Super Facilitators – they don’t wear a cape but they have super powers essential to your team’s success!

When you think of what makes a team successful, what comes to mind? Vision, expertise, leadership? These all matter. But recent research published in Harvard Business Review highlights another, often overlooked, ingredient: the super-facilitator.

A super-facilitator is not just someone who manages meetings. They are the person who draws out the best in everyone, integrates diverse expertise, and builds trust so that collective intelligence can flourish. In a world of increasing complexity, hybrid work, and fast-moving change, this is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

This month’s article describes the role, why it is essential, and how to get started. I hope you find it useful and interesting. I’ve been a Team Coach and Facilitator (also minus a cape) for over 20 years, so if you’d like to discuss some more just let me know.

Rose Padfield

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Critical Thinking and why we need this more than ever

In a world characterised by complexity, ambiguity, rapid change and AI, critical thinking is no longer a desirable trait — it is a fundamental leadership capability. Leaders who think critically can interpret complexity, distinguish signal from noise, and guide teams with clarity and intentionality. Rather than repeat parrot fashion what we’re told and what we read.

When I was researching for the article on AI last month, I kept reading that critical thinking was becoming more and more essential, which makes sense. We need to be able to critically review, as well as embrace how AI helps us. So, I thought it would be helpful to write about it – this article blends research insight with actionable guidance to help you build or enhance your critical thinking as both a mindset and a capability.

I hope you find it interesting and helpful – do let me know what you think!

Rose Padfield

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AI – Human Collaboration: Harnessing and integrating the value of both

Does the thought of artificial intelligence excite or scare you, or does it do both? What can you do to lead the collaboration between humans and AI into the future?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how humans and machines work together. But most organisations still focus on the technical aspect of AI implementation. Companies need to pay attention to the profound cultural and organisational changes the adoption of AI brings. What can you do to pioneer bringing together the value of AI and the amazing and unique gifts of your people? This newsletter gives thought to this topic. I hope this will be of interest to you – do let me know what you think.

Rose Padfield

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Learning matters – but what learning approach is best for your organisation?

I don’t know of any leaders who would disagree with the importance of learning, at both an organisational and an individual level. It is key to gaining a competitive advantage and is seen as an imperative to keep pace with technological advances and to attracting and retaining the best talent. But not all leaders have stopped to think about the best way to lead learning in their organisation and about their philosophy regarding the outcomes of this knowledge. Why does learning matter and who benefits from it? In this newsletter, we explore and expand on research conducted by Gianpiero Petriglieri, associate professor of organisational behaviour at graduate business school INSEAD. I hope this will be of interest to you – do let me know what you think.

Rose Padfield

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Philosophy – how the big questions can act as the springboard for happiness

What can the ancient philosophers teach us about happiness?

I have been reading about some of the ancient philosophers and am struck by how their teachings resonate even today, several thousand years later. The world around us can often feel like a scary place (whether that’s the actual world, our more immediate surroundings or indeed our inner world), so what can we learn from them? I have incorporated some of their ideas that I hope will be of interest to you into this month’s newsletter – do let me know what you think of them.

Rose Padfield and Cara McCarthy

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Transforming Fear into Connection: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking with Confidence and Generosity

Public speaking is one of the most daunting challenges many of us can imagine. Even seasoned professionals often feel a sense of dread at the thought of standing in front of an audience. But why does this experience feel so intimidating? And, more importantly, what can we do about it?