Leadership coaching
A dedicated space to think, reflect and develop your leadership. Build self-awareness, strengthen your confidence and find your own way your unique challenges.
Leadership development for people making a difference
Helping leaders and teams thrive, navigate complexity and create positive change.
Parallel Development works with public services, charities, and businesses to develop confident leaders, high-performing teams and positive organisational cultures.
Through leadership coaching, team development and facilitation, I help people find clarity, build on their strengths and make a bigger difference together.
Helping people and organisations thrive
Whether you're navigating change, building a new team, tackling complex problems or finding your feet in a leadership role, having the right support can make all the difference.
I create the space for people to think differently, have honest conversations and turn insight into action. My approach combines warmth, curiosity and positive challenge, helping individuals and teams move forward with confidence.
How I can help
Neurodivergent and ADHD coaching
Understand your strengths, navigate challenges and find practical strategies that work for you.
Team and leadership development
Help your people work better together. Develop shared purpose, strengthen relationships, drive role clarity or work out the best ways of working for your team.
Group coaching and Action Learning
Bring people together to think strategically, learn from experience and find practical solutions to real challenges. Make the most of collective wisdom, different perspectives and shared learning.
Facilitation and organisational development
Create the conditions for meaningful conversations, fresh thinking and lasting change. From team away days to culture workshops and leadership programmes, I help groups make progress.
A positive approach to lasting change
I believe people do their best work when they feel valued, understand what they're working towards and have the space to learn and grow.
My approach is strengths-based, practical and grounded in the realities of working life. I bring energy, empathy and a willingness to ask the questions that help people see things differently.
It's about building on what's already working, being honest about what needs to change and finding a way forward together.
ABOUT
Real-world experience. A positive approach. Meaningful change.
I'm Jo Gage, a leadership coach, team coach and facilitator. I work with people and organisations who want to make a positive difference in the world.
I grew up as a sensitive, working-class kid with a strong sense of fairness and a passion for equality and social justice. I was fortunate to have opportunities that helped me build my confidence, recognise my strengths and take on leadership roles in the public and not-for-profit sectors.
Those experiences shaped my belief in the power of development: the right support can help people see new possibilities for themselves and make a difference they might not have thought possible.
Experience you can draw on
I've worked in organisational development for 20 years, with extensive experience in leadership development, executive coaching and helping organisations navigate change.
I've led teams, delivered large-scale change programmes, facilitated and challenged boards, coached Chief Executives, run leadership retreats and helped teams work through conflict. I've worked across charities, local government, housing, the NHS and universities, so I understand that leadership looks different in different settings. I know what it's like to balance competing priorities, navigate organisational politics and bring people with you when the way forward isn't straightforward.
Professional credentials
I'm an accredited Executive Professional Coach with the Association for Coaching, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and hold multiple qualifications in people and organisational development, including:
- MSc in People and Organisational Development
- MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology
- Postgraduate Certificate in Behaviour Change
I've taught the Level 5 Professional Coach apprenticeship and a Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership, delivered in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University.
This combination of professional coaching expertise, academic knowledge and real-world leadership experience informs everything I do. It enables me to draw on evidence-based approaches while keeping development practical, relevant and grounded in the realities of working life.
My approach
Start with strengths.
Recognise what's already working and build on the qualities, experience and potential people bring.
Make development relevant.
Adults bring a wealth of experience to their learning. I work with that experience, tailoring each intervention to the people, their context and the challenges they face.
Create the conditions for honest conversations.
Make space for different perspectives, constructive challenge and the conversations that might otherwise be avoided.
Turn insight into action.
Learning matters when it changes how we think, feel and behave. I help people translate reflection into practical steps.
Bring clarity and focus.
I help people make sense of complexity, identify what matters most and find a clear way forward.
Value relationships.
I bring warmth, curiosity, structure and a sense of humour to my work. I'm supportive, but I'm not afraid to ask the difficult questions. And I do what I say I'm going to do.
Development that makes a difference
Every leader, team and organisation is different. That's why I tailor my work to your context, your priorities and the changes you want to make.
Whether you need space to think, support to tackle a specific challenge or a development programme for a whole team, we'll work together to find the right approach.
Leadership coaching
Space to think. Confidence to act.
Leadership can be rewarding, demanding and sometimes lonely. Coaching gives you dedicated time to step back from the day-to-day, explore what's happening and work out how you want to move forward.
I combine professional coaching expertise with real-world leadership experience and a wealth of models and theories that I can share if wanted to help you make sense of complex situations, recognise your strengths and take purposeful action.
Coaching can help you to:
- Navigate challenging situations and find a clear way forward.
- Build self-awareness and make the most of your leadership strengths.
- Develop confidence, presence and influence.
- Manage competing demands, set boundaries and build sustainable ways of working.
- Overcome self-doubt and recognise the value you bring.
- Develop others and adopt a more coaching-led approach to leadership.
Coaching could be for you if you're:
- Stepping into management or leadership for the first time.
- An experienced manager looking to develop your impact.
- A high-potential professional preparing for your next step.
- Navigating organisational politics, change or difficult team dynamics.
- Looking to strengthen your leadership presence and influence.
- Wanting to develop your skills as a leader and coach.
Sessions provide a confidential space for reflection, challenge and practical action, tailored to your goals and circumstances.
Let's talk about coachingNeurodivergent and ADHD coaching
Understand your strengths. Find your own way forward.
We all think, work and navigate the world differently. Sometimes, the expectations and structures around us don't play to our strengths or make it easy to do our best work.
I offer neurodivergent coaching, with a particular focus on ADHD, helping people better understand themselves, build on their strengths and find approaches that work for them.
Coaching can help you to:
- Recognise your strengths and make the most of them.
- Navigate overwhelm, competing priorities and getting started.
- Find practical approaches to planning, organisation and follow-through.
- Build confidence and work through self-doubt.
- Navigate workplace expectations, relationships and sensory challenges.
- Develop sustainable ways of working that fit your needs and aspirations.
My approach is strengths-based, practical and tailored to you. We'll explore what's working, what gets in the way and what might make things easier, creating space to experiment with new approaches without judgement.
The aim isn't to fit you into someone else's mould. It's to help you understand yourself better, work with your strengths and find a way forward that feels right for you.
Let's talk about coachingTeam and leadership development
Better leadership. Stronger teams. Shared success.
Great teams don't happen by accident. They need a shared sense of purpose, clarity about roles and responsibilities, effective ways of working and strong relationships.
I work with leaders and teams to understand what's happening, build on their strengths and make meaningful improvements to how they work together.
Depending on your needs, this might include:
- Building a newly formed leadership team.
- Strengthening trust, communication and collaboration.
- Developing shared leadership and coaching skills.
- Navigating change, uncertainty and competing priorities.
- Improving strategic thinking and decision-making.
- Building emotional intelligence and resilience.
- Developing leadership presence, confidence and influence.
- Designing tailored leadership development programmes.
- Using self-assessments and 360-degree feedback to support development.
My approach is practical, engaging and participative. I create space for honest conversations, fresh perspectives and constructive challenge, helping teams agree what needs to change and how they'll make it happen.
Whether you're bringing a team together for the first time or helping an established team move to the next level, we'll design something that fits your context and ambitions.
Let's talk about your teamGroup coaching and Action Learning
Think together. Learn from experience. Move forward.
Sometimes the most valuable development happens when people have the opportunity to step back from their own work and think alongside others who understand the challenges they're facing.
Group coaching and Action Learning provide structured, supportive spaces for managers and leaders to explore real issues, learn from experience and discover new ways forward.
Group coaching
Group coaching brings people together to explore their thinking, learn from different perspectives and benefit from the collective wisdom of the group.
Rather than focusing on one person's challenge at a time, the group works with a shared topic, drawing on everyone's experience and insight. It's a powerful way to develop strategic thinking, broaden perspectives and build confidence in a supportive environment.
Group coaching can help people to:
- Explore complex leadership challenges.
- Think more strategically about their work.
- Learn from the experiences of others.
- Challenge assumptions and discover new possibilities.
- Build confidence, connection and a sense of shared purpose.
Action Learning
Action Learning is a structured process that helps people learn from real experiences while making progress on the challenges they face at work.
Each person brings a live issue, challenge or opportunity. Through thoughtful questioning, reflection and feedback, the group helps them see the situation differently, identify possible actions and decide what to do next.
At the next session, they report back on what happened, what they learned and what they might do differently. This creates an ongoing cycle of reflection, action and learning.
Action Learning can help people to:
- Break unhelpful patterns and try new approaches.
- Strengthen their reflective and coaching skills.
- Develop confidence in solving problems.
- Support change in themselves and others.
- Build stronger relationships and learn together.
- Turn personal development goals into practical action.
The process is tailored to the people involved. Participants bring the challenges that matter to them, making the learning directly relevant to their development and day-to-day work.
Both approaches offer something particularly valuable: time to think, learn from others and make better decisions, rather than simply reacting to the next demand.
Explore group coaching and Action LearningFacilitation and organisational development
Better conversations. Clearer direction. Meaningful change.
Sometimes organisations need an independent person to bring people together, help them have the right conversations and turn a complex issue into a way forward.
I design and facilitate workshops, away days and organisational development interventions that help people think clearly, engage openly and make progress together.
This might include:
- Team away days and leadership retreats.
- Culture and employee engagement workshops.
- Facilitated conversations about change and organisational challenges.
- Board and senior leadership team development.
- Leadership programme design and delivery.
- Conflict resolution and support with difficult team dynamics.
- Facilitation skills training.
I work closely with you to understand what you want to achieve, design an approach that fits your people and context, and create an environment where everyone can contribute.
My style is engaging, thoughtful and purposeful. I bring structure without being rigid, encourage participation and am comfortable offering constructive challenge when it helps the group move forward.
Where needed, I can also synthesise workshop findings and develop clear recommendations to support decision-making.
Let's talk about your facilitation needsThe difference development makes
The best way to understand my approach is to hear from the people I've worked with. Here are some of their experiences of coaching, team development, facilitation and organisational change.
Leadership coaching
"The most amazing part of it is, the confidence has become natural, and I never thought it would."
Head, Southern Housing
Leadership coaching
"Jo is not afraid to ask the tough questions and really pushed me to think differently or about things I hadn't considered. Having the space to explore different issues in a structured way was invaluable. I've gained the confidence to apply for a leadership role."
Head, Southern Housing
Team development and organisational change
"Jo is an exceptional coach and OD professional. I worked with Jo for over five years in the local government sector. In that time, she provided team development to a newly formed senior management team, supported the new Chief Executive with a cultural shift and coaching support to senior leaders. Jo was absolutely key to our success and employee engagement."
Director, Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Team development and organisational change
"She not only brings an intelligent, insightful and challenging mind but also enthusiasm, passion and a sense of humour which ensures she engages her participants. She is similarly an excellent 1:1 coach and I've repeatedly observed her ability to help others make positive behaviour change."
Head, Cancer Research UK
Facilitation and workshops
"From the start Jo stood out as being experienced, very personable, and a good listener. Thanks to Jo's excellent facilitation the workshops were a resounding success. We had strong employee engagement across the board, our people opened up and a significant number of ideas were produced."
Director, 1st Central
Facilitation and workshops
"Jo was absolutely brilliant at facilitating a team-building and leadership development Residential for 13 PhD students. Her energy and expertise made the whole thing work seamlessly… she brought exactly what was needed at the moment… all of us fed back 10/10 and we're booking her again asap. Highly recommend."
Food Systems PhD student, University of Greenwich
Group learning and Action Learning
"It has been a hugely valued learning experience. Jo was an excellent facilitator and got the best out of everyone participating—as she was very quickly able to understand how best to support and positively challenge and encourage each person. I would highly recommend."
Public Health Registrar, NHS
Leadership programme design
"Jo is great. Intelligent, intuitive, organised, pragmatic and positive. I so enjoyed working with her as she guided me and my colleagues in co-designing a new leadership programme for CEOs at the mental health charity Mind."
Head, Mind
Facilitation skills training
"Expertly facilitated. I would and do recommend Jo Gage to facilitate any and all professional and team development scenarios. The group emerged with greater empathy and skills, and we had a lot of fun on the way!"
Food Systems PhD student, University of Greenwich
Let's start a conversation
Thinking about coaching, team development or a facilitated session? You don't need to have everything worked out before getting in touch.
Tell me a little about what you're looking for, the challenges you're facing or the difference you'd like to make. We can have an initial conversation and explore what might help.