​PREflight – building the foundations for success
As the eventing* season winds down, our sponsored rider, Ginny Howe, can look back on a busy and successful year. From weathering unpredictable spring storms to producing and competing with an impressive line-up of young horses, Ginny has navigated both the challenges and rewards of the 2024 season.…
By: Alison Coleman, 19 November 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​From imagination to creation: bringing ideas to life
Taking an idea from imagination to creation is one of the most rewarding processes in any project. Whether we’re creating for work, within our hobbies, or just for the joy of it, there’s something truly magical about bringing a spark of inspiration to life. But as inspiring as it is, the path from…
By: Alison Coleman, 12 November 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Organisational vision & strategy full article
​Explore not ignore: embracing challenges for personal growth
In a world that often encourages us to sidestep discomfort, the phrase “explore, not ignore” serves as a powerful reminder of the benefits of facing challenges head-on. At The Juniper Co., this mantra inspires us as we cultivate a culture of curiosity and innovation. We believe that confronting…
By: The Juniper Team, 17 October, 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​PREflight: preparing for your personal development journey
As we enter the final quarter of 2024 at The Juniper Co., we’re embracing a new theme: PREflight. This concept is all about preparing ourselves for the journey ahead - especially focusing on personal growth and professional evolution. Just like a pilot meticulously prepares before takeoff, we too…
By: The Juniper Team, 15 October 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Reflections on an empowering summer with The Juniper Co.
As the summer draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my first few months with The Juniper Co., where I’ve experienced immense growth both personally and professionally. Since joining in June, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some truly inspiring individuals who have redefined the way I…
By: Marina Baptista, 24 September 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
Why I love facilitation
Celebrating International Facilitation Week – 23-29 September 2024 Facilitation Week is a global celebration of the power of facilitation in bringing people together and fostering collaboration. It's a time to recognise the unique role facilitation plays in helping teams and individuals achieve…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, 23 September 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​The Juniper Co. team away day: a moment of inspiration, connection, and creativity in Oxford
At The Juniper Co., we believe that the heart of our success lies in the people behind the work – our team. While we are always focused on delivering high-quality results to our clients, we also understand that great work is fuelled by great relationships, fresh inspiration, and time spent away from…
By: Alison Coleman, 17 September 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
​A lesson in resilience and innovation
The Paralympic Games are more than just a showcase of athletic prowess; they are a testament to the power of human resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles in ways that redefine possibility. Every four years, athletes from around the globe gather not only to compete at the highest level but…
By: Alison Coleman, 10 September 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Past reflection, future preparation: a pathway to personal growth
Life is a journey marked by a series of experiences that shape who we are and guide who we will become. On this journey, the interplay between reflecting on the past and preparing for the future becomes a vital process for personal growth and fulfillment. "Past reflection, future preparation" is…
By: Alison Coleman, 22 August 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Finding inspiration in the Olympics
The Olympics are upon us once again, and the excitement is palpable! There's something uniquely magical about this global event that unites nations, showcases extraordinary talents, and inspires millions.Having been privileged to work as a non-executive board director at the British Equestrian…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, 25 July 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Embracing AI: our journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence
So far, our exploration into the world of AI has been nothing short of fascinating. As a team we are passionate about pushing boundaries and embracing new technologies, so naturally, we have been spending time experimenting with AI to enhance our content creation process. Indeed, this blog post…
By: Alison Coleman, 18 June 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
The art of coping in the moment
In the fast-paced world of workshops and training sessions, planning is crucial, but sometimes, circumstances force us to deviate from our meticulously crafted agendas. Thinking sharp, coping in the moment and managing unforeseen challenges is a vital skill for any facilitator. This blog will…
By: Alison Coleman, 19 June 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​The power of curiosity: unlocking the value of asking questions
In a world that is constantly evolving, one trait remains timelessly invaluable: curiosity. The desire to understand, explore, and learn is a driving force behind human progress and personal growth. Curiosity propels us to ask questions, seek new perspectives, and discover answers that can take our…
By: Alison Coleman, 11 June 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Maximising individual superpowers and unlocking team potential
As our snippet of inspiration for this month is “Independent smart, awesome together”, it’s the perfect time to shine the spotlight on how we bring personal development together with team development.Working in today’s fast-paced business environment, we see how important it is for organisations to…
By: Hannah Speck, 29 May 2024 Categories: Culture & engagement, Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Exploring the power of DISC personality profiling: understanding behaviours and enhancing interactions
Personality profiling has become an invaluable tool for personal development and enhancing interpersonal relationships. Among the various methodologies, DISC Personality Profiling stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness in categorizing personality traits into four distinct behavioural…
By: The Juniper Team, 22 May 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​2 + 2 doesn’t always equal 4!
As we celebrate The Juniper Co.’s 22nd Birthday, Nicki Kavanagh reflects on some of the unexpected takeaways from her time as Managing Director.In 22 years of running The Juniper Co., there have been plenty of things that have surprised me, not least the fact that time goes much faster than you…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, 24 April 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
​The PREsent is a gift
As we welcome in the month of April, we find ourselves already in the second quarter of the year. How time flies! With the arrival of a new quarter, comes a new Juniper theme – for the next three months we will be exploring ideas around the importance of being present.As Mahatma Gandhi once said,…
By: Alison Coleman, 2 April 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
​A good spring clean!
With the clocks going forward here in the UK this weekend, it really feels like Spring has truly arrived. It’s the time of year to get preparing for the months ahead – dusting off the cobwebs and clearing out the clutter (hopefully unearthing some treasures along the way). Here at The Juniper Co.,…
By: The Juniper Team, 20 March 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
Collaborating across the time zones
I really enjoy working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, so it’s great that our work at Juniper involves several international clients. It’s always fascinating to join a virtual meeting with a global or regional team and hear what’s happening in their part of the world. While it’s…
By: Hannah Speck, 7 March 2024 Categories: Culture & engagement, Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
(Not so) mad March hares
As a keen wildlife photographer (when I am not at my desk), I absolutely love this time of year. There is so much promise of what is to come, with trees and plants springing into bud and animals pairing up for the months ahead. From the landscape looking dull and grey, suddenly everything starts to…
By: Alison Coleman, 4 March 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth, Team News full article
PREparation is (not quite) everything
Most people will be familiar with the well-known saying from Benjamin Franklin, “By failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail." We hear it so often that we possibly treat it with a little complacency. However, preparation is invaluable, especially when we are delivering for our clients.At The…
By: Alison Coleman, 22 February 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Say it out loud!
January is a great time of year to catch up on some reading and easy listening. Calvin Sadie has been enjoying listening to Chris Williamson’s popular podcasts – here he shares his key takeaway:I was recently listening to a podcast by Chris Williamson where he mentioned the importance of vocalising…
By: Calvin Sadie, 31 January 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​PREparing for the year ahead
At the beginning of a new year, it is usual to think about our goals and aims for the year. Whether it’s in our professional capacity or our personal lives, we are likely to have been making all sorts of promises to ourselves for the months ahead. But how successful will we be at achieving them?If…
By: Alison Coleman, 24 January 2024 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Conquering time zones
We have the privilege at Juniper of working with wonderful people around the globe, many of whom are in different time zones. With the aid of technology, this is becoming increasingly common in today’s global business context and whilst it’s extremely useful, it can present its own unique…
By: Calvin Sadie, 30 November 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Putting your best foot forward
Starting at Juniper has been nothing short of fantastic. I have learnt about our compass and culture, the wonderful clients we work with, and taken a deeper dive into the different theories utilised for each programme. My colleagues have welcomed me with open arms and, as a team, we have developed a…
By: Calvin Sadie, 28 September 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Sowing the seeds of success
Having welcomed two new team members into the Juniper family this summer, we share our top tips for successful onboarding.When things get busy, it can be easy for induction and training to fall down the priority order. However, it is so important that a good introduction to a new role doesn’t get…
By: The Juniper Team, 28 September 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Learning in the moment
Our Managing Director, Nicki Kavanagh shares her thoughts on the benefits of experience-based learning“How do you think you learn best? Watching a video? Reading? Listening to others? There are many ways to broaden our knowledge, but we usually learn the most when we’re able to try something…
By: The Juniper Team, 28 September 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Building relationships that last
There is a lot to learn when starting a new job, including new tools and processes, new technology, what the company does, and the customers they serve. Learning about the people you will be working with (both internally and externally) is also a huge part of making sure you start in the right way…
By: Hannah Speck, 28 September 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
When the going gets tough, the smart get learning!
There is always more to learn about ourselves, and the DISC personality profiling system can offer a wealth of insight into understanding our own behavioural characteristics, as well as the behaviours of the people around us. Here at The Juniper Co., we often refer to how useful the personality…
By: Alison Coleman, 6 July 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Spotlight on DISC personality profiling and how we play to our strengths
What is DISC? DISC is a personality profiling tool that breaks our behavioural traits into four main categories – Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. The assessment itself is a fifteen-minute questionnaire. The premise is that you don’t spend too long on each question and answer the…
By: The Juniper Team, 22 March 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
DISC personality profiling and my related coaching experience
When I was invited to take part in a DISC Personality profile assessment used by The Juniper Co., I jumped at the chance, not least, to have the opportunity of some valuable one-to-one coaching from Nicki herself! I was intrigued; what might I learn that would help me understand myself better and…
By: Sophie Granlund, 10 February 2023 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Raising the bar
This year we have talked a lot about celebration as part of our 20th anniversary. You might be familiar with the Juniper phrase: ‘even better if’. As we explored earlier this year, it’s vital to celebrate both big and small wins, but then how do we motivate ourselves and support our colleagues to…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, 25 October 2022 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
How to make success of failure
Did you know that JK Rowling’s manuscript for ‘Harry Potter’ was only accepted after 12 failed attempts? She said: “Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, 9 August 2022 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Big Wins, Little Wins and the Power of Celebration
How important are little wins and what role do they play in contributing to our success and personal development? What is their link to motivation and what is the value in setting mini milestones? Nicki loves to listen to Claudia Winkleman on her Saturday Radio 2 show, when she invites both…
By: Cathy Marinacci, 10 June 2022 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
How about you quit the gym and do some fear-setting instead?
It is the beginning of February and the goals we set a month ago may seem less appealing already. Is trying to lose weight realistic? Can the vegan thing really work? And online language classes require quite a bit of self-motivation, don’t they?January birthdays can be difficult, too – no-one has…
By: Charlotte Brown, 4 February 2022 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
It had always been my dream to reside in The City of Lights: home to the Eiffel Tower, birthplace of cinema, final resting place of Oscar Wilde. After working for three years in London post-graduation, I decided to make the dream a reality by moving to Paris, where I lived and worked for over five…
By: Cathy Marinacci, 29 July 2021 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Fixed Mindset v Growth Mindset
A friend recently suggested we swim across Frensham Pond, a body of water located about 5 miles from where I have spent most of my life. I was horrified! Why would I want to swim across a muddy, cold pond when I’d much rather walk around it? Immediately I recognised my “fixed mindset” response to…
By: Nicki Kavanagh & Cathy Marinacci, 24 June 2021 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Communicating assertively to achieve ‘Win-Win’ outcomes
Have you ever agreed to compromise with a colleague or a client, thinking it will bring the best achievable outcome for both parties, to be left feeling disappointed later because you only managed to get part of what you set out to achieve? Or perhaps, you’ve managed to get everything you wanted,…
By: Cathy Marinacci, 29 April 2021 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Vision Boards – a Personal Strategic Review?
I had heard of vision boards, but I didn’t know much about them: was this just a trendy way of writing up some new year’s resolutions? I decided to look into it and found myself quite intrigued by what I discovered. Essentially, a vision board is a collection of images and pictures representing…
By: Cathy, 27 February 2020 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Create KPI's that reflect your strategic priorities
I recently came across this HBR article on strategic priorities, which I read with interest as we regularly conduct strategic reviews for our clients at Juniper. Regardless of the size of the organisation, it is important to conduct such a review regularly - usually on an annual basis - to ensure…
By: Cathy Marinacci, 25 February 2020 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​Five steps to improving your time management
Does this sound familiar? It's the end of another busy working day, and even though you’ve worked a full eight hours or more, you don't feel as if you've accomplished anything that you hoped to. Unfortunately, it's all too easy for this to happen. Faced with frequent interruptions, meetings and…
By: Victoria Davis, 25 February 2020 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
4 Reasons Why Slowing Down Will Actually Make You More Successful
I recently read an article by Andrew Thomas: 4 Reasons Why Slowing Down Will Actually Make You More Successful (Inc 2019). He suggests that slowing down can be the difference between thriving and burning out and lists four reasons why slowing down can actually help accelerate your success, enjoy a…
By: Emily Kavanagh, Marketing assistant, 14 March 2019 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Giving feedback to a remote colleague
Working in a team with members who are spread out in different locations is becoming increasingly common, but also very challenging. Without regular communication in person it can be difficult sometimes to gauge how your relationship is going with another colleague. When you don’t have the benefit…
By: Clare Kavanagh, Marketing and Administration Assistant, 18 May 2018 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Do you avoid feedback? Why not try these tips...
Although a lot of us may think about giving feedback at work, not all of us are actively practising it. Is this because we don’t know how to go about it? I recently read an article in the Spring 2018 Edge magazine, published by the Institute of Learning and Management, that gives seven tips for how…
By: Emily Kavanagh, Marketing and Programmes Assistant, 18 May 2018 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​You can do anything, but not everything.
Our aim for this year’s calendar was to inspire each recipient to be the best leader they could be through thought-provoking quotes on different aspects of leadership. As I turned the page over to March this week, David Allen’s quote on delegation struck me: “You can do anything, but not…
By: Jemma Came, Programmes & Marketing Executive, 21 February 2018 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Maintaining motivation: six steps to keeping your goals alive
Many of us start the year by stating that we are determined to make this year our most successful year yet. However, we all have days when we are just not “feeling it” and lose our motivation. When this happens, it’s important to find a way to keep going. To avoid coming to a halt and not knowing in…
By: Emily Kavanagh, Marketing Assistant, 7 February 2018 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
A recipe for assertive communication
In our programmes, we outline four different types of communication styles: 1.Aggressive 2.Passive aggressive 3.Submissive 4.Assertive We could all think of situations when we, our colleagues, friends or family members use these styles. A person who communicates aggressively expresses an…
By: Jemma Came, Programmes & Marketing Executive, 15 September 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
What kind of genius are you?
An article by Inc.com has explored the different workspaces of historical geniuses and asked, based on your desk, what genius you might be. Author Geoffrey James looked at ‘15 deeply inspiring workplaces’ from the likes of Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin. We decided to explore which…
By: Jemma Came, Programmes & Marketing Executive, 8 September 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Need a post-holiday boost? Start by setting SMART objectives
Returning to work after a holiday can be a challenge - priorities will have changed and motivation may be low. So how do you get back in to the game? To provide focus, we like to start by re-grouping as a team and setting ourselves realistic objectives for the short and long term. By setting some…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 18 August 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
“Are you communicating clearly?” – “Yes…no… I mean, absolutely!
Having watched W1A Does Red Nose Day 2017 last month, we’re waiting with baited breath for the third series to be released. It has been announced that filming of the brilliant BBC Two comedy has begun and is due to reach our screens by the end of the year. This satire follows the working lives of a…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, Managing Director, 13 April 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
​I don’t have time to ….
We all use this phrase. The thing is when we say it, we remove our ownership. Really, we do! Time is our most precious resource. Often, we become carried away on an endless conveyor belt and don’t stop to get off to consider everything we are doing and getting fixed on. We may lose track of the…
By: Laura Riches, Finance & Office Administrator, 7 April 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Time management: is less time the answer?
Time management is a subject discussed on many forums within our networks. We are often reading that successful time management involves effective planning; prioritising; delegating; controlling your environment; identifying what you will change about your routines. However, research has shown that…
By: Laura Riches, Finance & Office Administrator, 20 February 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Good conversations are like mini skirts...
I recently came across a great #TEDEdChat by Celeste Headlee titled ‘10 ways to have a better conversation’. In the video, Ms. Headlee argues that in the polarised world we live in, where “every conversation has the potential to become an argument”, we’ve somehow lost the balance between talking…
By: Marta Evans, Learning & Change Consultant, 20 February 2017 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Take back control of your time: take a pause
Often, when we see or hear something, our natural inclination is to react immediately. When under pressure, the temptation to react is far greater, be that through verbal reply or an action to a task. In a business environment, I can juggle many plates at any one time, but I’ll be the first to…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 16 December 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
How to beat the ‘procrastination monster’
So you have known about the deadline to get X/Y/Z done for months/weeks/days…and suddenly you realise you only have weeks/days/hours to finish the job and you haven’t even started! You feel sick to your stomach and are annoyed and disappointed with yourself. “How did I let this happen? How could I…
By: Marta Evans, Change & Communications Consultant, 1 November 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Personal impact: Increasing your visibility at work
A friend of mine recently asked his boss why he was overlooked for promotion. Despite exceeding his objectives, he was told he was not on the senior management team radar - he was in-fact invisible! In order to progress, they suggested he needs to make himself known to key players in the company. So…
By: Michelle Welch, Learning & Development Consultant, 26 September 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Our tips for flexible working
We know that flexible working can work, and some organisations have been doing it successfully for a long time already. Richard Branson wrote in his 2013 blog “we like to give people the freedom to work where they want, safe in the knowledge that they have the drive and expertise to perform…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant and Cathy Marinacci, Learning & Development Specialist, 2 September 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Does your body language give you away?
After staying away from my university literature for over two years, I’ve recently rediscovered my love for all things language and linguistics. I picked up my well-thumbed copy of J.P Davidson’s Planet Word and sat in the sunshine. One hour later, it was like I’d never been away.The first section…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 1 August 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Networking with purpose
Networking is not just about business and selling, it’s about getting to know new people and building new connections. The summer social season is upon us so what better time to brush up our networking skills to make the most of these events?Many of us are unsure how to strike up a conversation with…
By: Michelle Welch, Learning & Development Consultant, 18 July 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Have you ever listened to a raisin?
I have read and heard so much about mindfulness over the last couple of years that I decided to look into it. I found a taster session in my area and went along to investigate... The evening kicked off with the group sitting in silence for two minutes. The instructor asked us to feed back to her…
By: Cathy Marinacci, Learning & Development Specialist, 5 July 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Developing your personal brand
We developed a series of tips on personal brand for young insurance brokers - have you reflected on your personal brand recently?5 top tips to develop your personal brand Build your personal brand platform – ensure your social media accounts give a consistent representation of your brand. Get…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 27 May 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Mixing with negative people
“You are only as successful as those you frequently associate with” According to Thomas C. Corley, author of “Change your habits, change your life”, wealthy people avoid one type of person at all costs: pessimists. Corley goes on to write that "long-term success is only possible when you have a…
By: Nicki Kavanagh, Managing Director, 25 May 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Should you take more breaks?
It is not unusual to hear loud laughter or lively debates emanating from The Juniper Company offices. For anyone walking past, it may sound like we’re not working very hard, but in reality we’re a hard working group who just appreciate the value of a good break. Two weeks ago we decided to hold our…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 28 March 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article
Sticking to objectives
We recently held a webinar on sticking to objectives, the first Juniper Berries webinar of 2016. We shared our top tips and explored tools and techniques to make setting objectives a more rewarding and motivating experience. Objectives or goal setting can feel forced upon us - expected of us by our…
By: Jemma Came, Marketing & Programmes Assistant, 4 April 2016 Categories: Learning, development & personal growth full article