Are you being asked to do more and more with less - whilst also managing a team who are stressed, overwhelmed, and burning out?
Join 150+ healthcare leaders in...
The Shapes Academy
The membership for leaders under pressure.
Work happier, set boundaries around your work, get your time back and support your team - without burning out yourself.
Teaching you how to use the tried-and-tested Shapes Toolkit productivity tools, coaching models and stress management system, by following our 3-step plan...
1) CHOOSE
Do less, achieve more
Stay on top of your workload even when the demands are overwhelming.
Use our tools to work out what's in your control so you know exactly what to prioritise and what to let go of, with tools that help you quickly respond under pressure.
Stop taking responsibility for everyone and everything, and take back control of your time.
2) THINK DIFFERENTLY
Leave work at work
Stop waking up worrying about missing something, making a mistake, or letting people down.
Use our self-management system to get a mindset where you can set boundaries, say no and deal with pushback.
Feel calm and confident about your decisions, without the guilt of never having done enough, or the fear of 'dumping on colleagues'.
3) BE HUMAN
Get a productive team
Support others to do their jobs without doing their work for them - so you can get on with yours.
Get the training and skills you need to tackle team issues like resentment, stress and conflict early, before they spiral out of control.
Use our done-for-you videos and training resources to get a thriving team, where everyone can beat burnout and work happier.
What if nothing changes?
What is your current way of working doing to you as a person, to your character, your relationships and your enjoyment of life?
Imagine if...
You could leave work at work without worrying about letting someone down, or missing something
You had a great work - life balance with plenty of time to do the stuff you really love.
You had a team who were firing on all cylinders and taking responsibility for their own workload.
Before I tell you all about the programme, let's talk about who this is for:
You're a doctor, senior healthcare professional, trainer or supervisor, coach or mentor, leader or manager in health and social care, with way too much on your plate.
You're doing a demanding day job and also supporting your colleagues.
It's exhausting.
There just isn't the time or resources to do it all. Your lose so much time dealing with other people's crises, or wading through admin and staffing issues.
(That's before you've even got to your do-do list.)
Everyone is stretched thin, and wishing someone else would support them.
But what if I told you that you might inadvertently be making your overwhelm worse by:
1. Taking responsibility for things which you have NO control over because you feel guilty, (even though you can't do anything about it).
2. Rescuing your team and 'fixing it' for them by taking on their work when it seems they can't cope.
3. Avoiding difficult conversations you know you need to have, causing issues to escalate and create more work in the long run.
The Shapes Academy is a practical way for leaders like you to think differently about your work, feel on top of your workload and get a better work / life balance.
Using an easy-to-implement system that helps you tackle the demands of a high-stakes job - and build a resilient team who can solve their own problems and support each other.
The Shapes Academy is designed specifically for leaders in high-stakes roles like healthcare.
You simply don't have time for management theory, complicated ideas, or strategies that need you to work out how to implement them.
You need tools that work - fast.
Find out more about the Shapes Academy in this short video from founder and host, Dr Rachel Morris
"They really get what it's like working in the NHS in a high-stress job."
“As a busy GP/ PCN CD The Shapes Academy has been absolutely brilliant.
I feel much more in control over my ‘NHS overwhelm’. Best for me is the prioritisation grid. I plan time for the things important to me and that includes my non work interests which I find I am now doing more and more of since putting ‘shapes’ into my daily practice.
Rachel and the team just get what it is like working in the NHS in a high stress job. The meetings with them feel safe and personal and the in the break out rooms, listening to how other people are doing, it is very normalising and reassuring.
I’d recommend this if you just feel too busy and drained, you are saying yes to everything and never having time to look after yourself.
I’d give this a 5 star rating in every way and am so glad I signed up. Thank you."
GP - South London
What You'll Get When You Join
Here's what's included in your Shapes Academy Membership.
The Shapes Academy Core Curriculum Programme
9 x core content video lessons with accompanying handouts and activities.
Understand how to use the Shapes Toolkit to manage your workload, prioritise, set boundaries and support your team.
Quarterly Live Masterclasses
Quarterly 90-minute deep dive group coaching masterclasses to help you take the lead on wellbeing, resilience and beating burnout in your organisation.
In 2025 these will happen from 12.30 - 14.00 on:
Thursday 13th February | Tuesday 13th May | Wednesday 10th September | Thursday 11th December
Replays available if you can't be there live.
Team Resources Library
Access our comprehensive library of done-for-you Shapes handouts, Conversation Canvasses, Bitesize training videos and activities to help your team handle challenges and tackle stress.
Easy to find - categorised by topic, and available for instant download in ready to use formats.
Monthly 5-minute Booster Video
Every month you'll receive a 5-minute "Shape of the Month" Work Well Booster video with ONE simple, practical idea you can apply right away - and an accompanying coaching activity. Use yourself, and/or share with your team. 5, 20 or 40-minute done-for-you activities are available.
What's inside the membership?
In this short video, Rachel lifts the hood and shows you what's inside the Shapes Academy membership and what you can expect every month.
TEAM MEMBERSHIP
Want to join with your organisation?
Team membership is an affordable way for healthcare trusts to buy their teams' wellbeing, resilience and training.
Please contact us to find out about the support we offer for organisations.
CONTACT USThe Shapes Academy is now CLOSED.
We'll be re-opening later in the year.
Get in touch.
Complete this form to contact us, join the wait-list or enquire about bulk memberships for your organisation. You can also email [email protected] with any enquiries.
"I'm better at managing my time, better at saying no - and I don't feel so guilty."
"One of my colleagues went off with burnout - it could have happened to any of us. When I talked to my GP, they were supportive, but their advice was basically "the next step is to take time off". But I really wanted to try and do something other than that.
I've always wanted to do something that helps our whole team rather than just me. So I asked work to fund a place for me on the Shapes Academy.
It rescued me last year, I have to say.
What worked best for me was having a little bit every month, that regular drip feed. Now, I'm better at managing my time. I'm better at saying no. And I'm much better at scheduling time to do non-work things, and I don't feel so guilty about doing it.
It should be part of our mandatory training."
Jayne - Consultant Physician
INTRODUCING THE SHAPES TOOLKIT
Transforming healthcare leaders and their teams
The Shapes Toolkit forms the core content for the Shapes Academy. These on-demand resources are one of the key things missing from most leadership training. The last thing you need is something else to add to your plate - and having to do all the legwork to implement a new strategy.
The Shapes Toolkit is a tried and tested system that's done-for-you - drawn from coaching techniques, the latest leadership thinking, and neuroscience. In other words - you can start using these TODAY with your team and implement this framework directly into your organisation, right where you are.
It was created by Dr Rachel Morris, a former GP who learned these tools when she trained as an Executive Coach - and wished she'd discovered them years ago when she first qualified as a doctor. She has since shared the Shapes Toolkit with thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals to transform the way they and their teams are approaching their work.
Find choices and stop feeling trapped by your many responsibilities.
The Zone of Power helps you work out what's in and what's out of your control
Feel calmer, respond better, say no and set boundaries.
The 'In the Corner' shape helps you understand how you react to stressful situations and change how you think and respond
Get clear about the causes of workplace stress.
The Stressors Hexagon helps you find out what's really going on and make the small changes that count.
Know how to tackle stress before it turns into burnout.
The Vortex of Busyness helps you identify the wellbeing factors which will help you feel better and work well.
Get the time and headspace to focus on what’s important.
The Prioritisation Grid helps you to manage your workload and escape the urgency trap.
Save time and stress by empowering your team to take control of their needs and support each other.
The Conversation Pentagon helps you take a coaching approach rather than trying to fix it for everyone.
Help people around you without constantly rescuing them.
The Drama Triangle helps you identify when you're taking a victim, rescuer or persecutor mentality and helps you escape these toxis roles.
"I'm now working 9-5 - and not thinking about work when I'm at home!"
"I used to wake at 3am worrying about my workload - with constant interruptions from the team for me to solve problems, meaning delays to my time critical work.
Accounts and associated buisness costs, wages and CCG claims were left right until the last minute meaning additional stress for me, working late and at weekends.
Having discovered the Shapes Toolkit I'm now working 9-5 and never checking emails in between. I'm confident the team are handling everything and are empowered to make decisions and take action, knowing what the priorities are. I'm not thinking about work when I'm at home!"
Helen - Practice Manager
AS A SHAPES ACADEMY MEMBER,
Here's how we'll save you time each month...
Just choose how much - or how little - you want to do! (And of course, all the resources, videos and masterclass replays will be available in the online resources centre so you can catch up at any time if you miss them - we know you're busy people!)
WEEK ONE
Your bitesize Shapes Booster Video is delivered direct to your inbox (5min max!)
Watch, reflect on the concept, and start using it in your day-to-day interactions.
WEEK TWO
The Core Content Module for this month’s Shape teaches you a different way to approach different challenges - from your to-do list to tricky 1:1s.
Watch a 15 minute video and complete the accompanying worksheet.
WEEK THREE
Prioritising your own wellbeing is easy. Join the lunchtime webinar (or watch it on catch up) to discover the latest thinking.
Enjoy peer support, time to reflect, and tools to tackle your current challenges.
WEEK FOUR
Bring the bitesize resources (video & slides) to your team meeting and help your colleagues get more done.
Choose the 20 or 40 minute option (with a 5 minute activity as backup in case things don’t go to plan!)
What members say...
Dr Sarah Craven, GP Partner
Emma, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Team Leader
Debbie, Practice Manager
"Using the tools I can quickly assess what's important, what to prioritise, and what to let go."
“Before I started the Shapes Academy I had 13 projects on the go and 10k emails in my inbox. I was stressed, anxious and not coping. I ended up needing to take some time off, and realised things needed to change. Now, I'm back at work and using the Shapes Toolkit I've transformed my approach. My role is still extremely high pressured. In fact I now have 29 projects on the go - but I actually feel in control! I still receive 50 emails in an hour but using the tools I can quickly assess what's important, what to prioritise, and what to let go. The academy has given me the ability to be assertive, say no and mean it - reducing conflict with managers and other colleagues. I love knowing I can log on any time I want and watch a quick bite-sized video - I use the tools and resources every day.”
- Mark Thompson, Development Support Manager, Training Hub
About us
The Shapes Academy was created by Dr Rachel Morris, founder of Wild Monday and a former GP with a background in Medical Education - who created the Shapes Toolkit to support leaders in healthcare who wanted to help their teams beat burnout and thrive at work - without taking on everything themselves.
The Shapes Academy is based on the Shapes Toolkit, a series of coaching and productivity tools which has helped hundreds of doctors, managers and other professionals take back control of their time and thrive.
Rachel also hosts the popular ‘You Are Not A Frog’ podcast for doctors and other professionals in high stress jobs. A thought leader on resilience in the workplace, an executive and team coach, she’s a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators and taught for many years on the Faculty for the University of Cambridge. She regularly lectures around the country on leadership, resilience, combatting stress and thriving at work.
FAQ’s - your questions answered
Can’t find the information you need below? Please get in touch with the team using the form at the bottom of the page.
Watch this short video where Rachel answers some of your FAQs.
What will I get?
Can I use my study budget to fund this course?
How does this course work?
What if I have NO time?
Will I get CPD points?
How much does it cost and is there a guarantee?
Featured in
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you
Interested in an Individual or Team
membership but still have a few outstanding questions you would like answered?
Complete the form below and we will come back to you
Contact form
Other opportunities for you
