AI isn't just an efficiency tool.

In the second article in the Closing the Leadership AI Gap series, Mark explores five specific roles AI can play in making you a better leader — with some honest personal examples along the way.

A slightly deflating gig and a very strange lyric led to an unexpectedly relevant moment. If you're a senior leader with that nagging sense that something feels off - this one's for you.

Most people see the ride. They don't see the two hours before it. Bedford-based leadership coach Mark Taggart pulls back the curtain on Breakaway — outdoor coaching delivered on bikes — and what genuine preparation looks like for senior leaders.

Feeling ready for change but not sure where to start?

In this post I share the three questions I explore with every client who finds themselves stuck at this crossroads - on purpose, energy, and the shape of what comes next.

What if your best thinking didn't happen in a meeting room? Breakaway is professional coaching delivered on a bike – for senior leaders who ride and are navigating something significant.

I haven't ridden my bike outdoors since December 31st.

Until I wrote this, I hadn't told anyone. This is a post about the stories we tell, the masks we wear, and why it's never too late to stop and be honest with yourself.

How much time are you spending on your own energy and wellbeing? You can't guide, support, or challenge effectively when you're bringing stress and mental noise into every interaction. Here's why filling your own tank first isn't selfish - it's foundational.

What happens when the career you thought you'd have doesn't match the one you're living?

A personal reflection on drifting, finding home, and why the gap between who we thought we'd be and who we are might just be information we can use.

Am I happy or sad in this picture? The real answer is both. This was taken days before I left a job I loved, restructured out and no longer needed. We are complex people - we can carry sadness whilst enjoying the moment. If you're navigating your own transition and feeling torn between where you are and where you're going, let's talk about what support you need.

For senior leaders who are brilliant at helping others find clarity but struggling with their own next step. A reflection on the questions that helped me navigate career transition – and might help you too.

The worst teams lead organisations. And then they pay consultants and coaches to sort it out. While individual executives may be brilliant, as teams they often fall short. Research identifies three recurring patterns: the Shark Tank (hyper-competitive and political), the Petting Zoo (conflict-avoidant and complacent), and Mediocrity (lacking capability and looking backwards). But there are teams that work differently - and it's not an accident.

"What use am I?"

That hit home. I hear you, and I am you.

My client had just said that out loud in a coaching session. We were exploring purpose – that most fundamental of topics that comes up time and time again in my leadership work. Specifically, we were unpicking the tensions between what we want to be doing and what we feel we must.

It was a powerful moment for him. Led us into an impactful discussion about what makes us happy, how we define ourselves, and the pressures we put on ourselves.

What landed differently for me was how close this conversation was to home.

Because I was there. Not that long ago. Sitting at my desk thinking the exact same thing. Have I hit my level of incompetence? I can't go on like this, but I don't know what the alternative is. People rely on me. I can't let them down.

If you're carrying that question right now, here's what I learned about finding purpose when you're stuck...

As senior leaders, we're used to being the go-to person when things go wrong. But sometimes that weight on your chest isn't caused by anything you've done wrong.

Here's what I learned about when to stop blaming yourself for outcomes beyond your control.

Last week I found myself on a small Malaysian island, working with aspiring managers genuinely excited about stepping into leadership. What struck me most? This client wasn't waiting or crossing their fingers. They were investing early and deliberately. It got me thinking about a senior leader I spoke with recently who felt increasingly isolated - promoted for technical expertise but struggling with the human challenges no one prepared them for. Sound familiar? In a world where 42% of CEOs cite uncertainty as their top threat, the question isn't whether disruption is coming. It's whether your leadership capability is ready.

I'm in a good place right now. I know that won't last - life has a way of taking over. But here's what I do know: I've built something.

Over the last year, I've made decisions that leave me genuinely privileged to be where I am. The question is: if you're carrying the weight right now, who's in your camp?

A coaching conversation reveals why servant leaders struggle to identify their own needs - and what it takes to lead with both heart and clarity.

Not all feedback is a gift. Here’s how to separate vague, unhelpful comments from the insights that actually fuel leadership growth and confidence.

If I’d focused on personal bests, I’d have called it a failure. But this 200km group ride wasn’t about speed—it was about getting everyone there, together.

The belief that leaders must project constant confidence is exhausting - and it’s holding teams back. Here’s why curiosity beats certainty every time.

What if you don’t need to see the whole path to lead well? In this post, I reflect on cycling through darkness, leadership without certainty, and coaching through ambiguity.