Surprises

It was my birthday this weekend, and my husband told me to set aside Saturday for a surprise. That was all I knew. No clues, no hints, just the promise of something special. I woke up that morning feeling open and ready to receive whatever the day had in store.

We began somewhat inauspiciously, with delays on the Tube that threw his plans into disarray. What was meant to be a morning at the V&A became, instead, a visit to the Royal Academy. I smiled. Because that’s life, isn’t it? Even the best-laid plans can go awry, yet sometimes those little disruptions lead us somewhere unexpectedly wonderful.

The Royal Academy was beautiful. We wandered through the galleries, lingering in front of pieces that caught our imagination. Afterward, we had a leisurely lunch and then meandered through Burlington Arcade, peering into windows, chatting, and simply enjoying each other’s company. It was one of those rare, unhurried days: the kind that remind you what matters most.

But the real surprise was yet to come. When we arrived at Fortnum & Mason, I was greeted by the entire family — children, grandchildren, everyone — gathered for afternoon champagne tea. My grandson handed me a card he’d made himself. The portrait he’d drawn of me wasn’t exactly flattering, but it radiated such joy that I couldn’t help but laugh. It was perfect.

Just when I thought the day was done, we were off again — this time to St Martin’s Theatre to see The Mousetrap. I’d mentioned more than once that, after all these years, we’d never seen it. Now, in its 73rd year, we finally did. And it was everything I’d hoped for—  clever, funny, nostalgic.

I came home that night, wonderfully sated and grateful, for the surprises, for the love that went into them, and for the simple truth that the best moments in life are often the ones we don’t plan.

What’s a Surprise?

The word surprise comes from the Old French surprendre, meaning “to overtake” or “to seize suddenly.” That’s what surprises do.  They catch us off guard, shake us out of routine, and bring us vividly into the present.

As leaders, we often operate in a world where control, predictability, and planning are prized above all else. We manage risks, mitigate uncertainty, and design strategies to avoid being caught unprepared. Yet in doing so, we can sometimes lose touch with spontaneity: that spark of joy that comes from the unexpected.

When we allow room for surprise, we invite learning, connection, and creativity back into our work. A surprise conversation with a colleague can spark an innovative idea. An unplanned detour in a project can reveal a new opportunity. A shift in perspective, even one prompted by disruption, can bring fresh insight.

For my clients, senior leaders navigating endless pressures and constant firefighting, this is a powerful reminder: not everything has to be managed or predicted. Sometimes, the greatest growth, personal or professional, comes when you let yourself be overtaken by something unplanned.

So, my invitation is this: make space for surprise. Step out of your schedule occasionally. Say yes to something that isn’t in your calendar. Approach your week with curiosity, rather than control.

You might just find, as I did on my birthday, that life still has the capacity to delight you when you least expect it. And in those moments of laughter, connection, and wonder, you rediscover what leadership, and indeed life, is really about.