Lead with Less

Many people (including myself) have a sensitive relationship with feedback, but feedback isn't just about criticism; it's about uncovering blind spots and fostering improvement. I run workshops on this a lot for companies and it’s always a key part of my coaching programmes, so today I wanted to shed light on why feedback is pivotal for growth and success, yet often triggers deep-seated insecuriti...

This week I dive into the world of part-time work with Belinda Morgan, an author, coach, and flexible work specialist. Belinda has seen firsthand how cultures that glorify overwork and prioritise profits above all else can be highly damaging to people’s wellbeing, productivity and results. Belinda shares insights from her personal and professional journey, highlighting the benefits of part-time wo...

There’s so much uncertainty prevalent in today's world, both at home and at work. Companies are making a lot of changes, the government is shaking things up, and the “normal” life feels like it’s going out of the window. There have been many moments where I have become really overwhelmed when things have felt uncertain – feeling like I couldn’t control anything. Like when I was made redundant, whe...

I have a bit of a different episode for you this week, one where I share what I’ve been navigating recently, and I am sure there are some things in there that you will definitely be able to relate to. I want to open up about my recent journey with self-doubt and overwhelm, whilst also recognising what I am proud about and excited for. I'll be reflecting on the last financial year, discussing what'...

In this week's guest episode, I sit down with Emma-Louise Parkes, who was my coach for over a year, to delve into the unique strengths and challenges of introverts and highly sensitive individuals in the professional world. Emma-Louise shares her non-traditional career path, from being a flight attendant with no clear career direction to becoming an air traffic controller for 17 years, to turning...

This week I dive deep into the often-avoided territory of dealing with “difficult” people and situations. Inspired by a poignant message from a podcast listener, I share why addressing these challenges is crucial, especially as you climb the professional ladder. I dissect what makes these interactions feel difficult, and explore how you can approach courageous conversations so that you can move fr...

In this episode of Lead With Less, I explore the fifth and final essential skill that professionals need: Emotional Regulation – the ability to recognise, understand, and manage your emotional and energetic state. I was never really good at this, but as I stepped up in my career and tried to outgrow very unhealthy personal life behaviours, I relied heavily on emotional regulation and my ability to...

In this episode, I sit down with Jacob Lawrie, a marketing, brand, and people leader who shares openly about his career journey and the transition from being a team member to a leader.  Jacob currently leads Marketing at Projectworks, a software startup that serves the professional services industry. Prior to that he's held a combination of strategic, people, and functional leadership positio...

This week, I cover the fourth essential skill that professionals need for career growth and success – strategic thinking. This was key for me to step into senior roles and people leadership roles, and gave me the ability to think bigger than the immediate tasks. Strategic thinking also helped me to connect how things fit together, and ultimately deliver on a goal that was further in the future. I...

In this episode, I talk about the importance of adopting a coaching approach in professional interactions. I explore why coaching is a powerful skill, the tension between being a manager and a leader, the essential steps to implementing a coaching approach, and mindset reminders for success. This is the third part in the mini series on essential skills for professionals, helping you to expand in y...

This week’s episode is the second in the mini series on essential skills for professionals, and today I am talking about trusting relationships. Building trusting relationships is a foundation for sustainable career growth. By fostering trust and respect, professionals like you can unlock commitment, navigate challenges, and create a fulfilling and successful career path. If you’re looking to enha...

This week I am joined by Brittany Wilde, a seasoned Brain Health Practitioner, High Performance Coach, and Strength & Conditioning Coach with over 15 years of experience. Brittany shares the journey that has shaped her into the expert she is today, including the pivotal moments, challenges, and insights that led her to work with individuals using applied neuroscience. Brittany opens up about h...

Are you looking to expand in your career without succumbing to stress and overwhelm? This week I’m talking about the first essential skill to cultivate for professionals seeking growth without sacrifice – a solid and curious mindset. This episode is the start of a mini series on essential skills, so make sure you tune into the other upcoming episodes where I dive into more valuable practices. Toda...

In today's episode I'm diving into the essential skills that professionals need to thrive – a topic that's close to my heart after noticing a common gap in professional development during my 1:1 coaching sessions with seasoned leaders. Specifically the oversight of crucial human skills like mindset, courageous conversations, energy management and more. I am also going to share information on my ne...

Renowned leadership expert John Maxwell aptly states, "Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you." Following on from recent episodes on strategic planning and Kyle's journey to intentionally creating his own experience, today I explore why deciding matters and how it shapes your reality. I also talk about the profound impact decisions have on everyone's lives, and how decisi...

In this week's episode I am joined by my husband, Kyle Haskins, who dives into the world of high performance. Kyle has over 15 years of corporate sales experience, and shares secrets to exceeding targets and achieving goals by harnessing the untapped power of the mind. Discover Kyle's transformative journey from corporate sales to becoming an Energy Alignment Coach, as well as invaluable insights...

Welcome back to Lead With Less, and Happy New Year! In this episode I delve into the importance of strategic planning, and take you through a series of powerful questions that will act as a compass for guiding your year.  You will also discover how mapping out a plan not only shapes your goals but also influences the decisions you make.  You will learn about: Why strategic planning matte...

This is the final episode of Lead With Less for 2023 and I want to help you end the year on a HIGH!  Today I am going to give you 5 prompts to work through to get the gold out of the year, and 3 mindset shifts to keep you feeling that higher energy. You will learn about: Why it’s important to be intentional What recency bias is and how to work through it Ways to focus on what’s going to benef...

Preparation, mindset and boundaries are incredibly important for your time off. Without them you won’t have space to properly rest and reset so you can start back with more clarity, courage, and energy. So in today’s episode, I’m going to share with you three important reminders during your time off and three actions to implement to support your time off. You will also learn about: How to better p...

In this episode I draw from a recent coaching conversation with a seasoned operations director who was going through a tough time. This inspired me to share four powerful questions with you that will help you navigate life's challenges and stresses at work. Through asking yourself these questions, you will also uncover the power of streamlining certain approaches, and learn the art of making thing...

In today’s episode I am going to share five practices that will boost your energy at work, and if done consistently will change the game for you! I share these practices in all of my programmes and courses, they are fundamental for reducing overwhelm and burnout, so I know you are going to find this episode really beneficial if you’re struggling to create a sustainable energy output at work. You w...

As we approach the end of year “busyness” I thought it would be great to share some simple strategies to help you move through this time with more ease.  These strategies can also be implemented whenever you feel overwhelmed or like your workload is getting the best of you, so listen in, because they really are beneficial at any point. You will learn about: How to prevent feeling burnout on y...

In this episode, I talk with the amazing Kate Billing from Blacksmith, on harnessing your self-talk for success. Kate is one of New Zealand's leading voices on gender/age equity and leadership development. Her work focuses on growing leadership capacity to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new reality of life and work. We have an incredible discussion on the power of self-talk, and dive...

Today I am going to be talking about imposter syndrome and share some mindset shifts to help you overcome imposter syndrome thinking.  Research suggests that approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lifetime, however I believe that percentage is actually higher as research relies on people acknowledging that they are experiencing it. Which is why I feel...

This is, I feel, a very important episode to listen to for all those who truly want to be more inclusive in the workplace and harness the power of individuality.  I had the pleasure of talking with Callum McKirdy, a s peaker, author, mentor and facilitator who is proudly dyslexic and ADHD-positive and specialises in workplace dynamics and behaviour. Callum has spent the past two decades assis...