What role does coaching play in helping people with ADHD thrive in the workplace and why does a non-directive approach make all the difference? Co-hosts Diane Williams and Diane are joined by ADHD coach, educator, and advocate Sally Cater, returning to the podcast for a deeper exploration of how coaching can empower neurodiverse talent. In this third episode of our ADHD Awareness Month series, we spotlight the practical, emotional, and leadership lessons at the heart of truly inclusive workplaces. The episode also brings actionable insights for managers on busting myths, listening deeply, and getting educated from credible sources.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Why ADHD at work needs a new conversation

01:45 Meet Sally: Coach, trainer, and advocate with first-hand experience of ADHD

04:54 The freedom of a non-directive coaching approach

07:21 Reclaiming “permission”: Owning needs and differences at work

09:04 Key ways coaches can support clients with ADHD

12:32 Navigating workplace adjustments and disclosure

14:03 Helping managers understand ADHD—and what not to do

17:54 Small changes, big impact: Doodling, walking, and adjusting meetings for focus

22:08 Education matters: Busting myths and going beyond stereotypes

25:43 How to have better conversations and ask “How does it show up for you?”

28:05 Sally’s big tip: Open dialogue is everything

About Sally Cater:

Sally has been an accredited coach for 10 years and is a champion for inclusivity and understanding in the neurodiverse community.

After uncovering her own late diagnosis of ADHD and and realising that the derogatory labels she had given herself over the years were a result of a lack of understanding of what her neurodivergent brain was struggling to do as she forced herself to fit into a neurotypical world, she has since redefined her narrative, shedding past misconceptions and now helps other coaches expand their confidence and knowledge of ADHD.

She runs two brilliant programmes which help coaches seamlessly integrate ADHD-informed strategies into their coaching practice, enhancing their ability to support and empower clients.

• ADHD in Focus for Coaches course, our ICF-accredited group coaching program
• ADHD Foundations for Coaches course, our self-paced course

Prior to becoming a coach Sally spent 25 years leading and managing teams across the private and third sectors. And had the privilege, in her own words, "of working with teams of all shapes and sizes, brimming with unique and brilliant minds."

Connect with Sally:

Website: https://sallycatercoach.co.uk/

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio

How can workplaces support parents of children with ADHD? In this episode, co-hosts Rebecca Walker and Diane are joined by PR consultant and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) advocate, Nicola McKelvey, as part of our ADHD Awareness Month series exploring “The Many Faces of ADHD.” Nicola shares her personal journey as a working parent of a child with ADHD, uncovering the unique challenges, unexpected moments, and crucial workplace support that can make all the difference.

They dig into the unpredictability of parenting a child with ADHD while balancing a career, the importance of open conversations with employers, and creative approaches like “adjustment leave.” Nicola also shares practical examples of flexibility and “scaffolding,” and why these matter so much for retaining talented employees. The conversation highlights the value of empathetic leadership, real partnership between employers and parents, and offers encouragement for organisations to be truly flexible not just ticking the box.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction to the “Many Faces of ADHD” series

01:22 Meet Nicola: Working in communications and parenting two boys, one with ADHD

02:03 Why being a working parent of a child with SEND is “doubly hard”

03:47 Navigating unpredictable moments: From school emergencies to flexible work arrangements

06:35 The power of advocacy and peer support

08:13 “Scaffolding” children and employees: Building supportive structures at home and work

11:00Flexibility redefined: From face time to outcome-based working and the need for a “menu” of support options

14:03 Redefining success at work while parenting a neurodiverse child

16:27 Challenges with shared parental responsibility and lack of summer childcare provision

18:25 The need for communication and understanding: Flexibility ≠ underperformance

19:51 Nicola’s advice: Be truly flexible, listen, and tailor support to individuals

About Nicola:

With 25 years’ comms experience, Nicola has worked both in-house and in agencies across multiple sectors such as financial services, FMCG and retail and in countries including the UK, Nordics and Australia and New Zealand.

For the past ten years, Nicola has been self-employed, working with a range of clients including Women’s Sport Trust and ASICS as well as freelancing with different PR agencies on projects including Women's Ashes and Women's Rugby World Cup 2021.

Nicola is a mum of two boys, the youngest of whom has a diagnosis of ADHD and ASD. In her spare time, Nicola set up and runs a women’s football team which won the inaugural season of the Surrey FA Women's Flexi-League in 2022/2023.

Connect with Nicola:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-mckelvey/

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio

What does living and working with ADHD truly look like? We are launching our “Many Faces of ADHD” series for ADHD Awareness Month. This week, co-hosts Diane and Rebecca chat with Thomas Woodhams: tech recruiter, host of the Be You. podcast, LinkedIn Top Voice, and passionate advocate for the neurodivergent community.

Thomas shares his candid story of adult diagnosis, challenging misconceptions about ADHD, navigating employment hurdles, and the power of self-awareness. Our conversation explores how workplaces can create genuinely safer, more inclusive spaces for neurodivergent colleagues not by ticking boxes, but by starting with empathy, curiosity, and small, practical changes.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction to the “Many Faces of ADHD” series

05:24 Self-awareness and diagnosis can clarify unmanageable life issues

07:52 Embrace your ADHD diagnosis and get comfortable with it

11:43 Identify neurodivergent colleagues and address challenges collaboratively

14:17 Supporting neurodivergent staff benefits everyone

19:27 Start with self-improvement; clarify points discreetly without revealing neurodivergence

20:00 AI note takers in meetings are game changers for neurodivergent staff

26:10 Be honest in staff surveys and exit meetings to drive positive change

27:10 ADHD friendly workplaces benefit everyone.

About Thomas Woodhams.

Thomas Woodhams is the owner and co-host of the Be.You Podcast Show, a platform built to share honest stories around careers, mental health, and neurodiversity. Working in Talent Acquisition for Sony Sports Businesses, and diagnosed as neurodivergent (ADHD) six and a half years ago, he uses his own journey to help others feel seen and supported. Recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice, Thomas has grown a community by speaking openly, with humour and heart, about the challenges and wins that come with both work and life.

Connect with Thomas:

Website: https://careers.hawkeyeinnovations.com/

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thomas-woodhams

Be You. Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ha3ffq8zgxWyRSSGIrZd0

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio

Welcome to a special Headflex episode! Co-hosts Rebecca and Diane reveal the next chapter: Headflex is launching a brand new coaching business. Join them as they share the story behind this leap, outline their new programmes, and discuss their ongoing mission to make coaching truly accessible in the modern workplace.

They break down their new offerings from the innovative “Headflex in Residence” to open workshops, executive and team coaching, and management development programs for emerging leaders. Rebecca also shares her upcoming ADHD coaching training journey, and both reflect on how continuous professional development as coaches can support organisations navigating change.

Plus, as always, you’ll get three powerful self-coaching questions to reflect on your own coaching approach and growth.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Headflex’s evolution

00:22 The big news - Headflex launches as a coaching business

01:03 What is “Headflex in Residence”?

02:25 Announcing new online workshops

03:50 Team coaching for change, dysfunction, and high-performance goals

04:49 Management development programs: Building the next generation of leaders

05:40 Rebecca’s ADHD-specific coaching training

06:42 Three self-coaching questions you can use today

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review, and follow Headflex so you never miss an episode and help us spread the word about our expanded coaching mission.

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio

How can coaching transform the way we learn at work? In this episode, co-hosts Rebecca and Diane dive into the power of using a coaching approach in the training room, exploring how it can make learning more personal, impactful, and lasting. They’re joined by Tim English, founder of GBB Coaching & Consultancy, who shares his journey from enforcement roles to building a training agency focused on unlocking people’s strengths through coaching.

Together, they explore how coaching isn’t just for executives or struggling employees; it’s a practical way to help people take ownership of their growth at every level. You’ll also hear about Tim’s methods for embedding follow-up coaching, the importance of slowing down when under pressure, and actionable tips for blending coaching into your own leadership style.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Coaching to learn and personal ownership in development

01:22 Tim English’s journey from enforcement to founding his company

04:55 The frustration with inaccessible coaching and the birth of a new training approach

07:33 Making coaching accessible to all, not just executives

08:26 Why coaching belongs in the training room and how to use it

11:25 Moving from passive learning to reflective, personalised application

13:35 Using coaching frameworks to design impactful learning solutions

16:35 The value of post-training coaching follow-ups for real behaviour change

18:35 Case study: Personalising time management training with coaching

21:28 Systemic perspectives, communication, and individualised support

23:15 Bringing coaching into leadership and day-to-day management

24:38 Recognising when to slow down and reset as a leader

28:00 Using calm and reflection in high-pressure situations

30:33 Self-coaching questions for your own reflection

Tune in for practical insights, candid stories, and your own set of self-coaching questions to help you flex your learning habits.

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio

About Tim English:

Tim is an experienced and engaging, high energy trainer who uses his substantial “real world” business experience to deliver practical, useable skills that stick. He started his career within local government before joining a brand-new division of a major Japanese manufacturer to help them implement a customer service strategy for the UK. This grounding in business lead Tim into various leadership roles within the customer service and customer contact centre environments. He spent the next 8 years with a prestige automotive manufacturer, responsible for the training and skills needs of over 10,000 employees. After completing a large-scale corporate culture change programme, Tim left the corporate environment and spent 3 years as board director with a well-established SME in the conferencing and events industry. Tim now works as an independent Coaching and Development Consultant.

Tim has...

What’s the impact of Judgement, both the fear of being judged and the quickness to judge others? In this episode, Rebecca and Diane discuss how judgement shows up at work, how it can quietly shape our confidence, and the effect it has on the way we relate to colleagues.

Drawing on their coaching experience, they share personal stories about times they’ve felt judged, as well as the moments they’ve caught themselves judging others. They explore the subtle but important difference between being judged and simply feeling judged, and how both can influence performance, relationships, and self-belief.

The conversation also brings in practical tools like the Johari Window, ways to build self-awareness, and simple techniques for challenging assumptions. These strategies can help you notice your own patterns and move past the Judgement trap.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Judgement, perception, and assumptions

04:37 Overcoming Judgement in team dynamics

09:20 Intrinsic motivation vs. external judgement

12:16 The complex cycle of Judgement and perception

15:37 Enhancing self-awareness through feedback

17:58 Overcoming fear of Judgement

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Produced by Winter Audio.

What really happens when we shift from a fixed to a growth mindset? In this episode, Rebecca and Diane dig into the transformative power of adopting a growth mindset, exploring what it means, why it matters, and how our own beliefs and identities might be quietly holding us back.

Inspired by Carol Dweck’s pioneering work, Diane and Rebecca share personal stories and real coaching scenarios to illustrate how fixed mindsets show up, often attached to our identities or familiar stories like “I’m not sporty” or “I can’t do maths.” They discuss practical ways to spot these patterns, gently challenge them, and start opening new doors of possibility, both at work and in our personal lives.

You’ll hear candid examples of how small mindset shifts paired with effort, curiosity, and boundary-setting can unlock new experiences, professional opportunities, and a greater sense of achievement. The hosts also reflect on their own journey launching this very podcast, sharing how embracing discomfort and “walking through new doors” has shaped their growth and confidence.

Listen in for self-coaching questions at the end designed to help you reflect, reframe, and actively develop your own growth mindset.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: What is a growth mindset?

01:19 The challenge of moving from fixed to growth and why it’s harder than it sounds

04:07 How identities and beliefs shape fixed mindsets (with real-life stories)

08:50 The role of effort and reframing when learning new skills

10:54 Unlocking new opportunities by stepping out of familiar roles

14:23 Breaking through workplace barriers—boundaries, possibility, and “opening new doors”

16:49 Using visuals (doors and windows) to explore your own mindset

19:22 Coaching isn’t always comfortable—but it unlocks real change

19:36 Self-coaching questions to explore your own fixed and growth mindsets

Connect with us at Headflex:

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/

Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1

Produced by Winter Audio.

What really fuels your best days at work and what drains you? In this episode, Rebecca and Diane are flexing on the essential topic of energy: why it matters, what impacts it, and how tuning into your energy can unlock better performance, resilience, and capacity.

Drawing from their work with The Resilience Dynamic, Rebecca and Diane break down the four core types of energy physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual and share stories about how awareness and small intentional shifts can make a big difference. Listen in and get ready to flex your energy, so you can perform, lead, and live well.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Why energy matters at work

01:47 The four key types of energy explained

04:19 How team dynamics can affect your energy

06:28 Recognising energy dips and what you can do

09:23 Learning to balance your personal energy mix

12:05 Tracking, noticing, and managing your energy

15:44 Breaking unhelpful habits that drain team energy

18:18 Tools and strategies to recharge

24:28 Self-coaching questions to boost your energy awareness

About Rebecca & Diane:

Rebecca Walker and Diane Williams, leadership coaches with over 20 years experience, are on a mission to de-bunk some of the myths and barriers surrounding coaching, making it accessible to all, with a touch of humour and a human approach.

Diane brings energy and enjoyment to her coaching. She offers you time and space to deepen your thinking, reflect on how you are working and bring impactful behavioural change. Diane also works with teams to help them develop and reach their collective potential.

Rebecca coaches teams, leaders and emerging leaders across many different sectors. She brings empathy with a healthy dose of challenge to help leaders navigate their style and impact. She also helps teams to thrive through building trust and deep collaboration.

Headflex will flex the subjects that commonly appear in their coaching sessions and challenge each other and their guests to answer thought provoking questions, unlock answers and shift perspectives.

Connect with us at Headflex:

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk.

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/

Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1

Produced by Winter Audio.