Maren Deepwell

Tag: #altc

  • Summer coaching inspiration

    Summer coaching inspiration

    I’ve put together three ideas to try out whether you are having a busy summer or taking a break. So if you are looking for some inspiration and ideas to recharge for the next academic year, have a go:

    Tips for a week of complete rest

    It’s taken me a long time to be able to step away from all types of work all together, and for me, having a complete week off is a big achievement.. as well as a reflection of how busy I have recently been. I took some practical steps to ensure that I had a complete break, and I wanted to share some tips that worked for me:

    • I completed a holiday handover, with my amazing colleagues and deputy, and then logged off all work systems completely on my last day at work;
    • No laptops came on holiday, and all computers at home where switched off when work ended;
    • I deleted all work-related apps from my phone or switched notifications off completely, included direct messaging, emails, and task management apps;
    • I logged out of/deleted all social media apps, like Twitter and LinkedIn, that I only use in a professional context;
    • calendar notifications were switched off or paused
    • A simply note to make a list of anything that I thought of, which were work related and which I wanted to pick up upon my return;
    • I intentionally packed books, audiobooks and other entertainment that would help me focus on things other than work.

    >> Longer read

    How to make a milestone map

    Many of my clients are looking to make progress in their work or personal lives: to make a change, develop their career path or build personal habits. Many of us have goals like ‘progress in my career’ or ‘be happier’… but it can be hard to break down exactly what to do in order to achieve our aims and define what ‘success’ means to us. In this post I share practical steps to help you put your goals on paper and break them down into achievable chunks, including:

    • How to choose a format that works for you
    • How to pick your goal(s)
    • How to turn goals into milestones
    • How to check your map

    >> Learn more

    List of 100 Dreams

    I am always on the look out for new tools or resources for coaching, and I want to share this one I came across in a blog post by Laura Vanderkam: It’s called a ‘List of 100 Dreams’. If this is a new concept, then head over to Laura’s blog to read more about the original exercise from Career coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine and how Laura has used this exercise as part of her work on productivity and time management. The ‘List of 100 Dreams’ is exactly that: a long list of things you wish to do, have or devote time to. In essence, it’s a very long bucket list. 

    I felt this was a lot of fun to try out, so if you are curious to learn more and try this for yourself, here’s how to get started.

    >> Get Started

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  • The year in blog posts… so far

    The year in blog posts… so far

    As I am half way through the year, I am taking a look back at what I have blogged so far, and in the best tradition of the form, to blog about blogging once again. And, if you missed one of these, now is a good time to catch up and bookmark posts for future reading.

    Blogging in numbers

    So far I have published 43 blog posts this year. The average per month is 7 per month. January was the month with the most posts (10) and March and April were the month with the fewest posts (5).

    Top 5 posts

    1. Post with the most comments: OER23 Conference: a whole lotta love
    2. Post that was shared most widely: The world is bigger than my desk. 
    3. Post that was read most widely: Thank you #EDEN2023
    4. Post that had the most successful podcast companion episode: What’s so important about open practice for hybrid leaders?
    5. Post that I enjoyed writing the most: A party without a cake is just a meeting…

    January (10)

    February (9)

    March (5)

    April (5)

    May (6)

    June (8)

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  • Career transition update: June 2023

    Career transition update: June 2023

    Things have moved on a lot since I last shared an update, so there’s a lot to cover this month:

    First, I am glad to see the announcement of ALT’s next CEO meet with such warmth and welcome! It’s been great to see Members and stakeholders welcome Billy Smith, and it’s been good for me to start working with Billy as we begin our handover. If you don’t already, follow Billy on social media and find out more about the transition on Billy’s blog!

    I’m now in my last three months of this transition, as I’ll be stepping down as CEO in early September ahead of my last day later that month.

    The next three months feel like a gift! I get to work with my team, with Members and with many volunteers ahead of ALT’s 30th Annual Conference (book your ticket and join us) and enjoy this exciting, busy time once more before starting my new chapter.

    My job has been hugely rewarding over the past 15 years and I have had so many moments of joy, so much that I have been part of, so many milestones achieved that the time I have left now feels like the icing on the cake. The proverbial cherry on top. A time to share what organisational knowledge is useful before things move on in a new direction.

    Preparing for my new career chapter

    I’ve now completed the next step in my formal coach training this month. Working with more and less experienced coaches and mentors has been super inspiring for me as I develop my own approach and what aspects of coaching I want to focus on.

    Unfortunately everyone at home has been sick for the past week or two, but hopefully we will feel better again soon as we prepare for the summer!

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  • ALT appoints new Chief Executive: Billy Smith

    ALT appoints new Chief Executive: Billy Smith

    We are delighted to update members that the Association has appointed Billy Smith as our new Chief Executive. 

    Since the announcement of this leadership transition in February, the recruitment panel, chaired by ALT’s Chair Helen O’Sullivan, has worked through a rigorous and competitive selection process that involved the staff team, Trustees and ALT’s HR and EDI advisors.

    Helen commented: 

    “Billy immediately stood out from the strong pool of applicants through his strong commitment to the values and principles of ALT as a membership organisation. His energy and enthusiasm impressed the Panel and we are confident that he is the right person to take ALT forward into the next phase of our development.”

    Billy will join the team in early August and formally take on the role of Chief Executive at this year’s Annual General Meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, 6th September 2023 during our Annual Conference in Warwick. The AGM will also be our opportunity to say thank you to Maren Deepwell, who will step down as Chief Executive on that date.

    We invite you to warmly welcome Billy together with our Members, staff and Board of Trustees. 

    Read the full announcement on the ALT website.

  • Career transition update: May 2023

    Career transition update: May 2023

    In this month’s update, I want to share how things are going now that we are entering a very busy period, both in ALT’s year and my coaching business.

    Balcony with sea views.

    Reflecting on the past month at ALT…

    This month at work has been incredibly busy, but also included a wonderfully relaxing week of annual leave! May is the month in which we review progress made in Q1, finalise our annual accounts, start working on our Annual Conference in earnest and… a host of other activities that keep everyone across the organisation very busy.

    May was also the month in which the recruitment process for my successor stepped up a gear, which added more tasks to the days of Trustees and staff alike. It’s been a very rewarding and illuminating process, which I feel very positive about. Thinking back to my own ordeal applying for this role, from the extensive prep, to the nerve-racking interview days, to extensive online tests and skills scenarios… I feel for everyone involved. It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare a CEO application and even more to be successful at the end. Hats off to all who applied and threw their hats into the ring.

    I am very much looking forward to the public announcement introducing ALT’s next CEO, which will be coming out next month, so keep an eye out on all our channels 🙂

    … in other news

    I have been working hard on a brand new project that is concluding this week: How to… Lead Virtual Teams: The Course! It’s the first course I have developed for my new venture and it’s been a fantastic project. The course took place over seven weeks in April and May. As a podcast based offering it afforded a lot of flexibility and tailored support for managers and leaders and attracted around 50 participants from across sectors.

    Course logo

    It’s been fantastic to wrap up the first successful run of the course, and interesting to read contributions and reflections from those involved. Definitely a project I am hoping to repeat come autumn.

    My formal coach training is continuing this month, and investing in my own professional development is really important just now. Working with more and less experienced coaches and mentors is really helping me understand more about how to develop my own approach and what aspects of coaching I want to focus on.

    I am still looking for clients for the summer, so if you’re interested in coaching with me, head over to my coaching page for more information or just get in touch for an informal conversation. I currently offer discounted packages and for professionals who are not supported by their employer and for whom cost is a barrier to coaching, I also offer pro bono coaching sessions.

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  • Career transition update: April 2023

    Career transition update: April 2023

    In February I shared the news that I will step down as ALT’s CEO this September to focus on my work as a coach. This is a monthly update on how things are progressing from my perspective, sharing some of the experiences along the way.

    Reflecting on the past month at ALT

    April had a very busy start indeed, as it was time for this year’s OER Conference. No matter how busy it was, OER23 was a blast, and I loved every minute of it. It was a special pleasure this year as this was my last big event as CEO. If you’d like to read more of my personal take on the conference, then head over to the dedicated post and, check out #OER23 on social media for lots of interesting conversations and folk involved in the event.

    The recruitment panel who will appoint the next CEO of ALT is chaired by Professor Helen O’Sullivan. My part was to meet candidates for informal conversations about the role, and I enjoyed these meetings very much. With the interview process now underway, everyone has been involved in the preparations for these and you can feel the excitement, and nerves, mounting a little. The prospect of meeting the new CEO of ALT is now becoming a very real thing. ALT will be announcing the new CEO in early summer and you’ll have the opportunity to meet them at ALT’s Annual Conference this September. So look out for news #altc.

    Other than that, my day to day work continues very much as usual. We are busily induction new members of staff, planning for ALT’s 30th anniversary and Annual Conference this September, and I have a lot of travel coming up, too. As well as attending events this month, I really enjoyed seeing my whole staff team in person for a site visit and lunch. It’s a rare pleasure for us as a mainly virtual team to get together in person, and I value those elements of blended collaboration and catching up very much.

    What’s else is happening

    With so much going on at work, I’m mindful of setting some goals and engaging in activities that aren’t work related: I’m finally getting back to regular running (having recovered from a serious injury last year) and thinking of signing up for some races to have additional motivation.

    I’m also really looking forward to joining formal coach training from May, and spending my Saturday evenings with fellow coaches across different time zones. This is the final part of my formal training before I can apply for ICF accreditation, and I am excited about developing my practice further in the coming months.

    And… not to forget my side project at the moment, a podcast-based course all about How to Lead Virtual Teams. It’s been fun designing something completely new to me and I am learning a lot as the course develops.