Analysis, Eric Berne).
The User Manual
A simple way for teams to share how each person works best.
Changing what you do
The CORE feedback model
Context, Observation, Result and Expected next steps.
The GROW coaching model
Goal, Reality, Options and Will (Sir John Whitmore).
The culture flywheel
Speak early, and you get clarity, better decisions and trust. Stay silent, and assumptions grow and trust drops.
The delegation scorecard
Choosing what to hand over, and to whom, by capability, willingness, reliability and growth.
The Monday Commitment
Every PUSH session ends with a decision about what you'll do differently this week.
EVERY FRIDAY
Cate's newsletter.
A short, honest note every Friday about the human side of leading people, usually with a small experiment to try on Monday.
ARTICLES
PUSH Journal
11 March 2026 · 5 min read
How to Reduce Employee Burnout (Without Just Telling People to “Be More Resilient”)
But when you look at the past six years, global disruption, hybrid working, constant change, digital overload, tighter margins and leaner teams, is it any surprise that burnout at work remains one…
PUSH Journal
5 March 2026 · 7 min read
Building Resilient Teams: Strategies for Navigating Challenges and Change
The pace of change across organisations is relentless. Priorities shift. Clients pivot. Budgets tighten. AI accelerates delivery cycles. Expectations rise. Hybrid dynamics add complexity. The real…
PUSH Journal
19 February 2026 · 6 min read
How Stress in the Workplace Negatively Affects Performance and What Employers Can Do About It
They want to do a good job, contribute something meaningful, and leave the day feeling like their efforts counted. Yet for many people, work has become a steady hum of pressure in the background.…
PUSH Journal
5 February 2026 · 6 min read
The Power of Positive Leadership: How to Inspire and Motivate Your Team
Managers are juggling delivery, development and change all at once, often without having been properly trained for the people side of the role. What used to work no longer does, and relying on…
PUSH Journal
22 January 2026 · 6 min read
8 Ways Employers Can Support Mental Health in the Workplace
As we head into 2026, one thing is increasingly clear: most organisations are still not doing enough to support mental health in the workplace. The pressure on employees continues to rise, the…
PUSH Journal
7 January 2026 · 5 min read
How to Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning and Development
If there is one thing every organisation has learned over the past few years, it is this. Standing still is not an option. Markets change. Technology leaps ahead. Expectations shift. What worked…
PUSH Journal
17 December 2025 · 6 min read
Management Behaviours: The Art of Feedback
When we’re running our management training workshops, there is a moment we see again and again. Everyone feels relaxed and engaged, they are nodding along, the energy is good, and then we get to…
PUSH Journal
4 December 2025 · 6 min read
5 Mindset Shifts to Combat Festive Stress at Work
The festive season is meant to feel warm and joyful, a moment to pause, celebrate and close the year with a sense of pride.
PUSH Journal
20 November 2025 · 5 min read
Leadership Skills for Middle Management: An Essential Guide for New Managers
The leap into middle management is one of the biggest career transitions you’ll ever make. One day you’re recognised for your delivery as an individual contributor; the next, you’re expected to…
PUSH Journal
6 November 2025 · 5 min read
Building High-Performing Teams: The Secrets to Successful Workplace Collaboration
Traces how remote, hybrid and back-to-office shifts have each changed how teams connect and perform.
PUSH Journal
23 October 2025 · 5 min read
How to Support Working Parents: 10 Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Workplace
Ten strategies for supporting working parents, framed around retention and reducing burnout.
PUSH Journal
9 October 2025 · 5 min read
Leading with Empathy: Why Compassionate Leadership Drives Performance
Addresses the discomfort some managers feel with "empathy" as a word, and connects it directly to performance rather than treating it as separate from it.
PUSH Journal
25 September 2025 · 6 min read
Human-Centred Leadership: Building Team Confidence in the AI Era
Argues AI didn't create leadership skill gaps, it's exposing ones that already existed, drawing on a named external contributor's perspective.
PUSH Journal
11 September 2025 · 6 min read
Managers Under Pressure: Future-Ready Leadership in the Age of AI
On redesigning leadership to be sustainable and human-first rather than simply asking managers to be tougher.
PUSH Journal
27 August 2025 · 6 min read
Human Skills in Leadership: The Competitive Advantage in an AI-Driven World
On the risk of investing in platforms and process while overlooking the people expected to lead through the change.
PUSH Journal
21 August 2025 · 5 min read
Forget the Annual Review: Help Your Managers Build a Consistent Feedback Culture
Makes the case for regular, ongoing feedback over the single annual review moment.
PUSH Journal
7 August 2025 · 6 min read
How Employee Resilience Training Positively Impacts Wellbeing and Workplace Performance
On resilience training as a response to everyday workplace friction: conflict, deadlines and unexpected change.
PUSH Journal
24 July 2025 · 4 min read
AI in the Workplace: Why We All Need to Be More Human
General piece on AI's effect on how people work, arguing the human skills matter more, not less.
PUSH Journal
10 July 2025 · 4 min read
Management Behaviours: Mastering Difficult Conversations at Work
Direct piece on why managers avoid difficult conversations and the cost of that avoidance.
PUSH Journal
26 June 2025 · 5 min read
Why Manager Engagement is the Hidden Key to Business Performance
A response to a Gallup State of the Global Workplace report, reacting to what the data showed about manager engagement specifically.
PUSH Journal
12 June 2025 · 5 min read
Distance Without Disconnect: How to Maintain Connection When Managing Hybrid Teams
On keeping teams connected and productive in a hybrid working pattern.
PUSH Journal
22 May 2025 · 3 min read
Management Behaviours: Setting Boundaries at Work
On setting workplace boundaries without it reading as a lack of commitment.
PUSH Journal
8 May 2025 · 4 min read
Happy Teams, High Performance: Exploring the Link Between Wellbeing and Workplace Performance
Connects team wellbeing directly to performance outcomes, arguing a people-first culture underpins high-performing teams.
PUSH Journal
17 April 2025 · 4 min read
Has Workplace Mental Health Training Been Deprioritised Now That COVID is in the Rearview Mirror?
Questions whether organisations have kept up mental health investment since the acute phase of the pandemic passed.
PUSH Journal
3 April 2025 · 3 min read
How Will the Change in Employers' National Insurance Impact Learning and Development Budgets?
A topical piece on the April 2025 UK Employers' National Insurance changes and the effect on L&D budgets. Likely written early 2025, given the subject.
PUSH Journal
19 March 2025 · 4 min read
Supporting Managers: Why Mental Health Training is Critical for Business Success
Makes the case that managers themselves need mental health support, not just the teams they manage.
PUSH Journal
5 March 2025 · 4 min read
The Future of Leadership: How to Develop a Growth Mindset in Management
On moving from command-and-control leadership towards an adaptive, growth-mindset style.
PUSH Journal
6 February 2025 · 5 min read
How to Delegate Effectively as a Manager: The Key to Leadership Growth
Practical piece on why delegation is hard and how to do it well.
PUSH Journal
30 January 2025 · 6 min read
How Our Management Training Courses Empower Emerging Leaders and Their Teams
A more promotional piece describing PUSH's own training courses for emerging leaders. Likely needs the heaviest rewrite of any post here, since it's about the old course structure.
PUSH Journal
28 July 2023 · 5 min read
Management Behaviours: Fostering Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
On emotional intelligence as a leadership skill, referencing work done in late 2022.
PUSH Journal
30 June 2023 · 4 min read
Upskilling Middle Managers: How to Support Managers to Be People Leaders
On the day-to-day operational load middle managers carry and how to help them grow into people leadership.
PUSH Journal
1 June 2023 · 6 min read
Mental Health Training for Managers: a Guide
A guide-format piece on workplace mental health as an organisational concern.
PUSH Journal
6 April 2023 · 7 min read
Managers Are Struggling Too: 5 Tips to Support Your Managers' Mental Health
On the tendency to focus wellbeing attention on employees generally while overlooking managers' own mental health.
PUSH Journal
23 February 2023 · 6 min read
The Cost of Living Crisis is Turning Into a Mental Health Crisis: How to Support Your Staff
Ties the UK cost of living crisis directly to workplace mental health, and what employers can do. Likely 2022 to 2023, given the subject.
PUSH Journal
7 February 2023 · 4 min read
How To Get Your People Engaged With Your Employee Wellbeing Programmes
References a 37% and 73% statistic on post-pandemic mental health and work-related stress, so likely 2021 to 2022.
PUSH Journal
27 January 2023 · 4 min read
How Does Mental Health Affect Productivity Among Employees?
References a UK government study on mental health and productivity.
PUSH Journal
12 January 2023 · 6 min read
What to Expect From Mental Health Awareness Training for Managers
Describes what a mental health awareness training session for managers covers.
PUSH Journal
29 September 2022 · 5 min read
Main Causes of Mental Health Problems Among Employees and How to Prevent Them
Covers common causes of employee mental health issues and prevention approaches.
PUSH Journal
13 September 2022 · 5 min read
5 Ways of Reducing Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace
References a "one in six people" pandemic-era mental health statistic, so likely 2021.
PUSH Journal
1 September 2022 · 6 min read
How to Promote Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace
References a YouGov survey PUSH ran; includes five practical tips and mentions "the PUSH Audit," an early product name.
PUSH Journal
28 September 2021 · 3 min read
Building a Stronger Tomorrow: the Push for a More Inclusive Future
Reflects on D&I and awareness days through the year. Likely mid-2021 given the framing.
PUSH Journal
31 August 2021 · 3 min read
Belonging in the Workplace: Getting Inclusivity and Allyship Right Beyond Pride
Written just after Pride month, on sustaining inclusivity and allyship year-round. Likely written in a July, year unconfirmed.
PUSH Journal
31 August 2021 · 3 min read
Choose to Challenge This International Women's Day
References 2020 as a difficult year just gone, so almost certainly written for International Women's Day, March 2021.
PUSH Journal
8 June 2021 · 4 min read
Flexible Working: Are We Looking at It All Wrong?
On flexible working and connectivity across time zones and distance.
PUSH Journal
22 September 2020 · 5 min read
Change is Inevitable, Growth is Intentional
References emerging from "the first wave" of the Covid-19 pandemic, so almost certainly mid-to-late 2020.
PUSH Journal
19 November 2019 · 4 min read
Creating Positive Interactions as a Leader: Leadership Series
Part of an early "Leadership Series," on communication qualities of effective leaders.
PUSH Journal
19 November 2019 · 4 min read
How to Lead With Purpose and Direction: Leadership Series
Also part of the early "Leadership Series," on giving teams direction and clarity of purpose.
PUSH Journal
9 October 2019 · 4 min read
Why Every Company Needs Mental Health First Aiders
On the case for trained Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace.
PUSH Journal
23 July 2019 · 4 min read
Why is Company Culture Important and What Can It Achieve?
General piece on the influence of company culture.
PUSH Journal
25 June 2019 · 6 min read
5 Team Performance Insights That All CEOs Need to Know
References PUSH speaking at an industry discussion on team performance, "putting people first."
PUSH Journal
3 April 2019 · 5 min read
How to Change Your Mind About Stress
Opens with a UK-wide stress survey statistic (74% of adults reporting feeling overwhelmed at some point).