performance Archives

Team collaborating effectively through communication, trust and behavioural understanding

The Enduring Secret to Great Teamwork (and Why Some Things Never Change)

by Michelle | August 5, 2026 |

The world of work has undergone a seismic shift since 2001. We have witnessed the rise of hybrid working models, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, and a dizzying evolution of digital communication tools. Yet, …

Businesswoman cooling herself with a desk fan while working during a summer heatwave.

Performance Improvement, Wellbeing, and Workplace Behaviours: The True Cost of the UK Heatwave Slowdown

by Michelle | July 21, 2026 |

Wellbeing & Resilience

On a blazing summer afternoon in the UK, the corporate conversation often follows a predictable pattern. We talk about the record-breaking numbers on the thermometer, joke about the rare presence of sunshine, and perhaps track …

Business professional standing thoughtfully in a modern office with a city skyline behind him.

When Your Job Swallows Your Identity: The Rise of Corporate Enmeshment

by Michelle | July 15, 2026 |

Wellbeing & Resilience

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the typical work/life balance of teams today, and how it differs from that of generations past. In that article, I spoke about team members enforcing boundaries from …

Young employee experiencing workplace anxiety in a modern office

An Anxious Generation or a Mismatched System? Re-engineering the Workplace for Young Talent

by Michelle | July 2, 2026 |

Leadership, Wellbeing & Resilience

The landscape of youth employment in the United Kingdom has reached a critical, historic turning point. Alan Milburn’s landmark diagnostic report, Young People and Work, published in May 2026, reveals a stark truth that can …

Professional woman observing her team in a meeting, reflecting a human centric leadership approach

From Administrator to Architect: Thinking Differently About the Role of Leadership

by Michelle | May 26, 2026 |

Leadership

For many leaders, the challenge of the role isn’t just a lack of time, but the sense of being buried in day-to-day demands, much of it taken up by work they weren’t actually hired to …

team development doesn’t last after workplace training

The Work Doesn’t End When the Workshop Does

by Michelle | May 12, 2026 |

Effective Teamwork

Most organisations treat team development like a vaccination. You do it once, you're covered, and you move on. The team goes through the programme The workshop ends, the feedback forms come back glowing, and the …

Woman feeling tired at work and thinking at her desk

Is your team tired?

by Michelle | April 23, 2026 |

Communication, Effective Teamwork

Over the past year, one question has presented itself frequently as I sit with leadership teams or facilitate workshops inside organisations. What exactly is making people tired at work? Not physically tired in the sense of long …

A stressed employee looks down during a difficult workplace meeting while a manager gestures across the table.

Your employee’s brain during a performance review

by Michelle | April 14, 2026 |

Communication, Leadership

Most managers know that performance reviews create anxiety. But do you know why, at a neurological level, even a well-intentioned review can shut down the very thinking you need your employee to do? Imagine the scenario. …

The Accidental Manager: Why Technical Excellence Isn’t Enough

by Michelle | March 23, 2026 |

Leadership

The role of a manager today looks very different from what it was a generation ago. In the past, managers were often seasoned professionals who had risen through the ranks slowly, spending years developing the …

Colleagues in a workplace meeting, listening to one person speaking

Talking Isn’t the Same as Communicating

by Michelle | March 2, 2026 |

Communication

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 …