Creating effective and engaged teams and leaders
Nicola Blackmore
"I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I loved the books (I queued at midnight to get them when they released!) and also love the films, the stage show and anything Harry Potter themed! The Warner Bros Studio Tour is definitely a happy place for me and I am slowly collecting all the Lego sets too."
What specific skills do you bring to the Blue Gnu team?
I have been in Learning & Development for over 20 years as part of in-house HR teams and as an external consultant. I bring key skills of training design, facilitation, coaching and a vast knowledge of management development. I also bring natural skills of organisation and planning and great attention to detail.
Who is Nicola?
As well as a long career in Learning & Development, I am a Mum (to a very sassy pre-teen girl), wife, piano student and amateur artist. I love anything crafty, artistic or creative. My current favourite thing is Calligraphy and finding creative ways to create art with words and letters. I love to travel, read (murder mysteries and thrillers are my favourite) and I love to binge-watch a box set (This is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, Schitt’s Creek all big hits with me!).
What is your passion and mission?
Why do you do what you do?
I love helping managers feel comfortable in their role (and their own shoes!) Giving them the skills, confidence and ability to understand themselves and their management role and feel confident to be the best version of themselves.
What qualifications do you bring to the Blue Gnu team?
Insights Discovery, Motivational Maps, Liberating Leadership, MBTI and
Coaching
What is the most interesting Blue Gnu project you've worked on?
A large international art gallery client's Management Development Programme - I've personally delivered 5 out of 7 cohorts! This has been a really fun and interesting project to work on especially facilitating globally via a virtual platform. Delegates from Singapore to Los Angeles, delivering at different times of the day to accommodate the various time zones. It is a multi-module programme and I love seeing the delegates grow and develop in confidence and ability over the months culminating in final presentations demonstrating their learning and application.
Who would your dream client be and why?
With my love of all things Harry Potter, I would have to say Warner Bros Studios…so I could run a Harry Potter themed session in the studios!
What does your Insights Discovery profile say about you?
Once committed to an idea or project, Nicola has enormous resolve to carry it through and would like others to share her determination. Nicola gains great pleasure from improving upon existing techniques with the objective of maximising efficiency and cost effectiveness.
A capacity for cool emotional detachment makes Nicola a good decision maker, because she thinks clearly under pressure. Nicola is a systematic and organised thinker, with highly developed analytical skills.
Nicola learns through exploration, discussion and by asking searching questions. Work, for her, is the process of striving towards something that matters deeply to her and is consistent with her values.
What are your top 3 motivators?
Expert
For me, Expert is about mastery. Being the go-to person in my field and always learning to push myself further
Searcher
For me, Searcher is about doing things that make a real difference to others. Making a positive impact on the people I meet
Spirit
For me, Spirit is about having space to be me. To be free to make my own decisions and do the things that I love