Is this course right for me?

Target Audience: Senior Leaders - Head of Department and above

Senior roles can be rewarding and fulfilling, but they can also bring considerable pressure, responsibility and personal challenge. Those working at Head of Department level and above are often expected to provide reassurance, direction and support to others, while having relatively few opportunities to speak openly about how leadership affects their own wellbeing.

This course has been designed specifically for senior colleagues, creating a trusted peer space in which participants can step back from the demands of their role, reflect on their own resilience and connect with others working at a similar level across the University.

A central part of the course is peer connection and mutual support. Delivered in a small, senior-level cohort, the sessions provide a respectful and supportive environment where colleagues can:

• Speak honestly about the pressures and challenges associated with senior responsibility
• Share experiences with peers who understand the realities of working at this level
• Learn from different perspectives and approaches
• Explore ways to protect their wellbeing while continuing to lead and support others
• Develop a trusted network of peer support

Participation and discussion are encouraged, but always at a level that feels comfortable. The group will agree clear expectations around respect, discretion and confidentiality, helping everyone to contribute openly and without judgement.

Alongside shared reflection and discussion, the course explores what resilience really means and how it can be strengthened in ourselves and others. It includes practical approaches such as mindfulness, meditation, reflective practice and stress-management techniques that can be applied within demanding working lives.

Course overview

The course will explore:

• Resilience and emotional awareness in the context of senior leadership
• Recognising personal strengths, stressors and early warning signs
• Managing the emotional demands and sometimes isolating nature of senior responsibility
• Establishing boundaries and protecting personal wellbeing
• Building healthy and trusted support networks
• Developing practical coping strategies
• Using SMART goals to support realistic and sustainable change

Participants will also receive a personal journal to capture reflections, experiences and their own resilience journey.

Why a dedicated course for senior colleagues?

Feedback from senior staff who attended our existing resilience course was extremely positive. However, some told us that being part of a group involving colleagues from different levels of the University could make it more difficult to speak as freely as they might wish.

This dedicated course responds directly to that feedback. It brings together colleagues with comparable levels of responsibility, creating greater freedom to explore the shared pressures, uncertainties and challenges that can accompany senior roles.

It is not a leadership development programme or a course about becoming more productive. It is an opportunity to pause, reflect and focus on the person behind the role, alongside peers who understand the particular demands involved.

About the facilitator

Juliet Gracey is a fully qualified holistic practitioner with more than 12 years’ experience in counselling, wellbeing and nutrition. She is also a qualified Reiki and Reflexology therapist.

Juliet’s warm, inclusive and supportive approach has been consistently praised by colleagues who have completed the existing course. She creates an environment in which participants feel able to reflect, connect and learn without pressure or judgement.

For further information, please contact Kevin Donovan, Workplace Health and Wellbeing Manager, at kevin.donovan@strath.ac.uk.

Prerequisites

Is this course right for me . . .

This course may feel different from more traditional senior development programmes because it places a strong emphasis on reflection, shared experience and peer support. We recognise that this approach may not suit everyone, and nobody will be expected to share more than they feel comfortable sharing.

If you would value protected time to focus on your own wellbeing, learn practical resilience strategies and connect honestly with other senior colleagues, we warmly encourage you to take part.