You Are Not A Frog

Healthcare professionals and people in demanding careers often accept stress as a way of life. However, unchecked stress will someday lead to burnout and create more problems for everyone involved. Our bold solution to this relentless problem is to start becoming obsessed with relaxation! We all know we need to calm down and relax, but how many of us actually do it?  John C. Parkin joins us t...

Have you seen stuff at work that has affected you deeply? Do you sometimes wonder if keeping calm and carrying on as usual is possibly not the best thing to do? Working on the frontline comes at the expense of many things, physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, this should not be the case. We need to take time and be kind to ourselves in these situations before we could go out and do our...

While taking time away from work, you may realize that your career path is not what you wanted it to be. You might find that many things need to change in order for you to pursue your ideal life. Fortunately, returning to work can be your opportunity to make changes in your life. Have the intention to take the steps to avoid burnout and live out your ideal life. In this episode, Dr. Katya Miles an...

When major issues occur in your life, it’s often necessary to take a break and deal with them, and of course there’s also the other reasons we take significant time off work - maternity or parental leave, taking a sabbatical or taking a career break.  Whatever the reason for being off work, being off for a prolonged period can lead to a loss of confidence and anxiety when you are finally able...

Many of us spend most of our days within the four walls of our home and workplace. With everything we have to do, it seems challenging to set aside a few minutes out of our indoor spaces. But when you find the time to connect with nature, you might discover new perspectives and insights into your life. Henri Stevenson joins us to talk about the ways connecting with nature can shift our thinking an...

In this episode of You Are Not a Frog, Annie Hanekom guides you through how to say no and deal with the inevitable pushback. She shares the importance of language — are you using pain language or power language? We’ll also be discussing how to employ power language to set boundaries and how to use your values to get over the pain of saying no. If you also struggle with saying no and dealing with p...

Change can definitely be scary. However, it doesn’t always have to be a difficult and terrifying experience. Dr Claire Kaye is back on the podcast to talk about change. Whether you dislike change or thrive on it, her insights and enlightening tips will help you make the most of the changes in your life. Are you undergoing a difficult change right now? Learn more about how to change when change is...

Do you truly know what it means to live a life without regrets? Too often, we get stuck chasing dreams that aren't even our own or don't take action to improve our lives because we're hoping for something better. If you only had a year left to live, would you really be spending it at the office? Georgina Scull joins us in this episode to talk about what she learned from writing the book, Regrets o...

Joining us to talk about finding happiness in your workplace is Sarah Metcalfe. The founder of Happiness Coffee Consulting shares the importance of being happy at work to reduce workplace stress and perform better. She gives her top tips on simple things you can do to pursue happiness and share it with others. In a high-stress job like medicine, choose happiness and spread it. If you want to learn...

In this episode, Corrina Gordon-Barnes joins us to discuss the common struggles of working parents and the things we need to unlearn. She shares how to take radical responsibility as a parent and delegate responsibilities from housework to emotional load. We also teach you how to stay in your zone of genius and accept help when you need it. It’s time to live a life you love and enjoy, even amidst...

Are you sick of spending all day in front of your screen? While it is convenient to conduct online meetings, it can also feel tiring not meeting people face to face. But love them or hate them, online meetings are here to stay. We need to find ways to make them work. John Monks joins us to discuss designing better online meetings and interactions. We discuss how to create online meetings that ener...

What do you tend to do when you're feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts or stress? Most of us want to "fix" negative emotions – but this approach usually makes it worse! Dealing with negative emotions isn't always about fixing them; sometimes, acknowledging and recognising them is enough. Handling your mental health matters isn't always a long, drawn-out process. Our guest for this episode sha...

Every workplace has a hierarchy. Whether you are a trainee, a colleague, or a boss (or all three!), the hierarchy can influence everything from everyday working practices to relational dynamics. However, sometimes, it can feel much harder communicating upwards than down. Factors like fear and under-confidence can lead you to speak up less and be more hesitant to discuss issues. But building trust,...

Some problems are a breeze to solve, but others can leave you dithering for ages. Ignore them for too long, and they’ll catch up, but face them without planning, and you won’t progress. However, what you may not realise is that can find the solution within yourself. In this episode, Rachel talks with Claire Kaye about self-coaching. They explore the framework and questions to guide you on your sel...

This week, Steve Pratt joins us to discover the benefits of mindfulness. We talk about how mindfulness is used to be able to live happier and less anxious. We also teach you how you can develop mindfulness practices and incorporate them into your life. Resources Sign up for the Resilient Team Academy to join a supportive and thriving community of leaders Listen to a previous episode on mindfulness...

Do you ever find yourself questioning whether you’re on the right path? Or maybe you’re struggling to find meaning in what you do? So many of us feel like we are stuck in a neverending climb in our careers. Whenever you get to a point like this, it may be time to re-assess and reprioritise your life.  When faced with unwanted events, go back to your ‘why’ to discover how you can change your c...

Doctors and healthcare professionals are so busy that they would rather do other things than spend hours working on their appraisals. However, appraisals are a vital part of your medical career. This process allows you to reflect on your past experiences and figure out how to move forward.  Dr Susi Caesar joins us to talk about how you can elevate and enjoy your professional life with annual...

Dr Ed Pooley joins us in this episode to discuss what we should do when we see inappropriate behaviour like badmouthing. He shares how we can manage difficult conversations with the intent of helping others. We also discuss the importance of recognising triggers through the SCARF model. Resources Get in touch and book a slot with us for live program courses of the Shapes Toolkit. Bookings are open...

Everyone’s experienced self-doubt at some point. However, downplaying our accomplishments and skills might lead to negative self-talk. That's not to say questioning yourself is completely bad — sometimes it can spur you to improve! Resources Sign up for the Resilient Team Academy to join a supportive and thriving community of leaders. Listen to Episode 67: Bringing Your Best Self to Work with Dr S...

Do you find yourself stuck in a pattern of aggressive conversations in certain situations? Do you ever wonder why those conversations trigger you? It can be hard to understand what's happening when we're feeling in what he calls a ‘red state’. Identifying the feeling is the first step in mindfulness practice; we need to recognise our red emotional states to move away from them. Graham Lee joins us...

Dr Karen Forshaw and Chrissie Mowbray join us to discuss how our core beliefs shape the way we respond to situations. When taken too far, empathy and helping people can be a big cause of stress. In addition, we also talk about we can learn to reframe and reassess their core beliefs.  If you want to know how to help people without absorbing their emotions, stay tuned to this episode. Here are...

When was the last time you had fun at work?  Dr Kathryn Owler joins us in this episode to discuss the importance of having a fun mindset at work. She shares her fascinating research on the characteristics and traits of people who enjoy their current jobs. We dissect the common themes these people have in finding success in their careers. If you want to start adopting the mindset people who ha...

Dr Ed Pooley and Dr Hussain Gandhi join us to discuss critical management skills they wish they had learned at med school. We also talked about how you can develop these practices now. Resources Eisenhower Matrix and Ike App Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt Dr Ed Pooley’s Ten Minute Medicine website , Facebook and FB Group Dr Hussain Gandhi’s Linkedin eGPlearning's website , Facebook and Youtube THR...

We all have our own take on what success looks like. Throughout our careers, we’ve conditioned ourselves to work extra hard to get to where we want to be, but many professionals who have reached high levels of success seem to be unhappy. Is this really what success looks like?  There is no one definition for success. We’re all different — from our talents and skills down to the priorities we...

In this episode of YANAF, we’re talking about worry and anxiety, particularly rational worry and anxiety. You know the phrases, don’t worry, it’ll probably never happen, or ‘It’s not like anyone’s going to die!’ – well what do we do when bad things may well happen, or people’s lives and livelihoods are genuinely at risk? How do we stop ourselves from becoming overwhelmed with anxiety then? To expl...