What Happens When You Actually Invest in Leadership Development?

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.

Read More
Leadership Development Mark Taggart Leadership Development Mark Taggart

Why Leadership? Why Now?

The business case for leadership development has never been clearer. With 200,000 UK jobs lost in 2024 and unprecedented disruption across industries, the organisations thriving aren't just those with the best strategies - they're the ones with leadership capabilities that serve people through uncertainty. Research shows 25% performance improvement and 3× revenue growth for companies investing in leadership development. If you're leading through complexity whilst everyone looks to you for answers, discover what this moment actually demands.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

Still Learning

Eight months into this independent journey, I’m still learning. From pricing and pipeline to joy and community, here are 12 honest lessons I’d share with any fellow indie consultant.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

Stop trying to be a better manager!

When I stopped trying to be a “better manager” and focused on helping my people grow, everything changed — including performance. Here’s what happened.

Read More
Leadership Mark Taggart Leadership Mark Taggart

Leaders as Humans: Safety

“You can tell me anything.” But do your team believe you? In this reflection, I share how fear shaped my early leadership behaviours—and what I learned about creating real safety at work.

Read More

Leaders as Humans: Holding it Together

Smiling on the outside, quietly falling apart inside? Setting direction whilst feeling lost? This week I'm exploring what happens when the person everyone turns to for answers feels like they're falling apart. There's a persona many of us wear when we don the cloak of leadership - the strong, calm, in-control leader. But what if strong leadership isn't about having it all together, but about being honest about what you don't? A personal story from the messy space of human leadership.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

Too hot? Let’s Keep things Safe.

A cancelled run in 32°C heat sparked more than just sweat — it led to 10 powerful parallels between hot-weather safety and psychological safety at work.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

Learning to Lean In

Can humility and a solution-focus hold us back? In this post, I explore what it means to spot (and seize) opportunities - and the challenge of being your own product.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

What does it really mean to lead others?

A photo of me smiling on a Yorkshire road doesn’t tell the whole story. This post explores the invisible emotional toll of leadership - and what happens when we mask it. Trust, safety, and empathy aren’t soft skills - they’re everything.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

In My Happy Place

What happens when a perfectly planned workshop goes off-script? In this reflection, I share what a team development session (and a last-minute hybrid curveball) taught me about adaptability, inner voices, and letting go of “perfect.” Spoiler: it all worked out — and I left the room in my happy place.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

Why Listening Matters

What happens when you remove the noise and really listen? In this blog, I reflect on how becoming an independent coach changed everything about how I show up — and why presence, not performance, is where the work really starts.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

I’m Starting to Find My Family

A personal reflection on the power of partnerships - and the joy of finding the right people around you. From family to clients to collaborators, it all matters.

Read More
Mark Taggart Mark Taggart

The Top 5 Leadership Behaviours That Drive Team Performance

Whether you’re leading in healthcare, business, or beyond - the way you lead matters. This blog explores five core leadership behaviours that consistently drive team performance, drawn from work with both NHS and global organisations. Practical, people-focused, and grounded in real experience.

Read More