Athena Leadership Academy

WHAT A YEAR! 💫 Before you fall over the finish line and before you switch your computer off for the last time you work this year, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your support and collaboration, no matter how big or small. It's been a remarkable year filled with many Elevate, Emerging and Bespoke Leadership programs, Workshops and Executive Coaching sessions, and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have worked with each and every one of you. I especially want to acknowledge my small but mighty team, Charlie Clarke and Katie Martin, for their invaluable contributions and for supporting me in doing what I do and love. Your dedication and expertise have been truly instrumental to our success this year, and I couldn't do it without you.🙏 I wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, peace, and relaxation. I look forward to reconnecting and continuing our successful collaborations in 2025! In the meantime, I'll be sharing some highlights over the coming weeks with popular blog posts and activities to set you up for success in 2025. Until then, have a wonderful, safe and happy holiday! ~ Linda Murray

Happy last week of work for 2024! (Well. It is for the Athena Leadership Academy team anyway... 🥳) As another year draws to a close and we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the new one, we've experienced a full circle of moments – challenges, successes, and everything in between. We've learned and grown, and I feel incredibly grateful every day for your support along the way. Looking ahead to 2025, the team and I have been creating intent. Think of it as a North Star for 2025. Our intent word for the coming year is 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. We believe that strong connections are the foundation of everything we do – from building long-lasting relationships with our clients and truly understanding their needs to creating a collaborative team environment where diverse perspectives thrive. Our many long-term clients and the consistently positive feedback we receive are a testament to the strong, connected relationships we form. We're excited to embrace this theme as we continue to evolve and create workshops, programs, and experiences for you and your teams. We also believe that prioritising connection with our family, friends, and favourite activities outside work is essential for well-being and sustainable success. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. 𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰! https://lnkd.in/gR2vQ_H2

It's time to inject some FUN into the workplace! 🥳  In this month's Athena Insights update, we share five end-of-year simple team activities that can boost morale, spark creativity, and banish burnout.   A positive culture starts with YOU! What is your workplace doing to create more joy? ✨ #culture #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching

Feeling the end-of-year burnout? The sprint to the finish line is REAL! 🏃♀️💨 But don't burn yourself out. Keep this in mind as you push towards your goals. Remember the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady wins the race! 🐢 During this sprint, remember to take short breaks. These moments of rest are not just for recharging your batteries but also for maintaining your motivation. By doing so, you'll find yourself more productive and able to cross the finish line with energy and joy to spare! 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀: • 𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Close your eyes and practice deep breathing. Listen to your favourite upbeat song. • 𝟮𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Step outside for a brisk walk. Stay connected and call a friend or loved one for a quick chat. • 𝟯𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Grab a healthy snack and read a chapter in a book. Listen to a podcast. Even in your car! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝟏𝟎-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞? Share your tips in the comments below!👇 Tag someone you know who needs to hear this!Feeling the end-of-year burnout? The sprint to the finish line is REAL! 🏃♀️💨 But don't burn yourself out. Keep this in mind as you push towards your goals. Remember the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady wins the race! 🐢 During this sprint, remember to take short breaks. These moments of rest are not just for recharging your batteries but also for maintaining your motivation. By doing so, you'll find yourself more productive and able to cross the finish line with energy and joy to spare! 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀: • 𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Close your eyes and practice deep breathing. Listen to your favourite upbeat song. • 𝟮𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Step outside for a brisk walk. Stay connected and call a friend or loved one for a quick chat. • 𝟯𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀: Grab a healthy snack and read a chapter in a book. Listen to a podcast. Even in your car! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝟏𝟎-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞? Share your tips in the comments below!👇 Tag someone you know who needs to hear this!

Time is not just a resource; it's your most valuable asset. And yet, in today's world of constant distractions and endless to-do lists, it can feel like time is slipping through our fingers like sand. We're bombarded with information, overwhelmed with demands, and left feeling like we're constantly playing catch-up. But what if there was a way to reclaim control of your time and unlock your true productivity potential? What if you could achieve more in less time, with less stress? In this week's Athena Insights blog post, we'll explore the science behind effective time management and share practical strategies to help you escape the clutches of "info-mania" and maximise your most precious resource: your time. https://lnkd.in/g38SV8b6

Futurist Anders Sorman-Nilsson vividly describes our times: "We live in a world where change has never been this fast… and will never be this slow again!" He's absolutely right. Technological advancements are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, allowing us to accomplish more than ever. But this progress comes at a cost. The good news? You CAN regain control. 💪 Instead of wishing for more time, try energy management. Here's how!⚡️ https://lnkd.in/gTrpiRrG

In 1996, a company was 90 days away from bankruptcy. Then, a former employee stepped in and took charge. Just 15 years later, he'd grown its value to almost $400 billion – and it's worth even more today.   Who was this leader, and what lessons can you learn from his incredible turnaround? Find out by listening to Linda Murray's interview with @jdownes on the #CriticalFewActions podcast! 🎧 https://lnkd.in/gdsSZXEU

𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲? Feeling lost, stressed, or even a little scared in the face of change? It's incredibly common to feel like you're the only one struggling, especially when change brings feelings of overwhelm, inadequacy, self-doubt, or isolation. Believe me, I've been there! But the truth is that almost everyone experiences these emotions at some point in their lives. Change, whether it's a new job, a move, a relationship shift, or even just a new routine, can be tough! Here's why you might feel like "it's just me": 😬 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬. For instance, on social media, we often see curated posts highlighting the best moments of someone's life, creating a facade of perfection. Similarly, societal pressures to always be successful and happy can make it seem like everyone else has it all figured out. 😬 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞. It takes bravery to open up about our struggles or worries, and we often fear being judged or rejected. This fear can lead us to keep our feelings bottled up, reinforcing the sense of isolation. But remember, the act of sharing is a powerful step towards connection and healing. 😬 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬. We're wired to pay more attention to negative experiences and emotions, which can make them seem more prevalent than they actually are. But it's important to remember that these feelings are a normal part of the human experience, and you're not alone in experiencing them. The good news is that you're not alone. Here are a few things to remember: 🫣 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴. Even the most successful and confident people have their own insecurities and challenges. 🫣 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴. Sharing your feelings with someone you trust can be incredibly liberating and can help you gain a new perspective. 🫣 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩. It takes courage to ask for help and is a crucial step towards overcoming challenges and building resilience. If you're feeling overwhelmed or alone, please reach out to a friend, family member, therapist, or other trusted professional. There are people who care about you and want to help. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Executive Coaching provides a safe, confidential space to: 💡Explore your challenges and identify your blind spots. 💡Develop strategies for managing stress and building resilience. 💡Gain clarity and confidence to navigate complex situations. Taking that first step towards seeking support can be transformative. Don't hesitate to reach out for more information or to arrange a chat and explore the benefits of executive coaching with us.

When viewed through the lens of growth, setbacks not only lose their sting but also transform into powerful springboards for personal and professional development, offering a beacon of hope in challenging times. Personally and professionally, life is a journey filled with peaks and valleys. We experience moments of triumph and joy but also inevitably face challenges and setbacks. It's how we navigate these difficult times that truly defines us. We firmly believe that setbacks, while sometimes painful, are incredible opportunities for learning and growth. They can make us not just stronger but also more resilient and ultimately more successful. In this week's Athena Insights blog, we delve into strategies for actively reflecting on your experiences, identifying lessons learned, and implementing changes to build a more resilient and adaptable organisation and foster a sense of engagement and proactivity. https://lnkd.in/gKbYxVdU

Want to know how to keep your team inspired and maintain morale until the end of the year? Take a look at the biggest challenges people are facing right now 👇👇👇 When people start to get tired or stressed often; 🧠 Our thinking becomes unclear 🛬 We're easily distracted 😬 We get anxious 😓 The feeling of overwhelm sets in But here's the thing: it means your body is trying to tell you something! Those feelings of distraction and procrastination? That's your body's way of saying, "pause and recharge." Avoiding burnout can be challenging, but learning to work 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 your body, not against it, is the secret to maintaining momentum all year round. 💡Download my ebook, "Peak Performance", for practical strategies to stay energised and share with your colleagues, team, family and friends so they can avoid burnout too! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eAA3piq8 #changemanagement #stressmanagement #peakperformance #wellbeing #mentalhealth #productivity