Michelle, Author at Jigsaw Discovery Tool

Colleagues in a workplace meeting, listening to one person speaking

Talking Isn’t the Same as Communicating

by Michelle | March 2, 2026 |

We talk every day in meetings, emails, messages and quick conversations, and yet workplace communication still breaks down remarkably often. We've all spent time carefully drafting an email, only to receive a reply that appeared …

Office staff working in an orderly row at computer workstations.

Beyond the Dashboard: Bridging the AI-Empathy Gap in the Age of Digital Taylorism

by Michelle | February 10, 2026 |

Leadership

If you were to step into a time machine and visit a manager’s office in 1996, their primary anxiety would likely have been obscurity. Management was a physical act requiring "line of sight"—walking the floor …

“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better” Abraham Lincoln

by Michelle | January 20, 2026 |

Communication, Effective Teamwork

Whilst scanning through a book of quotations, I noticed “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” Abraham Lincoln. These words are a perfect reflection of my vision for a better …

Silhouette of a person thinking, with digital data graphics overlaid, representing the connection between human skills and AI

Human Skills for a Brave New World

by Michelle | January 7, 2026 |

Leadership, Personal Development

Artificial intelligence is redefining the way we work at a speed few of us anticipated. New tools appear almost daily, automating tasks that once relied on our attention, analysis, or decision-making. It’s no wonder so …

Hybrid meeting where in-room participants are focused on each other while remote colleagues appear on a screen in the background, illustrating communication imbalance.

Addressing Communication Imbalance

by Michelle | December 21, 2025 |

Communication, Hybrid Working

When hybrid work first became the norm, many organisations felt confident they’d found the perfect balance between flexibility and productivity. Employees could structure their working day more naturally, office footfall could be managed more efficiently, …

Colleagues in a heated argument, illustrating a workplace outburst and the challenges of managing emotional behaviour at work.

Blip or Bad Behaviour?

by Michelle | December 10, 2025 |

Communication, Leadership

Blip or Breakdown? Most managers, sooner or later, face the unnerving situation of an employee losing their cool. It could be a snide remark, a door slammed or, in the most extreme cases, an insult hurled …

A tense conversation between two people, one pointing and the other responding defensively illustrating miscommunication and emotional reactions.

Why does everyone seem so easily offended?

by Michelle | November 27, 2025 |

Communication

If you’ve scrolled through social media lately, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: people arguing, filming confrontations, and posting them for validation. A supermarket queue, a café order gone wrong, or even a missed greeting can …

Team collaborating on a project around a table, symbolising teamwork, learning and investment in people.

Cutting training is a false economy

by Michelle | November 10, 2025 |

Leadership, Resilience

Why investing in people might be the smartest move in a tightening economy As the Chancellor prepares to announce what many already predict will be an austere Budget, small business owners are holding their breath. Rumours …

Futuristic scene of AI interacting with holographic human figures, symbolising tension between people and technology in the workplace.

Caught between progress and pushback

by Michelle | October 14, 2025 |

Leadership

The pressure to adopt artificial intelligence has moved from a theoretical ambition to a practical demand. Company directors and senior executives, driven by efficiency targets, competitive advantage, and digital transformation strategies, are increasingly looking to …

Workplace empathy shown as team members listen and offer support

Empathy vs Sympathy

by Michelle | September 23, 2025 |

Leadership

We often use the word empathy in workplace conversations, yet it can mean very different things to different people. More critically, it’s often confused with sympathy. That confusion can undermine the very connections we’re trying …