Amazing If

Job crafting is a proven activity to increase our engagement, performance and wellbeing at work and in this week's Squiggly Careers podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about how to put the theory into action. They discuss the benefits of job crafting, the areas to focus on and 5 specific actions you can take to start to redesign your role. For all links and resources referenced in the podcast, head to www.amazingif.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Helen talks to 3 different guests about how everyone can engage more openly, actively and positively in conversations about race at work. She talks to Zahra Mohamoud, campaign manager for Business in the Community's Race at Work Charter, Vanessa Belleau, founder of High Fifteen and Tolu Farinto, Head of Ethnicity and Social Mobility at Utopia. They discuss how to overcome fear of 'getting it wrong', examples of organisations creating long-term cultural change and how to approach conversations with empathy.For more information about this week's guest, see links below:Business in the Community - Race at Work Charter: https://www.bitc.org.uk/race/Zahra Mohamoud: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahramohamoud/Vanessa Belleau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessabelleau/High Fifteen: https://www.highfifteen.com/Tolu Farinto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toluwani-farinto-24119467Utopia - Culture Change Agency: https://www.weareutopia.co/  See acast.com/priva

This week Helen and Sarah are talking about 'flow'. They discuss what it means to be flow at work and why it matters. They talk through Miahly Csikzentmihalyi's 8 characteristics of flow and share 4 actions to find your flow and spend more time in flow.For resources and links for this episode, head to www.amazingif.com. If you'd like to be part of a live discussion about this podcast, you can join Sarah for PodPlus on July 30th at 9am.For full details of this free session, head to www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode Helen and Sarah talk about the importance of levity, humour and laughter at work with Naomi Bagdonas and Jennifer Aaker, the authors of 'Humor, Seriously'. Plus, Sarah talks to Lynne Parker, founder and chief executive of Funny Women and Deb Leary OBE, CEO of Forensic Pathways about how they use humour in their day to day working lives. For full resources visit amazingif.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode Helen and Sarah discuss why optimistics do better at work (and in life) and the difference between expectant and explainer optimists. And together they ask the question if optimism is a skill we can all learn what does this look like in practise? We finish the episode sharing 5 practical actions listeners can take to add some optimism into your day to day work and over the course of your career.Don't forget, you can join our weekly PodPlus sessions where we share frameworks and models you can put into action. These 30 minute, interactive Zoom sessions are free to join and you can register for them here: https://www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Sarah talks to Leyya Sattar and Roshni Goyate, the co-founders of The Other Box, about what it means to be an ally, what gets in the way and the practical actions we can all take to be effective allies at work.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode Helen and Sarah discuss why we procrastinate and 5 ideas and actions to help prevent procrastination, including monk mode, the pomodoro technique and swallowing the frog. And as an added bonus Helen finishes the episode by sharing her top productivity hints & tips.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Helen talks to Lord Mark Price about the 6 steps to happier workplaces. Mark is the former Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chairman of The John Lewis Partnership, a member of the House of Lords and the founder of Engaging Works. This episode is full of insights and practical actions you can take to create happier workplaces.For more information on the epsiode, head to https://www.amazingif.com/listen and follow Mark's work at https://engaging.works/Don't forget, you can join our weekly PodPlus sessions where we share models you can put into action. These 30 minute, interactive Zoom sessions are free to join and you can register for them here: https://www.amazingiflearning.com/courses/podplus  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final episode of our six-part Ask the Expert series, Helen talks to CEO and founder of Social Chain, Steven Bartlett, about the importance of adaptability as a skill and how to cultivate it.In their discussion, Steven shares his thought on the importance of 'adaptability outliers', making sure people have an incentive to be adaptable and permission to fail. He also talks about the importance of reflection and writing in helping him to personally stay adaptable in his career. Follow Steven @steven on instagram.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Sarah and Helen discuss how to find more meaning and fulfilment from the work that you do. Together they reflect on what makes work meaningful and what gets in the way. And though there is no blueprint for discovering meaningful work there are questions you can ask and actions you can take which will help you to feel more connected to your job today, and in the future.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the fifth of our six-part Ask the Expert series, Sarah interviews Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and author of The Fearless Organisation. Together Sarah and Amy discuss Psychological Safety, the concept she has pioneered and championed through her research.They chat about what gets in the way of psychological safety and how we can all learn the skills and take positive action to create respected and trusted teams where people feel comfortable to be themselves.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Helen and Sarah talk about how to navigate the change and uncertainty that we're all facing in our careers right now. Together they discuss how to overcome the thoughts and feelings that can get in our way when faced with change and the positive actions that will help you take control of your career in the short and long term.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the fourth of our six-part 'Ask the Expert' series, Helen interviews Holly Tucker, co-founder of Not On The High Street and founder of Holly&Co about the importance of creativity in navigating through times of change. They talk about how spark your creativity and apply it to your day to day work to create new opportunities for you and your career.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Helen and Sarah talk about emotional intelligence (EQ) at work. They take the 12 characteristics of EQ and share ideas for putting each one into action. Whether you're thinking about your own development or different exercises to do with the people you work with, this week's episode is full of practical and useful tips to help make work better for everyone.For an episode summary and supporting resources, head to amazingif.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the third of our six-part Squiggly Careers – Ask the Expert series, Helen interviews Simon Sinek, best-selling author and speaker, about the role of purpose in managing our careers. They talk about how to find your own why, the importance of working with people who share your beliefs and how to bring your purpose to life with the stories you tell."  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode Helen and Sarah share why working remotely can make disagreeing difficult and top tips on how to challenge constructively. In the second part of the episode Helen interviews Amy Gallo, author of the Harvard Business Review Guide to Dealing With Conflict and contributing HBR contributing editor. Amy shares practical and useful advice on how to have productive conversations including understanding whether you seek or avoid conflict, identifying frequent reasons for disagreement and knowing what approaches work for what scenarios.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second of our six-part Squiggly Careers – Ask the Expert series Sarah interviews Rich Pierson, co-founder of Headspace about Mindfulness. Rich and Sarah discuss the difference between mindfulness and meditation and the benefits that being more mindful can offer to all of us.They discuss practical and realistic ways to make meditation part of your everyday and why so many companies are offering headspace to their employees during Coronavirus.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this inspiring episode Helen and Sarah interview people working on the front-line during lock-down to get a window in the world of their experiences.Sarah has a conversation with Ben Levinson, a 600-pupil primary school Headteacher working in East London about how he coped with the most difficult two weeks of his career and why taking care of your mental health matters more than ever right now. Helen speaks to Dr. Jamie Strachan, a Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia about staying calm under pressure and taking each day as it comes. Sarah chats with Jo McMahon a Care Home Manager who started her role just weeks before lockdown and leads a team of over 100 staff and looks after residents whose age range from their 20’s to their 90’s. And Helens talk to venture capitalist, and now home-schooler to her three children, June Angelides about the realities of working and parenting all at the same time.  &nb

In our first episode supporting mental health awareness week Sarah and Helen chat to Dr. Paula Franklin - Chief Medical Officer Bupa, Emma Mamo – Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind and Alex Cole – Chair Bupa Foundation about how we can all look after our mental health at work.  Together they discuss some of the barriers that get in the way of people receiving the support they need for their mental health at work, and the positive progress that some organisations have made that we can learn from. They share practical ideas and actions we can all try to take care of our mental health and where you can go to find further support. The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is kindness and Sarah and Helen and their guests finish the episode by sharing their favourite examples of kindness since coronavirus changed the way we all work and live.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informat

In the first of our new six part Squiggly Careers - Ask the Expert series Sarah interviews Martha Lane- Fox (CBE) co-founder of lastminute.com and founder of doteveryone. Martha shares her personal and professional experience of building her resilience 'muscle' through out her career. Together they discuss the importance of very small steps, a strong support network and recognising your successes. And Martha finishes by explaining why we should never be afraid to fish upstream.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.