Leadership: Your Questions Answered

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Helen McCabe is joined by FW’s Mel Lee. They discuss strategies for managing team members who overestimate their skills, rebuilding a career after a long break with compromised references, and navigating career changes across different industries in the Australian job market. Question 1: How do you manage a team member that you feel overestimates their skill and is focused on what the business owes them? Question 2: Over decade long career break, and last full time employment ended in worker’s compensation with an ND agreement. All my references are compromised by that ND. How do I rebuild a career with references now?  Question 3: I know what area of work I want to focus on for my next role but lots of different industries/ fields interest me.  How do I not let this work against me in my CV and when applying for roles, as it seems important in Australia to have been in one industry/ have very specific industry knowledge?    Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Become an FW member today to get the highlights in our members-only newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Astrid Edwards is joined by FW’s Helen McCabe. Today, they discuss returning to corporate life after self-employment, disclosing invisible disabilities in job applications, communicating sensitive messages effectively, and balancing personality with professionalism. Question 1: I've been running my own photography business for the past 7 years but am seriously considering returning to a corporate role. I feel absolutely overwhelmed at starting over again after such a long period away. Any advice? Question 2: What are your thoughts on declaring a disability on a job application even if it is managed and invisible? Should it be declared to possibly give you an advantage to get an interview? Question 3: What’s the best way to communicate a message? That’s a public health initiative without getting hostile reactions? Question 4: How do you balance showing your personality and being professional?   Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com    Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Become a Gold member today to watch Leadership: Your Questions live in a virtual, interactive session included in our Mini Masterclass. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Astrid Edwards is joined by FW’s Ruby Leahy Gatfield. They discuss staying focused in uncertainty, balancing team autonomy with guidance, overcoming resistance to change, and handling workplace conflicts. Question 1: How do you maintain your energy, ambition, and focus over the long haul and in times of uncertainty? Question 2: How do you strike a nice balance between giving a team autonomy and providing guidance to ensure success? Question 3: I am after some advice around making my own processes in a new company, the other managers who have been around for longer are giving me 'computer says no'. I have low hanging fruit wins! And I feel very unable to change things up for the better. What would you do? Question 4:  I’ve been feeling like the go-between—getting pulled into meetings not because it’s part of my role, but because two colleagues can’t seem to work things out directly. I wish they could communicate better without needing me in the middle. Any tips?   Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com    Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Become a Gold member today to watch Leadership: Your Questions live in a virtual, interactive session included in our Mini Masterclass. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Helen McCabe is joined by Superintendent Janet Stevenson from Victoria Police. They discuss building a relationship with a supervisor who has a different working style, overcoming self-doubt during the job search process and setting personal boundaries at work.   Question 1: How to you build a strong relationship with a supervisor that has a very different working style from you? Question 2: How do you overcome feelings of self-doubt during the job application process?  Question 3: What is the approach for staff members who prefer to keep their personal lives private?    Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com    Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest installment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Jamila Rizvi and Sally Spicer discuss leading a team through a poor economic climate, owning your differences in the workplace, and navigating long-term relationships during the job search.  1. Yvonne asks: I would love help on leading a team through poor economic climate. How to find the balance between pushing them harder in the sales teams while noting they are probably feeling more pressure at home too? 2. Adriana asks: How do I own my talents and unique experience in the workplace, but avoid being positioned as eccentric?  3. Mel asks: How to navigate through long term relationships when you're trying really hard to find work but can't? I’m feeling (or being made to feel like) a burden.   Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must!   A reminder 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.  Lifeline's 13 11 14 crisis support service is also available 24/7. Anyone in Australia can speak to a trained Crisis Supporter over the phone, any time of the day or night. Always call 000 in an emergency.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest installment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW’s Astrid Edwards  and Lauren Beckman tackle questions around managing top performers, navigating career transitions, and preparing for psychometric assessments. Lucy asks:How can I show my top-performing sales manager that she's valued without promoting her to a team leader role, which would take her away from selling? Anon asks, After maternity leave, I’ve realised I no longer want to return to my previous role. How do I transition to something new without negatively impacting my mental wellbeing? Ophelia asks, How should I approach psychometric testing, and how can I prepare, especially as a neurodivergent individual? Should I disclose this to my potential employer? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Sally Spicer and Maeva Dedy discuss how to set clear boundaries in a new leadership role, tips for leading a remote team and how to demonstrate you are ready for a promotion. Anon asks, How can I set clear boundaries when starting a new leadership role that has been communicated from the beginning as full-on and demanding?   Anon asks, Tips and tricks to lead remote workers/teams? Melissa asks, How do I show my leadership team that I am capable of being a manager? Should I start a vague chat or go in hard with where I see myself. Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Sally Spicer and Nidhi Kalaiya discuss how to approach being asked about career breaks and how to be seen in the workplace as an introvert. Michelle asks, I am at a crossroads career-wise. I am the executive at a small incorporated association. I have very little hands on help in my role but high output expectations from the board. How do I stay put and develop my skills, or do I move on to a larger company in a lower position or do I focus on a career change (into politics) and just do my job until I have the opportunity to jump into politics. Anon asks, How do you navigate being in a team as an introvert when everyone else is very dominant and extroverted? I find it hard to demonstrate my abilities, and my manager seems to favour outgoing personalities. Anon asks, How do I craft an elevator statement (or alike) for people persistently asking about a career break when I'm not yet ready to talk about it? I've tried to shut it down before, but people seem to keep asking about it. Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest instalment of Leadership: Your Questions Answered, FW's Helen McCabe and Sally Spicer discuss being visible when working remotely, stepping up as a leader and being a team player who toots your own horn too.  Anonymous asks: How to make your presence known when you work remotely from the managers who are in office? How do you best communicate your wins and successes to them when you can't see them everyday and know if it's too little or too much? Melissa asks: I have been in my company for five years and would love to step up. How do I show my leadership team that I am capable of being a manager? Should I start a vague chat or go in hard with where I see myself? Sairah asks: As a team player - someone who cares more about helping a group or team to succeed, than about one's own individual success. How can I be both a team player and reach my individual success parameters? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamila Rizvi and Briana Blackett offered valuable insights on managing workloads through KPIs, navigating career breaks, and identifying company culture during interviews.  This Weeks Questions Anon asks, how can I ask my manager to give me some KPIs instead of just throwing work at me. How do I manage up? Bibiana asks, I am an overseas-graduated social worker with a 7-year gap while migrating to Australia. I want to return to social work, but here it focuses on mental health and disability, areas in which I lack experience. Despite job hunting, I haven't been successful. Should I continue to try or change careers? Anon asks, what questions can I ask in an interview to really extract what the company culture is like? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Briana Blackett and Lauren Beckman discussed the best ways to give a memorable speech, what do ask for from the people you're refereering and how to encourage Gen Z team members to speak up.  This Weeks Questions Anon asks, I have to give a big presentation to an external group. Any advice on how to bring big speaker energy and make myself memorable? Anon asks, What do you ask for from the people you're refereeing? If the reports are written, do you ask for the candidate to propose a response? Anon asks, How do I encourage Gen Z members of my team to speak up and give feedback?   Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our May 17th episode, FW’s Founder and Managing Director, Helen McCabe and Head of Implementation, Amanda Adderley discuss how to navigate conflict with a coworker, how to articulate your professional strengths and how to push for new practises in the workplace.  This week's questions Anon asks, I am 6 months into a new role and am really enjoying it. However, I am experiencing a visceral tension between myself and two colleagues who I work closest with. I'm trying my best to show up every day, but am feeling pretty defeated. How can I move forward? Anon asks, How do I best articulate my professional strengths when I’m putting myself forward for job interviews or promotions? Melissa asks, When colleagues value years of experience over current research-based practices, how do you change the status quo when the push-back is fierce because the new practices challenge people's current ways or personal bias?    Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our May 3rd episode, FW's Deputy Managing Director, Jamila Rizvi, and Head of Canberra Learning Program, Lauren Beckman , answered your career questions about balancing the return to work while managing a chronic illness, deciding whether to take your side hustle on full time and bringing your 'authentic' self to work without having disclose mental illness.  This week's questions Anna asks, I'm searching for meaningful work and trying to balance a good income/job security with a need for part time work (due to chronic illness). Has anyone has tackled this well and found an approach that has satisfied most of their needs?  Maddi asks, I don’t know if I should take the route of staying in my job and doing a “side hustle”, doing social media work and work my way up to launching into my own company, or continue on the grind of working up the corporate ladder. Any thoughts, suggestions or guidance? Kim asks, I am a professional in a leadership role and I also live with a complex mental illness that is heavily stigmatised and misunderstood. I do not feel like I can ever bring my whole self to work because of this. Do you have any tips on how I can bring as much of myself to work without having to disclose my illness? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when we go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our April 9th episode, FW's Founder and Managing Director, Helen McCabe and Head of Content, Briana Blackett, answered your career questions about  working with people who have different working styles, deciding what job level to apply for after a career break and getting men on board with flexible work and paid parental leave. This week's questions Catarine asks, What practical advice would you give to someone who has a direct manager with a different working style?  Melissa asks, Is it best to apply for entry level roles to reacquaint ourselves with the contemporary workplace scene or can we dive into a middle level leadership role if we tick some of the boxes on the position description?  Lin asks, How do I get the men in my organisation on board with flexible work and paid parental leave?  Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our March 25th episode, FW's Founder and Managing Director, Helen McCabe and Communications Director, Sally Spicer, answered your career questions about advocating for your authentic self at work, job sharing at senior levels and building rapport and relationships in the workplace as a new team member. This week's questions Maddy asks,  How do I remove the expectation to teach others about and advocate for each of the parts of my authentic self while still being me at work?  Melissa asks, Are you aware of any job share arrangements in high level leadership positions? If so, what do they look like? What makes them work well or not in your experience? Kylie asks, How to build rapport and relationships, and to navigate that on-boarding period when as a new member of a team you're trying to pick up on team norms, culture, expectations? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our March 12th episode, FW's Head of Platinum+ Emerging Leader, Christine Ellem and Communications Director, Sally Spicer, answered your career questions about looking for a job during economic recession, returning to work after having a child and figuring out how to stand out in a crowd, when you are trying to pitch for paid written articles. This week's questions Anon asked, Have I missed the boat on the great resignation? With the current economy am I better to hang tight and find purpose elsewhere?  Hayley asked, I am going back to work after having my first baby 8 months ago. Should I be looking to job share, go back full time or look for a 3 day contract? Child care is more expensive than I thought.  Sairah asked, How to stand out in a crowd, when you are trying to pitch for paid written articles? Too often I am told, ‘we love your work’, ‘you write very well’, or ‘we will keep your details on file.’  Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our February 26th episode, FW's Head of Implementation, Amanda Adderley and Founder and Deputy Manage Director, Jamila Rizvi, answered your career questions about dealing with a boss who behaves unpredictably, deciding if you're ready to return to work after having a baby and moving from the private sector into the public sector.  This week's questions Anon asks, I’ve started in a Leadership position with a consulting firm that has a female CEO. She berates people, disempowers her leaders and tends to fly off the handle. It’s a  small, family run business that is looking to grow but I’m not sure how to deal with this as she terrifies me. Would love thoughts or tips? Michelle asks, Is it okay to not want to go back to work after having a baby? I think I have lost my way a little. Anon asks,  How do I crack into the public sector and do you think it is worth it when you get there? I have worked in the private sector for 15 years in IT and would love a change.  Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our February 14th episode, our Communications Director, Sally Spicer and Founder and Managing Director, Helen McCabe, answered your career questions about the advocacy space, working from home and how to manage work/life/family balance. This week's questions Siobhan asks, how do I become more active in the advocacy space? I currently do some volunteering, but I'd like to learn more and potentially align my passion for advocacy with future paid employment. Shi asks, how do you stay productive while working/studying from home? Lee asks, how do you carve out more me time whilst juggling other commitments? I returned to full-time work after having kids and I feel stretched in every direction. Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first episode of 2024, our Communications Director Sally Spicer and Head of Platinum+ Christine Ellem answered your career questions about the FW Leadership Summit, pregnancy planning and job hunting. This week's questions Eve asks, would you change your job if you are planning to get pregnant? Trish asks, should I attend the FW Leadership Summit in-person or virtually? Natalie asks, how can I boost my confidence in job hunting and in general? Anonymous asks, do you have any advice on finding work whilst living regionally? I'm in regional Queensland and can't find anything local, but I don't want to drive two hours a day for work. Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest episode of Leadership: Your Questions Answered sees Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi  This week's questions Rachel asks, I have been in a new team for the last 12 months. The role has been a lot more than I expected, after hours calls and developing expert knowledge. How can I address with senior management that I should be paid for the role above that I feel I am currently doing? Lena asks, I have a side hustle that I want to pursue but cannot afford to do so. How was Future Women started and do you have any advice for me on how to make the leap? Minjun asks, How old is too old to reskill? I am mid forties and feeling like a change from admin roles to the data and tech side of things but will anyone take me seriously as an older student or employee? Got a question?  Submit your query here, post in our FW Facebook group and let us know it's for Leadership: Your Questions Answered or email us at hello@futurewomen.com  Want to watch Leadership: Your Questions Answered live?  Head to our members-only Facebook group to chime in with your thoughts when Helen and Jamila go live. Plus, get the highlights in our members-only newsletter delivered a week later. A members-only must! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.