
Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.
Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.
The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today.
For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter
In this week’s Ask the Expert interview, Sarah talks to author, radio host and TED speaker Celeste Headlee about how to have better conversations at work. Together they discuss why most of us focus too much on what we’re going to say rather than what we can learn from conversations. Celeste suggests practical ideas to improve the quality of our conversations including the difference between a shift and a support response to how to approach every conversation with curiosity. You can watch Celeste’s talk on TED - 10 ways to have a better conversation and find out about her latest work at celesteheadlee.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The ups and downs of squiggly careers can take their toll and affect how we respond to challenging situations. Emotional agility is the skill of being able to manage our emotions at work so that they help us rather than hinder us. It's not about being robotic and having no emotions, instead it means being aware rather than acting on auto-pilot. As Victor Frankl said "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom." This week, Helen and Sarah talk about how to create the space to manage and choose your emotional response. They talk about the role of values and draw on the insights from Susan David's work. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this week's episode Sarah and Helen discuss the 4 most common feedback challenges: how to get more improvement feedback, feedback from peers, giving feedback to your manager and giving/getting feedback when working virtually. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Building a personal board for your career can support your learning, increase your opportunities and help you overcome beliefs that might be holding you back. In this week's Squiggly Careers episode, Helen and Sarah talk about the roles that you need, how to find the people who can fill then and how to secure their help! For resources to support the episode head to www.amazingif.com - in particular my.personalboardroom.app is worth looking at. To enter The Squiggly Career Advocate Awards (closing date 31/03/21), head to: http://www.amazingif.com/advocates Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Earlier this year Helen and Sarah worked with the TEDx team to deliver their first TEDx talk. From writing, practicing and presenting, the TEDxLondon team were there to support every step of the way. The team have helped 100s of people to share their ideas and present with authenticity. In this week's Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah talk with Maryam Pasha, Director of TEDxLondon and founder of X Equals Productions. Maryam shares what she has learnt about how to tell compelling stories, share ideas that inspire and talk so that people want to listen. To watch Helen and Sarah's TED Talk, head to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_fZ-foKQU To enter The Squiggly Career Advocate Awards (closing date 31/03/21), head to: http://www.amazingif.com/advocates Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mistakes rarely feel comfortable, but they are an important part of how we develop the resilience we need to cope with the challenge and uncertainty of squiggly careers. In this week's episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah talk about how to respond to and learn from mistakes. They share the LEARN framework and practical coaching questions to help you reflect and reset. You can find resources to support this epsiode on www.amazingif.coml/listen and join PodPlus, a free live session with Helen and Sarah on the topic of mistakes. The live session will be at 9am on 11/03/2021 and you can register at www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus. To find out more and enter the Squiggly Career Advocate Awards head to www.amazingif.com/advocates Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whatever we do and wherever we work, learning is now the job for all of us. Working out what we want to learn and how to start, stay learning and make it stick isn't easy! In this week's Squiggly Careers episode, Helen and Sarah talk about a framework to help you focus and plan your learning and lots of ideas for action to make learning easier and more of your everyday. If you'd like to join PodPlus, a free live session with Helen and Sarah on the topic on learning at work, you can register at www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus. The live session will be at 9am on 04/03/2021 and you can also watch back a recording of the session at a future date. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
So much to do and so little time, willpower and motivation to do it! Many of us have felt the impact of the pandemic on our energy levels. Our work levels seem to be ever increasing at the same time as our energy levels seem to be depleting. There are things we can do to help though. Practical actions that are in our control which mean we can invest in our energy and push through all the busyness to be our best. In this episode, Helen and Sarah talk about the benefits of doing an 'energy audit' and share 5 practical ideas for action to support you in maintaining your energy at work. If you'd like to join PodPlus, a free live-learning session with Helen and Sarah on the topic on energy at work, you can register at www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus. The live session will be at 9am on 25/02/2021 and you can also watch back a recording of the session at a future date. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Careers in times of Covid aren't easy for anyone. Blurred boundaries, endless virtual meetings, uncertainty and disconnection are leading to many of us feeling overwhelmed at work. This week Helen and Sarah get super practical with 10 tips to take back control and increase belief in your ability to get through this challenging time. If you'd like to join PodPlus, a live learning session with Helen and Sarah on the topic on overwhelm you can register at www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus. The live session will be at 9am on 18/02/2021 and you can also watch back a recording of the session at a future date. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transferable skills are often talked about as the answer to a resilient career. However it's such a big topic area that the specific action you need to take isn't always clear. In this episode, Helen and Sarah make transferable skills practical and personal to you. They talk about how to align them to your career possibilities, how to go from an 'uber' skill like communication to a 'sub skill' like listening and where to invest your efforts and energy to make improvements. There are lots of resources to support this episode. Head to www.amazingif.com/listen and search for episode 198. If you'd like to join PodPlus, a live learning session with Helen and Sarah on the topic on transferable skills you can register at www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus. The live session will be at 9am on 11/02/2021 and you can also watch back a recording of the session at a future date. Stay in touch with Helen and Sarah @amazingif on instagram or via email at helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Helen and Sarah are back together for this week’s podcast, discussing a much requested episode on how to manage distractions! They talk about why we get attracted to distraction and how to manage your reaction so it doesn’t get in the way of you doing your best work. Expect 30 minutes full of helpful tips and ideas for action to take control of your distraction downfalls. The @amazingif community on Instagram also shared lots of their tips too: @syllerim – disable notifications, set specific times of the day for repetitive tasks like emails/checking messages, @kooijchristina leave your phone in another room when you need to do some deep work @smileykirstie – listen to training/self-development which on a walk to stay focused (also makes the same walking route less dull) @sophie_grundy – listening to music and put phone away @hayleygoddard – reframe distraction (its just a different form of the interruptions we would have had in the office). Create short bursts of time when some distraction is ok – that social scrolling doesn’t always have to create guilt. Liz @4egconsulting – v short to do list that can be done in time bursts/blocks. Share plans with partners so they don’t interrupt your focus time @misssophieellen - ‘red hour’ an hour for all employees to turn emails to offline, not use skype etc... everyone loves it! @auroramandm – start the day with a to-do list rather than getting lost in your inbox. Have visibility of ‘team to dos’ using a tool like Trello @abbibuszard – reduce scroll hole by following BJ Fogg’s B=MAP – Behaviour = motivation x ability x prompt @pocketrocketstace – close Outlook when I have a specific piece of work to do @bloggingbeliever – intuitive working (when you are mentally and physically ready) - we are more vulnerable to distractions when we are tired. Think about the end goal and question how much you want it. Louise John @lthej – mute the sounds on your laptop Emma Barrett @emnodge – headspace focus music (one piece is 85 minutes long) - work until it’s completed and then pick up the phone. If you’d like some more help with distractions, join PodPlus on Thursday 4th at 9am. Link to register here: https://www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus You can find resources mentioned in today’s podcast at https://www.amazingif.com/listen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This weeks podcast is the final in our be your brilliant best series and you’ll hear Sarah in conversation with Cate Sevilla and then Rita Clifton (CBE). Sarah and Cate talk about how to work without losing your mind, and what to do when those, sadly inevitable, tough challenges in our careers (awful bosses, unexpected redundancy, overwork and overwhelm) come our way. Rita then talks to Sarah about how to love rather than fight with your imposter, sharing her words of wisdom on how we can all be our best at work and why feel the fear and do it anyway isn’t always good career advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In our third of our 4-part series, 'How to be your brilliant best', Sarah talks entrepreneurship with Jim Collins and Anne Boden MBE. Jim is a legendary researcher and author who has influenced leaders all around the world through his book 'Good To Great', and his book 'Beyond Entrepreneurship', the bible for any new business owners. In their conversation, Sarah talks to Jim about his flywheel concept, the hedgehog model, and what makes up an entrepreneur. Meanwhile, Anne is the founder of Starling Bank and author of 'Banking On It', in her chat with Sarah, Anne talks about the highs and lows of founding a business, what she learnt and the importance of resilience. For more resources, visit amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This is the second episode in a new 4-part series called 'How to be your brilliant best'. Today's episode focuses on mindset with Ben Williams, author of Commando Mindset. In his conversation with Helen they discuss courage, values and resilience. Ben's book is out now and you can find out more about his work at https://www.findyouredgecoaching.com/commando-mindset1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Squiggly Careers is starting 2021 with a brand new series! This January, Helen and Sarah are talking about how to be your brilliant best and they are kicking the conversation off with the topic of goals. Sarah talks to olympic medalist Cath Bishop about how to set yourself up for success and Helen talks to author, speaker and wellness professional Adrienne Herbert about a framework you can put into action for your career goals this year. Find out more about our guests and their work at www.amazingif.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this final episode of 2020, Helen and Sarah reflect on the year and what they have learnt. They share insights into who inspired them, what's helped them to be resilient and what's kept them motivated along the way. If you'd like to reflect on the year, here are 10 questions to think about: One word to describe work this year? What are you most proud of? Who have you helped? What have you been surprised by? What have you learnt for the first time? Who have you been inspired by? What is your most memorable moment of the year? What has been your biggest challenge? What would you like to be true in twelve months time that isn’t true today? Who would you like to say thank you to? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Helen and Sarah are joined by fellow podcasters Dan Murray-Serter (Host of Secret Leaders podcast) and Damian Hughes (co-host of The High Performance Podcast). They chat about the highs and lows of podcasting in 2020, what they have learnt from their guests, who they we're most nervous to talk to and who is on their wish list for 2021! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Helen and Sarah talk to 2 of the most memorable managers from their career, James Tipple and Sarah Warby. They talk about why adaptability is a crucial skill for managers, how to make a 121 a positive experience for you and your manager and what James and Sarah have learnt from their own memorable managers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Helen and Sarah talk about authenticity at work and why the 'bring your whole self to work' advice really isn't that easy to do. They discuss how you can work out what authenticity means to you, how to create team cultures where people feel comfortable to be themselves and when and why it can be beneficial to be selective about what you share. Not an easy topic, but some interesting insights to take away. You can get more resources to support the episode on www.amazingif.com and join a free, live discussion with Helen and Sarah in their PodPlus session on December 10th (head to www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus to register). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Sarah and Helen are talking about end of year reviews. Whether it's for performance or pay, reviews are often a part of an annual process and can sometimes leave us feeling uncertain and anxious. In the episode, Sarah and Helen talk through how to prepare for the conversation and approach it with clarity and confidence. For more resources to support this episode, head to www.amazingif.com and if you'd like to be part of a live discussion you can join PodPlus at 9am on Thursday 3rd December (to register go to www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today's episode Sarah and Helen discuss 4 important sources of self belief - learning, borrowed belief, positive feedback and self-care. Together they share the most common belief barriers and what practicals actions we can take if we need to give our belief a boost. All the resources from today's episode can be found at www.amazingif.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this weeks episode Sarah is in conversation with creative strategists and authors of the book: How to build it, Niran Vinod and Damola Timeyin. Together they chat about what it takes to build any type of brand, particularly the importance of being distinctive, memorable and doing vs. saying. They talk about their shared experiences of side-projects born from frustration, curiosity and an opportunity to express yourself. Damola outlines their idea of ‘days 1s’ and ‘day 100s’ and why they make a difference to your network and Niran shares how being an introvert hasn’t held him back from building his net worth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week Sarah and Helen are talking about beginners mindset and why staying open-minded is a skill worth investing in. They have 5 ideas for action to rediscover your beginners mindset including spotting when your 'unhelpful expert' shows up and how to 'learn by listening'. For links to articles and resources to support this episode, head to www.amazingif.com/listen To join a live conversation with Helen and Sarah on this week's topic, register for PodPlus: https://www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This is the final epsiode in series 2 of Squiggly Careers 'Ask the expert' and this week, Helen talks to author, speaker and thought leader Seth Godin on the topic of ideas. Seth launched one of the most popular blogs in the world and has written 19 best-selling books, including Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes. Together they talk about how we can create idea rich cultures at work, how habits can help us share more ideas with the world and why everyone's ideas are equally valid and valuable. To find our more about Seth's work, head to: https://www.sethgodin.com/ Order Seth's brand new book The Practice: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320/320226/the-practice/9780241470046.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this weeks episode Sarah talks to Pip Jamieson (founder of The Dots) and Jimmy McLoughlin (former business advisor in 10 Downing Street, writer and podcast host) about re-skilling. Together they explore whether we need a re-skilling revolution and how we can figure out the skills we need to develop for the jobs of the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices