Leadership Effectiveness & Management Skills

“We need some tailored development support for our emerging leaders and managers, so they can feel confident and empowered as they grow into their roles. They need space to develop their own style, but also some structure. We also need to be clear on what good leadership looks like in our business.”

…. a typical request from one of our clients

At Beard Insights, we work closely with leaders and managers to help them gain a greater clarity and understanding around the unique demands of their roles.

Stepping into a new leadership or management role can surface personal challenges - and this is completely normal. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, and different styles bring different strengths.

Our approach will typically start with a focus on self-awareness, building an understanding of natural preferences, communication styles, and leadership tendencies.

We then use 1:1 mentorship or coaching, role mapping, and INSIGHTS Discovery profiling, together with focused small-group training, focused on building out a personal leadership toolkit.

The aim is to support consultants what they need to thrive - whether they're leading people, projects, or commercial conversations.

How we work

A hand placing a wooden block on top of a stack of wooden blocks.

  • Professionals stepping into their first leadership role who need to build confidence and practical skills.

  • Leaders expanding their remit, managing larger teams, or cross-functional projects.

  • Experienced leaders preparing for board-level or C-suite responsibilities.

  • Subject matter experts shifting from individual contributor roles to managing others.

  • Professionals needing to sharpen client engagement, business development, and financial skills.

We typically work to support people who are:

Who we work with

  • Individuals managing teams through restructuring, mergers, or culture shifts.

  • Emerging leaders groomed for accelerated career progression.

  • Those needing strategies to build resilience and maintain performance under pressure.

  • Leaders whose natural tendencies (e.g., highly analytical, directive, disorganised, or sensitive) require tailored development to balance strengths and adapt their leadership approach effectively.

Success in leadership roles depends on how well individuals guide and lead themselves and others — with clarity, confidence,
and consistency, not just technical expertise.

We focus on 7 core traits of effective leadership:

Our focus

    • Understand your values, strengths, and blind spots

    • Build emotional intelligence and resilience to lead with clarity and confidence

    • Reflect on how your leadership style impacts others and adapt intentionally

    • Make clear, intention choices and protect your time

    • Set boundaries and focus on what matters most under pressure

    • Develop healthy habits that support your productivity and wellbeing

    • Speak with clarity and listen with intent 

    • Tailor messages, handle tough conversations, and build trust and influence through your presence

    • Be mindful of your impact in different settings and adjust your approach confidently

    • Support, coach and challenge your team to grow 

    • Delegate well, give constructive feedback, and foster strong collaboration

    • Create space for others to contribute, take ownership, and thrive

    • Build trust and understand what stakeholders need 

    • Communicate clearly and strategically to manage expectations and strengthen key relationships

    • Engage proactively, and with curiosity, to create mutual value and long-term partnerships

    • Stay calm and focused when things are fast-moving, unclear or high pressured

    • Make decisions that add value, support growth, and show commercial maturity

    • Balance short-term demands with long-term perspective in your decision-making, and don’t avoid the difficult actions

    • Understand the financial drivers, and promote a culture of commercial awareness in client delivery work

    • Look for commercial opportunities in your day-to-day work and act on them thoughtfully

    • Make decisions that add value, support growth, and show commercial maturity

What to expect

Focusing on leadership effectiveness requires a tailored approach, to acknowledge the unique challenges each person faces.

A person stacking colorful wooden puzzle pieces on a table, with some pieces in the background.

When working with me on leadership effectiveness…

  • We will agree a practical, actionable individualised approach to developing role understanding and skills development, that will boost your confidence, communication, decision-making, and influence.

  • You’ll explore self-awareness and preference through use of an individual INSIGHTS profile. 

  • You’ll receive clear, practical 1-1 input and training rooted in over 25 years of consulting leadership experience.

  • You’ll engage in interactive, flexible sessions that focus on developing key leadership skills relevant to your role.

  • You’ll work with someone who listens attentively, adapts to your learning style, and encourages reflection, practice, and self-growth.

What some of our clients and collaborators have to say

  • “Having used other tools, I was aware that INSIGHTS Discovery is the one predominantly used by the pharmaceutical industry. Steve supported me in understanding the concepts and language of INSIGHTS Discovery and exploring my own individual profile and energy preferences. I was able to immediately put these learnings into effect supporting a challenging collaborative relationship within a technical team. The penny dropped that we had very different motivators, allowing me to quickly pivot, reframe the relationship and expand / challenge my own perceptions / behaviours”

    Christie Harper, CEO & Founder, Gatehouse ICS

  • “Working with Steve has been a fantastic experience for me. He approached my leadership development in a really holistic way. This meant that he wasn’t just teaching me leadership skills, but doing this in a way which took account of what was important to me. He provided a core structure adapted around my role, my personality and needs, what I enjoy in work, and my stress triggers. This made the training really personalised and help make clear where I needed to focus my development. I felt each session was helping me to grow not only as a leader but as a person. Over the course of our work together, I’ve seen a clear improvement in both my skills and my confidence. I now feel better equipped to lead with clarity, navigate complex situations, and communicate with more purpose and authenticity. Steve is really easy to talk to, He has a huge amount of knowledge but also really high levels of emotional intelligence, which is a very effective combination. I have learnt a huge amount from Steve and often find myself quoting him to the people I lead. I would recommend Steve without hesitation to anyone looking for thoughtful, impactful, and genuinely personalised leadership coaching.”

    Carl Prescott, Senior Director, AXIS Reimbursement

  • “ I've had the pleasure of working directly with Steve at MAP Patient Access, and have witnessed first-hand his genuine passion for fostering growth in individuals and teams. This enthusiasm is evident in his approach, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where people thrive. Steve's emphasis on self-awareness and understanding others is crucial for navigating career journeys and building high-performing teams. He skilfully cultivates an environment that empowers individuals to reach their full potential while simultaneously fostering a strong sense of team spirit and collaboration. He expertly lays the foundation for success by focusing on the core elements of effective teamwork. Steve has a remarkable ability to unlock potential and positively impact organisational performance. I highly recommend Steve without reservation.”

    Simon Pannett, Market Access Partner, Putham

Ready to explore how I can support you and your team?

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Please contact me to arrange a free intro chat to explore your development needs