It’s not over. It may never be over but it seems to me that there is currently a moment to breathe out and acknowledge what we have all lived through in this pandemic. The UK HE sector is more challenged than it has ever been with endless change and relentless uncertainty added to the already complex daily mix. But all my coaching clients tell me ‘We can’t go back’ - so much has changed for the better in the past year that we have to ensure we learn the lessons rapidly. But, from what I see, we can’t stay exactly where we are either. One of those lessons, lurking not far beneath the surface, is the real risk of burn-out and exhaustion.
Like most self-employed people, I’ve spent the last 6 months working hard to pivot my business. My first year was a joyous round of face-to-face engagement on an individual and team basis. But that doesn’t suit anymore. COVID forced a critical moment of transformation for me and for many. Transformation – both personal and professional – is at the heart of my practice so I hoped I’d be good at this.
In the 10 months since I set up my education consultancy TKCC, dragonflies have taken on a totally unexpected significance. A few years ago, a lovely friend and colleague in Hanoi introduced me to Vietnamese bamboo dragonflies and they have taken on quite subtle meaning for me over time.
