Squiggly Careers

Is “just be yourself at work” really the best advice? In this 500th episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah explore the tricky topic of authenticity — and why being 100% yourself at work might not always help you succeed. Borrowing brilliance from Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, they discuss the difference between effective vs. ineffective authenticity, why trust often matters more than “being real,” and how to adapt without feeling fake. You’ll learn three practical actions to help you show up authentically and intentionally in ways that work for you, your team, and your career. Episode 500 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Announcement 02:19 Celebrating 500 episodes 🎉 06:32 What is “effective authenticity”? 09:05 Why trust may be more important than authenticity 11:40 Action 1 17:55 Action 2 21:16 Action 3 23:35 Questions to help you apply this week’s shortcut 25:41 What’s next: Borrowing brilliance from maps 🎯 What You’ll Learn - The difference between helpful and unhelpful authenticity - Why trust and emotional intelligence matter more than “bringing your whole self” - How to balance being true to yourself with adapting to your team - 3 actions you can take to use authenticity for career success 📚 Resources Mentioned Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead) by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836 HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2025/08/do-you-have-an-emotionally-intelligent-team The Values Institute https://values.institute/ AI Skills Sprint - https://youtu.be/5swOYWW6l7M?feature=shared For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a brand new series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this shortcut, Helen shares a practical idea to help you spot and stop people pleasing at work, so you can set boundaries, protect your time, and focus on what matters most. How To Stop Being A People Pleaser (3 Tips) Episode 499 ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts 00:35 What is people pleasing? 01:09 Tip 1 - Find your pause statement 02:06 Tip 2 - Use "don't" rather than "can't" 03:45 Tip 3 - Practice your no-cabulary 05:10 A reminder for your week 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why people pleasing can hold you back in your career - A simple shortcut to say no with confidence - How to create small shifts that protect your priorities 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can a Nobel Prize-winning physicist teach us about navigating squiggly careers? In this new Borrowed Brilliance format, Helen introduces the curiosity-driven ideas of Richard Feynman and Sarah helps turn them into practical actions for work. Together, they explore how Feynman’s playful approach to learning can help all of us grow with more clarity and confidence.You’ll discover the power of the Feynman Technique, why keeping a Don’t Know Notebook builds smarter learning habits, and how Problem-Testing can help you see new solutions to old challenges. Episode #498 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR 🎯 What You’ll Learn How to make learning stick using the Feynman Technique A practical way to turn uncertainty into curiosity with a Don’t Know Notebook Why playing with problems helps spark creative solutions How to use AI prompts to think and learn like Feynman 📚 Resources Mentioned Richard Feynman’s Mental Models: How to Think, Learn, and Problem-Solve Like a Nobel Prize-Winning Polymath (Learning how to Learn) http://bit.ly/3KnW101 Shane Parrish on Richard Feynman: https://fs.blog/richard-feynman/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Big news! 🎉 Pre-orders for Helen and Sarah’s brand-new book *Learn Like a Lobster* are now live. In this special episode, they share why lobsters are the perfect metaphor for modern learning, what makes the book different, and how you can start “learning like a lobster” right away. You’ll hear about the free Learn Like a Lobster Library, discover three big lobster-inspired lessons, and get practical tools you can experiment with today. 🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster below: PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Big news: Learn Like a Lobster pre-orders are live 05:15 What’s in the Learn Like a Lobster Library (workshops, tools & community) 07:23 Why lobsters? 11:50 Learn as you go: experimenting with out loud vs. quiet thinking 21:15 Learning in hard moments: Fly on the wall facts 35:24 Leading your own learning: Beginner Bingo 42:43 How to join the Learn Like a Lobster Library & what’s next 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why lobsters are the perfect model for lifelong learning - A technique to reframe tough moments into learning opportunities - Ways to fuel your own growth without waiting for permission - How to build confidence through beginner moments 📚 Resources Mentioned - Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463488/learn-like-a-lobster-by-ellis-helen-tupper-and-sarah/9780241718957 - The Learn Like a Lobster Library (free with pre-order) For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the fifth and final episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series. Today, Helen and Sarah talk about exploring Future Possibilities in your career. As careers become less linear and more unpredictable, having multiple options and directions is essential for resilience and control. In this episode, they show how to use AI prompts to generate a mind map of career possibilities, from obvious to ambitious, pivot, and dream options. They also introduce an AI tool for practicing curious career conversations through role play, helping you build confidence and get feedback first. With people having 10-15 different jobs on average throughout their working life, embracing a variety of possibilities actually reduces career risk and builds long-term resilience. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Why future possibilities matter in a squiggly career 02:48 AI prompt to explore different types of career possibilities 05:40 AI Tool: Yoodli 08:39 Team activity: who are your career role models? 🎯 What You’ll Learn * The importance of having multiple career options * How to use AI to generate a mind map of career possibilities * Why creating rather than waiting for opportunities matters in modern careers * How to practice curious career conversations 📚 Resources Mentioned Future Possibilities Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day5-summary Yoodli - https://yoodli.ai/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the fourth episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series. Today, Helen and Sarah are talking about Networking. Before you skip this one (we know some of you want to!), remember this squiggly stat: 70% of people's roles come through connections. The key is reframing networking from "people knowing people" to "people helping people." This creates career karma - when you help others, good things come back to you over time. In this episode, Helen and Sarah introduce AI tools to build your personal career board with different personas like challengers, supporters, and questioners. They also explore Crystal Knows, an AI tool that helps you communicate better with your team and network by understand their communication style. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:47 70% of roles come through connections 01:15 Reframing networking & creating career karma 02:04 Building your personal career board with AI 06:20 Crystal Knows: AI personality analysis tool 09:36 Team activity: Learning goals and mutual support 🎯 What You’ll Learn * How to reframe networking as "people helping people" * How to use AI to create a diverse personal career board * Team exercises for sharing learning goals and building connections 📚 Resources Mentioned Networks Daily Summary: https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day4-summary Crystal Knows: https://www.crystalknows.com/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the third episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are tackling Confidence. We all have gremlins - those beliefs, doubts and fears that hold us back in our careers. They're often hidden and they can grow when we don't address them. When you learn to cage them, you get better at navigating tough moments and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you. In this episode, Helen and Sarah introduce their brand-new custom Gremlins GPT - a tool they've trained with everything they've written about confidence. This AI coach helps you identify what gremlins are getting in your way and practice difficult conversations in private. You'll discover how to create visual representations of your gremlins, role-play challenging scenarios, and build a "confidence gremlin gallery" with your team. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:37 What are confidence gremlins and why do they limit us? 03:11 Introducing the custom Confidence Gremlins GPT tool 05:29 Creating visuals of your gremlins 06:36 Using AI to role-play your gremlin during challenges 08:58 Team activity: Creating a confidence gremlin gallery 🎯 What You’ll Learn * How to identify and understand your confidence gremlins * How to use the custom Gremlins GPT for private confidence coaching * Tools for role-playing challenging scenarios with AI * Creative ways to share and discuss gremlins with your team 📚 Resources Mentioned Confidence Gremlin GPT - https://bit.ly/squigglycareerconfidencecoach Confidence Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day3-summary For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ 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 of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are diving into Values. Your values are what motivate and drive you - they're your internal compass that guides decision-making and career choices. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share the best tool for identifying your values and how AI can accelerate the actions you take about your values, turning them into a brilliant filter for your future. They'll show you practical ways to use your values to respond to challenges at work, and share some playful approaches you can also use with your team. When you understand what really drives you, you make better decisions for your career and become more confident as a result of having clarity about what matters most to you. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:38 What are values and why do they matter? 03:15 The best tool to identify your values 04:39 Using your values to respond to challenges 05:52 AI prompts to action your values 08:41 Team activity: Fun ways to talk about values with your team 🎯 What You’ll Learn * How to identify and clarify your core values (and why it's important) * Why values are a powerful career decision-making filter * How to use AI prompts to turn values into actionable insights * Fun and engaging methods to share values with your team 📚 Resources Mentioned Values Daily Summary: https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day2-summary Run Your Own Race Episode: https://youtu.be/cUdwIvnDpNQ Ask the Expert: Purpose with Simon Sinek, author and speaker: https://youtu.be/DATg__SZcwE Values Tool: https://values.institute/ Gemini: https://gemini.google.com For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the first episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are kicking things off with Day 1: Strengths. Our strengths are what we're known for - they shape how we show up and help us make more impact at work. And because strengths develop throughout your career, it's important to keep reflecting on them. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share how to give AI the right prompts to help you spot your strengths in action, stretch your strengths in your team and build a clearer and more confident LinkedIn profile. AI doesn't know you better than you know yourself, but it can act as a sparring partner - giving you new ways of looking at your experiences and surfacing patterns you might miss. By combining reflection with the power of AI, you'll walk away with practical ways to build on your strengths and accelerate your squiggly career. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:48 What are strengths and why do they matter? 02:13 AI prompts to help discover you strengths 08:20 Optimising your LinkedIn profile around your strengths with AI 09:19 Team activity: 3 ways to talk about strengths with your team 🎯 What You’ll Learn * Why strengths evolve throughout your career * How to use AI prompts to uncover and reflect on your strengths * How to optimise your LinkedIn profile to reflect your value * Ways to stretch your strengths in a team setting for more impact 📚 Resources Mentioned Strengths Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day1-summary Amy Edmondson - https://amycedmondson.com/ Claude - https://claude.ai/ Canva's AI Tool - https://www.canva.com/magic-design/ Strengths Toolkit – https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI is on everyone’s minds and we’re getting curious about how it can help to develop our squiggly career skills. Join us for a 5-day sprint from the 15th September where we’ll be exploring lots of AI tools to support our 5 squiggly career skills: Strengths, Values, Confidence, Networking, and Future Possibilities. Just 10 minutes a day for lots of ideas and insights on how AI can help you to accelerate your squiggly career. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/3UC3jPy 👥 Join our Squiggly Community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazing-if/ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 2025 00:43 What is a Squiggly Career? 01:10 What is a Sprint? 01:40 Supporting you while you sprint 02:13 FAQs 03:12 Learning with thousands in our community More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO This week, Helen and Sarah shine a light on the unhelpful habits that teams often slip into without even realising it. From meetings that drag on autopilot to one-to-ones that don’t deliver what you need, these routines can waste time, reduce energy, and stop people from working at their best. In this episode, they share the four most common team traps and practical alternatives to try instead. You’ll hear how to spot unhelpful routines, reset them without blame, and create new habits that help your team feel more energised, inclusive, and effective. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Announcement 01:02 Introduction 05:15 Why teams get stuck in autopilot 08:20 Trap #1: Repeating the same roles in meetings 15:40 Trap #2: Defaulting to recurring meetings 21:58 Trap #3: One-to-ones that lack focus 29:45 Trap #4: Unhelpful communication and collaboration 38:37 How to experiment and reset as a team 42:30 PodSheet and next steps 🎯 What You’ll Learn 4 common team habits that hold people back Why recurring meetings and default roles reduce effectiveness Alternatives to traditional 1:1s that create more value How to reset team communication for clarity and collaboration Simple experiments you can try together to build better ways of working For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO Are old habits holding you back from the progress you want to make? September often feels like a natural reset point—a chance to stop what’s no longer serving you and start building new wins. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share their own September “starts” and “stops” to inspire you to reflect, reset, and refocus. You’ll hear how small, intentional changes can help you create space for growth, protect your future self, and build habits that last beyond the September spark. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Announcement 01:02 Introduction 03:45 Why September feels like a reset moment 07:18 The power of starts and stops 10:35 Weekly Borrowed Brilliance 15:40 Building from scratch with AI 21:58 Parallel learning (habit stacking with podcasts) 26:45 Monthly mentor moments 32:30 Responding quicker instead of waiting 36:55 Leaving the phone behind in the evenings 41:48 No more post-it actions 44:55 Stop moaning about Mondays 48:20 How to use this as a team activity 52:00 Wrapping up & accountability 🎯 What You’ll Learn Why September is such a powerful time to reset and refocus How to identify habits that are helping—or holding—you back Practical ways to design new starts that spark motivation How to stop habits that drain your energy and confidence Why sharing starts and stops as a team builds connection and support 📚 Resources Mentioned How to Change by Katy Milkman (for the “fresh start effect”) For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the fourth and final episode in the Squiggly Careers Quote Series, and today Sarah shares the quote that has shaped her approach to leadership: “Be yourself more with skill.” Inspired by the book and article Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?, this episode explores how true leadership comes from leaning into your strengths and embracing uncomfortable situations that spark growth. There’s no blueprint for being brilliant, and whether you're in a leadership role or not, you don’t need to become someone you’re not—it’s about being a better version of yourself. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Announcement 02:33 The quote: "Be yourself more with skill" 07:44 Action 1: Job Crafting – Be the architect of your career 10:30 Action 2: Ask for feedback on blindspots 13:03 Action 3: Have a squiggly stretch 🎯 What You’ll Learn - How to lead authentically by leaning into your strengths - How to be the architects of your own work life - How to take intentional control of your job description - Smart ways to ask for feedback on blindspots - The value of stepping into uncomfortable situations 📚 Resources Mentioned Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: What It Takes To Be An Authentic Leader Hardcover by Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Should-Anyone-Led-You/dp/1578519713 HBR Article 'Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: https://hbr.org/2000/09/why-should-anyone-be-led-by-you Job Crafting Article by Dan Cable https://dan-cable.com/linkedin-article/job-crafting/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO Are you letting other people set the boundaries for your career? This is the third episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Helen shares the quote that’s shaped her approach to career development: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah discuss how this mindset can help you push past external expectations, explore what’s truly possible, and embrace challenges without letting others hold you back. You’ll learn practical ways to identify your potential, build confidence, and celebrate progress along the way. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Announcement 00:58 Introduction 02:08 The quote: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges” 07:05 Exploring your potential & gaining confidence 08:56 Action 1: Curiosity before commitment 12:27 Action 2: Celebrate your wins 15:15 What does this quote look like for you? 🎯 What You’ll Learn - How to avoid letting others place limits on your career - Why what’s possible looks different for everyone - How to pick a challenge and stick with it, despite outside pressures - Ways to explore your potential and build confidence For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO Are you unintentionally repeating the same career year again and again? This is the second episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Sarah shares the quote that’s inspired her career mindset: “Never live the same year twice.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how this idea helped Sarah move beyond linear ladder-thinking and sparked a more intentional, experimental approach to career development. You’ll learn how to embrace variety and novelty — so your career (and confidence) can keep evolving. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:56 The quote: “Never live the same year twice” 02:05 What inspired Sarah to choose this quote 04:46 How to avoid feeling stuck 05:57 Turning inspiration into action 06:38 Action 1: Coach-yourself question 07:58 Action 2: The “what” – use the fresh-start effect 09:56 Action 3: The “who” – connect with weak ties 12:14 Action 4: The “where” – new places and spaces 13:44 Final thoughts 🎯 What You’ll Learn - How to avoid career complacency and increase resilience - How the fresh-start effect can create lasting change - Why weak ties expand your learning and opportunities - How space and variety can spark new career ideas 📚 Resources Mentioned Values Toolkit (Free) https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ The Long Win by Cath Bishop https://bit.ly/4mozgXo How To Change Katy Milkman https://bit.ly/45izWXI For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO This episode is the first in a four part mini series where Helen and Sarah focus on quotes that have inspired their career. They discuss how each quote has helped them and share ideas for action so you can put the inspiration into action for your development. We’re starting with one of Helen’s favourites: 'run your own race'. It's all about letting go of comparison and building confidence by focusing on what matters to you. Helen and Sarah also share 3 practical ways to turn this quote into action - so you can start growing with confidence. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you making big decisions without applying real judgement? In this Ask the Expert episode, Sarah speaks with Sir Andrew Likierman about what good judgement looks like at work—and how to improve it. They talk about the difference between decisions and judgement, the stages of the judgement process, how to get better at reading the (virtual room) and learn from poor choices. You’ll learn how to apply a practical framework to improve your own judgement, no matter your role. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Is judgement a quality or skill? 01:50 Judgement and decision-making 05:25 The 6 stages of the judgement process 08:43 Establishing a trusted person 10:06 Reading the room, zoom or teams meeting 13:21 Understanding your strengths and weaknesses 16:54 Famous examples of bad judgement 18:11 The importance of listening 19:24 Persevering when it's time to stop 22:33 Common watch-outs with judgement 23:35 Should you trust instinct & gut feeling? 25:43 Managing risk 29:22 Final thoughts 🎯 What You’ll Learn - The difference between decision-making and judgement - A 6-step process to improve judgement - How to trust wisely, read the (virtual) room, and stay aware - Why feelings, experience, and listening all shape judgement - How to develop your personal judgement 📚 Resources Mentioned Andrew's Book: Judgement at Work: Making Better Choices - https://bit.ly/458TWvJ Actions Speak Louder Than (Listening) To Words: https://cclinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/actions-speak-louder-than-words.pdf Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - https://bit.ly/4m8OyQ2 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell: https://bit.ly/3J76pIM For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the common complaints we all have about work—and how to respond to them in ways that are realistic. From endless meetings, to never having time to think, they unpack why certain complaints come up so often and how to take small, doable steps forward. They share practical tactics like "co-working meetings," “to-think” lists, and a forgiving approach to navigating the inevitable frustrations of work life—so you can focus less on moaning and more on momentum. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and intro to the episode 01:00 Why we all complain (and why that’s okay sometimes) 03:00 Common complaints: too many meetings, too much to do, not enough time to think 08:58 Complaint #1: Too many meetings 10:30 Imperfect solutions: Shorter meetings, co-working time, reclaiming your calendar 15:48 Complaint #2: Too much to do 17:00 Zoom in/zoom out to clarify what matters most 19:00 Good enough is great: Adjusting your effort with intention 21:45 Complaint #3: No time to think 23:00 The “To Think” list and first thoughts method 25:00 Using voice notes and self-explaining for fast clarity 26:30 Complaint #4: Senior people are slowing me down 28:00 Reframing communication: work with—not against—bottlenecks 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why it’s helpful to turn your work complaints into first-person statements - How “imperfect” solutions can be more useful than perfect plans - Practical ideas to manage meetings, workload, and thinking time - Ways to reduce bottlenecks and collaborate better with others 📚 Resources Mentioned https://reclaim.ai/ – tool to block time for focus and reflection When Good Enough Is Great Episode: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/when-good-enough-is-great/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and how we can respond to them with more confidence and control. From tech fails to surprise tasks, curveballs can throw us off track and test our confidence. Helen and Sarah share personal stories, reflect on their own curveball capability, and offer practical ideas for action to help you deal with the unexpected, think on your feet, and stop small things from snowballing. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:33 Day-To-Day Curveballs 05:52 Acknowledging & Receiving Curveballs 07:46 Why Curveballs Feel Hard In The Moment 09:06 Curveballs Are More Likely In Squiggly Careers 11:00 Rating Your Curveball Capability 16:55 Idea For Action — Anticipating & Thinking On The Spot 20:35 Idea For Action — Using Multiple Workarounds 26:14 Idea For Action — Avoiding Curveballs Becoming Snowballs 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why curveballs feel hard in the moment - Why curveballs are more common in squiggly careers - How to anticipate the unexpected and think on your feet - How to stop curveballs from becoming snowballs For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you make sure your message gets heard—and acted on? In this Squiggly Careers Ask the Expert episode, Helen speaks with author and influence expert Steve Martin about the powerful role of the messenger in communication. Drawing on insights from his book Messengers, Steve explains how people respond differently depending on who delivers the message, and why understanding the difference between hard and soft messenger traits can transform your influence at work. Together, they talk about how you can be more effective in meetings, remote settings, and team communication—plus how to match the right message to the right messenger for maximum impact. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 01:00 Why the Messenger Matters as Much as the Message 04:40 Trust vs Truth: How We Really Decide Who to Listen To 07:20 Hard vs Soft Messengers (and When Each One Works Best) 13:15 The Kevin Keegan Story: Choosing the Right Messenger 15:20 Why Content Isn't Everything: Choosing the Right Voice 16:30 A Better Way to Start Meetings (That Builds Credibility) 20:00 The Role of Introductions in Empowering Messengers 21:15 Influence in Remote Work: Tips for Zoom & Teams 25:30 Mimicry and Mirroring: Small Shifts That Build Connection 29:08 Announcements 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why who delivers a message can be more important than what they say - The difference between hard and soft messenger traits—and when to use each - Practical ways to increase your influence in meetings and remote settings - How to elevate others as effective messengers to get results as a team 📚 Resources Mentioned Steve's Book, Messengers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messengers-Who-Listen-Dont-Why/dp/1847942350 Try Steve’s free quiz: https://www.influenceatwork.com/quiz/ Influence with Robert Cialdini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5VBsx-Rec For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you always doing too much yourself? Do you struggle to let go, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Squiggly Careers Podcast, Helen and Sarah explore why so many of us don’t delegate—and what we can do differently to delegate with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Learn how to avoid the 4 common delegation mistakes and how to give people space without leaving them stuck. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to The Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:48 Why You Don’t Delegate (Even When You Should) 12:55 4 Don'ts Of Delegation (And What To Do Instead) 13:15 Don’t Delegate the How 16:52 Don’t Delegate and Disappear 22:41 Don’t Do It for Them 25:06 Hybrid Approaches to Teaching & Delegating 26:25 Don’t Expect It Done Your Way 28:00 Letting Go of “Your Way” and Embracing Other Styles 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why delegation feels uncomfortable for even experienced leaders - 4 delegation mistakes to avoid & what to do instead - How to give people freedom without micromanaging - The power of clear outcomes, expectations, and trust For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to help teams think better—together. They share simple but powerful tools you can use to encourage reflection, collaboration, and better decision-making in your team. Discover a practical matrix to help you choose the right thinking tool for your team—whether you need to improve performance or inspire new ideas. From “worry lists” to “borrowed brilliance,” you’ll learn how to create space for smarter, more intentional team thinking. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:43 Why We Struggle to Think as Teams 01:56 Who Are Your Thinking Partners? 02:18 Team Thinking Drives Team Performance 03:02 Principles for Better Team Thinking 07:38 Signal Thinking Activities in Your Team 08:46 Turning Thinking into Action via Experiments 09:43 The Team Thinking Matrix Explained 11:48 Idea for Improvement: Worry Lists 17:20 Idea for Improvement: What's Not Working (The "Knots") 23:30 Everyday Idea for Inspiration: Borrowed Brilliance 🎯 What You’ll Learn: - Why teams need more time to think (and how to make that time work) - 3 powerful principles for better collective thinking - Tools like “worry lists,” “what’s not working,” and “borrowed brilliance” - How to run quick team exercises - Ways to turn thinking into action—without overcomplicating it For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We often talk about the value of having a role model - someone to learn from and be inspired by. But what about the impact of being a role model? In this week’s episode, Helen and Sarah explore how being a role model can support your development, raise your profile, and help you build stronger connections at work. When you're intentional about how you show up, you attract opportunities and create a community around your work. They explore practical ideas to help you decide your role model focus, borrow brilliance, and put role modelling into practice in your day-to-day work. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Better conversations help you build stronger relationships, understand others more deeply, and make meaningful progress - together. In this episode, Sarah talks to Jefferson Fisher, lawyer, speaker, and best-selling author, about five common situations where conversations can get tricky. From dealing with someone very different to you, to getting interrupted, or feeling stuck in people-pleasing, Jefferson shares simple shifts that can help you handle these moments with more clarity and confidence. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Change at work isn’t always something you choose — sometimes your role is restructured, your team shifts, or decisions are made around you. When that happens, it’s easy to feel stuck, like your career progression is out of your hands. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share some practical actions you can take to regain control, build your confidence, and keep moving forward, even when change feels uncomfortable. They explore how to make the best of where you are right now and take action, from shifting your mindset, to spotting opportunities in uncertain situations and choosing your change story — so change doesn’t stall your Squiggly Career. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices