“Supporting clients to be the best that they can be is by far and away my greatest motivator”
Helen Crossland
ABOUT ME
I started my career in HR over 30 years ago. Originally, I worked for an IT company but then moved into the City to work for two investment banks. Each organisation brought challenges: the first went into receivership within two months of me joining (nothing to do with me) and fought for 5 years to survive, it was a massive learning experience but watching a top 100 plc crumble was challenging both as a professional but also as a human being. The City was an amazing time (including a spell in Hong Kong) however, having worked with so many people with stress or burn out it started a desire to support and protect mental health and encourage good emotional wellbeing in people.
In 2001 I moved to Yorkshire from London and took over a house with 5 goats and 6 sheep – it really was like the good life! I decided to begin again by setting up as an independent consultant. Initially I focused on career coaching but soon got my Level 7(Masters) in Executive Coaching and started to support organisations with Change, Leadership, Coaching and HR projects.
My passion for wellbeing remained strong, not just for the benefit of the client but also because it brings huge benefits to organisations too. I wanted to help establish healthier patterns for people before it became too late. I know from first hand experience that the signs of stress were there in me but I didn’t appreciate how far along the path I was – like so many. It took nine months to recover from burn out so I really wanted to get people thinking about their triggers, patterns, limiting beliefs before it became too late.
I still love working with corporate clients in both coaching and wellbeing however, lately, I have been running a lot of workshops on stress and resilience as well as supporting mental and emotional wellbeing. Change also remains a large part of my work both organisationally and individually.
Supporting clients to be the best that they can be is by far and away my greatest motivator. I know how hard the road can be if you are on your own trying to work things out – there is nothing more valuable than an experienced sounding board.
In addition to my other qualifications I am a Mental Health First Aider and am accredited to run menopause training also.
A bit about my clients
Clients include;
GE Siemens, EDF, BT, Santander, Centrica, Accenture, EE, NHS, Morrisons, Sainsburys, BAE Systems, Smith and Nephew, Nestle, JLR, Johnson Matthey, HSBC, Sports Council England, Candlelighters Nationwide.
Currently working with many clients at all levels including: CEO’s, business heads, senior managers, team leaders and career coaching clients at all levels from all types of sectors both public, private and third sector.
Areas of expertise in coaching are focussed around Wellbeing, including mindfulness, stress and resilience. Talent, performance improvement and development whether individual or organisation, diversity, confidence and self esteem, personal growth and change.
The tools used vary depending on the needs of the client but include models such as CBT, circles of influence, mindfulness, career assessment, career lines, career values, my best self exercise, skills analysis, action planning, wheel of life, Belbin, Change models. This list is not exhaustive.
Access can be face to face, by zoom or teams or by phone or email during the coaching cycle.
What my clients say about me
I have known Helen for over 25 years. During that time she has been a valued colleague and consultant. Helen is able to leverage her many years of business experience across a wide range of industries, to provide a high quality range of services to address the needs of any client company. She has excelled at Executive coaching, organizational design, change management and developing and delivering high performance talent initiatives. Her positive impact is demonstrable at both corporate and individual levels.
Joanne PayneVP Human Resources at Infor.
Helen Crossland works with Hälsa Wellbeing to deliver Wellbeing Services to our clients.
She delivers group sessions and is part of our event team, delivering bespoke wellbeing events to clients across the UK supporting our work in: Mindfulness, Resilience and Stress, Wellbeing Coaching, Mental Health and Bereavement Support.
Helen has a very warm and emphatic style. Her personal experience of the Corporate World and the story that has led her to the work she does today is extremely empowering for people and makes her very relatable.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Helen. She is trustworthy, honest, loyal and professional.
Emma AvhedeManaging Director Hälsa Wellbeing Ltd
I can not recommend Helen more highly I found her fantastic to work with. She really got me focused enabling me to perform to the best of my ability.
Gary BuxtonIntuitive and entrepreneurial Director of IT and operations within Financial Services
I have worked with Helen for a number of years in my role as CEO of Harrogate Homeless Project; Helen is a valued Trustee Board member, offering her extensive expertise in people development and organisational change at a time of growth for the charity. I have also benefited hugely from working with Helen on a personal level, with 121 sessions to explore my own personal development and deal with the challenges of being a female leader and business person. Helen’s support as a coach has been very valuable in developing my strengths and resilience, as well as understanding my relationships with others and how to value my own skills and be my best self. Helen’s warm, empathic and perceptive manner inspires my confidence and trust in her skills and I would recommend her services to anyone, either on a personal or business coaching basis.
Liz HancockChief Executive Harrogate Homeless Project Ltd
Helen has guided me through a time of redundancy, she has enabled me to understand my worth in the job market and has used her vast experiences in the field of HR to help explore the right roles for me. She is simply lovely to talk with, Helen is warm and wise. A credit to her profession and her clients.
Pete CookDynamic L&D professional enabling organisations to flourish
I had a number of sessions with Helen over several months following a career change. I found Helen’s approach and style very supportive. She offered constructive challenge at appropriate times and the discussions were always informative, engaging and stimulating. The sessions covered a mixture of topics and the free flowing nature did not limit the breadth of the discussion as many aspects of life are intertwined. I enjoyed the dialogue with Helen and found the experience of great benefit.
Cameron WardManagement Consultant
I had the pleasure of working with Helen when she was the HR Director of Global Research at ABN AMRO. She was one of the most professional HR advisor that I have worked with and always showed respect to all of her HR colleagues as well her clients within the Business. Helen was always aware that individuals alone did not make a successful HR department and that it was a team effort with everyone playing their part. Helen always made time to provide advice and council even when she herself was under considerable pressure (Bonus and Salary review spring to mind!).
Her warm and generous personality made her a very approachable HR advisor and I am not surprised that she has branched out into the coaching and mentoring arena as this will suit her skills perfectly.
I have no hesitation in recommending Helen for any role she seeks as I know she will be committed and passionate in whatever she chooses to do
Marion JacksonPayroll Specialist at Seeking New Opportunity within HR Payroll
I have been incredibly impressed by Helen’s insight into me and the value she has added to me with senior management performance development. l have no hesitation in recommending Helen and her work.
Amyn FazalExperienced NED
Helen Crossland is a close friend and also work colleague of mine. Helen is very “real” – she doesn’t dress up her own story, instead, she shares it with the upmost honesty in order to be able to help others. Through this approach she has probably helped more people than she realises. She is honest and loyal and has a huge passion for helping people. She is a fantastic person with a warm heart and has the background and life skills to really help and support her clients.
Emma AvhedeManaging Director Hälsa Wellbeing Ltd
Helen was part of the Global Equities HR team during a challenging time for the business. She was always very professional and focused on the identification of optimal solutions for both the business and individuals. Helen is personable and easy to work with. Even during the most difficult of times she manages to retain her sense of humor and lightness of touch. I would recommend Helen highly.
Liz AshfordHR Director at TSB Bank
Helen is an excellent and insightful life and career coach. She took just a few minutes to get to the reality of issues I was holding onto from a previous post. This allowed me to reflect and deal with these more quickly than I would have, alone.
Building on my strengths, she has helped me to focus on getting ready for the market again – lifting and maintaining my confidence. She is friendly, creates a ‘safe’ and confidential space in which to work and her extensive knowledge from an enviable career history allows her to be insightful and pose questions in a way which provoke deep reflection. She has a solid integrity and a natural sense of what is right which enables thought-provoking coaching – not ‘advice’; coaching with just a few well chosen and targeted questions to have you solving, for yourself, what needs to be considered.
I have really enjoyed working with Helen and would recommend her without hesitation. It wasn’t just business either; Helen is able to engage on a personal level and have a good laugh. I will stay in touch with Helen for sure. A charming confidante and consumate professional! Much respect and many thanks, Helen!
Andy ChiltonHelping Organisations free up operational capacity for improved productivity and transformation with unique digital solutions
I found Helen to be extremely professional & able to understand my situation very quickly.
She identified a number of points & provided clarification on certain issues which helped me greatly in prioritising actions to develop my business.
I have no hesitation in recommending Helen – she is very personable. A great person to work with.
David McCabeOwner/Director - Five Point Consulting Limited
This is a talented lady! Helen has made huge impact with me during our work together. I have been fortunate, indeed, to find her and was immediately impressed by her high standards, yet down-to-earth approach. Helen has re-orientated me in my career and steered me to identifying choices, which has given me true focus and energy in tackling the challenges ahead She has a relaxed manner, combined with a substantial set of techniques, through which she uses her considerable expertise. It is a real pleasure to recommend her.
Philippa BogleEnterprise Adviser at The Careers and Enterprise Company