Birmingham wellbeing expert discusses September goal setting for businesses

A Birmingham-based wellbeing and behaviour change specialist has spoken about how businesses can use the post summer period for opportunities and pitfalls to make lasting changes.

Harriet Luscombe (pictured), founder of Coaches for Change Ltd, is an MSc-qualified Applied Positive Psychologist and EMCC Global Accredited Coach.

She was invited on to BBC WM and explored why September often acts as a natural “temporal landmark" for fresh starts, driven by deep-seated social conditioning around the traditional 'back-to-school' season.

Following the interview, Harriette is set to deliver a sold-out 'Lunch and Learn' session on 17th September in partnership with Westside Business Improvement District (BID), helping local professionals translate the principles of behavioural change into actionable strategies.

During her BBC WM appearance, Harriette explored why September often acts as a natural "temporal landmark" for fresh starts, driven by deep-seated social conditioning around the traditional 'back-to-school' season.

Harriette said: "The return to a structured routine after the summer holidays provides a solid foundation for habit stacking and positive change.

However, it's equally important to recognise that autumn isn't the right time for everyone. Managing the transition into darker months, combined with Q4 workplace pressures, means loading up on unrealistic expectations can lead to burnout rather than progress."

Harriette cautioned listeners against falling into the "planning fallacy"—the tendency to underestimate how much time tasks will take while overestimating what can be achieved before year-end.

For professionals feeling unprepared for a September reset, she emphasised the importance of avoiding self-sabotage while waiting for the new year.

For those ready to establish new habits this autumn, Harriette highlights six essential coaching questions:

• Clarity: How specific can you get about what the goal actually is?
• Outcome: What tangible value or feeling will achieving it bring you?
• Measurement: How will you measure success and know you've arrived?
• Trade-offs: What are you realistically prepared to give up to achieve it?
• Support: Who in your network will support and hold you accountable?
• Reward: How will you mark and celebrate your milestones along the way?

The upcoming sold-out Westside BID session reflects a growing demand across West Midlands businesses for evidence-based workplace wellbeing and sustainable human performance strategies.