There was a time in my life when I barely recognised the person staring back at me.
I was a leader, running a busy bank in central London. From the outside, everything looked great, successful career, steady progression, ticking all the right boxes. But on the inside? I felt stuck. Stuck in my job, stuck in my routine, stuck in a version of my life that didn’t quite fit anymore.
I was frustrated, and it was showing in my work, my confidence, my energy. I ignored it for a while, telling myself I just needed to push through. But deep down, I knew something had to change.
All I wanted to do was run away!
"There was a time in my life when I barely recognised the person staring back at me"
And that’s exactly what I did. I took a career break and travelled the world for a year. Now in truth traveling was something I had always wanted to do but fear had previously held me back. I knew that this wasn’t about running away but instead a way to propel myself forward.
I had incredible experiences, saw breathtaking places, met amazing people but in between those moments, there was a lot of quiet. A lot of time to sit with my thoughts. Then one day, as I sat on a beach in Fiji, and I had this moment of clarity. I saw myself clearly, strengths, flaws, all of it. I knew I needed to make some changes and could finally articulate what I wanted. Two things stood out:
- I wanted to do work that truly made a difference in people’s lives.
- I no longer wanted to commute into London every day. I craved more freedom in how I worked.
So, I made a change. I trained as a coach and was fortunate to step into an internal leadership coaching role at the same bank. That’s when the real shift happened because I realised that if I wanted to help leaders develop deep self-awareness, I had to do the work on myself as well.
The Power of PRINT: Understanding What Drives Us
In 2018, things became even clearer when I discovered PRINT®, a profiling tool that completely changed how I saw myself and others.
Unlike other profiling assessments, PRINT® goes deeper. It uncovers our unconscious motivators, the hidden forces (the why) behind our behaviour, shaping our decisions, and influencing how we show up in the world.
It reveals:
- Who we are when we’re at our best (when our unconscious motivators are being met).
- Who we become in our shadow (when they’re not).
- What triggers push us into that shadow state.
For me, my PRINT® is “to be needed and appreciated” and “to enjoy life and be happy.” Now looking back and joining the dots everything makes sense. I can now pinpoint the times in my career when I was thriving and the moments when I felt unproductive, lost, and unfulfilled. I just wished I knew this insight sooner.
Why This Matters For Leadership (And Life)
Now, as a coach, one of the things I love most is sharing PRINT® with leaders. The number of times I’ve seen someone’s eyes light up as they say, “This is so me!” never gets old.
But awareness is just the first step. The real magic happens when leaders start using these insights, figuring out how to stay in their best self more often, recognising their triggers before they spiral, and making small but powerful shifts in how they lead and communicate.
And when an entire team goes through PRINT®? That’s when things really start to change…better collaboration, stronger relationships, and improved performance.
What About You?
So, let me ask you: Who do you see in the mirror?
Do you truly understand what drives you? Do you know what throws you off course and, more importantly, how to shift back to your best self when it happens?
Self-awareness isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s the foundation of great leadership, meaningful relationships, and a fulfilling life.
If you’re curious about unlocking what truly drives you, I’d love to help. Let’s start a conversation.
Because when leaders see themselves clearly, they build stronger teams and lead with confidence.
Want to find out more about PRINT®