Blog

I’m reading the bestselling book, Atomic Habits, by James Clear at the moment as part of our monhtly Book Club in the Career Collaborative. It’s one I’ve been wanting to read for ages because I fully agree with the premise of the book that by working on your small (or “atomic”) habits, you can change who you are as a person and become the person you want to be, and ultimately achieve your goals.   Building good habits are a key component to achieving success in whatever area of your life you choose to focus on. So developing...

Do you know your value?   I bet not that many of us really have it clear. Those things that we’re really good at, known for and can bring to the table to add value to others. It seems like it should be an obvious tool in any career development toolkit but so many of us, especially women, never even consider taking a good long look at how much we’re really worth.   Not all women struggle with this issue but many do and there are also many possible reasons why some women may find it difficult to talk about their value. One...

Imposter syndrome is often cited by women, and many men too, as the thing that they most need to overcome in order to feel more confident in the workplace, especially as they start to become more senior in their career. It’s a common phenomenon, and in a recent study by KPMG it found that 75% of female executives have experienced it. It often results in individuals doubting their own accomplishments and feeling like they are frauds who will be exposed at any moment. This can cause feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and can...

I’m currently working with Tara Mohr on her facilitator’s programme for coaches, so I can learn more tools for working with women. Since reading her book, Playing Big, a few years ago some of her key concepts have really stuck with me so I was really looking forward to delving into her approach to working with fear.   Fear is a natural human emotion, and depending on how we use it, it can either propel us forward or hold us back from achieving our goals and fulfilling our potential. While fear can be a powerful motivator, and...

In today's fast-paced and rapidly changing work environment, it is more important than ever for individuals to take control of their own careers. And if you want to advance in your career and get to the top you first need to learn how to lead yourself , before you lead others. This is especially true for women, who often face unique challenges and obstacles in the workplace. By taking ownership of their careers, collaborating with others, and navigating the complex landscape of work, women can achieve greater success and fulfilment...

Energy - It’s the hot topic at the moment. Our current energy crisis has shone a light on how important energy is in our world. It's the one thing we know we all need to make sure we have, the thing we feel the most when it’s not there. It’s what keeps us alive, fuels our ability to move and interact, keeps us warm in the cold, allows us to see when it’s dark, to travel to places so far away we couldn’t walk. It is the basis for a fulfilling life.  It’s foundational because without it we don’t feel good, we don’t thrive.   It is...

This can be a grey area. But most of my clients self-fund their professional development, at least when it comes to personal coaching to help them move forward and better their career. Why? Because a lot of them don’t want their employer to know that they are having issues at work or they are already thinking about leaving their job. They don’t want buy in from their employer to help with their professional development because they don’t want their employer to know they’re receiving help at all. It’s private, it’s personal and they...

How is your maths? Let me show you a simple career equation….   Being heard means being seen.    +   Being seen means getting noticed.    +   Getting noticed means others know who you are and that you are good at what you do.   =   Getting meaty pieces of work, being named in succession plans, being considered for new leadership roles during restructuring and promotion rounds, being front of mind when looking for trusted opinions.   Why?   Because you are front of mind. Because you are...

Last week was one of the most challenging of my life.   I had my mum come to stay with me. I know for some of you that may in itself be challenging but my mum has dementia and she also needs 24 hour care.    It was a big one to take on.   So I needed some help. But I couldn’t fully rely on my husband as it just so happened that his ageing parents had their completion date come through and they were moving to our home town the same week.   But I didn’t panic. Why?   Because I knew I had my network to support...

A few weeks ago I felt like a bit of a failure. Why? Because I bailed. From a networking group that I’d paid to be in.   Everything was fine on the surface. The people in the group were lovely, I’d made some great connections, all was seemingly going well. But I kept getting this feeling as the monthly meet ups arrived. I was feeling resistance and increasingly feeling resentful of having to be there. It felt like hard work.   So I took a deeper look.    I was feeling time starved. The penny finally dropped that I...

Boundaries, that old chestnut again. You see, I hear and use that word a lot because for so much of the work I do with women, boundaries are fundamental. To our wellbeing, our ability to perform well and our ability to prioritise what’s important to us.   Boundaries are all to do with the levels of comfort and space we feel comfortable with when we interact with other people, so they form the basis of healthy relationships with others in our personal, family and professional life. They’re relevant everywhere.   They can also be more...

I often get asked by women, how do I become more confident? Confidence underpins how we feel about ourselves and motivates us to step into our power, to take steps to develop ourselves, take risks and challenge ourselves. When we’re confident we trust ourselves and take the action that leads us to grow. It helps us go further, and rise in our careers. In the workplace it can be the vital component to succeed , especially in those moments of doubt. But it can be elusive for so many women, especially when it can sometimes feel like...