Squiggly Careers

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. ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction & Announcement02:33 The quote: "Be yourself more with skill"07:44 Action 1: Job Crafting – Be the architect of your career10:30 Action 2: Ask for feedback on blindspots13:03 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 MentionedWhy Should Anyone Be Led by You?: What It Takes To Be An Authentic Leader Hardcoverby Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Should-Anyone-Led-You/dp/1578519713HBR Article 'Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: https://hbr.org/2000/09/why-should-anyone-be-led-by-youJob 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.comMore 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.

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYOAre 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.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Announcement00:58 Introduction02:08 The quote: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges”07:05 Exploring your potential & gaining confidence08:56 Action 1: Curiosity before commitment12:27 Action 2: Celebrate your wins15:15 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.comMore 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.

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYOAre 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.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:56 The quote: “Never live the same year twice”02:05 What inspired Sarah to choose this quote04:46 How to avoid feeling stuck05:57 Turning inspiration into action06:38 Action 1: Coach-yourself question07:58 Action 2: The “what” – use the fresh-start effect09:56 Action 3: The “who” – connect with weak ties12:14 Action 4: The “where” – new places and spaces13:44 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 MentionedValues Toolkit (Free) https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/The Long Win by Cath Bishop https://bit.ly/4mozgXoHow To Change Katy Milkman https://bit.ly/45izWXI For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYOThis 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.comMore 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.

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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:54 Is judgement a quality or skill?01:50 Judgement and decision-making05:25 The 6 stages of the judgement process08:43 Establishing a trusted person10:06 Reading the room, zoom or teams meeting13:21 Understanding your strengths and weaknesses16:54 Famous examples of bad judgement18:11 The importance of listening19:24 Persevering when it's time to stop22:33 Common watch-outs with judgement23:35 Should you trust instinct & gut feeling?25:43 Managing risk29:22 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 MentionedAndrew's Book: Judgement at Work: Making Better Choices - https://bit.ly/458TWvJActions Speak Louder Than (Listening) To Words: https://cclinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/actions-speak-louder-than-words.pdfThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - https://bit.ly/4m8OyQ2Blink by Malcolm Gladwell: https://bit.ly/3J76pIM For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome and intro to the episode01:00 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 think08:58 Complaint #1: Too many meetings10:30 Imperfect solutions: Shorter meetings, co-working time, reclaiming your calendar15:48 Complaint #2: Too much to do17:00 Zoom in/zoom out to clarify what matters most19:00 Good enough is great: Adjusting your effort with intention21:45 Complaint #3: No time to think23:00 The “To Think” list and first thoughts method25:00 Using voice notes and self-explaining for fast clarity26:30 Complaint #4: Senior people are slowing me down28:00 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 Mentionedhttps://reclaim.ai/ – tool to block time for focus and reflectionWhen 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.comMore 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.

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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast00:33 Day-To-Day Curveballs05:52 Acknowledging & Receiving Curveballs07:46 Why Curveballs Feel Hard In The Moment09:06 Curveballs Are More Likely In Squiggly Careers11:00 Rating Your Curveball Capability16:55 Idea For Action — Anticipating & Thinking On The Spot20:35 Idea For Action — Using Multiple Workarounds26:14 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 snowballsFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast01:00 Why the Messenger Matters as Much as the Message04:40 Trust vs Truth: How We Really Decide Who to Listen To07:20 Hard vs Soft Messengers (and When Each One Works Best)13:15 The Kevin Keegan Story: Choosing the Right Messenger15:20 Why Content Isn't Everything: Choosing the Right Voice16:30 A Better Way to Start Meetings (That Builds Credibility)20:00 The Role of Introductions in Empowering Messengers21:15 Influence in Remote Work: Tips for Zoom & Teams25:30 Mimicry and Mirroring: Small Shifts That Build Connection29:08 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 MentionedSteve's Book, Messengers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messengers-Who-Listen-Dont-Why/dp/1847942350Try Steve’s free quiz: https://www.influenceatwork.com/quiz/Influence with Robert Cialdini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5VBsx-RecFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to The Squiggly Careers Podcast00:48 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 How16:52 Don’t Delegate and Disappear22:41 Don’t Do It for Them25:06 Hybrid Approaches to Teaching & Delegating26:25 Don’t Expect It Done Your Way28:00 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 trustFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Intro: Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast00:43 Why We Struggle to Think as Teams01:56 Who Are Your Thinking Partners?02:18 Team Thinking Drives Team Performance03:02 Principles for Better Team Thinking07:38 Signal Thinking Activities in Your Team08:46 Turning Thinking into Action via Experiments09:43 The Team Thinking Matrix Explained11:48 Idea for Improvement: Worry Lists17:20 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 itFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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/41jasYOFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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/41jasYOFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

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.comMore 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.

Self-reflection and career development can be supercharged with the right questions — and AI can help you ask them. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore 4 practical AI prompts designed to help you accelerate your Squiggly Career. They focus on key areas including how to build better relationships at work, get unstuck when you’re feeling uncertain, cope with change more confidently, and understand what your LinkedIn profile might be saying about you (without you realising it!). Whether you're curious about AI or looking for new ways to learn and grow, this episode will help you get started.For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

We spend so much of our time at work on autopilot that we often miss what's right in front of us. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the art of noticing — how paying closer attention can unlock creativity, spark new ideas, and help you learn and lead in more meaningful ways. They share 9 simple and practical ways to start noticing more at work, from tuning into what’s left unsaid in meetings to spotting the tasks that never seem to get done.00:00 Introduction01:20 What is noticing?03:57 Idea 105:04 Idea 207:15 Idea 310:35 Idea 412:36 Idea 515:37 Idea 618:42 Idea 722:27 Idea 826:33 Idea 9For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

In a recent survey, many of our listeners told us that their biggest career worries are around learning new skills and staying relevant. But what skills really matter most for your future career? It’s a big question — and one that can feel overwhelming when you’re juggling a busy job and facing constant pressure to keep up and reskill. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share practical and reassuring ways to take ownership of your skill development, so you can navigate your squiggly career with confidence and control. You’ll learn how to identify the skills that matter most to you right now, which ones to invest in for your future self, how to stretch your strengths, and how to make space for learning — even when time feels tight.00:00 What skills matter most for your future career?03:32 Identify your skills 13:47 Learn skills from others16:54 Stretch your strengths19:10 How to find time to improve your skills21:09 How to skill swap in your team26:08 Find a skills sponsor

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SquigglyCareersFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email: helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction4. 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.

Assertiveness isn’t a tick-box skill or a one-size-fits-all tone. In this episode, Helen and Sarah unpack 5 common “assertiveness watch-outs” — sneaky habits that can undermine your message without you even realising it. Whether you tend to over-explain, over-apologize, or overdo your energy, you’ll walk away with practical tools to lead more effectively.00:00 What is assertiveness? 05:05 What's your assertiveness watch out? 07:30 Mistake 1 - Too much talking 09:17 Assertive statements 12:51 Mistake 2 - Over-caveating 15:40 Using 'I' statements17:07 Mistake 3 - All about me 19:26 Directing conversations21:17 Mistake 4 - Energy overloads 23:34 Mirroring enough25:39 The robot riskFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore 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.

Ever wondered how Helen and Sarah juggle running a business, hosting a podcast, and everything in between? Spoiler: it’s not about having more hours in the day—it’s about managing energy more effectively than time. In this episode, they share how shifting from a time-focused mindset to an energy-first approach can transform the way you work. From identifying your high-energy moments to understanding how relationships, perspective, and your environment affect your energy levels, this conversation is packed with practical tools to help you work with your energy, not against it.Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SquigglyCareersFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email: helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction4. 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.

In this episode, Helen sits down with organizational psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Tasha Eurich to talk about her new book, Shatterproof: How to Be Resilient When It Matters Most. They explore why self-awareness is a key ingredient of resilience and how we can build habits that help us thrive under pressure. The Shatterproof 5-minute Resilience Ceiling Quiz can help you to understand where your resilience resource is and what can you do about it: https://resilience-quiz.com/For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction4. 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.

In this episode, Dr. Sunita Sah, expert in defiance and decision-making, shares how to confidently say "no" in challenging situations. Sarah and Sunita dive into the psychology of defiance, discussing how to assess the risks, benefits, and personal costs of speaking up or complying. They explore the power of the "pause" and the importance of third-person self-talk to help make better, more authentic decisions. Whether it's in the workplace or beyond, Sunita provides actionable advice on how to navigate difficult conversations, protect your values, and maintain your well-being.For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction4. 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.