In fast-moving med tech, life sciences, and start-up environments, getting the people side right is often the difference between hitting milestones or stalling progress. With lean teams, investor pressure, and the urgent need to commercialise innovations, recruitment decisions are rarely just about “filling a gap” they shape the company’s trajectory. Yet one of the most common pitfalls I see is when organisations sell the dream during recruitment but fail to align expectations with reality once the employee starts.....

It’s natural for leaders and managers to want their teams to feel valued, motivated, and engaged. But there’s a fine line between creating a supportive environment and making people-related decisions purely to avoid discomfort. Too often, organizations end up making choices that temporarily appease employees but create long-term headaches for management, drain resources, and damage trust. The reality? Decisions made just to “keep people happy” often turn into the most time-consuming and costly ones to fix.....