Your Time To Grow: Recent Episodes
Charlotte Ashley-Roberts
Your Time To Grow is a podcast for busy women who feel lost in their career, want to make a change and build momentum to grow their potential and create a career they love.
In it, Charlie, mum of three and experienced careers coach, shares her own experiences of being a working mum and how she created a balanced career around her family. You'll find guests, case studies as well as tons of practical advice and support.
In this inspiring episode, we chat with Emma, who embarked on a solo journey that transformed her life and career. Discover how stepping out of her comfort zone empowered her to build the confidence to secure a new job.
Join us as Emma shares the motivations behind her adventure, the challenges faced, and the self-discoveries made along the way. Learn how this experience gave her invaluable skills and a renewed sense of self.
Whether you're seeking inspiration for your own solo adventure or insights into personal growth and self-mastery, this episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement. Tune in for Emma's remarkable story and get inspired to embark on your journey to confidence and mastery.
I am delighted to be in conversation with Harriet, a dear friend and someone who is dedicated to her journey of Self-Mastery.
In this episode Harriet and I talk about running endurance events, how the lessons from these events help us in other areas, plus how to overcome barriers and build resilience.
The soul-full Rebecca Shannon joins me for a talk about heart-led leadership and the difference it makes - plus practical ways to tap into your intuition and the magic of this practice.
Embark on a captivating journey to the icy landscapes of Antarctica with our guest coach, Lisa Hopper, as she shares her profound insights on self-mastery amidst the frozen wilderness. In this special episode, Lisa shares invaluable insights from my recent stewardship journey to Antarctica, where she had the privilege of connecting with 150 visionary thought leaders and business pioneers. This transformative experience has profoundly impacted her perspectives and practices.Stay tuned as we uncover how these learnings can enhance your leadership journey and personal evolution. Discover how the principles of self-mastery guided Lisa to ask an outrageous request, and learn how you too can apply these transformative insights to your own journey of personal empowerment. Whether you're seeking inspiration to overcome obstacles or cultivate greater inner strength, this episode promises to ignite your spirit and propel you toward a path of self-discovery.
The first in a series of Self-Mastery topics, today we look at the intricate relationship between our thoughts, emotions and actions
Join me for the latest episode of the your time to grow podcast as I delve deep into the metaphorical concept of peeling the Onion. In this episode we explore the rich symbolism behind the age-old metaphor and its significance in various aspects of life including psychology personal growth and societal understanding.Discover the intricities of peeling the engine as we discuss its origins and how it's been used throughout history to describe the process of uncovering deep players of complexity from its routes in problem solving to its application in therapeutic settings we explore how this metaphor captures the essence of exploration introspection and self-mastery.
In today's episode, I want to talk about a topic that many of us can relate to: feeling like we're not doing or being enough, despite our best efforts.
I explore how paradigm shifts act as catalysts for profound growth and self - discovery.
Today we're looking at speaking things into existence (specifically our career in this case). So, how do our words shape our reality?
Your emotions are not the enemy, inviting them in and sitting with them will help you on the path to personal growth
Do you make space for reflection at the end of the year and honouring your journey for the year past and the one ahead?
Have you ever noticed that when your emotions are running high, your ability to make decisions and perform tasks diminishes?
Learning is an ongoing adventure, but have you ever wondered why some people make rapid progress while others get stuck? Today we're unraveling the magic that occurs when we put our knowledge into action?
I am winging it slightly this week as I reflect on tapping into the wisdom that resides in all of us
In this episode I share a personal example of trusting the process and I invite you to listen for what is relevant for you
My coach Lisa said "take care of the soul line and the goal line will take care of itself" and I was intrigued. Let's explore...
I pushed myself to create what I wanted at the "perfect time" but I learned it's not about perfect timing, we get to create what we want at any time, from who we are being
I wanted to share a little mantra that my coach, Lisa, shared with me. Let's explore why busy isn't best.
Today is World Mental Health Day and I'm discussing mental health in general and specifically the importance of tapping into our inner voice
Today we're diving into the question of 'what if I were to do it?' and my counter question as a coach which is "what is your biggest worry if you were to do it?".
Your worth is not determined by the judgments of others or external measures of success. It's an inherent part of who you are. Embracing your innate worth is a journey, but it's a journey well worth taking.
What would you say if I said that 100% of our experiences come from our thoughts? Today I'm going to explore this idea.
Today we are discussing the benefits of mindfulness meditation PLUS a short loving kindness (Metta) meditation. Please don't drive whilst listening to this episode!
This week I'm diving into the idea of creating yourself into being - and what that means!
I find it really hard to slow down and in this episode I share two things I've learnt about why I find it so hard to slow down and the steps I'm taking to release the guilty feelings I have around resting
Have you ever been told you're too much? I have and I told myself a story that being myself made me unacceptable...so here's how I'm challenging that story
How do you receive a compliment? Compliments are gifts freely given, expressions of admiration, recognition, and appreciation. They have the power to uplift our spirits and boost our self-esteem. Yet, far too often, we find ourselves stumbling when faced with a genuine compliment. We deflect, downplay, or even reject them altogether. But why is this?
In this week's episode I talk about the profound impact of being coached and how I found new perspective on having a missing piece of my own puzzle
We all fall into the victim mindset sometimes (not to be confused with experiencing a traumatic event) and the key thing is recognising it and making a difference choice. In this week's episode I go through an exercise to help you get out of the victim mindset.
In our fast-paced, constantly-connected world, it can be difficult to slow down and live in the moment. We are always rushing to the next thing, and as a result, we miss out on a lot of the joys that life has to offer, and sure, sometimes, busy is best...but, do we always have to exert effort? Is that a prerequisite for success? What if we could take effortless action?
Today, we're going to be talking about the difference that makes the difference. The what? I hear you ask! Yeah, when I heard someone say that in a workshop the other day I was intrigued, confused and strangely understanding. In my head, it conjures an idea of two people standing opposite each other with space in between and it is in that space where the difference is, where the magic happens and so it is the difference that makes the difference.
Life is full of situations that can make us feel uneasy, whether it's stepping outside of our comfort zone, having difficult conversations, or taking on new challenges. But instead of avoiding discomfort, what if we learned to embrace it and use it as a tool for growth?
In this week's episode there's an apology for being sporadic and an insight into what it means and takes to create yourself
Mental tripwires are a tool that gets triggered in advance to help us make better choices
I've been receiving signs from the universe on the middle path and using it to create a more balanced life and I felt like it's important that I share it with you.
In this episode I'm noticing that my focus is waning and I explore why that might happen.
A question asked by my coach which got me thinking about how we do/don't take responsibility for our actions
In today's episode I talk about how you step into your authentic leadership through self-awareness and self-reflection and aligning your values, behaviours and leadership vision.
Humans are emotional creatures and it's hard for us to keep a lid on our emotions...but should we? I believe that EQ is an important part our awareness and there's a difference between being vulnerable and authentic and losing our temper with a colleague or worrying over every little step. In this episode I talk about strategies you can use to keep your emotions appropriate at work.
In this episode I talk about the five stages we must move through before making any changes in our lives. We so often blame our willpower, motivation and even ourselves for not meeting our goals but what if you just aren't ready yet?
Introducing Resolution Rebels and the idea of why New Year's Resolutions don't work and what does instead. Link to course: https://yourtimetogrow.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1142651
In our final episode on distorted thoughts I explore 5 techniques that help to retrain the brain so we can more effectively challenge our distorted thinking.
Following on from last week's episode today I explore more distorted thoughts and why we have them including personalisation; illusion of control; fairness fallacy; blaming; emotional reasoning; illusion of change; global labelling and always being right.
Today I'm thinking about distorted thoughts and I'll be splitting this topic over three episodes as it's a big one. In this one I'm covering all or nothing thinking; mental filtering; over generalisation: discounting the positive; jumping to conclusions and catastrophising. There will be more next week.
Some folks are full of energy all day (and night) and others have a few productive hours in a day. I am most productive in the morning, in fact, I would say between 5 am and 7 am and then again 10 am - 12 pm. Your energy cycles are dependent on everything from your natural rhythms to the ways in which you take care of yourself.
During lockdown I remember walking along the street, a friend went by and she asked me as she passed by "how's it going, you know?". I knew what she meant. Of course I knew. It's all any of us were talking about. Lockdown learning. "Yeah, it's going well" I said, "better than last time, the learning is more structured which works better for us".
She couldn't feign her surprise. "Really??" She said quietly, "it's worse for us. We've had more meltdowns than ever and it's only day two". "Still", she said, "could be worse. I keep thinking that, when I'm in the bathroom streaming. There's always someone worse off than me". I could see her eyes filling with tears. She was trying to hold it in.
"Yes, that's true," I said, "there's always someone worse off, but that doesn't mean your feelings aren't valid. It doesn't diminish your feelings right now".
I don't think she believed me.
As a career coach I spend a fair amount of time supporting people who have no idea what they want to do. But what about those of you who do? What if you know where you want to be, you're just not quite sure how you're going to do it. This is where acting up can help...
I'm often asked about my career story when I give workshops and webinars so I thought I'd explain a little more how I got to where I am. I've experienced redundancy, career change, returning to work, all of which make me the coach I am today.
Why might we engage in behaviours that are not helpful to us? I believe it's when we are feeling overwhelmed and we don't know how to soothe ourselves. When we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed we look for ways to feel better, but sometimes, we slip into poor habits and techniques. In today's episode l talk about the self-sabotage I engage in when I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed and how I've learned to self-soothe.
Today, with a client I was discussing the idea that women have moved into positions of leadership by adopting men's conditioning, seeing it as the best way to lead and have influence. as Nancy Kline once said: “This is not progress. Women have been encouraged to be like men when actually the best thing for men in society would be to encourage men to be more like women.” So is it true that women are better leaders than men?
Take a ramble with me as I reflect in Mabon, blackberries and the cycles in Nature allowing us to let go, find new perspective and refocus.
Welcome to episode 115. I talk with my clients about inner strength. This phrase is used fairly widely within the coaching sector but it is open to interpretation. I thought I might explain what I mean when I talk about tapping into your inner strength.
I recorded this in the middle of the summer holidays as I literally rambled through some fields.
In this episode I talk about how we motivate others, leadership styles and why our values are integral to both
The summer holidays are almost upon us - a time I find fills me with excitement and trepidation! One of the reasons I look forward to my kids going to school/childminder/preschool is not just for their own benefit, but for mine too. I find it hard to switch off my Mummy mode and get into work mode when the kids are at home. I find it frustrating not being able to work in the way I want to and feel guilty when I do work and they need me.
It’s taken me a few years (and a few more lockdowns) to realise that a) we needed a routine and b) that I make this work during the school holidays and I can adapt that plan. So, we're on day three of learning at home and day ten of not leaving the house. So here are my tips for staying motivated and my tips for working from home with the kids.
I was chatting with someone in my network the other day who is at a director level. We were talking about the barriers that women face in their leadership journey. Still, in 2022 male leaders are still the majority - by a long way. Whilst over the last 30 years or so there is more gender balance in middle management, there is still work to be done at the executive level (and above).
When we are first in a role which requires leadership skills, we often feel unsure - yes we want it but we’re not sure how best to go about it. I know I felt this way, but as I sat and reflected I realised I wanted to be more visible. In order to grow and realise your full potential others need to see you working your magic too.
Are you thinking about investing in yourself? I have found in many cases that when we consider investing in ourselves we come up with excuses not to. So I wonder if you would say this to a friend...
I have been thinking about what leadership means recently. Triggered in part by a question I was asked: how do you know if you're a leader?
How do you stay accountable for your goals? I've been thinking about my own goals this week and in order to understand why I’ve stalled in my goals, I spent some time looking backwards. I reflected on my previous success and how I'd achieved my past goals. Two things stood out. First, I had a plan. Second, I had accountability.
87% of workers feel disengaged in the workplace. While there are many reasons for this high level of disengagement, employee complaints about employers not listening to them certainly ranks high on the list. In fact, a recent study revealed that more than 33% believes that their employers do not listen to their ideas. Not only can showing your workforce that you are really listening to them, improve employee engagement levels, but it also can boost workplace morale, job satisfaction rates and overall retention. As a leader, you will spend a large proportion of your time managing your team. By listening to your team you can turn your understanding of what they want into meaningful opportunities to connect with them.
We have hundreds of habits, and they can help us out a lot, helping us feel safe and comfortable. This is brilliant if you use it as part of a well thought out journey but what if you've been on cruise control a while? What if you've fallen into habitual actions and thinking that no longer serve you? If this sounds like you, listen on for some tips to help your habits help you.
I remember a time when I was looking for a new job. I knew what I had to do - find job roles that looked interesting, research the company and send in my application(s). The problem was, I was already employed. So I wanted to keep my job search secret. This is a really common situation so here are my five tips for keeping your job search a secret.
Kindness is one of my core values and that means it permeates my whole life, including how I lead. For me, kindness is a strength, so why not make it part of my leadership strategy? What would kindness look like for you in your leadership strategy?
We all seek validation sometimes, it's an innate drive to be accepted and for the most part, it's ok. But when it becomes a habit we can fall into thinking we're not good enough unless we're validated and approved by others. We trust other people's opinions of ourselves rather than our own. Here's how to let go of the habit of seeking approval and validation from others.
One of the most important life lessons I have had to date is that of being myself. It sounds easy but in reality there are years of 'shoulds' and 'what ifs' to acknowledge. This isn't about giving ourselves more work to do but about removing the expectations we set ourselves and living a more effortless and satisfying existence.
Strap yourself in folks, this is something I've been processing over the last couple of weeks! Let me tell you a story about how I learnt to trust myself. It's a bit of a ramble as I celebrate episode 100!
A change to my normal approach as I give an unedited, free flowing ramble into my thoughts on this year's International Women's Day topic #BreakingTheBias
One of the things I hear most in coaching conversations is the desire to change career. In fact, according to career statistics, the average person changes careers 5-7 times in their lifetime. (I am on number 4!). In this episode I muse on the difference between a career pivot and a career change and give you some questions to reflect on if you are considering a pivot.
When I speak to women in leadership roles one thing that comes up time and time again is that they don’t trust their voice. It’s almost whispered, a secret they don’t want to say out loud. They’re ashamed and not sure what’s going on. In this episode I explore some ways to strengthen and trust your voice and how it can help you as a leader
We all feel lost sometimes. In fact, I did a Pecha Kucha talk recently about actually getting lost...I am terrible at finding my way in new places. In this episode I am not talking about map reading and navigation but instead about that feeling we get when we feel we have no goal. I have talked with clients who might have a good job, a loving family but they feel exhausted, overwhelmed, restless. They come to me stuck, paralysed by choices and/or indecision. Sometimes something happens which gives them an opportunity to reflect, usually a life-changing event. Whatever is going on, that's when they find me. Here are my 3 tips for finding direction when you are feeling lost:
“I want to change careers but I just don’t know what to do” is a common phrase I hear in my coaching conversations. In this episode I explore the fears people have and why
One of the things I love about coaching and mentoring is that I learn things too. Yesterday I was listening to a very wise and successful woman as she talked about stepping out of her comfort zone and into her power as part of her business plan. She said “I’ve realised that it’s OK to stop, even if it’s working if it’s not getting you where you need to be”
Do you remember how you got into work today? Or perhaps you are struggling to keep an issue in your personal life from invading your thoughts when you are trying to work? Maybe you have a million things going on at work and you’re feeling overwhelmed? When we feel this way we often turn on the autopilot.
The problem with negative thoughts is that they can become self-fulfilling prophecies. We talk ourselves into believing that we're not good enough. And, as a result, these thoughts drag down our personal lives, our relationships, and our careers. But, if we deliberately do the opposite and use positive thoughts about ourselves, the effect can be just as powerful but far more helpful. In this episode, we'll explore how you can use affirmations to drive positive change in your career, and in your life in general.
If we want to be more like those leaders we admire we need to do what they do. In order to be able to have a vision and to nurture and develop others, we must have a vision for ourselves. That takes investment. Many people shy away from investing in themselves, especially if it feels (en)forced. I believe however that the process of investment can be exciting, it stretches our curiosity and encourages us to reflect on our leadership and the impact it has. It allows us to examine our beliefs and values, our leadership styles and to analyse and understand our behaviours. Investment isn't optional, it's part of what makes those leaders we admire great. It takes them to the next level and it allows you to take your leadership to the next level too.
We all make mistakes when it comes to our own self-worth. I have been talking about self-worth a lot with my clients this week and have been thinking about self-worth and the effect that it has on our ability to practice self-care.
Over lockdown (and since) I found myself increasingly introverted and needing to be solitary and yet…I feel like that’s an impossible task. I feel like I get no time to myself and even when I do I feel guilty about taking it. So how do we set and maintain healthy boundaries without the guilt?
As the kids have gone back to school it’s given me some much needed time alone to work on myself and my business. I’ve had two coaching sessions in the last week, both for me as the coachee. One with my own coach and another as part of a supervisory session. One of the things I love most about being the coachee is that it can bring a chain reaction of clarifying thoughts, making space for growth.
When I was young I loved to make those pictures that were built up in layers. I thought I had ‘nice’ handwriting and I dabbled a bit in writing poetry – an outlet for my teenage angst! But I wouldn’t have described myself as creative.
Balance is like the sea, ever changing and always returning to a natural, calm state at some point. It’s, not something to be reached and firmly maintained. It is flexible and with a bit of awareness, it is easy to bring more balance into your life.
Once you’ve done the hard work, spent time reflecting on what’s important to you, it is the time to communicate your values.
We could all do with being more vulnerable. My daughters have taught me so much about being vulnerable and I’d like to share a story and ask: how can you be more vulnerable?
I'm a certified personal and career coach who helps you minimise your doubts and maximise your potential...of course, we don’t always maximise our potential, sometimes we self-sabotage and we give our power away. Let me tell you a little story about me and my daughter.
For over ten years I have talked to so many people about their careers – the highs, the lows and the fears. In my experience there are three main fears which hold people back: - Fear of failure; Fear of success and Fear of change. These fears can be debilitating. They can stop you from doing even the simplest things to further your career and keep you stuck, or at least feeling stuck.
I can be a procrastinator. One of my biggest reasons for procrastinating is not knowing what to do. So in today’s episode I am going to talk to you about how to get started when you don’t know what to do.
I am in the first week after the summer holidays and (finally) I have been able to have an uninterrupted adult conversation! My friend and I went out for a coffee and during the conversation she asked me ‘how do you alleviate the guilt of being grateful for what you have but also wanting more?’
I really felt the sentiment. We all have moments where we feel ungrateful for what we have, even when we’re really happy with what we have.
I feel like a have a million things to do, my energy is going everywhere but me. I could scream. Ever feel like that? When you’re someone who gives a lot it’s easy to forget about yourself and your needs. We are halfway through the summer holidays here in the UK and in our house it's been busy! Although I do take a break in the holidays, I don't always take care of myself during that time. I'm not alone and so today I wanted to talk to you about self-care.
I'm floundering this week, although it's the summer holidays and I've cut down my work, I noticed yesterday that I was feeling really demotivated about my current work goals. As I let this thought reverberate around my mind during the day I realised I was living an old family motto.
Childcare sorted? Check. New clothes? Check. Self-care strategy? Wait, what? Returning to work after having a child is both rewarding and challenging. I have already discussed the practical side of returning to work after maternity leave and about the emotional doubts which come from stepping back into the office. Today I want to talk to you about managing your self-care and keeping yourself topped up.
When you invest in yourself you are doing more than spending time and money. You are putting yourself higher up your priority list. Whether it's developing yourself personally or professionally, to invest in yourself is likely to be the best investment you make.
Have you ever wondered if you are missing out? If you should be doing more? Have you ever considered the fact that you are exactly where you need to be? This is called happenstance and it’s common to hear folks say they were just in the right place a the right time, but what about when we don’t feel in the right place at the right time?
We all have bad habits. Sometimes I procrastinate and leave my work until the last minute. Take this podcast for example, I have had plenty of time to finish this…but it’s 2pm on the day it’s due and I want to get it done asap… but having had over an hour of uninterrupted silence after getting up (which I spent on watching the TV)…it’s almost time to pick up the kids. Drat.
Today we are talking about progress, not perfection. Let me tell you a story. I looked at my running stats, I was ten miles short of where I wanted to be that month. I spent hours working out if I could squeeze in a few more runs. Of course I would be able to but it would mean sacrificing something else.
In the back of my mind a question floated around: will it matter in 12 months time? The truth is, I couldn't tell you how many miles I ran last week, let alone a year ago. In this instance, no, it wouldn't matter so what was I doing?
I was aiming for perfection.
Life can get pretty busy and when it does, listening goes out the window. When we are busy we can feel overwhelmed and stressed out and feeling this way makes it hard to listen – to ourselves and to others. Main body I was reading an article by the University of Missouri which said that 45% of our time in daily communication is used to listen and yet it is one of our most ineffective communication skills. Why? I think part of it is because we are all so busy.
Saying yes. Imagine that you said yes to every opportunity that came your way? Shonda Rhimes did for a whole year and it changed her life. It could change yours too, if you're strategic about it.
Changing your career can feel very uncertain and indeed it can be uncertain. This is especially true if you have been doing something/been in a role for a long time. Before you make the leap it’s important to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. With that in mind, in today’s episode I want to give you three things to consider before changing your career.
Have you ever wondered about the secret of success and how those people get ahead? I can tell you the secret – there is no secret. Getting ahead is about the mindset you have and the behaviours you exhibit and best of all, they can be learnt, practised and implemented. Here are 8 behaviours that successful people demonstrate for you to start with…
One of my favourite pictures of change is that one where the leader says “who wants change?” and everyone puts their hands up. Then the leader asks “who wants to change?” and everyone looks at the floor. Change is hard sometimes, especially when we don’t choose it but what if we change our perspective and choose to be a leader of change?
Today I want to talk about nurturing your leadership skills. Maybe you already lead a team, maybe you are aspiring to that. You don't have to lead a team in a company/institution to be a leader - you might be self-employed, a parent or a volunteer down at your local sports or social club or within the community. This episode is for all the people who use leadership skills - formally or informally.
When was the last time you felt heard? Like someone was really listening to what you had to say? As we are in Mental Health Awareness Week I wanted to touch on why listening to others (and ourselves) is so important and two tips on how to be a better listener too.
As women, we face different challenges in the workplace to our male colleagues, particularly in positions of leadership. These range from being held to a higher standard than our male counterparts to having to contend with old-fashioned notions such as choosing between “a career or a child?”. Overcoming these obstacles can seem daunting, but there are strategies you can use to turn these barriers into opportunities.
When I speak to mums in my tribe about going back to work the number one thing they say to me is: “I don’t have the right skills anymore”. Now they might not say it in exactly those words but that is the underlying message. I believe that ultimately it’s a lack of confidence we suffer from when we return to work after a break but to tackle that, we need to face those fears head-on. After the previous three episodes Ihope that already you are seeing a glimmer of hope, a spark of self-confidence? If not, trust me and bear with me as I take you through the skills you need to return to the workplace. I have only discussed 5 here, but there are many more. These would be the ones I would focus on and are those an employer will be commonly looking for.
Raising a family takes love, time and effort and is often described as one of the most rewarding things you can do. Days turn into months and years and suddenly the kids are at school and you are ready to do something for you. Sound familiar? Many parents I speak to find themselves wanting to return to the workplace after a significant career break of anywhere from 5 to 20 years. Do you want to know the biggest barrier to returning to work after raising a family?
It always amazes me how soon you need to start planning your return to work after your little one arrives. You think you have all the time in the world and suddenly your baby is 6 months old, sitting up, eating and starting to move around and it's time to start planning your return (or not). Preparation is key. Let's look at the logistical and emotional needs in returning to work.
It's 2015: In the top left hand corner of my diary there is a number scrawled in black ink. It tells me that I have 36 working days left before I leave for my second bout of maternity leave. Hindsight is a useful thing isn’t it? The benefit of going through this process once already has made me make crucial changes in preparing to leave. I thought it might be useful to share my experience.
For years I have yearned to be one of those people who get the job done way ahead of time, giving them time to be smug and relaxed. Instead, I find myself consistently working right down to the wire, feeling the pressure of the deadline. I procrastinate and I’ve berated myself for that but I am also a high achiever. I am definitely driven by a deadline but it’s taken me a long time to realise it. What about you?
Last week we were thinking about self-forgiveness in terms of moving on after making a mistake. It got me thinking about leaders too and how we can become better leaders through self-acceptance and forgiveness.
I listen to my client as I watch her mentally let go of the belief that she needs to do at all. It's liberating for her. In that moment, she lets the ideas come and go, observing them with curiosity; she's in the zone. She leaves lighter, focused, and ready to accept herself... because sometimes you have to let go to grow.
Have you ever considered your career potential? By this I mean the potential to be happy and fulfilled in your career. Most people I meet are tremendously critical of themselves and their capabilities. This is true whether they earn £16k or £100K+. Most people don’t appreciate themselves, their job or their journey and this can be a barrier to reaching your career potential
I think we can all agree that we can't do it all and that attempting to do so causes overwhelm can't we? Once you have accepted this fact then next comes creating a strategy for creating the life you want. Before you can ask for what you need, however, you need to understand what that is. So in this podcast, I am going to take you through understanding what you need and then how to ask for it - whether it's in your personal or professional life.
Our values are the things which we believe to be important in the way that we live and the way that we work. Our values affect our behaviour and act as an internal navigation system guiding us along our journey. Today I am going to take you through an exercise on how to identify your core values.
What do you want to be famous for?” A question that tends to stump people at first, with a lot of umming and erring. Ultimately we are talking about your reputation – what you want to be known for and that is of particular interest if you are looking for clients as a business owner or if you are applying for a new job or are wanting to take the next step up the ladder.
We all have a purpose in life even if we don't know what it is yet. For some they have a clear vision of their purpose early on in life - their path is laid out for them and all they have to do is take the first step. For others, the vision is unclear, foggy and the path is ambiguous or perhaps non-existent
As humans, we like to find meaning in our day-to-day life so we create and construct a narrative and the way we tell them matters - to others and ourselves. Our stories are powerful
I was musing over the weekend on what to talk about today and then it came to me - values. I was thinking about how in re-evaluating my values I had made some life-changing decisions. So I decided to share my experience as a case study. Here goes….
I don’t feel guilty about spending my money - I have earned it and I know I've done nothing wrong in spending it on myself. I do however feel ashamed about spending it. Whether it's money, time or another resource we all need to invest in ourselves without feeling guilty or ashamed of doing so. In this episode I tell you about my own experience and give you some tips for investing in yourself this year.
One of the reasons people come to me for coaching is that they want to do something they love but they don’t know where to start. I love what I do, I mean really love it and I am so grateful that I found career coaching relatively early on in my career. I remember a conversation where I said this and a friend of mine argued that not everyone has the luxury of doing something they enjoy and being paid for it, that most people have to put up with their job and just get it done in order to pay the bills. I disagree. So here's how to start thinking about when finding your passion
Have you got all of your New Year’s resolutions sorted? Raring to go? Or are you procrastinating on what you want to do? For many people, the New Year involves making a list of all the things we want to do over the coming 12 months. Many people choose to stop a certain (usually ‘bad’) activity, some start something new or vow to find a new job or look for opportunities in your current one. We begin with good intentions but how long do they last? For most of us, we’re lucky to make it to the end of January. This year I want to start a no-resolution revolution.
If you need or want to listen to others more effectively then one of the best things you can do is stay curious.
How often are you present? By which I mean actually focusing on one thing at a time, right here, now and in the present? If you're anything like me, you'll be listening to a podcast whilst you're doing something else! Here's seven easy ways to stay present.
I saw my friend's Facebook status and all it said was "ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH". I gave it a sad smiley face and messaged her to find out if there was anything I could do. As she talked I realised something - her cup was empty. I (gently) pointed this out to her and said: "you need to show yourself kindness too."
Christmas - for some a wonderful time of celebration and gathering together. For others a difficult time of melancholy or sadness. For most a time of self-imposed and unnecessary stress. It can seem like there are so many things to do - planning Christmas Day, writing Christmas cards, watching nativity plays, buying presents, doing the big shop, finishing up work. Right now, it feels more busy, less magical.
When you think of leadership skills you might consider 'communication' or 'motivating others' or 'listening' but how many would say 'gratitude'?
I’m grateful. Generally, sporadically, genuinely grateful. I’ve been practising gratitude a while. Even as a happy-go-lucky, hopeless optimist I’ve learnt some things on this journey and I wanted to share them with you. I hope to inspire you to consider putting on your gratitude goggles too.
It’s easy to be grateful when it’s all going well but what about when it’s not? What about if you are going through a crisis of some sort. How many of us even want to be thankful if we have been made redundant, if we (or someone we love) are ill, or if life is really hard right now? Even if life isn’t traumatic we still forget to be thankful for what we have.
So why should we be grateful and how do you go about it?
"I hate my job. I really want to move but I can't. I am stuck." Whether it's the security of a permanent position, a good salary, a job amidst a pandemic, or another reason you might need to stay in a job you hate, or one which you are bored in or demotivated. If this resonates with you here are 3 tips to stay motivated whilst you plan your alternative.
Do you wish you had more progression at work? Maybe you would like more recognition for your contributions? Are you making the most of your talents at work? Perhaps you're struggling to recognise your own talents after having kids? I ask because I speak to folks in coaching sessions who want more but feel shy about shouting about their talents and strengths. I mean, how are you going to get noticed if you don’t let yourself shine?
I am an advocate of doing something you love every day – from making time for self-care through to the job that you do. Today I would like to focus on your job/career/business – whatever you call it and whatever you have. It might be a combination of all those things. I want to talk to you about managing your career, rather than letting it manage you. I want to show you that you can develop your career you into one that you love. You can create the life you want to live and find balance. It sounds a lot for a podcast no? Give me eight minutes to see if this resonates with you.
You might think that it's pointless, incongruous or unimportant to consider your career during Covid-19. That's OK. It's likely managing your career will only be important to you if it's a priority for you. It's ok not to have the headspace (which I cover in this episode too) but, if you do then here are five easy tips for managing your career in the current climate.
When my brother introduced me to 'The Chimp Paradox' it changed my life. I suddenly understood why I thought the way I did and why I reacted to certain situations in a way that wasn't always constructive! When your chimp needs to feel in control it asks: what's in it for me?
When it comes to your work life, how many times do you think to yourself "I can't do this" or "I need to learn more to be competent" or "I should have chosen a different career"? You get caught in the spiral of listening to your self-talk...
I would definitely describe myself as productive (80% of the time at least!) I'm driven by a deadline and during Covid-19 all my deadlines have disappeared and I'm finding it hard to manage my personal productivity, by which I mean I am giving myself a hard time for not doing more. Now if you are too, listen on for some tips on how to cope with it.
Sometimes I think motivation is vital to success and other times I think it's not important at all...so in this episode I explore the feelings of motivation, why it is (or isn't) important and types of motivation
Celebrating success, whether it's ginormous or minuscule can feel hard but it is critical to reaching even bigger goals and achievements...but how do we even go about it?
For most of us, we really want to do the thing which scares us but the thing is….it scares us. In this episode I explore what stops us achieving our goals and how to get going again.
This time a year ago we certainly didn’t see a pandemic coming! As the days carry on and more and more uncertainty comes our way, it’s easy to lose your motivation and find yourself in a downward spiral, and that’s the most challenging time to stop the momentum and turn things around. If that’s the case, keep it simple and start to reach for little things to help you feel better and climb your way out.
One of my biggest reasons for procrastinating is not knowing what to do. I always imagine that it’s going to take me ages to learn, that it’s going to be really hard and/or that I’m going to be rubbish at it. That’s a limiting belief right there! So here’s what I’ve learned about how to get started when you don’t know what to do.
We all have bad days and for some of us our anxiety gets in the way of us achieving our goals by causing us to feel overwhelmed or paralysing us into indecision. Here's how to refocus using the Eisenhower Matrix.
We all have dreams and desires and there are moments in any goal where we feel it's not going well (see the previous podcast episode for more on this!) But what if the goal you've set is a toxic goal?
In life it can be easier to forgive others before we forgive ourselves and some of us hold ourselves more accountable and to a much higher standard than we hold others; this can be especially true when we are working towards a goal. In the middle of the process it (and you) might look or feel like a failure. If you stop then, it almost certainly will be.
Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice - unknown. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves permission to change so here are my top three reasons to do so.
Are you a hare or a tortoise? Understanding our personality traits can have an effect on the activities we choose and how we achieve them. In this week's episode I discuss solitude, support, 'should' and self-care in pursuit of balance.
The feelings of overwhelm can strike in the strangest of places, at a time when you might not even understand it. So what to do when those feelings overwhelm you?
In this episode I talk about burnout - what it is and how it feels and give you my plan on how I nurture myself and how you can too.
Balance is like the sea, ever changing and always returning to a natural, calm state at some point. It’s not something to be reached and firmly maintained. It is flexible and with a bit of awareness, it is easy to bring more balance into your life.
When we are self-accepting we are able to embrace our whole selves, not just the positive parts. It's all about admitting we are good enough, that we are enough, just as we are.
As much as I can write articles, record videos and tell you in person that you have gifts, it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t believe me. So how do you realise your potential and identify your gifts when you feel you have nothing to give? Let me start with a story…
Consistency matters in setting and meeting our goals because when the initial excitement and enthusiasm wanes it is being consistent that keeps us on course.
It's mental health week and whilst I think that looking after our mental health is a long term gift to ourselves, a week to remind ourselves and others to check in is always welcome and so today I'm asking: How often are you present?
Imagine for a minute you want a new job, or you are in a position of leadership, you are building a business or returning to work after having kids...you want to go for it but deep down you're not sure if you deserve to be happy. How would that affect your next move?
The trick is accepting yourself and not apologising for who you are or want to be. Easy, right? Er, no. Not for most of us so how do we be authentic?
As mums we wear many hats - partner, mum, employer, employee, leader, friend, volunteer, playmate, chef etc. If you are the main carer for your children it's likely that your mental load is very large. I know that mine is. The question is, how do we balance it all? I know that I can't do it all... but there must be a way to find balance?
I remember thinking that when I became a mum I would be ‘me’ with a child. Oh, how naive I was! With motherhood comes joy, tears, amazement, frustration, judgement and the inevitable guilt and anxiety. When you become a parent it seems like there are a million decisions to make and a million different ways to make them. What if you make the wrong choice? There are also endless opportunities to compare yourself to others and find yourself coming up short.
Are you suffering from mental load? It is a narrative I hear all too often. Clients, friends and family talk about having to do everything themselves, to doing it perfectly and being a good example to their kids.
Today I'm thinking about all of those mum skills we have but that we just talk away. So many mums I speak to can't see their (exponential) potential when it comes to their skills and strengths. With that in mind, here are 7 skills you gain as a mum with examples of how you can use them in a professional context.
Today I'm thinking about guilt, in particular the guilt we feel as mums. In this episode I share some things I and others in my tribe feel guilty about and three ways to shift those guilty thoughts.
It’s day 9 of our 14-day self-isolating experience for our family due to my partner having a temperature. We don’t know if it is coronavirus since there’s no testing, but we’re taking the precaution anyway. I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned.
Today we're talking options and choice. How many times have you said to yourself or someone else: "I had no choice" or "it was my only option" or "I felt trapped". I believe that everything in life is a choice and I'm sure that many of you will say that there are events in life we cannot change and I agree...but...
Are you your own worst enemy? I ask because I have spoken to three people this week who are being hard on themselves. It can be easier to forgive others before we forgive ourselves and some of us hold ourselves more accountable and to a much higher standard than we hold others. In this episode I give you some strategies to be kinder to yourself and three reasons to give yourself permission to change
"Have you ever woken up determined to hit your goals or deadlines and reached the end of the day to find you have spent most of the day on facebook? Me too. In this podcast I'll give you three ways women (in particular) self-sabotage and how to combat this behaviour, specifically the benefits of being honest with yourself. "
We all have to cope with change. As Benjamin Disraeli said "change is inevitable. Change is constant". But change can bring so many emotions and there are two main methods we employ when it comes to coping with change...
What if you could retrain your brain and subconscious and reprogram your mind to let go of the limiting beliefs you have and accept more positive beliefs. Creating 'I am' statements can do that. Tune in to find out how.
Change is constantly happening, sometimes we choose it, sometimes it happens to us. This can bring anxiety. So often it feels the road we are meant to take is the one that is most overwhelming, and yet, if we can continue ahead we can reap the rewards. Let me tell you a story...
If you believe that you're not as good as others think you are, or that everyone else is better than you, you might be suffering from imposter syndrome. Tune in to find out what it is, how it affects us and I'll give you an exercise to help you overcome it.
We all have limiting beliefs, aka the lies we tell ourselves. They are the things we believe or assume that stop us progressing to the next step.