we all wear
Grown-Up Goggles
We are born with clear vision. Over time our perspective narrows. At work, each stakeholder views the same situation through a different lens — shaped by their role, goals, and experiences.
They want to do a good job, be heard, and feel understood. When they know you see what they see, they can let go of what’s holding them back — and focus on doing their best.
THE PERSPECTIVE SHIFT
My biggest wins—in classrooms, on construction sites, and inside the NHS—came from a relentless habit: view the situation through everyone’s eyes.
That habit now lives in a simple metaphor:
Grown-Up Goggles – devised to impart my professional knowledge to non-project managers on why people act the way they do at work. We don’t see things the way they actually are – we view what we are looking at through the filters we have accumulated in our personal and working lives on how we think things are/need to be.
Here are the five key theories Behind the Goggles concept…
The Culture Iceberg
What it explains: Visible vs. hidden norms.
Why It Matters in Projects: Spot the unspoken rules that derail change.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
What it explains: Human motivation tiers.
Why It Matters in Projects: Ensure basic needs are met before asking for stretch goals.
Drive & Motivation
What it explains: Intrinsic vs. extrinsic drivers.
Why It Matters in Projects: Craft incentives that actually work.
Attachment Theory
What it explains: How trust (or fear) forms.
Why It Matters in Projects: Build psychological safety for honest feedback.
Design Thinking
What it explains: A guided cycle of divergent and convergent thinking – generating many fresh ideas, then narrowing them down, then expanding again – to avoid falling back on tired solutions.
Why It Matters in Projects: By alternating between idea generation and focused selection, you bring genuinely new options to the table and make decisions with clarity and creativity.
invested. beyond valuable.
“One of the biggest takeaways I have seen from my team since being in training with Kat is that they start to like themselves, listen to themselves and value themselves as individuals. They also realise that others should be doing the same as they are intrinsically good, this is beyond valuable and shows how invested Kat is in every single person.”
client testimonial
the g.o.g.g.l.e.s model
Interactive Talk
– 45 min fast-paced insights + 15 min live Q&A
– Ideal for lunch-and-learns or conference kick-offs
The Book
– An interactive planner and help guide
– Deeper dive into the theories and model
– Bonus worksheets to keep your diary (and sanity) intact
Bespoke Team Training
– Half or full day sessions tailored to your challenges
– Hands-on stakeholder engagement drills
Want to learn how to lead a project without losing your time or sanity?