It looks like agreement. But the work isn’t moving.
You lead meaningful work, but things feel slower, more strained, or less connected than they should.  You’re getting agreement from the team - but not momentum. That quiet hesitancy? It could be polite resistance.
I help leaders tune into what’s happening beneath the surface - and lead with clarity, trust, and calm authority.
Meaningful & Sustainable Leadership
Coaching that helps you pause, reflect, and clear the friction slowing your team down.
When polite resistance creeps in, presence - not pressure - is what creates movement.
1. Awareness
Spot the subtle signals - filtered feedback, cautious agreement, emotional drag.
2. Clarity
Understand the leadership tone you’re setting - and what needs to shift.
3. Growth
Lead with more calm, intention, and cultural confidence.
I work with one client at a time - online or in person.
Each session gives you space to slow down, think clearly, and lead from presence - not reactivity.
Find out more about my coachingWhen things stall - but the work can’t wait.
The ELVO Reflex is a simple 4-step leadership habit that helps you pause and respond intentionally - especially when polite resistance starts to build.
It’s a practical way to start restoring trust, clarity and movement - grounded in emotional intelligence and values-led leadership.
Get your free guideAbout me
I’m Richard - a coach and senior leader in UK local government, and previously an officer in the Royal Air Force.
I’ve led through pressure, politics, and polite resistance. I know what it’s like when people nod along but hold back - and how trust, not tactics, brings teams back into motion.
This is a deliberately small coaching practice. I work with one client at a time - alongside my ongoing leadership role - so I can offer the depth, space, and focus I know leadership demands.
Read my story
A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.
Simon Sinek
