Dr Mercia Spare’s Reflections, Insights & Conversations
Welcome to my blog, a space for sharing what I have seen, felt, and learned from over four decades in health and social care.
Here, I will explore the real life challenges that leaders, teams and individuals face every day. From the pressure to perform in high stakes environments, to the emotional toll of change, regulation, and burnout, no topic is off limits.
I share reflections on leadership, the power of coaching, the impact of values led practice, and the messy, beautiful human side of working in care systems that are constantly evolving.
Sometimes you will find practical tools and prompts. Sometimes just honest thoughts and stories from the field, the kind of things we don’t always say out loud, but need to hear.
Whether you are here for inspiration, support or just to feel less alone, I hope you find something that resonates.
Thanks for being here. Please, explore.
Dr Mercia Spare – From 40 yrs in the NHS to Coach With a Mission – Accelerator Member Stories
Listen to a recent podcast I did with Ellie Scarf. ...In today’s episode, I had the joy of speaking with the incredible Dr. Mercia Spare. Mercia is a former Chief Nurse with over 40 years in the NHS, including time in transplantation, infection control, national...
The Afterlife
As they say in the adverts – I was born in the Midlands, but I was made in the NHS! Being a nurse is integral to who I am, my values and the way I measure my life’s worth. It sounds dramatic, I know, but it is all I have known for the last 40 years. I knew who I was...
What’s the actual point of training as a coach?
As a values driven human, I have always tried to practice reciprocal learning. They say knowledge is power, but I think that is all it is - it only becomes wisdom once we share it with another person, and we look at it from another perspective. I would once...
Daring Greatly
"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness." – Brené Brown Being a leader can be lonely and isolating at times. While the human condition drives us to seek connection and belonging,...
Looking a gift horse in the mouth
"We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are." This is a quote from The Talmud that I read recently. It struck me as so important to share as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.Last week I was lucky enough to spend the day with the head...
Thrive to Survive
Let’s be ambitious in the face of adversity – Strive to thrive, don’t just survive. Tight Budgets And Tough Decisions | The Impact Of NHS Financial Decisions | The King's Fund I recently read this article from The King's Fund, and I have to say it did not fill...