Best Laid Plans...

Dolphins Catching Sharks (…and Other Corporate Mysteries) Let’s be honest: most technical teams treat risk the way cats treat bathwater—with a very healthy suspicion and a slow, careful retreat. And who can blame them? In a world of code rollbacks and production meltdowns, a bit of risk‑aversion feels downright sensible. But here’s the problem: that same caution tends to spill over into our conversations. We avoid difficult chats like they’re radioactive. We hesitate before tackling a sticky subject, especially if it might feel confrontational. And yes, we all know that gut‑churning dread before saying, “Hey… can we talk?” The trouble is, dodging those conversations doesn’t make the issues go away. It just hands them a comfy chair, a coffee, and lets them grow into bigger problems later. Here’s the good news: with a bit of preparation, those conversations don’t have to be terrifying. You can plan your approach, arm yourself with clarity and confidence, and take a lot of the stress ou...

The other day when meeting someone in Cambridge City Centre. I was stressed about being late so I decided to drive in. Mistake number one! Did not anticipate the amount of traffic in the city at this point of the day. I picked a car park and luckily found a space, which was actually small so I was stressed about hitting my car when parking. Rushed to the coffee shop (cortisol is now WAY higher than it should be!) and arrived with minutes to spare. When I waited… doubt crept in… had I got the right time? Had I got the right place?… another notch up on the stressometer.  I texted my friend to see if he was coming and that I'm sitting outside. Oh no, NOW realise there were two coffee shops in Cambridge with this name and I am at one and he’s at the other. Bugger.  Thankfully, he very sensibly biked that day and was with me in less than 10 mins. Enough time for me to calm down the embarrassment I felt and grab him a coffee. Now I’m back to what I call the sweet spot. The part that...

Have You Prepared for Success ? So, you’ve… kicked off your project documented its initiation onboarded key stakeholders assessed risks and locked in a schedule. But have you prepared for success? "Success?" you ask. "Surely, if we're successful, we just ride off into the sunset, high-fiving each other while basking in the admiration of our colleagues and clients!" (Actual quote.) Well, not quite. Success can be more complicated than you think—and if you don’t plan for it, it might just catch you off guard. Let’s explore a few scenarios: 1. You’re Well Within Budget (Yes, It Happens!) You’ve been tracking costs like a hawk, and you know your budget indicator will be green. But have you thought about how—and when—you’ll communicate that? Tell the wrong people at the wrong time, and suddenly, finance may see an opportunity to adjust your baseline, reallocate funds, or introduce unexpected scope changes. Success needs strategy, even in communication. 2. You Delive...

Despite AI’s growing impact on the world of work, new data shows that soft skills are still the most sought after by UK employers. LinkedIn’s 2024 most in-demand skills data finds that soft skills make up four of the top five most in-demand skills by UK employers, with communication the most sought-after skill. When I was training to be a project manager, we didn’t really focus on soft skills. They aren’t really taught by any of the methodologies and most of the people who project managed before me definitely had to learn the hard way, via The School of Hard Knocks!  Soft skills are critically important for all senior leaders, whether you are a project manager or CEO, the capability to be able to have difficult conversations in a compassionate way is critically important especially when dealing with a 'crisis'! I have seen first-hand how important these skills are and I'm constantly tweaking and honing these skills.   There are some basics that are a ‘must have’ for project...

When we think of the word 'leadership', typically headline grabbing personalities on the world stage of business or politics often jump to mind. Look at the US election this month, who could have predicted Donald Trump would become President of the US again.  However, I don't think that leadership is that grandiose, we don’t all have to be President of the US or the King of England to be a leader.  Have you thought about the fact we are all actually leaders at some point in our day? We all do this every day to an extent, it could be as part of our job, when we care for our kids, or even help a stranger. These tasks all require leadership traits of different types - Trust - Compassion - Stability - Hope. When I was asked to explain what I thought leadership means, my answer was that it consists of two parts and several traits , personal responsibility and the choice to follow. Part 1 - personal responsibility of the leader The first part is a choice exercised by the leader....

When one thinks of the word 'leadership', typically headline grabbing personalities on the world stage of business or politics often jump to mind.  However, I don't think that leadership is that grandiose.  We all do it everyday to a certain extent, when we care for our kids, do our jobs or help a stranger. I believe leadership consists of 2 parts. The first part is a choice exercised by the leader. It is the choice to take personal responsibility to change the current situation for the better. You can choose to let things slide. Or take a stand to do what must be done because it is the right thing to do. The second part of leadership is also a choice, but exercised by people choosing to follow the leader. They do so, because the leader exhibits good leadership behaviors such as listening, understanding, developing and communicating vision and ensuring that decisive action is taken. These are behaviors that can be learned and honed. However they need to be ...