Plain Sailing Motivation
I’m Sarah Stones, I’m not a motivational speaker, I’m a motivation specialist. Motivational Speakers might inspire you in the moment, but I teach you how to understand motivation and then use that insight to give yourself energy and drive.
Using Motivational Maps and a toolkit I’ve built over 20 years, I work with people to identify long-term changes that help them move forward permanently. I help people and teams understand what motivates them and how to use that knowledge every day — at work and in every part of life.
Motivation isn't something you give people. It's something you help them find!
Over the past decade, I’ve worked with over 1,000 individuals, teams and senior leaders across business, education and healthcare, guiding people through moments of doubt, change and decision-making.
From career crossroads to confidence dips, team tensions to complete disengagement, I’ve seen what happens when people don’t understand what drives them. And I’ve seen the difference it makes when they do.
When you understand what gives you energy - and what takes it away - everything gets easier: decisions feel clearer, work feels lighter, and you feel like yourself again. That’s the work I do. And I love it!
I create a safe, inclusive, supportive space where you can show up exactly as you are (no masks, no expectations, just safety, kindness and trust).
My values
I never expect anyone to have it all figured out. Life shifts. Work shifts. People shift.
Through Plain Sailing Motivation, I help people find their own way through the waves.
Everything I do is grounded in these values:
- Boldness - I might challenge your thinking, but always with care
- Safe and supportive
- Curiousity - I genuinely want to understand people and their drivers
- Empathy - no judgement
- Practicality - no "guru vibes", coaching that's practical and achievable
- Fun - you'll enjoy the experience
I’m not here to “transform” you or offer quick fixes. I create a safe, supportive space where we can work together to explore what’s going on and what needs to shift. I’ll ask you direct questions (always with care) and guide you to take practical, grounded steps forward in all aspects of your life..
People have described me as a bit of a pilot boat: I don’t steer the ship for you, but I can help guide you through choppy waters safely and with confidence.
Qualifications and professional memberships
I bring a mix of professional training and real-life experience to every session, workshop or talk. Here’s what that means for you:
Motivational Maps® Licensed Practitioner
I’m qualified to deliver Motivational Maps® to individuals, teams and young people, helping each person understand what gives them energy and how to use that insight in work and life.
Business Practitioner of Motivational Maps®
I train other coaches, consultants and professionals on how to use Motivational Maps® in their own practice.
TEDx speaker
I've shared my insights and lived experience on a TEDx stage, helping audiences understand why motivation matters and how it links to wellbeing, resilience and success.
Associate Member of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA)
This connects me with other professional speakers across the UK and helps me stay sharp, skilled and relevant in my speaking work.
Ollie Coach Training
Ollie is a therapeutic coaching method that draws on techniques like NLP, hypnotherapy and positive psychology so I can support you with emotional blocks, anxiety, stress, low confidence, unhelpful thought patterns and difficulty managing change.
NLP Master Practitioner and Breakthrough Coach
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) helps people shift their mindset, break patterns and achieve goals. As a Breakthrough Coach, I use these tools to help you make deep, lasting change.
Tribunal Member
I sit on tribunal panels to support fair treatment and help uphold the rights of disabled people.
Enhanced DBS Checked
I’m fully vetted to work with young people and vulnerable adults.
"I am lucky enough to meet thousands of people every year, but Sarah absolutely stands out for her ability to inspire and motivate. She is pragmatic, witty and captures everybody's imagination when providing advice. She understands how to support teams to be their best and navigate challenge with a smile. Sarah is a brilliant contributor to events, both as a key note speaker and panellist. We're delighted to have Sarah's expertise feeding into our forums, to ensure that our activities deliver benefit to the business community and develop the workforce of the future."
CEO Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce
Products and services
Team Workshops
Low morale? Poor team performance? Struggling to recruit people who really fit your organisation? If your staff are disengaged or burning out, it’s often a motivation problem. High sickness rates, poor retention and underperformance all start when people feel disconnected from what drives them.
That’s where I can help.
I help teams understand what gives them energy — and what drains it — so they can take ownership of how they work and how they show up every day.
With the help of a tool called Motivational Maps®, I help to pinpoint what’s holding people back and how to help them get moving again.
Whether you’re a small team or a large organisation, I’ll work with you to design something that works.
My workshops are practical, inclusive and honest. I create a safe space for people to reflect, share, explore and find practical solutions.
And most importantly: I help teams turn insight into action. Your people will leave with clear, practical steps they can apply immediately at work.
What does that mean for you?
- Higher engagement
- Lower sickness absence and burnout
- Stronger team relationships
- Improved recruitment and retention
- A noticeable boost in performance
Popular workshop themes include:
- Motivation through change: Explore how motivation shifts during change and how to support yourself and others through it.
- Burnout and balance: Understand the signs of burnout and how to build in the motivation and energy to prevent it.
- Motivation-first leadership: Help your managers lead with motivation in mind, creating stronger, more resilient teams.
- Early careers energy: Tap into what drives your newest recruits and help them thrive right from the start.
- Motivation meets wellbeing: Build a workplace culture that links motivation directly to wellbeing, energy and performance.
- Team motivation with Motivational Maps®: Uncover and understand what drives each person in your team and how to use that insight to build stronger working relationships.
- Motivation modules for managers: A blend of 1:1 motivational coaching and a full-day interactive session using positive psychology and practical management tools.
Ready to activate your team’s motivation? Contact me to find out more
Career Coaching
When you know something isn’t right at work and you want clarity on what to do next.
- Have you just left a role that knocked the stuffing out of you?
- Are you being made redundant and don’t know what to do next?
- Do you hate your job but can’t see any other options?
- Maybe you’re just not sure what you want to do?
Ever felt like you’re working hard but not quite feeling it? That’s often down to motivation - and more specifically, what’s fuelling (or draining) it.
You’re not alone. Sometimes we get stuck in roles or workplaces that drain our energy instead of building it. That feeling of frustration, doubt or uncertainty is often down to not knowing what’s driving you and what’s holding you back.
How I can help
I use an extremely accurate tool called a Motivational Map® that identifies exactly what motivates you and helps you get clear on where you get your energy from. So you can start making career decisions that fit who you are and what you want.
Whether you’re job searching, thinking about a change, or simply wondering why your current role doesn’t feel like a good fit, career coaching gives you space to reflect, explore and move forward.
Using my professional HR experience, and my training as a coach, I’ll work with you to:
- Build a stand-out CV that shows your strengths and achievements
- Identify roles, organisations and sectors that match your motivators
- Develop a strong LinkedIn profile
- Prepare for interviews with confidence
- Negotiate a salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Navigate career transitions or promotions
By investing in career coaching, you give yourself space to reflect, explore and take action, so your next move feels clear, energising and right for you.
