behaviours

What a bag can illustrate!

Jane JamesLeave a comment



Wandering around the market on a warm, blue-sky day in Lanzarote, this bag jumped out at me.

The stallholders were a local father and son selling the leather goods they made themselves.

Bags and rucksacks of every size and colour, this green one stood out. The intricate pattern in contrasting red on the flap, two zips on the back and long adjustable strap – exactly what I needed for work back home. Few would have such a bag – bonus! I like to be different!

The father with his smiling toothless grin wrapped the bag and off I went pleased with my purchase.

Back in the hotel room a few hours later, I took the bag out of its wrapping. What was that smell? Subtle, yet pungent. I couldn’t find the culprit anywhere until I sniffed the bag – deeply and closely. Urgh – this was a difference I didn’t want!

After a search on Google, I discovered:

🫣 All sorts of hides can be used – including camel
🫣 All sorts of products can be used to tan the leather – including fish oil and urine! – who knew

Pungent smells can occur when inferior hides and tanning products are used as the leather breaks down. There is no cure.

The bag was left behind but clearly illustrates what you see on the surface isn’t always the whole story!

This is true of people too. Especially in the workplace.

People at all levels must deal with pressure and change continuously. This can weigh heavy on them and their colleagues.

What can be done? Give them the tools and knowledge they need:

💡 Raise awareness amongst managers – is what you are seeing the whole story?
💡 Roll out training for staff to proactively build their resilience and thrive.
💡 Provide coaching for neurodivergent team members to tame the impact on them.

I specialise in workplace programmes that enables teams to thrive. Including:

Neurodivergent coaching 1:1 – how to thrive in a neurotypical workplace (I am a certified ADHD Coach)

Awareness of neurodivergence for managers – what you might see, what you might do. Critical for true team inclusion and reduction of risk of an ET (CPD certified programme)

How to be an ally to your neurodivergent colleague – for non-managers (CPD certified programme)

I-Act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing – global programme accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in line with ISO45003. (I have been delivering this programme to global organisations for over four years)

Time to talk about the transformation I can deliver for your team?

Hidden in plain sight!

Jane JamesLeave a comment



Reaching the end of the traditional working week, what has been achieved in your workplace?

Done anything meaningful for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek?

What’s the lasting impact?

The theme for 2025 is ‘community’ and the impact on us. The workplace is a key ‘community’. Sometimes we’re there more than at home!

Something impactful workplaces can do anytime of the year is run neurodivergent awareness sessions.

Change assumptions into curiosity. Isolation into inclusion. Hidden into seen.

Want to know more?

City & Guilds 2025 Index shows 13% of employers involved in current Employment Tribunals are there because of a conflict with neurodivergence.

It’s easy for pressurised managers to assume symptoms seen are behaviours/attitude. It can also be costly!

Neurodivergent conditions are protected under Disability within the Equalities Act 2010. Compensation in this areas is uncapped with average payments around £45K.

It’s estimated 1:7 adults are neurodivergent – many won’t know it. Assessment in the UK can take 7+ years. Medication is often in short supply. Learning how their neurodivergence shows up enables them to learn how to tame it. This is key in the workplace to enable creativity and productivity to flow whilst smashing the risk of burnout.

Ensuring managers have awareness training to understand how to be curious and engage with all members of their team – is a cost effective ‘no brainer’. Isn’t it?

As is giving colleagues the tools and knowledge to be an ally.

As a certified ADHD Coach, I have devised CPD certified sessions for workplace managers and colleagues.

Are you interested to learn more for your workplace? Contact me for an exploratory chat

Some thoughts from managers who have completed the awareness session:

“I learnt more about the legal side and our legal obligations that I wasn’t aware of.  I didn’t know it was classed as a disability.

I learnt more about the executive functioning and how that’s impacted and additional ideas about how to support someone with ADHD to make reasonable adjustments for them.”

“I thought it was really informative and contained a good level of information to increase the awareness for a manager in spotting and helping individuals with ADHD”

How pressure fit is your team?

Jane JamesLeave a comment


Do you know?

How can you tell?

These questions popped in my mind whilst sitting in the dentist chair recently. Whilst waiting for the x-ray results, my dentist asked “so what do you do?”

Those I work with on Growing Talent will know the ‘elevator pitch’ template we explore.

So, to my dentist I replied:

“I work with businesses and their teams to ensure both thrive. I happen to be an @I-act Instructor, Genos EI Practitioner, ADHD Coach and workplace wellbeing facilitator, as well as running a unique journey into employment programme (Growing Talent)”.

Immediately, my Dentist and her assistant wanted to know more about ADHD.

The assistant has a son aged 13 waiting assessment (it’s a very long wait in the UK) and the dentist has a friend who has always struggled in certain areas of executive functioning. I shared some thoughts and signposting with them both. A very short conversation which resulted in the three of us feeling a little more positive and empowered…. Until my dentist picked up the drill – that’s another story!

Why share my experience at the dentist here on LinkedIn?

Dental surgeries are workplaces. People at all levels put on masks to deliver the service they are paid to do whilst trying to hold down the pressures they are feeling – both at home and work – in all workplaces, including yours.

Workplace managers can be overwhelmed themselves and not notice the cues in their teams or self.

So, what can workplaces do?

✅ Train teams at all levels in the steps and tools to be pressure fit – i.e. able to deal with the pressure in the workplace – as well as at home, is a ‘no brainer’.

✅  Raise awareness of the cues to look for, how to start and manage conversations ensuring neuro inclusivity.

My top tip to be neuro inclusive is aim everything to fit neurodivergent team members.

What you do, will also work for neurotypical team members. Currently most workplaces are structured for neurotypical minds – which does not work for neurodivergent ones.

The certainty is the pressure fitness of your teams will hit your bottom line.

The question is, will that hit be positive or negative?

What do you think?

How do you ensure the pressure fitness of your team?

i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training
Genos International Europe
ADHD Works
Growing Talent

Just saying……

Jane JamesLeave a comment

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣! 𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀!

Are you aware there are two types of brains within your team? Neurotypical who fit traditional workplaces and neurodivergent who don’t.

Raising awareness within your workplace of how neurodivergence may show up gives you the foundation to manage it, break the stigma, build cohesive teams where all flourish.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥?

𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬:

🔔 Increased sickness levels – maybe burnout

🔔 Disjointed teams – productivity hit

🔔 Loss of talent

🔔 Employment Tribunal challenge

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are three ways to build a neuro inclusive workplace and team where all will flourish:

✅Awareness session for managers to understand how neurodivergence might show up and what to do.

✅How to be an Ally – for teams to know how to support their neurodivergent colleagues.

✅Funding 1:1 Coaching as part of their reasonable adjustments, for their team members who may be neurodivergent and not event realise it

All three are more cost effective than risking an Employment Tribunal!

Do you agree?

Is it time for you to raise awareness in your workplace?

Self reflection time?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

My specialist area for the past 15 years has been Workplace Wellbeing.

Working with diverse organisations and their teams in different areas of wellness at all levels, I’ve seen first hand the negative impact of acting on assumptions rather than facts can have.

In this 24/7 social media world, the noise of mis-information seems to be growing louder and is never off.

Believing and sharing absolutely everything we see and hear without question can have a damaging impact on us and how we show up to others at home and work.

Ipsedixitism – the dogmatic assertion that something is true because someone, somewhere said it, without offering any supporting evidence whatsoever – and HISHIT can show-up in any area of our lives.

It’s key to reflect on where we are, what we believe is right and not accept everything as factually right without challenge.

Do you agree?

Be individual. Be you.

A restful bank holiday to you and yours….

Let’s talk self-awareness….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

As a certified #genosinternational Practitioner, I’m inspired by the positive impact their products have on individuals, leaders and businesses.

Their #emotionalintelligence assessments reveal gaps in level of importance compared to demonstrated experience in six critical core competencies enabling insights, actions and benefits to be considered. A strong development tool for individuals, teams and the business.

We judge ourselves on our intentions when doing or saying something. But here’s the thing, those receiving that message don’t know our intentions so they judge us on how we make them feel.

‘People forget what you said. They’ll forget what you did. But they’ll never forget how you made them feel’ – Maya Angelou

What impact do you have on those around you? Do you know or making an assumption?

The #genosinternational film below gives some top tips on what you can do to increase your self-awareness. Thanks to the amazing Aoife and Holly #genosinternational for putting this short film together.

Why not take a look?

#emotionalintelligence is critical in business – not a ‘nice to have’.

Certified Practitioners – Science of Well-being

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The Science of Wellbeing Program is designed to help keep workforce wellbeing in check. It teaches a wide range of techniques and practices in four key areas: mental, physical, social and environmental. 

Built on the science of behaviour change and healthy habit formation, this program will reduce stress, and increase productivity and engagement. 

The objective of this program is that attendees will feel more confident and capable, boost relationships with others, increase physical vitality, their sense of accomplishment and personal fulfilment in life. 

Delivered across four two hour sessions over two weeks, this course carries the option of a 180 EI Assessment. 

Contact me if you’d like to learn more.