Providing quality service to our clients is our priority. We regularly survey our clients and constantly review our services. We have used the feedback to enhance our offerings and provide more value.  As a result of our customers comments we have made a number of changes

• We have reviewed our coaching offering to bring you more structure, research and follow up
• We have redesigned our website to provide you with more resources and information
• In 2011 we will be offering you the opportunity to subscribe to our Leadership Reflections monthly updates. You will receive resources and tools to help you on your Leadership journey. If you are an exsiting client you will received our updates automatically bit if you wish to be included you can end us an email at shirley@shirleykavanagh.com

The most successful Irish Manager of his generation, the former Unilever boss shares his views on Accountability in an interview with Fintan O’Toole of the Irish Times. Click here to read the full article.

Shirley Kavanagh and Cameron Bray are pleased to announce the launch of the Sagitta Network, a select international group of Leadership Experts working together to share knowledge and build client solutions. Sagitta Network members are experienced professionals whose focus is excellence in Leadership Development, Change, Learning and Organisational Development.

Sagitta is the Latin name of a star constellation and the literal meaning is Arrow. The words we associate with Sagitta are:

• Clear Direction
• Future Focused
• Guidance and Speed
• Moving Forward
• Hitting the Target
• Universal

“It’s not how you fall, it’s how you pick yourself up!”This quote came from champion Irish flat jockey Mick Kinnane during an interview where he reflected on his decision to retire, having just won the 2009 Epsom Derby on the wonderful horse Sea of Stars. Kinnane ended his career with almost 1,500 winners and a string of victories on great horses across the world. It struck me that leaving anything whether it is sport or business is best done on a high.

His recollections were positive as he considered his success rather than his disappointments. He reflected on the importance of teamwork and the great success he had achieved. More importantly he looked to his future and how he would focus on training horses. It made me think of the many people who are leaving organisations now and often not by choice. Optimism and confidence is important in these situations. The ability to overcome initial disappointment and reflect on your past in a way that draws out the positives is a considerable strength. Taking the time to consider what you have learned, what you have achieved and the challenges you have overcome, can place you in the frame of mind for building a future rather than lamenting a past.

In his interview Mick Kinnane reflected on the highly competitive environment of the racing world, he recalled the physical effort and the dedication required to be successful. He also recalled the good luck and the great people he had met through his career. When asked by the interviewer how he dealt with the bad times, I was taken by his answer he said “it’s not how you fall it’s how you pick yourself up.” Such resilience is something that can be applied equally to our life in organisations. The resilience to maintain optimism, the resilience to push on through adversity. The ability to see the positives, move on from past mistakes and demonstrate resilience by our ability to overcome the bad times and look forward, not back.

Ireland creates a competition to ignite your imagination and reward your thinking. http://www.yourcountryyourcall.com/

I’m happy and somewhat relieved to say that along with 100 other cyclists, I cycled 600km on a charity event for the Irish Hospice Foundation between Dublin and Paris. The event which took place between the 19th and 23rd of July 2009 raised €350,000 for the Hospice movement in Ireland.http://www.hospice-foundation.ie/ Well done to all involved.