Ideas for the realities of modern work
Research, practical guidance and perspectives on leadership, culture, talent and the moments that shape working lives.
Featured Article: How to Deal with Nightmare Colleagues and Office Politics
Dr Mary-Clare Race was recently featured in The Sun’s Fabulous magazine supplement, offering expert insight on one of the workplace’s trickiest challenges: navigating difficult colleagues and office politics. The article, “How to deal with nightmare colleagues and side-step the office politics to get ahead,” leads…
Featured Article: What Parenting Teaches Us About Professional Growth
We’re delighted to share that Dr Mary-Clare Race has been featured in TheHRDirector, exploring the powerful lessons parenting can teach us about professional growth. In the article, Dr Race reflects on how the everyday challenges of parenting – from patience and resilience to adaptability and…
Connection
The Psychology Behind Toxic Workplaces – And How to Fix Them
Featuring Dr Mary-Clare Race on The HR L&D Podcast Why do toxic workplace cultures emerge – and, more importantly, how can leaders dismantle them? In a recent episode of The HR L&D Podcast, Dr Mary-Clare Race, workplace psychologist and leadership expert, joined host Nick Day…
Connection
From Outsiders to Insiders: Solving the 33% Belonging Gap in Financial Services
Despite years of effort to modernize, diversify, and digitize, the financial services industry is still grappling with a stubborn and costly issue: disconnection. While 4 out of 5 financial services professionals say they want to belong, a third say they feel like outsiders. That’s not…
Working Parents & Carers
Navigating the Summer Holidays as a Working Parent/Caregiver: Finding the right blend for you
For working families the school summer holidays loom large in the calendar; several months of time to fill as children take a break from the structured routine of school with high expectations of fun filled sunny days and regular treats. For the adults who also…
Working Parents & Carers
Where Connection Begins: What Parenting Teaches Us About Professional Growth
Before we led teams, gave feedback, or ran meetings, we learned to connect—often in the most personal way possible: as children. The parent-child relationship is one of our first laboratories for human connection.
Connection
The Ripple Effect Is Real: Why Coaching Is the Smartest Investment You’re Not Measuring
Coaching drives hard outcomes—if you know where to look. Twenty years ago, coaching was a perk. A reward for high-performers or a remedy for struggling execs. Today, it’s a strategic lever—one that drives transformation from the inside out. But here’s the catch: many leaders still…
Connection
20 Years of Culture Change in Financial Services: What’s Moved, What Hasn’t, and Why It Still Matters
Twenty years ago, the financial services industry started talking seriously about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Since then, we’ve seen some historic firsts, including the first woman CEO of a major Wall Street bank. Women now hold around 45% of FTSE 100 board seats. Ethnic…
Connection
Talent Coaching: How to Develop & Retain High Performers
72% of organizations say coaching drives employee engagement. But despite this clear link, many still treat coaching as a nice-to-have—not the strategic advantage it is. Most companies say they want to develop their people. But when it comes to real investment, coaching often gets sidelined—reserved…
Not sure on what you need?
If you share a little context,
we’ll point you in the right direction