Career Espresso

In this episode, I'm exploring why using the word 'should' can take away your career autonomy and place unhealthy levels of fear and worry at your door. How many times do you find yourself saying that you should do something? I remember a mentoring session early on in my career when I was at a bit of a loss over a tricky project and it involved a fair slice of my own guilt, regret,...

It's all too easy to get distracted by the success of others and forget what career success means to you personally. Historically, career success has been measured in terms of money, power, and job title. But career accomplishments like promotions, results from working on a project or qualifications don't always equal career success. So when was the last time you thought about what it re...

With an average career spanning 47 years, it would be highly unusual if you didn't need help or feel stuck at some point. But who do you ask for help? And how do you go about finding the right person?  This week I'm explaining the key differences between a role model, mentor, sponsor, and coach and how to decide who is the best person to help you achieve your career goals. So here's...

This week I'm talking about meetings at work, and specifically how to make them more effective and productive. Apparently, 30% to 50% of the hours we spend in meetings aren't even productive, and a huge 73% of people admit to doing other work during meetings, hello inbox, and goodbye focus. So here's what you can expect from the episode: I share some surprising meeting stats I talk...

This week I'm looking at why it's okay not to strive for perfection in your career and why in reality, done will beat perfect every single time. Here's what you can expect from the episode: I look at the difference between perfection and accomplishment The fine line between high standards and perfectionism Five reasons why it's okay not to be perfect at work As always I end the...

This week I'm shining a light on something you may find relatable - the pain of one-to-one meetings at work.  If you're like me, you've probably experienced a wide range of one-to-one meetings in your career and most of them sit at the not-so-positive end of the scale! Here's what you can expect from the episode: The reason these types of meetings can feel so painful Why taking...

Have you ever experienced conflict at work?  If so, you're not alone. Unresolved conflicts make for stressful workplaces and can potentially cost organisations tens of thousands of pounds every year.  So how can we help to prevent these issues before they begin? In this week's episode, I'll share some simple strategies to help you reduce and resolve the chances of serious conflicts...

Have you ever had the job-hunting blues? At times it can feel like a job search is a long, challenging process. And it can also feel quite personal into the bargain. In this week's episode, I'll look at how long on average it takes to find a job and what you can do to speed up your search. Here's what you can expect from the episode: I look at how long a job search can take and the...

In this episode, I'm sharing some tips that will help you make your CV stand out after taking a career break. Career gaps can be riddled with judgment. Whilst this is perhaps unsurprising, given the long-standing view around taking time away from your work, it's worrying given that experiences outside of the workplace form such a huge part of our identity.  Why is it then that despite th...

Everyone loves an attention-grabbing headline and workplace trends have not escaped this attention over the past few years.  Quiet quitting, quiet hiring, rage quitting, quiet firing, lists of seemingly endless buzzwords that have emerged over the past year or so to describe either new workplace dynamics or highlight long-standing bad culture practices are quite hard to keep up with. In episode 17...

Life's full of choices and never more so than when it comes to your career. Is it time to quit my job?  Could I make a complete career change?  Which job offer should I say yes to?  What longer-term career options do I want to explore?  In this week's episode, I take a look at: Why making decisions can feel overwhelming and difficult to make How there is no 'perfect' answer whe...

Imagine you've been working on a big project for a while now and it's really close to your heart, but the time has come to share it more widely. How do you do this in a way that feels comfortable and authentic?  And do you even need to promote yourself in the first place?  In today's episode of Career Espresso, I'll be looking at why self-promotion can feel like such a challeng...

Are you someone who goes out of your way to be helpful at work?  You always seem to say yes to that new project even though you are already up to capacity You find yourself agreeing with colleagues even though you hold a different and valid point of view  In today's episode of Career Espresso, I'll be looking at how to spot the signs of people-pleasing behaviours at work and covering som...

When we think about brands, we usually think of companies, not people. By its very definition, a brand is something that separates one thing from another and is a mark of trust or quality. Good examples are Apple’s slick logo and marketing, or Nike’s ‘swoosh’ design and ‘Just Do It’ slogan. Branding may have begun with businesses but whether we like it or not, we all have our own individual ‘brand...

Advancing in your career doesn’t only depend on how well you perform. Career development tends to be presented as a rational process, where you acquire the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to boost your chances of success.   But have you considered that the missing part of the puzzle could be self-promotion?  Whilst it’s not always an easy skill to master, it’s a powerful tool that yo...

I’d like to start today’s Career Summer School podcast lesson with a question – “How important is empathy in your career and workplace?”   Knowing how to be empathetic can help you improve communication with others and create improved working relationships. In a bonus Career Espresso podcast episode recorded for Career Summer School I look at empathy in the workplace as identified by Daniel Golema...

How often do you find yourself saying -  I can't  I shouldn't It's too late These are just some of the thoughts, ideas, and assumptions that can limit our progress and stop us from doing what we want in life and our careers  In today's episode of Career Espresso, I'll be looking at -  How our beliefs can hold us back   The one thing that they all boil down to  How to...

Have you ever been to a networking event and found that when you're speaking to people, they all seem to have the same thing in common?  They all admit to hating networking! One thing I get asked a lot is how networking can be made to feel that bit less painful.  In today's bonus episode I look at  Redefining what networking means to you  A few tips to make your next networking experienc...

In my third bonus podcast episode to support my Career Summer School, I'll be looking at how you can get better at asking for help when you need it. In this 5 minute episode I cover -  Why help can be seen as a four letter word Why it can feel difficult to ask for help  5 tips to get you started next time you need help at work or in your career Career Summer School 16 lessons over 4 weeks to...

How often do you stop and ask yourself "What comes next in my career?"  Summer can be a great time to pause and reflect on how the year has been going so far and think about what the remainder of 2023 could bring for your development.  In today's episode of Career Espresso, I'll be looking at -  How you can use summer to focus on what you really want in your career Why women ca...

In my second bonus podcast episode to support my Career Summer School, I'll be looking at how women can build confidence in their careers  In the episode I cover -  Why confidence is often linked to your identity  How confidence is a capability rather than a personality trait  The 4 building blocks of developing your confidence  And how to take action to develop your confidence at work Career...

Summer is traditionally the time when we look forward to a well-deserved break from work. But figuring out how you can possibly avoid working twice as hard before you head off (not to mention feeling overwhelmed when you get back) seems to be a recurrent theme for many women that I speak to.  In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -   Why it can feel so hard to take a break in t...

In my first bonus podcast episode to support my Career Summer School, I'll be looking at how you can create your own career vision statement  In the episode I cover -  Wny a vision statement gives direction to your career How to define what career success means to you How to create your career vision statement  And how to put it to work once it's done!  And I've included a 'Des...

Feeling lost is tough and not knowing what comes next in your career can feel uncomfortable, to say the least.  In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -   Why feeling lost can actually be good for your career development   What being lost does for you Reframing your career as a jungle gym instead of a ladder   What to do next to take action and make progress instead of looking f...

In my work as a career coach, I've noticed that many of my clients know they need to develop in their careers but often struggle to begin taking action on their intentions. In short, they need to start doing, stop overthinking, and take imperfect action.  In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -   Why too much research on your career options can lead to a false sense of pro...