Squiggly Careers

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.

Flexible working is thankfully on the rise, but that doesn't mean it's easy to ask for or to manage. Helen and Sarah share their experiences on when it's worked for them and when it's been a challenge. Listen to hear their tips on how to set yourself up for success with flexible working and what other resources might help you along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comfort zones feel nice and safe, but they can hold you back from having a happy and fulfilling career. In this week's episode Helen and Sarah share what they have learned from stepping out of their comfort zones, including Sarah's reflections on being interviewed on BBC news this week! Listen to hear how doing jobs you don't know how to do yet and building a support team can make the difference between stretch and stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Networking has a bit of a bad reputation and in this episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how thinking of it simply as 'people helping people' has transformed how they go about networking and the career value they have got from their relationships. Learn about their top tips to grow and maximise the value of your network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having run a 'side project' for the last 5 years, Helen and Sarah are experienced in how to make them work and how to get the support you need to keep them going. In this episode, they share practical tips on how to find the time and how to manage your side project alongside the day job.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you ever feel like you avoid those tricky conversations at work, you're not alone. Many of us struggle to say what's on our mind when we fear conflict or how someone else will respond. In this podcast, Sarah and Helen talk through the difficult conversations they have both faced and what they have learnt about how to approach them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that feedback helps us to grow and develop, but we've all experienced plenty of times when we have either received poorly communicated feedback or been guilty of it ourselves. In this episode, Helen and Sarah will share the tools they have developed to make the feedback process easier and more valuable. Listen and learn about models that can help you have a happy career.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mentors can be extremely valuable for your career, helping you to navigate even the most squiggly times! However, it can be hard to know how to find a great mentor and build a strong relationship. In this episode, Helen and Sarah talk about the mentors that have made a difference to them and what they have learnt about how to create a network of mentors that contribute to the development of a happy career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As people juggling corporate jobs, their own business, studies, charitable work and family life, Helen and Sarah know a thing or two about finding time. In fact, 'how do you find the time' is the number 1 question they get asked! In this episode, they share the different things that help them to achieve their goals, including finding 'power hours' and connecting your actions to your passions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At some point, we're all faced with the challenge and opportunity of finding a new job. This can be a tricky time, where knowing what you're great at and what really makes you happy at work becomes key to making the right decision. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share their experiences of finding new jobs and their top tips for making the right choice about where to go next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squiggly Careers is the podcast from the team behind Amazing If, that discusses how to make work better for everyone - subscribe now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you paralysed with nerves when you’re faced with the boss? Are you too afraid to venture an opinion when you’re surrounded by experienced colleagues? In the final episode of the series, Helen and Sarah tackle a monster of a confidence gremlin - the fear of senior people. Providing helpful tips on how to improve the way you feel around senior people, this episode will help dissolve imaginary pedestals and set you on your way to more productive and happy interactions at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freezing up or waffling on are normal, but unhelpful reactions to being put on the spot. If this sounds like you - don’t worry. Helen and Sarah have some simple suggestions for how you can avoid the blind panic and instead gracefully ride the surprise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feel like your age is holding you back at work? Well Helen and Sarah are here to help. No, they’re not offering an ageing elixir but practical, actionable advice about how you can demonstrate your maturity at work. Don’t feel defeated by something you can’t control - think creatively about how you can increase your value, not your years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From empowering TED Talks to inspiring books, there are so many resources you can use to help build your confidence. In this bonus episode, Sarah runs through her top recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scared of making that next career move? Afraid you might fall short of perfection? In this episode, Sarah and Helen explain that the quest to be the best can result in a crippling fear of failure. So why not change your aim from perfect achiever to ambitious learner? Here is some practical advice on how to embrace mistakes, learn from blunders and go boldly into challenging situations at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, Sarah shares her top three techniques for building confidence. From the simple questions you can ask yourself, to the ways you can shift your outlook to increase your value at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does nervous energy sometimes take you over? Do you sometimes feel yourself blush or start to sweat in tricky work situations? This week Sarah and Helen are taking a look at confidence gremlins that manifest as body reactions – and for Sarah, blushing is one she’s battled with first hand! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode Helen tackles three things that can undermine your confidence... and how to stop that happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.