10QUESTIONS with Laurence Loxam

Our 10QUESTIONS feature asks members of the Freshfield community ten questions about their working life. Featuring client partners, colleagues and FF friends, our guests share some personal stories, views and fresh words of wisdom.

Our latest guest is Laurence Loxam, founder and managing director of Loxam Consulting Ltd. Laurence is an executive coach and leadership mentor, working with high-achieving professionals – including doctors, lawyers, CEOs and founders – to help them gain clarity, unlock performance, and create impact.

He has developed The Elevation Model Framework™, a 7-stage system designed to transform insight into action. His background includes senior leadership roles across agriculture, retail, and consultancy, combined with an MBA in Leadership & Sustainability, an ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching, and current study for an ILM Level 6 in Leadership & Management.

How do you like to start your working day?

I’m a morning person, so I like to get moving early. My day usually starts with helping our one and three-year-olds get ready for nursery, then walking Sally, our golden doodle. Once that’s done, I’ll check LinkedIn and my other platforms to wish people happy birthday (a small habit that sparks positive connections) and reply to any messages. I hate ghosting (unless it’s obvious spam). Most mornings also include some exercise, whether it’s cycling, swimming, or the gym, which helps me bring energy into the working day ahead.

Where and how do you come up with your best ideas?

Movement sparks creativity and for me it’s cycling, long walks, or cutting my lawn. Ideas often crystallise when I’m outside, away from screens. I capture them in voice notes, then refine them into tools or content later.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“You’ve got two ears and one mouth; use them in that ratio.” Real clarity comes from listening with intent. The leaders who achieve the most impact are those who listen first, then cut through the noise to make things simple. Clarity really is a CEO’s superpower.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is about elevation, it’s about lifting yourself, your people, and your organisation to the next level. It’s not about control, it’s about creating clarity, alignment, and trust, then empowering others to deliver impact.

What’s your top tip for achieving a work-life balance?

I don’t think of balance as equal weighting. It’s about presence. When I’m coaching, I’m all in. When I’m with my family, I’m fully there. Clear boundaries and conscious transitions make the difference.

Which current or historical business figure do you most admire and why?

Dale Carnegie. His book How to Win Friends and Influence People was ahead of its time and is still one of the most influential works on leadership and human behaviour. What I admire is the simplicity. Dale showed that influence isn’t about power or position, but about listening, empathy, and genuine connection. Those principles remain at the heart of modern coaching and leadership.

What is your most trusted source of news?

The Financial Times for global business and leadership coverage, but I also scan Harvard Business Review and The Economist for fresh thinking.

What is your favourite brand and why?

Rolex fascinates me. They’ve mastered supply-demand dynamics, built an iconic product, and created desire through scarcity. Beyond that, their philanthropic and environmental contributions often go unseen. For me, it’s a brand that balances legacy, craft, and clever strategy.

What’s the most recent new skill you have learnt?

I’ve immersed myself in digital content; from building my website to scaling my LinkedIn audience beyond 10,000. Learning how to create an ecosystem of blogs, newsletters, and social posts has been invaluable in building both brand and community.

We all use them…what management jargon phrase do you use the most?

“Blind spots.” It’s a phrase I use often in coaching because even the most successful leaders can’t see everything. Helping them uncover those blind spots is where the real breakthroughs happen.