The Green Pen Pep Talk

High standards are valuable. Self-sabotage is not. In this episode, I look at how standards, when they're set too high, can actually start to sabotage your work rather than support it.

We've all been there: you're discussing findings with a stakeholder and you start to feel like you’re going round and around in circles. It can feel frustrating. In this episode, I explore how repeating the same message, rather than scrambling for new justifications or additional data, can signal confidence and prevent the conversation from drifting.

Sometimes a sharp comment in a meeting is less about the issue and more about the pressure someone is feeling. In this episode, I explore how recognising emotional bait — and choosing not to react to it — helps keep audit conversations focused on evidence, reasoning, and risk.

At some point in your audit career, you'll encounter a stakeholder who asks you to soften a finding. In this episode, I explore how integrity and credibility are essential when this situation arises.

Disagreement during an audit can feel personal, but it doesn’t automatically mean your work or judgement isn’t respected. In this episode, I explore how disagreement can be a vital part in ensuring the best outcome for an audit — and in ensuring risks are properly understood.

Confidence doesn’t appear overnight — it’s built through reflection, experience, and small deliberate actions over time. In this episode, I explore how regularly reviewing moments of confidence can not only help you continue to grow in confidence, but also steady your composure when pressure mounts.

Disagreement in audit doesn’t automatically mean your judgement is wrong. In this episode, I explore why professional judgement isn’t built on unanimous agreement, but on clear reasoning that helps organisations make informed decisions.

Strong pushback from stakeholders can make it tempting to soften or withdraw a finding. In this episode, I explore how to hold your ground without becoming defensive — staying open to new information while calmly standing behind your reasoning and evidence.

Escalation can feel like you’ve lost control — but it’s actually a core part of how governance is meant to work. In this episode, I reframe escalation as clarity, not incompetence, and explain why raising risks factually and without emotion can strengthen, not weaken, your credibility.

That uncomfortable feeling of being out of your depth can look a lot like incompetence — but it isn’t always. In this episode, I explore the difference between true inability and the stretch of growth, and why learning to tolerate that temporary wobble is essential for developing real competence.

Perfect information is almost never available in audit — what you’re really working with is a mosaic of partial, potentially conflicting, and evolving evidence. In this episode, I explore the shift from relying on certainty to exercising professional judgement, and why waiting for complete clarity can delay both impact and credibility.

Being challenged on your work can trigger an instant urge to defend and prove you’re right. In this episode, I unpack why that reaction is human — but not always helpful — and how to stay steady when your conclusions are questioned.

In high-pressure moments, the instinct is to answer questions quickly. In this episode, I explore why slowing down, pausing, and choosing your response deliberately can strengthen both your composure and your credibility.

Pushback from stakeholders can feel personal — especially when you’ve spent time and effort on getting the audit report 'right'. In this episode, I unpack why stakeholder pushback is usually about pressure, not personal, and the importance of separating your identity from your work.

Tension during an audit isn’t a sign you’ve failed. In this episode, I normalise stakeholder pushback, disagreement, and even frustration, and explain why discomfort comes with raising risks and identifying gaps. If you’re new to audit, consider this your preparation: when tension shows up, it doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong.

Confidence evolves from knowledge into judgement. This episode reflects on trusting the professional judgement you’ve built over time — especially when decisions need to be made without perfect certainty.

Confidence doesn’t come from performance — it comes from authenticity. This episode reflects on how showing up as yourself, without imitation or polish, strengthens presence, connection, and professional confidence.

Overwhelm often isn’t about having too much to do — it’s about not knowing where to start. In this episode, Claire shares a simple moment that shows how clarity reduces noise, restores focus, and helps you move forward again.

Confidence doesn’t come from titles or approval — it comes from integrity. This episode reflects on how alignment between your values and your actions reduces doubt, simplifies decisions, and builds lasting professional confidence.

In audit, honesty matters more than polish. This episode explores how resisting the urge to soften the truth strengthens trust, reputation, and confidence — for both you and your stakeholders.

Clarity isn’t about speaking more or speaking louder — it comes from alignment and steadiness. This episode reflects on how pausing, grounding yourself, and focusing on what truly matters sharpens your thinking and strengthens your impact.

Confidence isn’t just built through skill — it’s shaped by boundaries. This episode explores how holding clear, internal boundaries around time, energy, and focus helps auditors feel steadier, more in control, and more confident in their work.

Speaking up isn’t disruption — it’s part of doing the job well. This episode explores why auditors’ voices add value, sharpen decision-making, and move conversations forward.

Many auditors instinctively shrink themselves in rooms full of senior leaders. This episode is a reminder that if you’re in the room, you belong there — and your presence, judgement, and voice are part of why the conversation moves forward.

Confidence isn’t about being loud — it’s about presence. This episode explores how standing tall, grounding your energy, and trusting your capability shapes how others experience you before you say a word.