Julia Morrison
Julia Morrison on providing headspace.
Julia Morrison has a fascination for people - what makes them tick, what holds them back, and their various ways of thinking. Her leadership coaching business, Morrison & Mann, gives her the opportunity to help leaders unpick problems and get to solutions by shifting their thinking. We spoke to Julia about her flair for helping others, how she stays grounded, and some of the sacrifices she’s made on her journey to becoming a leadership coach.
Edited by Ruby Guyler Photographs by Christopher Owens
Tell me about your background and career. What does a brief history of you look like?
I started my professional life as an English and Drama teacher in secondary schools. I worked in big mixed comprehensives in Northumberland and Gateshead before moving into the local authority as an English adviser, then working my way up until I became Director of Children’s Services.
Throughout my career, I was interested in psychology and leadership coaching and achieved master’s degrees in both. I increasingly enjoyed that side of work for more than 30 years… until ten years ago, when I took the decision to step out of substantive employment! I established my own company and began to do leadership coaching full time.
Tell me about your company, Morrison & Mann. What do you attribute to its success?
Morrison & Mann is basically just me. When we first started out, my husband did some consultancy work in schools which he put through the business, so the ‘Mann’ was him! It’s a play on the ‘Morrison & Son’ kind of name - me and my man. We added an extra ‘n’ to the man (Mann) to make it sound businesslike!
Essentially, the business is me providing leadership coaching to senior leaders and leadership teams, predominantly in the public sector: Children’s Services, the NHS, public health, schools, local authorities and councils, although I also have some private sector clients.
I recently qualified as a coach supervisor too, and work with a number of experienced coaches providing supervision for them. The business is thriving, mainly through word of mouth across the sector and supported by my website.
I think my professional background and experience is a part of the business’s success, as well as my focus. I’m motivated by public sector values and driven to support people to make a difference to their lives. I’m also fascinated by people, what makes them tick, what drives them or holds them back, and I take real pleasure in seeing people unpick their thinking and find ways forward for themselves.
I work with very senior people in organisations and I think the fact that I’m from ‘outside’ the organisation, and our coaching conversations are confidential, helps these individuals to open up and authentically explore their thinking in a safe space.
What do you love most about what you do every day?
I love the fact that I get to spend my time listening to incredibly committed, bright, compassionate people as they grapple with thoughts, feelings and issues which are blocking or holding them back.
In my substantive career, I worked to make a difference to the lives of children and families, improving outcomes where I could. Now I support others to do the same, in their own ways, by helping them to be more effective in their leadership and their workspaces.
Leading and working in the public sector is relentless, challenging and often thankless. It’s a privilege to be able to provide some ‘headspace’ for senior leaders and use my knowledge, experience and skills to create and hold a safe space for them to think in.
Have you had to make sacrifices in your chosen career, and have they been worth it?
I had my two boys when I was teaching, each time going back to work after three months of maternity leave.
Whilst we had lovely long summer holidays, there were too many nights when I was ratty and tired, too many nativity plays missed, and I never did either end of the school run. Ironic, when you think my career was child-focused… just not on my own children.
That said, we are a tight and loving family and they assure me they wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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I’m also fascinated by people, what makes them tick, what drives them or holds them back, and I take real pleasure in seeing people unpick their thinking and find ways forward for themselves.
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What are some of your daily rituals and why are they part of your routine?
My daily rituals are predominantly about keeping me grounded, focused and calm. I walk my crazy standard poodle, Baxter, every morning, noon and night. He’s a joy - full of curiosity, constantly reminding me to look with wonder and interest at nature, and also pushing me to talk to neighbours and passers-by who all stop to admire him!
I also play my piano every day, and do my best to sit for at least 20 minutes of mindfulness practice each morning.
What does work/life balance look like for you?
These days, work/life balance happily looks like a lot more life and rather less work. That’s mainly because I’m in the fortunate position of being completely in control of my diary.
Since lockdown moved us from face-to-face contact onto Zoom and Teams, I’ve been able to extend the range and number of clients I work with without all the subsequent travelling.
Previously, a coaching session with a client in London would have taken a whole day; the train from Newcastle, finding my way from Kings Cross to wherever, holding the coaching session, then back to Kings Cross and three hours home to Newcastle (assuming no delays or other issues!). Now, I sit in my dining room, have a great session, and have the rest of the day to fill as I please. Wonderful!
How do you stay focused and productive in a world of distractions?
I stay focused by practising mindfulness, not sweating the small stuff, taking my time and reminding myself that my job is to listen, not solve problems. The head that holds the problem holds the solution. I am there to help you find it for yourself.
“The head that holds the problem holds the solution. I am there to help you find it for yourself.”
If you had the power to change the world, what would you change?
I would slow everything right down so that people had time to care, to be kind, to breathe, to notice, and to think before they say or do anything. Extending the space between stimulus and response would be my change for the world.
Learn More Morrison & Mann
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