Difficult isn’t the problem.
Hiding from it — or hurtling in — is.
Who am I?
Head of Awkward Conversations
Creator of Non-Perfect Dad at Work
I’ve spent the last decade helping high-performance schools, elite sport environments, and leadership teams face the conversations that most people run from. Now, I’m bringing that experience to the workplace — where leadership lives or dies in the heat of dialogue.
What I Do
A bold invitation to lead differently — with evidence-based tools that make your awkward, avoided, or anxiety-inducing conversations the place where culture, trust, and progress are built.
Workplace culture isn’t built by policy – It’s built in conversation.
I train managers, executives, and teams to lead through tough dialogue — not with scripts that tick HR boxes, but with a mindset and method that actually moves people.
What I Offer
1:1 Coaching for Senior Leaders
- Get support for the conversations keeping you up at night
- Prepare for tension, trust-building, and turning points
- Develop language that moves people, not just manages them
Staff Training & CPD
- How to lead without steamrolling
- What to say when your team needs honesty and hope
- Build a culture where feedback isn’t feared — it’s fuel
Keynote Speaking
- Dynamic, story-led talks for leadership offsites, sales teams & whole-staff INSET
- What elite sport, parenting, and Gen Z have in common
- How to stop avoiding — or overcorrecting — when the pressure is on
Why It Works
This isn’t just intuition or experience.
The work I do is grounded in decades of behavioural science — the same communication principles used in elite sport, healthcare, and high-stakes leadership environments to help people move through resistance, pressure, and change.
It’s a science-based approach that’s been extensively researched, refined over 40 years, and proven to build:
- Buy-in without burnout
- Motivation without manipulation
- Conversations that unlock real progress
In other words:
It’s a tested, teachable way to turn tension into traction.
What They Say
“Brilliant session, Richard’s energy was great. There was so much great information and gems. I would highly recommend it.”
Sarah Hunter MBE
Former England Rugby Captain
“Richard had the fantastic ability to encourage us to think differently about our approach to conversations.”
Nick Cox
Former Academy manager at Manchester United
“Richard was a master at steering us through challenging conversations. His approach helped us have honest discussions about the issues that were in front of us, in a way that pushed us forward whilst also being sensitive to the views of all parties.”
Rob Gier
The FA – Women’s Club Talent Pathway Manager
People leave more equipped, more confident — and more able to lead conversations that create real change.
What Changes After Working With Me
Your people will:
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Have a calm, clear internal script before hard conversations
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Listen in ways that spark motivation, not shutdowns
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Build confidence in naming tension early — before it escalates
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Create a culture where problems are surfaced and solved together
And yes… Gen Z is watching.
Your next generation of talent is arriving bright, eager, and values-driven — but often underprepared for feedback, discomfort, or honest disagreement.
They don’t need coddling. They need modelling.
I help your current leaders lead in a way Gen Z can follow — with empathy, backbone, and better dialogue.
