The People Mentor Podcast
Series 5: No Room for Fluff – The Workplace Edit This series is all about leading with clarity, courage, and humanity, because soft skills aren't soft when the stakes are high. I'm Nicola Richardson from The People Mentor, and I've spent over 30 years leading teams through change, challenge and growth. I know what it takes to build trust, manage conflict, and bring people with you, without losing sight of results. In this series, I'm bringing you real-world stories and practical strategies to help you lead more humanely - whether it's handling miscommunication, boosting resilience, or navigating the one person who always gets under your skin. If you're ready to grow your career and your confidence, without the fluff, you're in the right place. Listen now for honest insight and down-to-earth leadership support.
Episodes
Have you ever had that one person who gets under your skin?
The passive-aggressive emailer, the meeting hijacker, or the colleague who always plays the victim? In this episode of No Room for Fluff: The Workplace Edit, I'm breaking down what's really going on underneath the behaviour, and how to take back control without it becoming a drama.
Whether you're a manager, business owner or leader, you'll get practical, clear tips to hand...
Ever felt tension in your team and thought, “Uh-oh, here we go”?
Before you brace for conflict, pause.
It might just be miscommunication.
In this episode, I’m sharing the subtle signs to look for, what’s going on in people’s minds (including yours), and how to prevent misunderstandings before they escalate.
If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, “What just happened?”, this one’s for you. Let’s clear the air and get communication worki...
In this episode, Nicola from The People Mentor tackles the challenge of managing an underperforming team member when your boss undermines your efforts.
She provides practical strategies for:
- Documenting performance issues systematically
- Having constructive conversations with underperforming employees
- Creating and implementing effective Personal Improvement Plans (PIPs)
- Dealing with a boss who wants to retain an underperformer
...
Struggling with employee social media issues?
In this must-listen episode, Nicola from The People Mentor tackles the challenge of confronting staff about inappropriate online behaviour.
You'll learn practical strategies for professionally addressing social media concerns, protecting your business, and strengthening team relationships.
Discover how to turn awkward conversations into opportunities for growth using the COMPASS model.
...
In this episode, Nicola from The People Mentor tackles the thorny issue of being 'too nice' in the workplace.
With her signature blend of warmth and straight-talking advice, Nicola explains why avoiding difficult conversations can hurt your business.
She shares practical strategies for delivering constructive criticism effectively, including the powerful AID model.
Whether you're struggling with an underperforming team member or wa...
Nobody enjoys difficult conversations, and if you need to have such a conversation with your boss, it can intensify the feelings of dread and anxiety you might have.
In this podcast, I share my tips and techniques for having successful, difficult conversations with your boss that will help improve your relationship.
Join Nicola from The People Mentor as she shares valuable
insights on creating an inclusive workplace for neurodiverse individuals.
Learn practical strategies to support employees with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurological differences during difficult conversations.
Discover how small adjustments alongside empathy can lead to better communication, collaboration, and personal growth.
Whether you're a manager or ...
Difficult conversations trigger our fight-or-flight response, so it’s not surprising that managing emotions can feel difficult.
In this episode of The People Mentor podcast, Nicola shares some strategies for staying calm, empathetic, and focused on constructive solutions.
If recent years have taught us anything, it’s that you can never be too prepared for a crisis.
But how prepared are you?
How can you be the leader that people need in times of crisis so that everyone thrives instead of just surviving?
In this podcast, I share some strategies for thriving in volatile times.
Compassionate leadership is badly needed in an increasingly stressful world.
However, how do leaders balance compassion with strength and professionalism?
I explore this, particularly in relation to difficult conversations.
You love your job.
But the one thing that takes the shine off it is the office politics.
The taking credit for people’s work.
The blame culture.
The gossiping and the backbiting.
It can really discourage people and affect performance, and it can even affect your integrity as a leader.
Here’s how you can navigate negative office politics while maintaining your integrity and positioning yourself as the leader people can trust.
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