Why I built Working With Me™

Teams don’t struggle because people don’t care; they struggle because the way we work together hasn’t been built with real people in mind. I’ve spent over two decades leading teams in business, the public sector, and politics, and believe me, I’ve made all the classic mistakes.

And that’s why I built Working With Me™

I use this approach as an organisational development consultant, but everything I’ve poured into it comes from lived leadership. I’ve made the management mistakes and learned what it really takes to build a high-performing team, one where everyone can thrive and deliver.

Honestly, Working With Me™ is the operating system I wish I’d had earlier in my career. When implemented, it helps build better businesses and better workplaces. I've seen this impact, both in the teams I've managed and those I've consulted with on the Working With Me approach.

I’ve led teams in busy, messy, fast-paced environments where everything seemed urgent, and sometimes it felt like we were all holding on for dear life! I’ve been the one trying to fix broken processes while also protecting the team. I’ve made bad hires, handled conflict badly, and missed what someone really needed, not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t have the understanding, tools or rhythm to do it better.

But I’ve also seen what’s possible when it works. When expectations are clear, trust is built, and people feel safer asking for what they need. That’s when the team lifts to a different level and the leadership weight lightens and everything becoms that bit easier.

Does that mean everything runs perfectly? Of course not.

You and I both know there will always be compromises and challenges. But when there’s deeper understanding - backed by rhythm and structure - your team can keep moving, even when things get messy. That’s what we actually need as leaders rooted in reality.

The Working With Me™ approach is your operating system to leverage both performance and inclusion. It’s about building teams that deliver and making sure no one is left on the outside. Neurodivergent thinkers, disabled team members, people managing complex lives - they all belong in that picture and bring their own excellence to your operating system.

I know this not just from supporting others, but from my own lived experience.

I have a neurodivergent brain, I’m a carer for my chronically ill husband, and I am a woman navigating the rollercoaster of hormonal health. These parts of my life don’t define me, but they shape how I lead and how I work. They’re part of my Working With Me™ story and part of why this approach matters.

Working With Me™ is built on universal design and people-first practice, so everyone can show up, contribute fully, and be valued because I refuse to believe that inclusion and performance are competing goals.

The opposite is true - they are how you build a team that actually works.

So, what is Working With Me™

I'm glad you asked!

It starts with a simple question: What do you need to do your best work?

From there, we build a shared manual, individual 'Working With Me' guides, team habits, and real structure for better one-on-ones and development conversations. It gives you the tools to reduce friction and build momentum, making everything work that bit easier. It’s honest, it’s collaborative, and it works - because your team builds it with you.

If you’re building a team and want something that supports both performance and people, I’d love to talk.

You can learn more about Working With Me™ arrange a call with me or send us an enquiry.

Jill McAlpine, Founder.