Squiggly Careers

This week we're joined by productivity expert Graham Allcott, founder of Think Productive, speaker and author of numerous books on the subject of productivity! Pick-up tips on how to take control of your inbox, your diary and your to-do list and understand how different processes and tools can help you to create simple systems to make your working life a little bit easier! Links as ever will be over at www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perfectionism at work is responsible for increased stress and anxiety and it's a common challenge people struggle with. It can be routed in a fear of failure or a habit of setting unachievable goals and it can get in the way of truely being our best at work. In this week's Squiggly Career podcast, Helen and Sarah take on perfectionism, sharing their experiences and their top 5 pieces of advice for moving towards a mindset of done being better than perfect. All resources mentioned can be found at amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so many competing priorities at work, setting effective goals and staying motivated to achieve them has never been more important, though it’s not always easy! This week, Helen and Sarah are talking about how to set yourself up for success with goals and their example of what works best. Head over to amazingif.com to access all resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Micromanagement is a big frustration for many of us at work. We all don't like it, but so many of us have to work with it. In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen delve into the science of micromanagement, why people do it and what issues it causes in the workplace. We share our top tips for coping with Micromanagement and also, how to manage yourself if this is an approach that you fall victim. Resources as ever can be found at www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Squiggly Careers podcast welcomes a special guest! Emma Rosen, author of The Radical Sabbatical, talks to Helen about what we can learn about finding a job you love by exploring multiple career possibilities. Emma took this approach to the extreme by exploring 25 different jobs in 1 year, during her Radical Sabbatical, documenting it in her blog www.25before25.co.uk during this time. We break down what she learnt into set of key insights and actions we can all apply to open up our thinking about future roles and opportunities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking control of your career development is easier than ever if you've got the motivation and you know where to look! This week, Helen and Sarah are sharing their top tips of 'do it yourself' career development and favourite, tried and tested, learning resources. Get a summary of the resources and access the links over at www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cutting through the noise of work, so people hear you and your perspectives, has never been more challenging. It's the people who have influencing skills that are able to counteract this environment. These people gain more control over their career because people listen to their thoughts and take action off the back of them. In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen dissect what it takes to be good at influencing and identify 5 key tips which make the biggest impact. Head over to amazingif.com for the summary and to access resource links. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all experience emotion at work. Sometimes it helps us and sometimes it hinders us. This week, Sarah and Helen talk about the positive and negative emotions that show up at work. They discuss concepts like 'emotional labour' and 'emotional agility' and share tips to help you to be in control of your emotions rather than your emotions controlling you. There are lots of great resources this week, so make sure you head over to www.amazingif.com and read the podcast notes for this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks special episode Sarah interviews guest Bruce Daisley, author of The Joy of Work, 30 ways to fix your work culture and fall in love with your job again. They explore why over half of us are unhappy in our jobs and what we can do about it. Listen to find out what 'monk mode' and 'pre-mortems' are and how they will help you enjoy your work. Sarah shares the actions she has tried so far including turning off notifications and leaving people alone and the impact they have had on her work. Bruce also makes the case for why we need to reduce the amount of meetings we have by 50%. An action packed episode full of ideas you can test out straight away. Head over to amazingif.com to access links and resources mentioned in this weeks episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every day at work is a happy day. Sometimes it feels like our motivation to be our best and do our best at work, has got lost somewhere between home and the office. This week, Helen and Sarah talk about why Squiggly Careers can create challenges for our motivation, what the motivation highs and lows have taught them and what action can be taken from proven research about the psychology of motivation. Head over to amazingif.com to access links and resources mention in this week’s episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January is the busiest time of the year for job applications, which makes it a good time to be getting your CV in order. Polishing off your CV isn’t just about getting a new job though. In this week’s podcast Helen and Sarah talk about how the process of updating your CV can help you to be clearer on what you’re great at and how that creates value. Listen and get their top 5 tips on how to write a brilliant CV. Head over to amazingif.com to access all links and resources mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Start 2019 with new habits to transform your career. Covering topics like email management, curiosity and strengths, episode 63 is part 2 of the '10 habits to transform your career' series of the Squiggly Career podcast. To access resources mentioned in the podcast, head over to www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're feeling a bit lost in your career, it can be hard to know where to start. In the last episode of the Squiggly Career podcast for 2018, Helen and Sarah share part 1 of their '10 habits to transform your career'. As well as talking through how the habits can help you in your career, they specifically reference the actions they will be committing to for 2019 in the new year career resolutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re busy it can seem counterintuitive to stop and reflect, but research shows reflection could be the secret to unlocking better work. In this week’s podcast, Helen and Sarah talk about the importance of reflection and practical ways to make it work for you. For all resources mentioned, head over to amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's information fuelled world, we are each facing over 35,000 decisions a day! Thankfully, the vast majority are unconscious, but when it comes to your career, you need to be tuned in to take the best course of action. In this week's podcast episode, Helen and Sarah talk about what they learnt from their best and worst career decisions this year and share their top 5 tips for making decisions at work. Head over to amazingif.com to access all resources mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gravitas isn't just for the Leadership Team! Everyone can operate with gravitas at work as a way of influencing people, generating support and standing out. In this week's podcast, Helen and Sarah talk about what gravitas is and what it looks like at work. They share how they use it to achieve the outcomes they want at work and what actions you can take to grow and apply gravitas yourself. Head over to amazingif.com to access all resources mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managers are a key part of people being their best at work. This week, Helen and Sarah are talking about what it takes to be a 'Growth Mindset Manager'. They break down this management style into 4 behaviours and talk about the managers they have worked with that naturally exhibit these traits. They also share actionable tips for how you can develop these traits, whether you are a manager today or aspire to be a great one in the future. All links mentioned to resources can be found over at www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squiggly Careers can making planning a bit pointless. All of the opportunity that we are faced with creates possibilities we can't predict. In this environment, having a vision for what you want you career to look and feel like can be a powerful tool for your motivation and to give you a sense that you're moving in the right direction. This week, Helen and Sarah share how they create a vision for their career and talk through practical tips on how to make this work for you. Any links mentioned can be found on www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being yourself at work is fundamental to a career that makes you happy. It's not always easy though. Sometimes we can find ourselves acting in a way that helps us fit in with others, but over time this can be exhausting! In this week's podcast, Helen and Sarah talk about practical ways in which you can be more confident being you and how as individuals and as managers we can create a more inclusive environment where people can be their best selves at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's normal to lose your mojo for your work from time to time. Feeling like this over a longer period though can lead to anxiety, stress and unhappiness at work. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah talk about their experiences of feeling stuck in their career and 5 ways in which you can get your energy back and connect with the work that you do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Communication plays a big role in our careers, but Squiggly Careers mean that the rules are changing! Now we need to be able to communicate in virtual teams and information overload means communicating with impact in the right place and the right time is crucial to our success. In this week’s podcast, Helen and Sarah share their top tips for communicating effectively at work, no matter what job you do or how you do it. For all resources mentioned, head to www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so much change at work, we're all faced with more decisions than ever about our careers and finding jobs and companies where we can be at our best. Bravery plays a big role in helping us to achieve that, but it's not easy. This week, Sarah and Helen talk about the times when they have been most brave in their career and share their top 5 tips for building your bravery at work. Head over to www.amazingif.com to access resources mentioned in the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Helen and Sarah share their views on what has been consistent in the best leaders they have worked for and been inspired by. They identify 5 common behaviours and ways of working that we can all adopt, regardless of our level and position, to build better relationships and make a bigger impact. As ever, you can find resources from this week's episode over at www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lots of people assume they are not creative because they don't have a conventional 'creative' job, however we all have the opportunity to bring new thinking into our role and apply different techniques to solve problems and generate new ideas. Creativity at work is a source of competitive advantage for organisations and individuals and in this week's podcast, Helen and Sarah talk about the different ways you can bring creativity to your role and their own experiences of environments where creativity has thrived and those where it's died! Head to www.amazingif.com for the episode summary and links to resources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a rise in the number of people exploring different routes of employment (self employment is set to triple by 2020) and data that shows we are now staying in our roles for shorter periods of time, more of us that ever are leaving our jobs in search of different opportunities. In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about how to leave a job well. Whether it's for an internal job or for a new external role, they talk about their top 5 tops to ensure your reputation and relationships are in a great place when you say goodbye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Sarah and Helen talk about the technology they use on a daily basis to help them succeed in their Squiggly Careers. They talk about when tech works for and against them and their top 10 list of apps and software that helps them be more efficient, productive, creative and connected at work. For links to all resources mentioned, head to www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much time do you spend in fixed vs. growth mindset at work? In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about how to identify your fixed mindset triggers and how you can coach yourself back to growth. They share their own experiences and how they help others to accept feedback as a source of development and treat themselves as work in progress, rather than the finished article. This week's episode has lots of practical tips for turning the concept of growth mindset into something practical you can work with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does September ever remind you of going back to school? This week's podcast is about the post holiday opportunity to hit refresh on your year. New Year's Resolutions might seem like a long lost memory, but this week Helen and Sarah talk through their 5 top tips to get your year back on track and make sure you're making the biggest impact over the next few months! Head to www.amazingif.com for all resources mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 40 hour work week was established as part of the New Deal in 1937, yet it's still the prevailing work structure we work within. More recently, technology has blurred the boundaries of work and life, creating an always-on work culture that leaves us questioning what the new normal is. At one extreme Elon Musk has been reported as working 120 hours per week and at the other, Arianna Huffington champions a more balanced approach. This week, Helen and Sarah tackle the question of how many hours a week should you work, sharing their own experiences of when they have got it right and when it's got wrong! Listen this week for their tips on getting to the right number of hours for you. To access all the resources mentioned, head to www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over 60% of us would consider a complete change to our careers, but many people struggle to take the leap and put those dreams into action. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share their career pivots, moving from different industries, professions and working styles on the road to a happy and successful Squiggly Career. Head to www.amazingif.com for all resources and links mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Workplace loneliness is on the rise and in this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about what is causing the increase, the times in their careers when they have felt most lonely and what coping strategies and techniques you can use to combat loneliness at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen and Sarah are back with another Squiggly Career Q&A, where they respond to questions from the Amazing If community. This week they cover how to get over a bad week, how to make time for yourself, whether meetings should be limited to 15 minutes and their most recommended books and podcasts. If you have questions for future Q&A podcasts [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Values are what makes you you and knowing that can help you to make better decisions at work, leaving you more fulfilled and happy. This week, we share how you can start the process of exploring what your values are and make practical changes at work so you get to live them more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love interviews or loathe them? In this week's podcast, we share some of our best and worst interview experiences and what we have learnt about how to come across with authenticity and impact to give you the best chance of success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have a natural preference towards introversion or extroversion. In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about their own preferences and where this works for and against them at work. They discuss the critical career moments which can trigger your preference and how self-awareness can help you to manage your default responses. Head to www.amazingif.com for links to all resources mentioned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squiggly Careers are full of opportunity and change, but they can also be confusing and stressful, affecting our happiness and mental health. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah talk about 4 crucial elements of work well being; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. They share honest reflections of their own scores and experiences of each, with actions and tips for how you can improve your work well being. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting promoted is not the be all and end all of a happy career, but it's relevant to most people at some point. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share their 5 top tips to get a promotion and their examples of how it's worked for them. Hear how getting a sponsor, acting like you have the promotion and being brilliant in your current role are all activities that can accelerate your progression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being part of a great team makes such a positive difference to how you feel at work. Equally, those bad teams make the snooze button even more appealing than normal. In this week's episode Sarah and Helen share their experiences of great teams and the not-so-great ones, and what they have learnt about how to contribute to building a better team, whether you're the leader or not.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela's Duckworth's TED Talk on Grit is one of Amazing If's 'must watches' for people looking to invest in their Squiggly Career Skills. In this week's podcast, Helen and Sarah share how grit has helped them overcome career challenges like getting promoted, completing an MBA and delivering big projects at work. They also share 4 ways in which you can develop more grit to increase your impact and success at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Asking for a pay rise can be one of the most difficult conversations we're faced with at work. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share 5 actions you can take to increase your chances of success. These actions include anchoring your ask, negotiating the whole package and getting prepared! Whether you're faced with a difficult conversation now or in the future, this podcast can help you take control and increase your confidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you're in the early days of a new job, or feel like you're stagnating in a current one, Sarah and Helen's '5 ideas for impact' will help you to focus your attention on the activities that make the biggest difference between being good and being great. Sarah is the guinea pig this week, sharing her experiences as she reaches the first 100 days of her new job. Listen, learn and take control of your Squiggly Career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managers are key to a happy career, but we don't get to pick them so we need to develop the skills to manage them the best we can. This week, Helen and Sarah talk about how to set expectations and work with empathy to build effective relationships with managers. They also address what to do when the relationship isn't working, so you can react positively to the challenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Sarah and Helen tackle audience career questions and cover everything from how to fund your learning when your company won't pay to how to escape a job you feel stuck in. Listen, learn and send in your questions for the next Q&A to [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that over 70% of us suffer from Imposter Syndrome at work? A fear that you don't know enough, aren't good enough and might get 'found out' is all too common! This week, Sarah and Helen look at some of the career triggers for Imposter Syndrome so you can predict them beforehand, be more aware of them in the moment and take control of your own limiting beliefs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presenting is often a part of our jobs, whether it's to a small team or on a big stage. Being able to present yourself and your ideas with confidence can help you to do more of what you love, build your brand and be more successful. This week, Sarah and Helen share advice and actions to become a more confident and authentic presenter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Busy is the new normal and our always on jobs with never ending To Do lists are causing higher levels of workplace stress than ever before. This week, Helen and Sarah share their experiences of stress at work and the tools and techniques they have learnt to manage it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world of Squiggly Careers, rigid career plans can hold you back. Instead, Helen and Sarah share the value of exploring your career possibilities, giving you their top tips and resources to find out what your next step might be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knowing what you're great at is a big part of taking control of your career but many of us haven't got the insight or confidence to talk about it with others. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how to identify your strengths and manage your career so you get the chance to use your strengths everyday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Curiosity is an amazing skill to support your career development. It helps you to learn more, create more and connect more. Whilst some people may be more naturally curious, it is a skill you can build, and this week Sarah and Helen share their tips to do just that and their advice on how to use curiosity to help your career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A strong personal brand can help you to navigate your Squiggly Career, bringing you into contact with more opportunities which align to what you want to be known for. Hear from Sarah and Helen about how they have built their personal brand and what tips and insights you can use to do the same.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.