You’re a successful leader. By any measure you’ve made it…
But lately the view from the top feels more like being stuck in the weeds and wondering if you’re actually good enough.
The bigger the role gets, the louder the second-guessing. You’re spinning plates you should have handed off ages ago. Making decisions in the day, then lying awake at 2am wondering if you’re just winging it.
This is the Identity Gap. The leader your business needs now, and the leader you’re still being, aren’t the same person yet.
It’s a case of what got you here won’t get you there, and working harder won’t make it any easier. You have to acclimatise to your next level…and that means learning to elevate.
I don’t show up with a 200 page slide deck…but a cup of tea and the ability to see exactly whats going on.
Everything we do at Smash Your Own Ceiling is about helping leaders elevate. Whether you’re the Managing Director, the CEO or part of the Senior Leadership Team…it all starts with learning how to lead yourself differently.
The work is internal before it’s anything else. It’s about how you’re thinking, what you’re doing, and who you’re being as a leader, and once that starts to change, everything around it starts to change too. The decisions get easier. You get more time, and people stop waiting for you to tell them what to do.
I know it sounds cliché,
but Barbara has truly changed my life
Heather Patterson, business owner
My official bio…
Barbara Nixon is an Executive Success and Leadership Coach, Leadership Consultant, speaker and founder of Smash Your Own Ceiling®️.
With 3 decades in the Personal Development and Leadership arena, 13 years in management positions for two of the big 4 retailers in the UK, and running her own business since 2010, Barbara has worked with thousands of leaders from CEO’s and Managing Directors, Senior Leaders and Business Owners and is passionate about helping leaders elevate so this can then ripple down into their business.
She is a 2x qualified Coach, has a BA (hons) in Psychology and Journalism, is an NLP Practitioner, a Professional Member of the Professional Speaking Association, a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and is currently studying for her MSc in Applied Positive Psychology.
Barbara has also been featured in Addicted2Success, Tut.com, Training Zone, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, and BBC Radio 2 The Jeremy Vine Show, and is the author of The Boss Hat, and the host of the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast.
Behind the scenes Barbara is married to Dave, co-owner of Pebble and Pine Coffee Roastery has 4 grown up children, a fab dog called Nellie and loves travel, stand up comedy, growing veg, reading autobiographies and is never far from a cup of decaf tea.
Now for the unofficial bio…
Officially I’ve been in the Personal Development space for all of my career, but in reality it’s been so much longer than that.
I remember having conversations about leadership with my dad when I was about 7 (he had a fantastic boss), which started me reading self development books and autobiographies in my early teens…so I guess there was only ever one route for me!
After university I spent 13 years in the People Development departments in two of the Big 4 Food Retailers in the UK, responsible for Management Development for all of retail, and a team of remote professional trainers long before remote working was even a thing, and in that time not only did I really learn my craft, but it exposed me to every area of the business.
Then in 2010, after the birth of my youngest child, it was time for a change and I started my own business.
Since then I’ve worked all over the world, with thousands of Managing Directors, Founders, and Senior Leaders helping them to get out of the weeds, remove the blocks that are holding them back, empower their teams, and elevate!
All with an underlying mission, to grow amazing leaders who grow fantastic businesses!
It’s time to get out of the weeds so you can lead strategically and focus on the things that really matter
What my clients say
Barbara is an extremely engaging person and has the rare ability of being able to develop a keen understanding of an individual or situation accurately and efficiently.
Noel Kershaw, CEO, Deli Fresh
I can’t tell you how many times this week I’ve told friends, colleagues, clients and people I’ve only just met that this wonderful woman has ‘saved my life’.
Samari Cakali – Managing Director
I now have a new way of looking at how I value my own time and different aspects of my business, meaning my way forward now makes perfect sense!
Helen Earnshaw, Business Owner
Confident Leaders Assessment
The Confident Leader Scorecard takes just a few minutes, and gives you a personalised snapshot of where you are now, and where you need to be focusing your attention
Work with Barbara
When you’re ready to stop circling the same patterns and start moving forward, this six-month 1:1 programme provides the structure and support to do just that.
Get Inspired
Read the blog or listen to the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast for inspiration, motivation and practical advice when you need it.
