Coaching is an antidote to a world that’s moving faster than humans can think.
Back-to-back meetings, decisions made on the hoof, conversations replayed on the way home. When pressure is constant, the first thing to go is the space to think. Our sessions give you the chance to untangle it all: what matters most, what's genuinely yours to carry, and how you want to respond. A steady, confidential place to see clearly, change your relationship with pressure and choose how you lead.
Who I work with
I work with capable, conscientious leaders who care a great deal about their work and their people. They carry more than most people see, and are often hardest on themselves.
You are likely...
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A leader, perhaps a Team Lead, Head of Department or Director, in a fast-paced, demanding role where expectations rarely let up
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Perhaps navigating some kind of transition: a new role, a restructure or a shifting brief
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Frustrated by U-turns, ambiguity and moving goalposts that make it hard to do the job as well as you’d like
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Performing well on the outside, but quietly carrying your team’s worries home with you
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Running on effort, and aware that this isn't sustainable in the long-term
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Sometimes questioning whether you’re the right person for the role, even when others clearly think you are
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Wondering, now and then, whether this is still what you want
Helen is an empathetic and astute coach, highly skilled in listening and challenging in order to extract the most important details. She’ll work with you on a game plan and she’ll provide support and accountability along the way.
Katy, Agency Director
What happens when we work together?
​You gain:
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A different relationship with pressure, so you can keep your high standards without it costing your wellbeing
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Clearer thinking and sharper decisions, even when the ground keeps shifting
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A greater sense of control despite the uncertainty
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The confidence to trust your judgement, and that you belong in the room
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Clarity on what’s yours to carry, and the ability to set boundaries without guilt
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Room to explore your options and choose what’s next
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Peace of mind that comes from perspective, not disengagement
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​You shift...
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...from the back foot to the front foot.
From reactive to intentional.
From being driven by urgency to choosing how you meet it.
Your environment might not change.
But you will.
Helen has a great talent for helping me 'see the unseen'. Usually somewhere in the middle of a session, she will ask a single question or make a statement that either changes or challenges my point of view of the situation in hand. It's such an enjoyable process and I always leave our sessions with something of value or more clarity on the professional challenges I face in my role.
Alan, Global Law Firm
Trusted by people and teams from...
About me
I’m Helen Barnes, an ICF PCC-accredited executive coach.
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I spent 15+ years in PR and communications, delivering campaigns, leading teams and heading up client portfolios. I know first-hand what it’s like to manage politics and carry expectation, responsibility for others and accountability for results while the ground keeps shifting.
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Today I help capable, conscientious leaders change their relationship with pressure, so they can lead confidently without it costing their wellbeing.
My approach blends real-world leadership experience, accredited coaching skills and mental health awareness training, in a confidential thinking partnership built around you.
Working with Helen opened my eyes to the benefits of coaching. She deliberately avoids giving me her solutions, instead guiding me to my own conclusions through listening and asking the right questions at the right time.
Pete, Global Head of Product Support
Thinking clearly under pressure:
Insights on leadership in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
