About

Adapting To Change: Nothing Beats Experience

Leadership can be complicated. Feedback from across multiple organisations is that tough conversations are not taking place. Individuals are not given an approach to support them in their daily management roles and are expected to do more with less. 

I often reference that, for me, management is the task and leadership is about the people. The attributes you have can define you as a leader. You are still accountable for the work getting done and leading the people in the most effective way.

So, what can you do to enhance the capabilities you already have? We all have core skills. Core to being human and core to being a leader. It’s how we lead ourselves and others.

We may not know how being aware of those skills and how to develop them can support us and the teams we lead.

Drawing on over 30 years of organisation experience, Julia Ridout, the Chief Encouragement Officer is a highly respected leadership consultant helping your teams adapt to change. Having shared her knowledge with leaders and businesses during this last decade,

I am dedicated to helping organisations unlock their potential through the power of their people. I support individual managers in their leadership journey, showing them the leadership skills they already have, and how to develop them. The opportunity is to trial skills throughout the workshops and leave the sessions with practical information. You then get to practice in your environment whilst knowing that you have the materials and information to refer to at any time.

With management roles from junior supervision to senior management, I have personally experienced what it is like to join a business, seek out personal and career growth and participate in numerous training programs. With experience in mergers, advertising, information technology, construction and retail across portfolio management, strategy, sales, and operations, I understand the day-to-day challenges faced by leaders and individuals in the workplace.

Establishing the Chief Encouragement Officer to help organisations make the most of their most significant asset (people), I have a proven background in enabling people to become more effective in their roles.

 

Julia Ridout, Chief Encouragement Officer, adapting to change, engage your staff, achieve success, leadership coaching, advisor, projects, program management

An accredited counsellor for Lifeline for six years, I have a Bachelor’s in Behavioural Science, majoring in Psychology. Throughout that degree, I gained experience in organisational development, trauma, positive psychology and counselling. With more than 25 years of my career in program management, I also have a Master’s Certificate in Project Management. 

This background, together with a broad range of organisational experience across multiple organisations, gives me a unique insight into the workplace.

With an uncanny ability to cut through issues, connect with people and get to the heart of problems, I am the leadership consultant you need when guiding your organisation through change.

I don’t have the same approach as other leadership facilitators and program reviewers. Don’t be too taken in by the name of the business. Encouragement is key but not at the expense of performance. No toxic positivity or BS here. 

When we work together, you will receive a proposal with a clear set of deliverables for either project consultancy work or course facilitation. A common sense approach to practical outcomes for you and your team.

Leadership at every level.

Animation by Tom Ewart

The truth is, personality beats process every time.

To get the most from your people, you need to know when to be direct yet empathetic; how to combine traditionally termed ‘soft’ (we say ‘core’) and hard skills; and when to call for backup. 

These skills are not the ones you’ll find in the office manual or a set of procedures – they come from experience, empathy and understanding.

The Chief Encouragement Officer helps leaders harness these core skills and realise their potential through facilitated learning and mentoring. 

Drawing on wide experience and a range of different skills, the Chief Encouragement Officer helps your leaders and your organisation get the most from your people and processes.

With workshops available for business unit teams, project teams and project leaders, increase the skills of your leaders and achieve improved productivity for your organisation. Facilitated programs are also available for your future leaders, allowing you to invest in your people, and establish succession plans cultivating a strong organisational culture where everyone is supported.

 

Some of the charities & enterprises we support

Benefit from Proven Knowledge & Expertise

Invest in your people and reap the rewards of strong leadership and a healthy organisational culture. 

Contact the Chief Encouragement Officer to discover how our workshops and project management skills can benefit your organisation.

Potential of your people. Group of diverse individuals sitting around a boardroom table with coffee mugs, notebooks and laptop. A Black woman is reaching out across the table with her hand extended shaking the hand of a Black man.