Career coaching articles

Seriously overloaded at work? Watch out for Compassion Fatigue

Do you feel there’s nothing more you can give? Is empathy in frighteningly short supply? You might think Compassion Fatigue only happens to people in healthcare, law enforcement, emergency response, social services, therapeutic settings and teaching. But it also affects people in professional roles who are overloaded with responsibilities.

Why triangulation and gossip at work is toxic

Gossip may seem like just a bit of fun, but in reality, it’s far from harmless. Left unchecked, gossip -along with the triangulation that comes with it, can be highly toxic. It creates a working atmosphere so unpleasant that it can leave people miserable, impacting individuals, teams, performance, and general productivity.

Cultivating habitual kindness

This blog explores what art and science can tell us about how to cultivate kindness. Have you ever noticed that if you ask a child what they want to be when they are older, common responses often range from ''I don't know'' to a ''footballer'', “a doctor'', or a ''popstar''?

The neuroscience of habits and how the brain works

Over the past decade, the integration of neuroscience, technology and behavioural economics has led to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the power of habit and the pivotal role that habit plays in behaviour change. It is all about different parts of the brain and how they work together.

Hooked on ‘people pleasing’ at work? Here’s how to stop

Brene Brown isn’t the only one who used to struggle with saying ‘no’, something that can affect even the most successful of us. US chat show superstar Oprah Winfrey calls it the 'disease to please', and she didn’t manage to overcome the impulse to say ‘yes’ to everything until she hit forty. Others have defined it as an ‘unhealthy focus on others’ rather than yourself.

Get hooked on the good stuff – Develop a positive gratitude habit

Genuine gratitude, as opposed to toxic positivity, is a powerful mindset. It can make you feel more empowered, resilient, altruistic, and happier in your work and personal life. So what’s the story behind mindful gratitude, and how might it help you improve your performance?

Mel Robbins’ fascinating world – About change, and why we don’t!

It’s always interesting discovering a new slant on life and to discover a refreshingly different idea. Mel Robbin’s approach falls neatly into that category. Her attitude to change, and why people don’t change, is both radical and determined. It’s well worth looking at. Plus, her approach might be just what you are looking for and suit you down to the ground.

Do you want to hide from a difficult conversation? Try this!

It has been keeping you awake. You find yourself talking to the person in your head, ranting your way through the daily commute, unable to eat or sleep well, dreading the tough conversation you think you can’t avoid.

Matthew Dicks and the magic of Homework for Life

Homework for Life is a strategy that I originally began using to generate more story topics for the stage, but as I began to use the strategy daily, it changed my life. It made everything about my life so much more vivid and slowed my life down remarkably. It's a strategy I teach to my storytelling classes often, and I've had people tell me that it has replaced therapy and meditation for them. It truly changes lives. Powerful.

The risk of single stories, and the value of balance

In the 1930s scientists began examining the cognitive effects of labeling. According to a hypothesis by the linguist Benjamin Whorf, the words we use to describe what we see aren't just random. They actually determine what we experience to a startling degree. And that can be dangerous.

True Grit – The importance of getting your story straight

Failure hurts. When you fail, make mistakes, relationships become strained or you disappointingly lose, it can shatter your equilibrium. Inevitably it always involves having to pick yourself up and dust ourselves off. It can take plenty of resolve and resilience to start again.

Changing your negative thinking patterns – how to identify mind traps and free yourself up

You think your innermost feelings are hidden. Maybe you're not even often sure what they are. But the language you use provides all sorts of clues about the way you're feeling, your attitudes, fears and more. In fact, our language can highlight distortions in our thinking, and it does it surprisingly clearly.

Fine-tune your resilience – 3 secrets to staying steady in tough times

Every one of us is faced with great difficulty right now during Covid19 lock-down, and plenty of us are facing tragedy. Many of us are feeling wobbly. We're riding so many emotions in one day, the unfolding situation is unprecedented and it's hard to manage.

About the process of transition – And how to handle it well

Everyone experiences transition at work. It can be as dramatic as a seismic shift in the outlook of the business or as basic as someone familiar leaving the firm, the loss of a loyal supporter. The key is to recognise a transition point when you reach one, and to handle it well.

Working with three horizons in mind – shaping new futures

We are living in such uncertain and volatile times. Everyone is searching for some ‘handle’ on the future? We are seeking to see what emerges and how to shape different futures - find a way forward through all the uncertainties and complexities.

Introducing our Transformational Narrative Coaching book – the power of story

Human beings have always told stories. In the beginning, we huddled around campfires. These days we huddle around the TV, mobile or computer, in pubs and restaurants, at home and at work, to create and consume the stories of our lives, other people's lives, businesses and the media.

Are you buckling under Allostatic Overload? What are the signs?

You’re stressed. You feel worn out, drained and flat. The future looks uncertain. You can’t keep hold of your emotions and your sleep is suffering. Your muscles are tense. You’ve become hyper-vigilant. Your body’s stress hormones are surging. And it is utterly exhausting.

The ups and downs of working with a narcissist – And how to survive it!

Narcissism is a trait that can be very difficult to live with as well as very tricky to work with. If you're struggling to cope with a narcissist in a business context, it is challenging and it isn't all bad. Here are the up-sides and downsides of working with a narcissist, and how to survive the experience.

Charting our way through the storm – Part 1

You will probably be familiar with the following famous quote, shared at the beginning on the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just one oar.”

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) on the horizon – Part 2

I described the experience as a ‘collective trauma’, no matter which boat you journeyed in. Here, I explore what it means to describe the COVID-19 pandemic in these terms, exploring the lesser talked about side of trauma: Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG).

Gathering around a roaring telly – The science of storytelling

In the 1970s parents told children they'd get 'square eyes' from watching too much telly. There's still some snobbery around the idea of hunkering down in front of the TV, which is seen as somehow less worthy than the theatre, opera, film, books, even radio.

Beware – Don’t let ‘busy’ eat into your strategic priorities

Picture this. You're busy. Very busy. Time is running away with you! You're rushing around getting stuff done. But wait a moment – are you really getting things done? Or have you let 'being busy' divert you from your strategic priorities and goals?

Being different – The value of not always quite fitting in

On the outside, you look the part. You seem competent and at home professionally. But inside, part of you often feels you don't quite fit in. You'll never really be a 'good corporate fit', and you have always felt that way.

Kintsugi, wabi-sabi, and why it’s fine to be imperfect

In Japanese ‘Kintsugi’ means to 'join with gold', an elegant and graceful way to mend broken pottery, leaving the mend fully visible and highlighting it with the precious metal. The pot shards are fused back together with gold, and the gilded cracks become part of the object's beauty.

Has your enthusiasm wilted? Are you bored? You might be pot-bound in your role!

The alarm clock goes off. At first there's that lovely blank feeling, the feeling you get just before you fully wake and realise what your day will involve. Then you remember it's a weekday and your mood sinks.

Forget your superchickens and connect better for brilliant teams

Margaret Heffernan recommends we move past the pecking order at work. As the successful former CEO of five businesses, Margaret has discovered that one of the most common ways businesses are run invariably leads to troubled waters.

What does it mean to flourish at work? Introducing the PERMA Model

Are you happy at work? For most of us, our professional experience is a mix of frustration and fulfilment, plus many hours of grind which can be bland and monotonous. It can also be the opposite, highly pressured and seemingly relentless.

Are you Relentless and Unstoppable?

The tragic, untimely death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant at the end of January 2020 shocked the world, robbing us of a remarkable talent. Professional basketball lost a great player.

Innovate or stagnate? Get ahead of the curve

In a fast-changing world it is important to stay open, and be aware that people who are the most responsive to change are those who survive, even thrive. Does that sound familiar?

Finding your rhythm to achieve the work exercise balance

Do you find daily exercise a constant struggle as it’s often the first priority to get scratched as you juggle a myriad of deadlines at work and at home?

Little decisions, big impact – Small changes have more power than you think

Most of us appreciate the big, sweeping positive changes that happen in our lives. But they're tough to achieve, requiring time, strength and dedication. Little changes are different.

How to write a successful blog for start-ups and small businesses

Writing a blog is a great way to grow your business and add value for your clients, creating a space to let you and your brand’s unique identity shine. Blogs can be a fantastic way to communicate directly with your customers and attract new ones, but with so many company blogs out there sitting unloved and unread in a dusty corner of Google’s search rankings how can you ensure that your blog avoids a similar fate?

Well-formed outcomes – starting with that end point in mind

Well-formed outcomes help people get clear about what it is that they want to achieve. Shaping up future outcomes that are highly defined from the start, is a creative and disciplined way of thinking. One that can have real potency.

Placement years – a student’s real life experience at work

Placement years at Universities are becoming more and more popular, with plenty of reasons why! Placement and Sandwich years are offered to students like myself, whilst studying at University, however not all courses offer them. I’m currently doing an Event Management degree and have just completed my Placement year.

Start-up – giving yourself the best chance to make it

Start-ups are exciting. When you kick off a brand new business, whatever the sector or subject, you’re often on a rollercoaster ride. You need to move quickly and confidently but you also need to remain sure-footed and grounded, blending fresh ideas with tried and trusted business wisdom to create a sturdy, workable whole.

Always busy? Getting busier? Slowing down could change your life!

Everyone's busy. Plenty of us are really, really busy, all of the time. Some say busy-ness has reached epidemic proportions in the wealthy western economy. But is being so busy you can't easily turn around and can't always think well, really a wise approach to work?

About internships – Great for business, great for careers

In the USA internships kicked off in the late 1960s. Since then they've become commonplace over the Atlantic. Roll back time to the 1990s in the UK and internships were more or less unheard of. Now they're a fast-growing trend in Britain too. So what are the advantages of an internship? How do they help businesses, and how about the interns themselves?

Why your glass is actually half full – The value of positive psychology

Are you in the habit of being a 'glass half empty' person, a bit of a pessimist? If so you can learn to become more optimistic, learn how to fill that glass even if you're easily discouraged. You can steadily learn how to change your habitual reactions. Here's why it matters, and how Martin Seligman’s approach and techniques can help you.

How to slow down, calm down, and harness non-violent communication

At various times in your career you'll probably find yourself handling a variety of challenging situations. In fact anyone on an upward career path will encounter tricky circumstances at one time or another, involving unhappy, disappointed and frustrated people. So how do you manage yourself, and them, effectively?

About marketing a new freelance business – The basics

Plenty of people are freelancers. If you're thinking about going freelance yourself, you'll hopefully already have a few clients or customers under your belt, ideally a handful so you're not only reliant on one income stream.

A new start? All about freelancing…

According to Consultancy.uk, there are already around two million freelance workers in Britain, a number that's widely predicted to keep on rising. A dramatic increase in freelancers came about from 2009 onwards, as the global banking crisis and resulting recession began to bite.

16 Reliable Ways to boost your presentation skills

As narrative coaches we're hot on presentation skills. How are yours? Are you struggling to make impactful presentations?

How to stop your blind spots from tripping you up

Our blind spots often develop when we’re young. They help us survive, and they often start off being pretty useful. But as time goes by and your past successes become your only way to succeed in the present and future, things can get tricky. If our only approach to solving problems doesn’t work in certain environment, we’re lost.

Want to Become More Flexible and Resilient? Then Simply Let Go…

Are you holding onto pain when doing so doesn’t fix a thing? Are you replaying the past over and over, even though you know it won't change? Do you find yourself wishing things were different? At home or at work?

Changing habits – How long it takes to loop the loop, and how to do it

If you've ever eaten too much chocolate three weeks after a New Year resolution to not do so, or given up on the gym in favour of lounging around, you'll already know it. It can be hard to change a habit.

The neuroscience of habits – And how mindfulness can break them

Some habits are good, some are dreadful, others deserve close critical examination, and some particularly strong ones even hold us back from being the best we can be, both in our personal lives and our careers.

Keeping things simple – Why less really is more at work

The Apple genius Steve Jobs knew it. Less really is more. It's a saying we've all heard, and it's an excellent approach to life in general as well as work in particular.

Not taking things too personally – How to develop a thicker skin at work

Do you cope with criticism at work? Or do you feel every less-than-positive word is like a personal injury? When your skin is too thin for comfort you’re emotionally vulnerable, on edge and much more likely to feel overwhelmed or low. And that can make working life very uncomfortable indeed.

Shine at your next interview – How to prepare for success

How are you at job interviews? Some people cope just fine, managing to stay calm and focused. Others feel terribly nervous, forget what they want to say, lose the plot, fall apart. Do you struggle to give concise answers at interviews?

The exciting benefits of a multi-generational workplace

As the brilliant Chip Conley says in his Ted Talk about intergenerational workplaces, “It’s hard to microwave your emotional intelligence”.

Optimise your business mind: Harness the Chimp Paradox

We have a lot in common with chimpanzees, our close genetic relatives. Like us they use tools, recognise themselves in mirrors, experience emotions. But if you've ever seen footage of chimps at war, chimps carrying out a brutal murder, chimps losing the plot completely, it's easy to see they're far from human. We tend to have more control over our emotions... most of the time!

The One BIG Thing

In the self-help world there are numerous books that claim to you give the four essential things you need to do, the five secrets of success, or the six principles to follow. This is compounded by the fact that people love a list, whether it’s the top ten celebrity shots or the hundred best reads for summer. The formula for success often ends up as a list, something quick and easy to digest.

The 7 secrets to a great new role

We coach a lot of people in transition. Transition coaching, helping people move from one role to another, is a distinctive niche in the coaching market.

Your USP – define your unique selling point

In business it’s our USP, our Unique Selling Point, how we distinguish ourselves from everyone else, that makes us different, that makes us special. That’s why people want to buy from us. Our brand is what makes us distinctive. Our USP is the very thing that makes us what we are, our ‘thisness’.

Leaving your comfort zone – What happens at the edge?

Staying in your comfort zone may seem like a great idea. It feels really comfortable and familiar. The thing is, humans are wired to grow and develop.

Rustout– About Burnout’s Lesser-Known Relative

Search online and you might find a few articles about it, none of which are particularly comprehensive. 'Rustout' isn't anywhere near as well covered, explored and discussed as the better known 'burnout'.

Why do business plans matter, and when do you need one?

The very term ‘business plan’ - AKA a business case - can be daunting. But writing one doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult.

You are not fixed in stone. Your personality changes over time. Here’s how – Part 1

You grow up, your personality gets fixed, and that's you for life... or is it? It looks like nobody's personality is set in stone. We change, and that's great news for your career. Read more...

How Your Personality Changes Through Life – Part 2

You change as you grow and experience life, and that's great to know. But how can you go about changing your own personality? It looks like it's possible. Find out here.

Executive burnout: Do you know how to spot the signs?

According to government statistics,stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 40% of all work-related ill health cases in 2016/17 and 49% of all working days lost due to ill health.

How values – And being savvy about them – Will enhance your career

Focusing on your deeply-held values can be extremely beneficial at every stage in your career. Understanding your core professional values and how they directly influence you in a working context will help you to be yourself with far more skill. Values ground and anchor you. When life and work engage your values strongly, and you can express them congruently, you’ll be more fulfilled. But when there’s tension and conflict around them, the opposite happens.

Does getting older really mean you’re inevitably going to become less on the ball? Not at all…

Ageing is inevitable. But as an executive does getting older really have to mean that you necessarily begin to forget things, noticeably slow down, become less sharp? Apparently not. Here's the good news about getting older.

The Paradox of Choice – Solving the Career Choice Enigma

Are you looking for career coaching? Are you considering changing tack and kicking off a new direction? Whatever sector you’re in, whatever your role, it’s all about making choices. And, surprising as it may seem, having choices doesn’t always make life easy!