Leadership Archives - Knowing Self Knowing Others

The Habit of Working Out Loud: Celebrating Success and Leading with Transparency

Aug 21, 2026

Every Friday, I write a LinkedIn post, reflecting on my week. I’ve been doing this for the last few months. It’s a good habit to form and reminds you of just how much you’ve achieved. It also lets you celebrate your small wins and develop your transparency and ‘working-out-loud- skills. I realised that if you’re my Substack subscriber, you may never have stumbled on my posts. So, here’s a collection of reflections about leadership, my world of work and being people centric.

Dr Nia D Thomas, Interim CEO, Leadership history

The Ages of Man and the Leaders of People

Jun 26, 2026

Hello KSKOers On the 5th December, my grandfather would have been 124 years old. What was the world like when he was young? What was work like and what were leaders like? When I joined the Gloucestershire AiSpire Network a few week ago, we talked about how we’re...

Tenacity Beats Talent: What Really Gets You Through Big Work

Apr 5, 2026

You’ll remember that ‘tenacity’ is one of my watchwords for 2026. It’s made me think about the whole doctorate thing and what’s really happening when people are doing study through research. Join me in this week’s blog where I share my thoughts on why almost anyone can do a PhD or any Big Work, with a bit of tenacity and why I think it’s more about persevering than being a genius.

Recognising Your Impact on the Blinds, Rationals, Shapeshifters and Haters

Mar 17, 2026

The Gods of analytics were clearly looking down on me the other day. An article from the British Medical Journal from 2022 – yes, ‘22 – appeared in my social media feed. Why that should have happened, I have no idea, but it was clearly the universe at work. So, rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, I grasped the opportunity to learn more. And do you know what? It made for very interesting reading. Join me in reflecting on the BMJ article all about Blinds, Rationals, Shapeshifters and Haters by Dr Partha Kar and how that links with my 3 layer definition of self-awareness and getting feedback from good people.

Creating Rituals, Establishing Connections, Building Teams.

Feb 8, 2026

Have you ever noticed how the smallest routines can quietly hold a team together? A shared coffee break, a standing Friday chat, even a run to the local chippy. These simple moments aren’t just habits, they’re rituals that create rhythm, connection, and belonging. This week, “Chippy Tuesday” got me thinking about the power of these everyday behaviours, how they shape culture, build trust, and keep us feeling part of something bigger, even when we’re working apart. Grab a coffee (or a bag of chips!) and join me in exploring how rituals, big and small, can help us build stronger, more human teams.

Rising Like a Phoenix: A Leadership Lesson in Looking Up and Out

Jan 28, 2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective lately, especially how important it is to look up and out, and beyond our routines and familiar spaces. This week, I’m sharing some lessons from my own experiences and sharing why looking up and out might be the best advice we can give ourselves to ensure we stay current and ensure our organisations stay relevant in a changing world.

Wiring the Leadership Brain for 2026

Jan 6, 2026

Welcome to a new look Knowing Self-Aware Leadership! I’ve decided to have a rebrand and shift from the yellow, black and pink to navy and gold. A new year, a new haircut and a new start seemed to warrant some new colours! I hope you like it.

Join me in the first blog of 2026 as I share my thoughts on starting the year on a positive note with a mindset poised for success.

Beaujolais in the Boardroom: The Clear Line Between Work and Wine.

Jan 5, 2026

I’ve been thinking about alcohol and its relationship with the world of work recently. It’s been on my mind and in true ‘honestly, the internet isn’t listening’ style, an article by the brilliant Dr Gerrit Pelzer flashed up on my LinkedIn feed about his 1,000 day experiment to give up alcohol. Join me in sharing my experiences with the demon drink in work and why my line between work and wine is as unforgiving as the ‘walk and turn test’.

Watchwords for 2026

Jan 1, 2026

For the last few years I’ve been setting out watchwords for the coming year, as both premonitions and guiding principles. As we head into the second quarter of the century, I suspect change will be underpinned and overarched by ultra-digitalism. And as we move further into the digital age, we’ll need to balance it with hyper-humanism to ensure man and machine can co-exist in harmony! Check out my watchwords for 2026.

Road Blocks and Fairy Goth Mothers: The Hidden Costs of Toxic Workplaces

Dec 2, 2025

This week, a conversation reminded me of an old story I’ve wanted to to share with you – my lived experience of micromanagement, bullying, and working with unpleasant colleagues. It’s a theme that has replayed through my career, sometimes painfully, but always with lessons that eventually made me a stronger, more self-aware leader.

Battling the Tsunami of Polarisation: Modelling Better Leadership

Sep 25, 2025

We’re becoming more polarised as humans across the globe. The divide is getting wider and the stakes are getting higher. The for’s and the against’s are moving further from conciliation and the potential for battle is growing. And dispersed in the land between both sides are organisations, businesses and corporate bodies who are charged with bringing together the diverse. How society is unfolding outside is in contrast to how leaders are having to include inside.

Core Concepts: The View from Both Sides – The Fall and Rise of Respect

Sep 8, 2025

Respect is one of my core values and disrespect really gets my goat. In this week’s article, I share with you some reflections from working on both sides of the respect divide and about how you can generate kinder, more respectful and creative working relationships. Join me in reflecting on my 25 years in the world of work as I share my musings on the meaning of respect.