· 3 min read
Your first year as a principal in Northern Ireland: what the induction can’t teach you
The induction covers finance, HR, the law and governors. Five things it can’t cover, and a question to take with you for each.
Supporting the Growth of Leaders — One Honest Conversation at a Time.
Heartfelt coaching for leaders who want more than ‘business as usual’. Executive coaching, team coaching and leadership development for school principals, boards and business leaders across Ireland and the UK who want a Leadershift or a space to focus on the shift.
Organisations I've worked with
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Hi, I’m Nichola.
At 32, I began what I call the ‘Cancer Dance’ — an ongoing diagnosis that brought so much fear, yet so much richness, to my life. It taught me how fragile life is, that resilience has to be topped up, and that the only real barriers to change were the ones I put in my own way.
That’s the honesty I bring to coaching leaders across Ireland and the UK.
“Listening inward, stepping forward.”
Read my storyHow I can help
Every engagement starts with a conversation about what you actually need. The shape of the work follows the need, not the other way round.
Leadership Development
Bespoke leadership programmes tailored to your needs and aspirations. Interactive, experiential and facilitative, giving you a safe environment to reflect on your leadership style and grow your competencies.
About leadership developmentTeam Coaching
Team coaching enables individuals to have conversations about what really matters, which directly impacts the performance of the team and the success of the organisation.
About team coachingIndividual Coaching
Highly relational and solution-focused. We play to your strengths and tune into your resourcefulness: a confidential space to refocus, reconnect to your passions and build productive habits.
About individual coaching
Why choose coaching?
People partner with me to attain their fullest growth and leadership potential as an individual and team. Sometimes we need an ‘uncluttered’ space or a planned moment to hear ourselves think, so we can retune, adapt and flex how we show up, being the best version of ourselves.
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Lasting change, built on strengths
I seek to build on your existing strengths, inspire and transform thinking and behaviours, and promote greater self-confidence to create lasting change.
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Influence and impact
I work with you to enhance your influence within your role, and support you to adapt to change and lead with maximum impact.
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Clarity on tricky decisions
We co-create clarity and confidence, enabling you to make complex or tricky decisions.
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A fuller resilience ‘bucket’
Practical tools and learnings to enhance your resilience, understand your stress triggers, and develop the most effective ways to live the life you love.
In their words
All of my clients who have found success have done so because of a desire to grow and a willingness to reflect and refine habits for lasting change.
More results“She is so good we booked her twice.”
I have known Nichola for a while through her work in the Education Authority. I was delighted when she agreed to work with our large multi partner programme on some coaching. Her energy remains boundless and her passion and commitment to supporting change is never ending.
Nichola created an open and welcoming environment where everyone felt included and free to contribute. Our focus was on partnership working and her analogy with getting off the dancefloor and onto the balcony was a perfect fit. She was very well prepared and the opportunity to collaborate with her was invaluable.
I would highly recommend Nichola — she is so good we booked her twice!
“An engaging coach with a sharp and speedy grip on the nub of things.”
I found Nichola's approach and style of coaching worked quite well for me and, most of all, got me the results I wanted! An engaging coach with a sharp and speedy grip on the nub of things, and one who has a good knack of engaging you to find pathways to potential solutions — with a serious side and yet a warm side too, all with a sense of humour when needed. For me, these were all the ingredients I needed to get me to the place I needed to be.
To honour my code of ethics I choose not to use names in any of my testimonials. So in any engagement with me you can be assured of confidentiality.
Articles
Short pieces on leading well, staying resilient, and what an honest conversation can do.
· 2 min read
What seven hours of coaching gives a school principal
Protected time, a confidential space and a balcony moment of your own. What principals say changes, and what makes it work.
· 3 min read
Off the dancefloor and onto the balcony
The balcony gives clarity; the dancefloor gives influence. How to move between the two with purpose and on purpose.
Start with one honest conversation.
A free, no-obligation discovery call. We talk about where you are, and where you want to get to.
“The challenge is to always improve, to always get better, even when you are the best. Especially when you are the best.” — James Kerr, Legacy
Associate coach and facilitator with
Working with school principals and Boards of Governors across the controlled, Catholic maintained and integrated sectors in Northern Ireland.
