Nicola Richardson | Leadership Conversations & Coaching Specialist
Helping organisations grow stronger leaders who communicate clearly, handle conflict well, and inspire teams, month after month.
What if every leader in your organisation could handle tough conversations with calm authority, turning them into moments that strengthen trust, drive clarity, and secure results?
Now imagine the opposite - the reality you might be facing right now.
You Can See It Happening:
Underperformance that no one addresses.
Tension between team members that drags on for months.
A high performer who walks because conflict was left unresolved.
It’s not that your managers don’t care — but without the skills, confidence, and support to handle these moments well, they avoid them.
And when leaders avoid the hard conversations, here’s what happens:
• Problems fester until they explode.
• Productivity drops and deadlines slip.
• Talent disengages or leaves entirely.
• Morale, trust, and results take a hit.
The truth?
It’s costing you money, time, and credibility as an employer.
Forward-thinking decision makers invest in developing their leaders to handle these conversations with confidence. Those who don’t are left firefighting the same problems again and again.
The Future You Could Have:
- Your senior leaders confidently address challenges before they escalate.
- Strategic conversations lead to buy-in and progress, not politics or stalemate.
- Departments collaborate instead of competing, creating a unified, high-performing culture.
- Leaders leave work clear-headed, not carrying stress into the evening.
- They manage their own emotions, and those of others, with composure.
It’s possible, and I can show you how..
Ways We Can Work Together
Mastering Emotional Conversations — Online Course (£27)
A self-paced course to stay calm, communicate clearly, and feel in control during any discussion
Making Difficult Conversations Easier — Online Course (£99)
A step-by-step framework to lead and communicate with confidence in any workplace conversation
Conversation Catalyst – Focused Mentoring Programme for Middle Leaders
A short-term, targeted programme to equip middle leaders with the skills, strategies, and confidence to address challenges, manage performance, and build stronger team relationships.
The Leadership Conversations Partnership – Long-Term Programme (12 Months)
A bespoke, year-long coaching and mentoring programme designed for organisations that want to consistently grow leaders who can tackle challenges, inspire teams, and sustain high performance month after month.
What Clients Say:
"Without hesitation, I would recommend Nicola's services to anyone. She has been instrumental in creating a powerful team and an environment in which they enjoy coming to work each day."
“Having had the privilege of being mentored by Nicola, I can confidently say that her guidance has been instrumental in my professional growth and self-discovery. Nicola is a mentor who truly invests in people. She challenge, support, and empower with a rare blend of wisdom , authenticity and empathy. Through her mentorship, I have gained not just valuable insights but also a clearer vision of my own objectives. Nicola has been a catalyst in refining my approach to leadership, decision-making, and transformation. I am incredibly grateful for her guidance and belief in my potential.”
Why Now:
Every quarter without this capability is a quarter where opportunities are missed, strategic plans stall, and your competitive edge dulls. The sooner your leaders master these skills, the faster your organisation reaps the benefits.
Meet Nicola, The People Mentor
I’ve been where your leaders are. I know what it’s like to approach a high-stakes conversation with a lump in your throat and no clear way to start.
What sets me apart is that I’m not just teaching theory – I’ve lived it. With 33 years of leadership experience, managing teams from 4 to 250 people, I’ve handled the conversations that others avoid.
I’ve delivered tough feedback that rebuilt trust, turned around underperforming teams, and guided leaders through the most challenging discussions of their careers. I know the reality of leadership at the top — and how to help leaders thrive in it.
I help SME leaders, business owners, and senior professionals build unshakable confidence and master the skills needed to tackle workplace conflict, strengthen leadership communication, and handle tough conversations with clarity and authority, so they can lead decisively and without unnecessary stress.
I hold:
- A Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership & Management and also Professional Consulting Level 7 Diploma
- I'm trusted by businesses of all sizes — from small teams to national organisations
- I developed the COMPASS Conversation Model, a time-tested framework for transforming difficult conversations into growth opportunities.
I also serve as a trustee for Centrepoint Outreach, demonstrating my commitment to impactful leadership beyond the corporate world.
I created The People Mentor to give decision makers a strategic partner in developing leaders who can confidently navigate complex conversations.
My approach is pragmatic, results-driven, and grounded in emotional intelligence, delivering actionable strategies that ensure leaders are not only prepared for their next tough conversation, but also capable of driving long-term organisational impact.
Your Next Step::
Book a conversation with me today, and let’s explore what’s possible for your senior leadership team, and the results they can deliver for your business.
Take the Workplace Tension Decoder Quiz
Blog
How to Set Boundaries Without the Guilt Hangover
You finally said it. You drew the line. You expressed what needed to be said. But then it hit you like a wave. That sinking
Still in the Game: How to Make Yourself Heard Over 50
I was delighted to appear on Grey Lives on the Rise podcast:
The Overlooked Secret to Employee Engagement -Why It’s Not About Pizza Fridays
Is your team genuinely engaged or simply going through the motions? Many leaders mistake activity for engagement. A busy team isn’t always a connected team.
Podcast
The Unspoken Cost of Being the Strong One at Work
Have you ever been called the strong one? The calm one. The one who never flinches, even when the room is falling apart?What people don’t
Managing a Sulker in the Workplace Without Losing Your Patience
Did you know that according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, one disengaged employee can reduce team productivity by up to 40%? And
How to Stop Your Inner Critic From Hijacking Your Difficult Conversations
Hi, I’m Nicola from The People Mentor. I’m here to help you lead your team with clarity, confidence, and care—even when things feel properly messy.
