I want to start with something that might feel a little uncomfortable. You might have read my previous blog, The Untapped Talent Hiding in Plain Sight, and come away thinking, “Right, I understand neurodiversity better now. I know about masking. I know I need to be more curious about the person in front of me.” … Read more
“Nicola, I need your help. We’ve just replaced our operations manager for the second time in eighteen months, and the team is still a nightmare. The new manager seemed perfect on paper, but three months in and we’re right back where we started. What are we doing wrong?” I could hear the exhaustion in her … Read more
I’ve managed teams for over 33 years. And I can tell you with complete certainty that most of the tension, miscommunication and conflict I’ve witnessed in workplaces comes down to one thing: people not understanding why others behave the way they do. That team member who always needs three days to respond to a straightforward … Read more
Early in my management career, I had a brilliant team member. She noticed things nobody else did: a client’s change in tone during a meeting, a subtle shift in team dynamics, a risk buried in a project plan that everyone else had walked straight past. But when we moved to an open-plan office, something changed. … Read more
A few months ago, Jane came to see me. She was upset, frustrated, and honestly, a bit angry. Her manager had pulled her aside and told her she needed to “get better control over her emotions at work.” Jane is a talented project manager in her early thirties, passionate about her work, and deeply committed … Read more