Examples of Our Work
Developing leadership capability
Developing strong and compassionate leaders
This six-module programme delivered over nine months was designed to develop key leaders in a large NHS trust. We combined the power of individual coaching with engaging workshops and self-directed learning materials. Initially for ward managers, this programme evolved into a multi-professional development initiative reaching across the organisation and including over 120 leaders.
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Our focus was on building confidence and capability in leading teams and delivering transformative change.
Participants valued the excellent facilitation and blended design. Individual coaching, using psychometrics, encouraged reflection on leadership style and provided a confidential space for personal exploration. Group workshops offered support and challenge on real work issues alongside practical guidance from well-grounded leadership models. Open access to our engaging online materials allowed individuals to learn at their own pace and reinforce key concepts.
Overall, this comprehensive approach supported participants to apply their learning in their workplace during the life of the programme. Participants identified that this impactful programme had led to increased self-awareness, confidence, and capability in strong and compassionate leadership. These positive changes were noticeable in improved performance and well-being in their teams too.
In their own words….
“The programme was well facilitated with ample opportunity to explore new ideas, thoughts and practical skills”
“This programme is already changing my practice; being able to coach my staff more effectively to develop their full potential and feeling more confident tackling problems as they arise”
“It’s helped me to understand myself as a leader and the leadership styles and practices that I have and how these are influenced by my personality. I have also learned practical skills to help with leading a successful team”
Workshops for developing leadership skills
Tricky conversations is one of our signature workshop designed to enhance leaders' skills in handling sensitive discussions. We help leaders build insight and confidence to address performance or behaviour issues constructively, focusing on the anxieties and dynamics of difficult conversations. This half-day workshop combines psychological insights with practical application for impactful communication
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Coaching skills for leaders
We collaborated with an internal OD team when their organisation made a strategic decision to foster a coaching culture. Our Coaching Skills for Leaders workshop is designed for those leaders who have the most reach within this complex organisation
Rich with ideas, tools and techniques the workshop also provides opportunity for discussion and practice. The design has evolved over time to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of those attending and the needs of the organisation.
With over 150 leaders having completed the programme so far, there is now a critical mass of skilled leaders creating an environment where coaching becomes a natural part of daily interactions.
“The workshop was one of the best I have been on recently. The facilitator was knowledgeable, engaging and interesting throughout the entire day. I would highly recommend this day and facilitator to all staff”
“Excellent course and workshop lead. Good balance of theory, discussion and practical exercises in which to safely practice learning”
“A great day and well worth the time out of my busy schedule to attend”
Coaching
We work with leaders at all levels
From team leaders to board executives, and coach professionals from public, private and third sector organisations across diverse fields such healthcare, social care, technology, project management, and academia. Our coaching programmes typically span several months, with 4 to 6 sessions, and are often delivered virtually.
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We often work with leaders in transition, particularly those stepping into more strategic roles. Moving into leadership from a technical field like engineering or project management, or a clinical discipline such as medicine or nursing presents unique challenges.
Many of our clients are promoted for excelling in their specialty but feel ill-prepared for senior leadership. They may struggle with issues like defining their new role and authority, navigating complex systems, and managing broader corporate responsibilities.
In these situations our focus is on helping individuals navigate their new environment, develop their networks, and build relationships and influence—empowering them to step into leadership with confidence.
We have a team of coaches offering clients the opportunity to choose the coach that’s the best fit for their needs, which is key to a successful coaching experience. To ensure the right match, we offer a no-obligation ‘chemistry meeting’ where clients can discuss their goals and assess compatibility.
“It was great working with my coach, she is very insightful, listens and will not dismiss any point regardless of how minor. She would always check if I wanted to explore any points further”
“My coach was amazing and just what I needed. She listened to what I was saying and also challenged me, and shared her reflections with me”
“A greater sense of who I am and what I can be. Since I started the coaching I have been able to take on a new role. I do not believe I would have had the confidence to
take on this mammoth opportunity if it weren’t for the support I have had through my coaching”
Building teams
Team building in action
Following a period of considerable organisational change, a client sought our support for a department in transition. We met the senior leaders to understand the challenges they were facing. Additionally, we engaged with team members across all levels to gain insight into their priorities and concerns. As a result, our initial focus was on uniting the teams through a dedicated development day.
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The day was designed to help participants reconnect with their core purpose, deepen their understanding of each other’s contributions, and identify the changes needed to achieve their vision.
We encouraged participants to prepare in advance by creating team posters highlighting their work, achievements and what they could offer to others in the department.
On the day itself, we adopted an appreciative approach, highlighting what is working well and identifying areas for growth. We facilitated exercises that encouraged individuals to work together in cross-team groups. Through supportive facilitation we enabled participants to identify obstacles and issues that needed to be surfaced. Balancing honesty and respect created mutual insight and understanding. The awayday was then able to be a space where the team members chose specific challenges to tackle in problem-solving groups.
By the end of the day, team members felt motivated, engaged, connected, and left with a clear action plan for moving forward. We concluded our intervention by maintaining communication with the leadership team for a short time as they began implementing the identified changes.
Peer learning facilitation
Peer learning for senior Heads of Service
We crafted a development programme for senior leaders who held similar roles but had few opportunities to connect as peers. Building on their existing leadership experience, the programme provided a space for participants to tackle current challenges with the support and insight of their colleagues. This enabled them to work together to better represent their role and service needs to the senior leadership team.
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Inspired by action learning principles, this approach offered a safe haven to share concerns, reflect away from the daily grind, and foster a stronger peer support network. Participants developed their abilities to find innovative solutions and navigate complex situations.
Through the programme, participants honed their inquiry and facilitation skills, which they applied with their teams outside of these sessions. We introduced relevant models or theories to provide a framework for sense-making and taking informed decisions.
Action learning can be a powerful development tool. By commissioning these externally facilitated quarterly sessions, the organisation empowered senior staff in high-pressure roles to prioritise their development and emerge as more effective leaders.
“open, confidential space to think and be honest”
“really benefited from sharing a problem with the group and getting advice. This was great, I felt supported”
“[I gained] Strategies for dealing with issues at work”
Educators as change agents
Empowering educators to inspire change
Through a programme developed specifically for nurses and allied health professionals in education roles, our four-module design equipped participants to create engaging learning experiences.
The programme also developed the leadership skills and systemic understanding needed to implement effective learning interventions that create sustainable change.
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Delivered via online workshops and interactive self-directed learning materials, the programme models the approaches being taught. Now on the 8th cohort, the programme has received consistently positive feedback.
Participants report increased confidence in shifting from a didactic teaching style to a more collaborative coaching approach. They value the networking opportunities and professional development benefits that extend beyond the programme.
Changes initiated by participants through the programme include:
- developing a course for internationally recruited nurses to provide knowledge and skills to develop their careers;
- a course meeting the specific learning needs of Research Nurse Managers, to complement existing leadership courses;
- Integrating educational components into a project to improve ambulance turnaround time.
“found the topics had me questioning as an educator how maybe I can approach staff to get them to better engage and approach change”
“… learning by example – How this programme is run with the use of pre-learning and the expert facilitation … I learned a lot about how to engage people, how to facilitate and direct people in group work and see the coaching methods they spoke about in use by them”
“…it has helped motivate me and kept me accountable to making a change… and seeing it through…”
Case Management & Complex Care
At Breakthrough we support and guide individuals and their families who have experienced a catastrophic injury – to realise their full potential and improve their quality of life.
