THE POWER OF THE PAUSE Why knowing when to stop is a leadership skill

Welcome to August's newsletter

July was a productive month. I delivered a Black Oxford Guided Heritage bus tour with students from the University of Alabama, delivered a lecture about public engagement at the Weston Library, and worked with several clients through 1:1 coaching sessions.

I’m also now in the final phase of a project I started 18 months ago, so look out for an announcement in September. 

As we move into August, I’ve noticed that people started to slow down mentally and physically by the mid July, particularly in this heat, as they prepared for summer holidays or the onslaught of school holidays, with children to keep entertained and active.

Finding time for yourself can feel almost unattainable when you’re juggling the different demands of your personal life, career and business.

But perhaps that is exactly when we need to make the time.

STOP. PAUSE. ENJOY. CELEBRATE.

I recently wrote about the importance of taking time to STOP, pause, enjoy and celebrate.

Joy is central to my coaching practice — not simply as something nice to have, but as a strategic tool and a leadership strategy.

What I have witnessed, and have been guilty of myself over the years, is becoming completely engrossed in the hustle.

I would complete one project and immediately move on to the next deadline without taking the time to STOP, pause, enjoy and celebrate.

Sound familiar?

Women have long been conditioned to get on with the work. For many Black women, that expectation has been even more deeply ingrained: keep going, work harder and move from one achievement to the next without stopping to celebrate.

The concept of stopping, and, even more outrageously, celebrating our achievements, was alien to many of us, and certainly to our mothers’ generation.

We were taught resilience, perseverance and hard work. We were rarely encouraged to acknowledge our successes before moving on to the next challenge.

And so, as ambitious women, we can easily begin to believe that our value lies in our productivity.

But I would argue that one of our greatest strengths is knowing when to STOP.

Taking time to pause isn't stepping away from success — it is part of creating it.

When we reflect on how far we have already come and celebrate our wins and achievements, we restore our energy, renew our perspective and prepare ourselves to lead the next quarter with intention rather than exhaustion.

Your August challenge

Before you rush into the next thing, take 20 minutes and ask yourself:

What have I achieved this year that I haven't yet stopped to acknowledge?

Write down three things.

They don't have to be enormous achievements. Perhaps you launched something, secured a new client, stepped into a new role, had a difficult conversation, finally started that project, or kept going when things were challenging.

Then ask yourself:

What would celebrating that achievement look like?

And actually do it.

THE SEPTEMBER SPRINT

Over the past couple of months, I’ve spoken with several women who would like to start a venture, whether that's a podcast, lifestyle or creative business, explore new opportunities, or have a motivational reboot.

So I’m pleased to introduce my September Sprint.

If you want to start, launch or relaunch your business, or explore a new venture, but don’t know where to start or what to do, here are three simple questions to get you moving.

Don’t overthink it. Start writing.

1. What is your BIGGEST vision?

Don't worry about whether it is realistic yet. What would you really like to create?

2. What are the three main goals?

Break that big vision down into three things you need to achieve.

3. What is the first step for each goal?

Not the tenth step. Not the perfect step.

The first step.

Ideas remain ideas until we do something with them.

If you need support to move from your initial idea through to launch, September Sprint is my four-week online programme designed for women who are ready to launch, relaunch or explore bold new opportunities.

If you've been waiting for the “perfect time”, newsflash, there is no perfect time. This is it.

You don't have to do it alone.

Together, we'll move from hesitation to action, self-doubt to clarity, and dreaming to doing.

Register for further information: www.Pamela-Roberts.com

I know we have only just started August, but I’m going to do it.

I’m going to mention the C word.

Yes.

Christmas.

And I have good reason.

The Elevate Your Excellence Christmas Celebration Lunch

Two years ago, I started a tradition of celebrating the end of the year, and the wins and achievements along the way , in a venue fitting for how fabulous my clients are:

The Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair, London.

This year, we’re doing things a little differently.

We’re going to start by reviewing your year, move into goal setting and planning, and then enjoy lunch.

The lunch is usually held during the first week of December.

Building on the theme of STOP, pause, enjoy and celebrate, this is an opportunity to take time out for yourself, acknowledge what you have achieved, think intentionally about what comes next, network and enjoy an early Christmas lunch with like-minded women.

If that sounds like something you would like to be part of:

Register your interest

YES, I’m interested in joining you for the Elevate Your Excellence Christmas Goal-Setting & Planning Lunch. 

A Little Reminder About Me — and How I Can Help You

Corporate & Executive Coach | Business Mentor | Speaker

I am an accredited Corporate and Executive Coach, business mentor and experienced speaker, with more than 20 years’ experience across the creative and cultural industries.

I work with ambitious professionals who know they are capable of more and are ready to take the next step — whether that means starting a business, developing and growing an existing venture, stepping into a leadership position, or navigating a significant career change.

I combine practical business and leadership experience with coaching expertise to help you move from:

uncertainty to clarity capability to confidence ambition to action

My role is not simply to help you identify what you want to do. It is to help you develop the strategy, confidence and practical steps to make it happen.

I can help you:

Start or develop your business Turn an idea into a clear, viable and actionable plan.

Grow your business Strengthen your strategy, positioning, visibility and opportunities for sustainable growth.

Step into leadership Develop the confidence, authority and skills required to lead effectively.

Navigate career transitions Whether you are moving into senior leadership, entrepreneurship or a new professional chapter.

Turn ideas into action Bring structure, focus and accountability to projects and ambitions.

Build confidence and resilience Challenge self-limiting beliefs and quiet the inner critic.

Sustain success without burnout Integrate well-being and joy into the way you work, lead and build.

My approach is practical, strategic and personal.

I create a supportive, judgment-free space where you can think differently, challenge assumptions, gain clarity and develop the confidence to take meaningful action.

As a speaker, I bring together my experience of leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, career transformation and personal development to deliver engaging and thought-provoking talks for organisations, professional networks and events.

If you know you are capable of more and are ready to rise, I can help you elevate your excellence and turn your ambition into action.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Before you go, if Elevate Your Excellence resonated with you, I’d love you to:

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Until next month,