Relying on the resilience of your employees is only going to take you so far. The recruitment industry ALWAYS bounces back, and I have no doubt that it will do so again in 2026. But...you HAVE to look after your people.

Even if we have 20 colleagues who we get on well with, if there is ONE who we find difficult then they can take up so much of our thinking, our time and our emotional energy.

As a leader, you will already know that some situations clearly call for Carrot, and some for Stick. But what about the AMBIGUOUS ones, when the solution is less clear?

Every experience we had growing up helped create the blueprint for our lives today. The career you chose, how you work with others, how motivated you are to earn money - everything is influenced somehow by our past.

Bain’s 6 ‘Worker Archetypes’ describe the different types of people in a work environment. Where would you put yourself?

It is important to remember that everyone has their own unique perspective on things, influenced by their own history and experience, and whatever is happening for them in that moment. These different perspectives are often at the root of conflict at work - and our different personality traits will also influence how we act on these perspectives.

Most teams have at least one high achiever. What can you do if you notice small signs that they might be struggling?

Do you sometimes WISH you could say something to a colleague, but you don't know how? It may feel easier to keep quiet, but this can often lead to resentment and issues further down the line.