Kate Smith
Associate Learning and Development Consultant @Focal Point Training And Consultancy Ltd
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WORK HISTORY
Associate Learning and Development Consultant @Focal Point Training And Consultancy Ltd
London, GB
Co-designing and delivering programmes that re-set culture and strategy and boost performance.Programmes are bespoke, consisting of executive coaching and facilitated workshops for leadership teams through to whole organisations, to help them.• Design an ambitious strategy• Lead change• Build effective teams• Improve team communication and effectiveness, using the Clarity4D psychometric tool • Manage for performance • Create impactful reports• Re-set workplace culture• Tackle inappropriate workplace behaviour• Prevent sexual harassment (to comply with the Worker Protection Act 2024)
EDUCATION
University of Oxford
MA (Hons), Experimental Psychology, 2:1
ABOUT KATE SMITH
I help people work well together to achieve amazing things. I studied Experimental Psychology at Oxford University and spent over 20 years in collaborative roles between the private, public and charitable sectors, in major projects, change, strategy and performance.What I loved was making things happen that felt impossible because so many people with differing views, interests and experiences needed to be involved. What I realised was that diverse groups power the best possible results but take effort to set up for success.Thankfully, when I cut my teeth managing a £100m regeneration programme, I already knew that telling people what to do almost never works. I had to gain stakeholders’ trust by showing them what I was about and be honest about what I was working towards and what that meant for them, even if the details weren’t yet known.Leading Westminster\'s preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the reporting unit for Central London boroughs, it was amazing to see what can be delivered with no single agency in charge, if you put time into agreeing what you’re aiming for and how you’ll work together.As Head of Corporate Strategy & Performance at the City of London Corporation, my job was to produce the 5-year corporate plan and align the organisation’s work with it. I listened to staff, members, partners and stakeholders to hone real world outcomes everyone could aspire to. With shared goals agreed, leaders could debate and prioritise strategically, rather than just compete for resources for their own to-do lists. As a result we moved to a more efficient operating model and met our financial goals.What I have learned is that whether you are leading an organisation, driving transformation or delivering continuous improvement, the same applies. You need to:• understand why and how you are each showing up• agree on a clear purpose• facilitate constructive challenge • show each other respect and• repeat these steps regularly.If you don’t, your people do things that don’t take your plans forward, feel confused about what to expect from each other and get stressed or frustrated, all of which limits innovation and performance and puts your goals out of reach.I provide the space and structure you need to set yourselves up for success. Clients tell me I bring openness, authenticity, knowledge, humility and humour and that they genuinely enjoy my sessions. They value the chance to share their views and listen to each other, come up with great ideas and leave with clarity, tools and energy for the challenges ahead.
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