Stall Setting

At one point last year, I was feeling lost – It has happened a number of times in the post-pandemic world. The market I once set my stall out in has irrevocably changed. It took me years to build a stall, make my mark and be a place folk recommended to visit. My stall was very much about relational practice, about face to face work, about organisational change, coaching and facilitation. My stall was fuchsia and blue and much of its draw was through words – blogs, tweets and gatherings. I hoped it was warm, wise and practical.

I loved community – building Shindigs to rattle foundations in, running Unconferences with beloved colleagues, creating Imaginariums for practitioners to dream, get creative and see their stuff through different lenses.

I was a happy weirdo, both pragmatic and idealist…Who needs definition?

Last year, I found myself unsure. My stall seemed a bit dusty and quiet. I saw others step in to the market, confidently. I saw online spaces brimming with conversations and free stuff.

To prove to myself I still had it, I qualified myself more. Hello Master Coach Practitioner, aren’t you a clever thing?  My sense was if I stuck a sign on my stall, proving my credentials, somehow this would turn things around…and to some extent it worked…

but the credential-chase game is an endless and seductive one. It doesn’t mean what you hope, sometimes.  (As I stated at my accreditation interview, I have met too many accredited a*rseh*les to believe that this is anything more than what it is – a recognition of years of hard work. It makes me neither good person nor better than others.)

At the same time, I had a side-stall. Not the main one – but a pretty table, with a steady offer. I ran Write Nights during winter months and morning Rise & Write meditations. The glow I got from gathering everyone was still there – their generosity to each other, the writing that flowed and ideas shared gave me hope and satisfaction. From here, I could see how my other stall looked a bit…2019.

I love my jobs. All of them. Since establishing fuchsia blue in 2006, the invitation to specialise, to define myself and the business specifically has been strong and constant – and it’s an invitation I have continually resisted.

My strength, as a practitioner, has always been my breadth. I geek out about organisational design, power and internal politics – how structures impact performance, how systems and structures can work successfully, rather than create silos and fiefdoms.

I devour material on mindset, behavioural change, Tiny Habits, Positive Psychology, psychological safety… You want a examples of where change or transformation has worked? Ok – let’s talk big systems and individual impact.  

If you aren’t sure about the importance of creativity, the power of expression, story, or clear articulation when we make change or create change, or need change? I’m 100% in that conversation, let me help you out.

I have never narrowly defined myself, even though that would be convenient for others. My stall might – granted – look a little cluttered and bonkers to some.

She works in Arts… but then also Science… and Retail…oh she’s “sector agnostic” (for the record…that was someone else… I know… I really do…)

Wait…she does OD – Transformation stuff. Restructures, redundancies. But also rebuilding stuff: team building, visioning work….

No.. that’s not what she does, she’s a coach. An Executive coach. Chief Execs and everything... AND a Supervisor...but hold on, she does pro bono stuff for young practitioners and managers too.

No. she runs facilitation training and things called Shindigs

No. she’s hosting podcast chats.

No. she’s a writer…No she hosts writing spaces…

I understand what I ask, when I steadfastly refuse to pigeon hole my practice. Polymaths are inconvenient. We are also incredibly useful.

There are thousands of small practices out there. The people who consultant and freelance out of them are the most adaptive, the most agile, the most aware you will come across. They cannot afford to be lazy or stuck. Literally – not metaphorically. They have to invest in themselves, their development, their craft and their knowledge.

They are daily, weekly, monthly, asked to jump through impossible hoops. They are cut out of big contracts and procurement processes because they aren’t too big to fail. They put in hundreds of hours of thought, care and wisdom to get outcomes that make a difference. Some of them have really uncool stalls.

As I head to Learning Tech in London today, ready to Chair and catch up with folk at a brilliant exhibition full of cool stalls and whizzy tech, I will have to steel myself. I will have to consider AI is coming from my coaching practice and not lay down, sobbing and afraid that my income and stall are unsustainable. I will need to remind myself of the value of creating connected spaces, the value of 20 years of practice and kindness and practical, challenging support.

When the dust has settled and the deals are done and the tech has been powered down, come chat to me about how to implement it, get folk through it and challenge some of the crap that sits around implementation. I’ll write you narratives, coach your people, hold space for your teams… all from a slightly old-school stall – still fuchsia and blue - in Scotland.

About me:

I'm Julie Drybrough - Founder of fuchsia blue ltd. An experienced Organisational Consultant, Executive Coach/ Supervisor, Writer & Speaker.

Pragmatic, forthright and kind, I work with people & organisations to improve conversations, relationships & learning.

If you want to talk to me about coaching, supervision, leadership development or change, contactfuchsiablueto find out more or book a space to chat.

Join me for Shindigs, Write Nights or Rise & Write Meditations here:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/fuchsiablue

Find me on bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/juliedrybrough.bsky.social

Or read more of my writing on Substack