Welcome to the twelfth instalment of our interview series, ‘Leadership Insights: 3 questions with…‘ where we ask the same three questions to each of the exceptional leaders we interview, revealing some very unique and insightful answers.
And here’s what Nicola had to say…
1. If you could rewind the clock to when you started out on your leadership journey, what advice would you give yourself?
I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers -and you don’t have to do everything on your own. Early in my career, I was so driven to progress and impress that I never wanted to admit when I didn’t know something or couldn’t figure it out. As a leader, I felt I had to have every answer, so I rarely – if ever – asked my team for their input. Honestly, I was like a bull in a china shop.
Over time, I’ve discovered the real strength of leadership comes from working with your team. Asking for their ideas, listening to their perspectives, and involving them in the work makes a huge difference. It’s true what they say: two heads really are better than one.
2. What is the best advice you have been given about creating a positive team culture/being a leader?
The best advice I ever received was to truly value the power of having different types of people in your team. Take the time to get to know each person as an individual so you can play to their strengths. And when recruiting, avoid hiring in your own mould – reflect on yourself, your existing team, and the skills you need to enhance it further.
This advice helped me not only appreciate the different working styles people bring but also understand my own. It encouraged me to recognize why I might find certain personalities more challenging, and to learn how to adapt my approach. As a leader, I’ve found that flexibility is key – you sometimes need to adjust your style to get the very best from those around you.
Over the years, I’ve also learned that really knowing your team goes beyond their role at work. It’s about understanding them as people – their lives, their interests, and what motivates them. That deeper understanding is, in my view, a crucial part of building trust, strong relationships, and a positive team culture.
3. What is the one book that has most influenced your approach to leadership?
When I first stepped into leadership, a colleague gave me a copy of Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The lessons from that book have stayed with me ever since. It was my first introduction to the concept of win-win – an approach I continue to use today and one that, I believe, has a place in every business and every team.
It was also where I began to truly appreciate the power of teamwork – how effective collaboration allows teams to achieve far more than they could individually. The book encouraged me to reflect on who I was, how I worked, and ultimately began shaping the kind of leader I aspired to be.
Although Covey’s book has been around for decades, its insights remain as relevant today as ever – a true testament to the timelessness of its teachings.