I am an Organisational Change Consultant, Advisor, Coach and Mediator.
I specialise in difficult, complex and sensitive contexts with all types of stakeholders, organisations, family businesses, trusts, groups, leaders and individuals.
I am known for working with relationships in the workplace. My clients feel heard, sometimes for the first time in a while, and this helps them when they are struggling to achieve their outcomes, and they are stuck moving forward. My multi-disciplined background provides me with the unique skills and experience to support them.
I am London based and work internationally both in person and virtually.
I have an MA, Change Agent Strategy and am a CEDR accedited Mediator.
My background includes over thirty five years of experience at KPMG International, Catalyst Consulting, the Tavistock Consultancy and as an independent consultant.
Internationally I have worked with both Public & Private sectors in the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia & USA. I have helped multi-nationals build the trust between them and their joint venture partners, and have used coaching and mediation to develop leaders and resolve relationship and business conflicts.
During my work at the Tavistock Consulting Service, I became intrigued by the similarities between organisations and families and the cross over with family businesses.
I then completed a Masters in Family Therapy at the Tavistock Clinic and UEL and now work as a Family Therapist through my business nickjamestherapy.com. The impact of mental health on relationships and performance is more acknowledged than ever before, and the experience I have gained as Family Therapist has provided another critical dimension to my relationship management and conflict resolution skills.
It is this unique blend of skills and experience, that enables me to work with clients supporting their complex developmental and business needs, mobilising and enabling them to achieve their outcomes.
Nick has the magical ability to get to the root cause of the symptoms or struggles being faced, coming from a place of curiosity, encouraging discovery rather than instruction by probing, asking powerful questions and, importantly, truly listening
Conflict & Mediation
Traditional approaches to conflict and mediation focus on the transaction in dispute. I always start from the position that the relationship between stakeholders and parties needs to be repaired, and that resolving specific conflicts follows on from this.
I use this approach with:
- Family and other Trust disputes with beneficiaries
- Unaligned Boards & leadership teams who struggle to reach agreement & make strategic decisions
- Any dysfunctional group where the members are pulling in different directions
- Relationship breakdowns that impact performance
- Tension between individuals, whether they are peers or have a manager/report relationship
Since our first meeting, Nick created an open, safe and transparent environment which has allowed me to not only be myself but to share real vulnerabilities. I often think back to the work we did and how far that’s taken us since the conflict.
Family Businesses
Family business leaders and family members seek my support when navigating challenging generational transitions, bridging 20th and 21st century perspectives, and managing tensions that arise when family members have competing visions. This work draws on my full range of expertise in leadership coaching, organisational development, relationship dynamics, and family therapy.
I feel like an interim custodian caught between my father and my children. It can be very uncomfortable and thankless. You have helped me tackle this both with subtlety and yet head-on, which is quite a feat.
Leadership Coaching
Leaders call for my coaching expertise when either they or a team member is struggling, when they feel or they are seen as being ‘on the edge’ or lacking confidence.
This may be because they are new to their role, or there is a wider organisational issue at play. Perhaps they have spent some time already covering up their struggle at work or at home and have lost hope they can succeed. I help them build insight into themselves and others whilst getting to the heart of their problem and helping them to identify a development and action plan.
Since working with Nick, my confidence levels have grown and I have felt a real shift in the way I work, how I challenge myself and how I challenge others
Corporate Diplomacy
Trust sometimes goes missing between organisations and stakeholders making it difficult to agree and move forward.
This can be the result of conflict that has gone on for some time, politics, differing objectives or simply a lack of insight into another party’s ‘state of mind.’
I support leaders and businesses through making them feel heard and then lead them to a dialogue that will resolve misunderstandings, create productive joint outcomes and a path forward.
Case Study: Kazakhstan
I worked in the capital and out in the oil field to help two multi-nationals agree to a significant funding decision that had been repeatedly postponed for several years. Maintaining my neutrality was at times difficult, but it enabled both parties to agree on objective criteria for the decision, and thus participate in the process. Following this I helped them define the priorities and plan for implementation.
Nick strikes a perfect balance of methodical thinking with emotional intelligence and compassion
Contact
I see clients in Central and South West London and internationally. I am also available for consultation via phone or video conferencing.