My guiding word for 2023

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One little fact about me that you probably already know is that I love creating space and time to set goals and build a plan. Setting aside specific time to create an annual, high level plan, and a more specific 90 day plan is non-negotiable with me and I’m completely lost and unproductive if I don’t create my weekly success plan.

Clarity is power. And focus is magic.

In recent years I’ve included picking a word for the year to guide me.

This one word has set an overall intention that guides me throughout the year and supports my growth.

Last year, after a few years of isolation and separation my word of the year was CONNECTION.

My word CONNECTION helped me to push through my introverted tendency and embrace more opportunities to connect. I joined a book club, built stronger online relationships, attended in person events even when it felt hard or inconvenient, I prioritised precious time with family and committed to reconnecting with myself, my health and truly understanding who I am and what I want in life.

It influenced my day to day decisions, the action I took, where I invested my time and energy, how I wanted to feel and ultimately supported me to have a year where I felt truly connected.

So after much reflection, I’ve decided on my word for this year which is…

ASK

• Ask for support

• Ask for what I want

• Ask help to find solutions and help to problem solve

• Ask – AKA – delegate to my team

• Ask for feedback

And in the process I will…

• Let go of my fierce independence and the need to prove that I am capable and recognise when my ego gets in the way.

• Embrace vulnerability and step into being 100% ok with being a learner who is willing to do it messy and likely to make mistakes.

• Become a person who seeks feedback … without being self critical or beating myself up when areas of improvement are identified.

I’m excited about how my 2023 word will influence my year… while also feeling challenged and stretched by what it will require of me.

And that’s the point.

The word I choose each year is designed to disrupt the status quo and support me to stretch and grow.

Do you have a word of the year?

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May 16, 2022October 23, 2022

Why we must talk about menopause and its impact on leadership

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Let’s talk menopause

Yes! I’m going there.

Why? Because your ability to lead effectively and confidently relies on you being at your best – both physically and mentally.

And let me just say, from my experience, the transition through perimenopause and into menopause can be a pretty rough ride. Sleep disturbance, foggy brain and the unexplained aches and pains (or whatever curve ball your body wants to throw up for you)… can all take a toll on your ability to think clearly and to have the energy required to tackle the demands of a leadership role.

Until recently, menopause was a taboo subject.

It wasn’t widely explored in the media and it’s not something that was spoken about at home let alone in the workplace. Thankfully that’s starting to shift. More and more public figures are speaking about their experiences and women are becoming more willing to share their stories within their social and business circles.

To say I was in the dark about what to expect and how to transition gracefully through this natural stage of life would be an understatement.

All I knew about menopause until recently was that I could expect a few annoying hot flushes and look forward to the monthly bleeding to stop. I thought it was just a short phase of a year Spotify Plays or two that needed to be endured and then it would be done.

I was clueless and misinformed, even though I’m probably about 5 years into this crazy transition.

In recent weeks I’ve begun a journey of exploration to get an understanding of what’s happening to my body and how to take back some control and make peace with the changes.

I want to be able to lead bravely and contribute in a big way – and feel confident in my body but that’s almost impossible while I struggle with the sleepless nights, weight gain, hot flushes, migraines, aching joints and forgetfulness.

So yes – being a great leader AND finding the best way for YOU to gracefully transition through the stages of menopause go hand in hand.

So, what have I learnt so far?

That this period of a woman’s life can take on average 7 years from the first signs of perimenopause through to menopause. SEVEN YEARS! Who knew!

I’ve learnt that many GPs don’t have the time or the expertise to help us navigate this experience. I’ve sought support and assistance on 3 occasions from different GPs and have come away each time even more confused and with nothing more than a list of drugs to consider.

I’ve learnt that keeping in shape once our hormones begin to shift takes something different from the regular advice about calories in versus energy out and that high intensity exercise that raises stress levels may actually be having a negative effect.

I’ve learnt that skipping my beloved daily coffee and few drinks over the weekend have been a sacrifice worth making to restore my sleep patterns and my sanity.

And most importantly I’ve learnt that this is not a time to be endured. There are lots of options (medical, herbal and lifestyle changes) for relieving the mental, emotional and physical impacts.

Here are some things to think about if you too are in this phase of life.

1. Find the right health provider for you. Sadly, many GPs don’t have the time, inclination or the knowledge to provide you the support and advice you are looking for. If your usual GP is unable to provide you with the answers to your questions – seek advice from another GP or health provider.

2. Get educated. Go in search of experts in this field. Read their books. Listen to their podcasts. Sign up for short courses and workshops. Speak to your girlfriends. Talk to your mother about her experience. Remember – knowledge is power.

A book I’ve found helpful is: Hormone Repair Manual – every woman’s guide to healthy hormones after 40 by Lara Briden.

3. Don’t settle. This is NOT a time to endure. It’s a time to reconnect with your body. Notice what’s shifting and changing. And then go in search of answers. Life is too short to be struggling. You have too much to give and contribute to settle for feeling less than fabulous.

4. Embrace the change. Remember that this is a normal process that all women transition through. Embrace it. Honour it. Use this time to focus on you, ensuring you have a happy and healthy body to support your professional and personal goals for many years to come.

I am by no means an expert on Menopause – but I am an expert on what it takes for mid career women to step up to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition. To lead effectively, confidently and with impact requires you to be at your best – not struggling through a range of vague, life sapping symptoms going unchecked.

Good luck.

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October 4, 2021June 9, 2022

Have you forgotten to check in with your intuition?

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We are intuitive beings. We have an inner compass that, when given the chance, can guide us in the decisions we make and the direction we take. When we trust our intuition and take action based on its guidance, it will faithfully do it’s best to support us.

But in all our busyness we seem to be forgetting how to tune in and listen.

We have all been carrying a very heavy load over the last 18 months. Many women I speak to are exhausted! They are working hard, getting the job done and putting on a brave face.

Maintaining a high level of professionalism and commitment to doing great work while home schooling and soldiering on without a break… is a LOT!

But in all the craziness of our current reality, is it possible you’ve stopped listing to your gut?

When we fail to recognise these tell-tale signs, we miss the need to pause before hitting burnout or fail to say yes to the big opportunity or make a poor choice when recruiting a new team member.

The cost can be high when we ignore the quiet whispers or persistent inner calling trying to guide us.

When have you failed to listen to your intuition?

Looking back on a decision I made last year that didn’t turn out so well, I recognise that I ignored a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I experienced massive resistance, slipped back into an old habit of procrastination and came up against lots of unexpected roadblocks.

I now recognise that this was my deep intuitive knowing at first whispering – and later shouting from the roof tops – that this was not right for me. Had I listened to the initial whispers, it would have saved me a lot of time, energy and financial pain!

Obviously, there is no exact science to this, but it pays to listen.

We know that when we listen, our gut instincts help us to..

Read people,
Make the right decisions,
Set the right goals,
Align with the best pathway forward.

And there is something powerful about people who are in tune with their intuition and make decisions based not only on logic but also gut instinct.

Perhaps it’s time to get your logic and your intuition working in harmony again.

3 ways to tap into your intuition more effectively

Take time to pause. Gut feelings are difficult to recognise when we are caught up in the busyness of our day to day. Take the time to pause and still the mind.

That might mean making time for a little meditation or journaling, taking the dog for a walk, dancing to your favourite music or, like I did today, taking a quiet moment during my lunch break to watch the waves roll in at the beach.

Pay attention to your body. We don’t tap into our intuition by thinking. It happens through feeling. To get back into the habit of listening, simply take a few moments a couple of times each day to scan your body. This will help you become more present, to quiet your busy mind and tune into your body. Notice anything that feels out of the ordinary. Be aware of your breath. Tune in to how you feel.
Emotions leave clues. Take notice of the emotions you’re feeling on a consistent basis. Too often I see smart dynamic women suppress their emotions to a point they no longer feel them.

Your emotional response to any situation provides you with clues. Notice your energy and trust your emotions to give you the signals you need.

You have an inner guide. May this be a gentle reminder to listen.

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September 20, 2021September 20, 2021

Has COVID stolen your MOJO?

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If your Mojo has been a NO SHOW lately – you’re definitely not alone! As we push through another week of restrictions, border closures, home schooling and working from home … today I give you permission to show yourself a little love and compassion.

Being self-critical or annoyed with yourself isn’t the answer. Beating yourself up for struggling to maintain your usually high standards of productivity and dedication to excellence, is likely to only make the situation more challenging.

The impact of Ground hog day is not insignificant.

As I sat down this morning to write this weekly blog – I hit up against a brick wall. My fingers hovered above the keyboard – and nothing.

My mind flipped flopped from being totally blank and vacant… to wildly distracted. Perhaps I need to check my email, Facebook, LinkedIn and have a long chat with the lovely woman who handed me my coffee. I answered a few emails and busied myself with a few mindless tasks, while waiting for inspiration strike.

But it didn’t.

And while I struggled to get the cogs turning, time slipped by with nothing of significance achieved.

The lack of variety in our life is stifling our creativity. The mental load is heavy, and the absence of deep and nurturing social contact is taking a toll.

There’s so much of this experience we have no control over – so let’s stay focused on that which we can control.

Over the years of working with mid-career professional women, I’ve seen 3 key elements are required for us to enjoy our work

Growth: We need to be experiencing personal and professional growth
Contribution: We need to feel like we are doing meaningful work that is making a difference.
Recognition: We need feel our best work is being recognised and rewarded.

So, it gets me wondering … how can we tap into these three elements to re-ignite the spark for our work.

Here are my tips

Focus on Growth

Your mind body and soul are craving variety and one of the best ways to create a little variety is by focusing on your professional development. But before you freak out – I’m not talking about embarking on an MBA or some other all-consuming program. NO! Let’s start small.

You might decide to focus on setting better boundaries, or learning to articulate your thoughts or plans more succinctly or redefining your leadership style, allowing you to step up to the next level of leadership.

Focus on contribution

On those days that life feels a little heavy – focus on what matters most – to you, your team and your organisation. Get clear on the priorities and set yourself the goal of getting those activities done. There’s nothing like a little endorphin rush that comes from knowing you’ve done great work, to boost the mood and lift your spirits.

Toot your horn.

Getting the recognition, you deserve has become even more challenging in this virtual environment. I know that your work should speak for itself, and your boss should be taking an interest in what you are doing, but let’s face it – they’ve possibly struggling just as much as you are right now to notice what you are doing.

So, as much as you hate seeing others boasting about their work – I want you to be bold (while humble) and take every opportunity to raise your profile, speak about the great work you do and sharing the goals your team are achieving.

Find your inspiring tribe

We are not meant to live life in isolation. Finding you tribe – who lift you are up, keep you moving forward and drive you to continue to strive to do your best work is key.

Each time I’ve felt a little flat I’ve tapped into one of my professional support groups (I have a couple.) I get inspired by their achievements and take guidance and support on where to focus my time and energy next. But what fuels my soul most of all is being able to laugh, cry and celebrate the big and small moments together.

Cut yourself some slack.

And finally, cut yourself some slack. Just as it’s OK not to be OK… it’s OK not to be at your very best every single day. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge how you are feeling. If today is not a great day – then do what you can and let go of the rest.

Hang in there. There is a glimmer of hope at the end of this very long COVID tunnel. This time will pass and eventually we’ll share stories about how we survived this time.

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March 19, 2021March 26, 2021

If you’re beating yourself up – Stop it!

If you’re beating yourself up - Stop it!

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So you’ve found yourself in that awful place where you realised you’ve not lived up to your high standards. Perhaps you’ve made a critical error, missed an opportunity to present well in a senior executive meeting or failed to deliver a piece of work by the deadline.

And if that’s happened, there’s a fair chance you’ve taken the slippery road down, spiralling into a pattern of speaking unkindly to yourself or putting yourself down. Or is that just me????

I found myself in this exact place a few weeks ago.

I had received some unexpected disappointing feedback. Now let me just pause for a minute and let you know that I’d received LOTS of positive feedback in relation to this event – but of course my focus immediately zeroed in on the one piece of negative feedback.

Have you ever done that? Ignored the positives and focused on the negatives?

As a mid career professional woman who has big visions, expansive goals and is actively putting herself outside her comfort zone – you will not always execute perfectly.

Things don’t always go to plan, when you’re in the ring, stepping up and constantly trying new things. It’s a very normal part of growing as a leader and progressing your career.

So I want to ask you…

Is putting yourself down and beating yourself up, positively serving you? Is it helping you to advance your career?

The likely answer is, ‘no’.

Let me tell you – Nothing good comes from the habit of beating yourself up. It doesn’t make you a ‘better’ Leader, or stop you from making mistakes in the future (because we all make mistakes), it only makes you feel terrible, leads you down the dark path of self doubt and critical overanalysis, and robs you of your confidence.

Yes, we need to acknowledge what we can do better because that is the way we build mastery. But focusing on the negatives is nothing but self destructive.

You may have noticed too that when you beat yourself up, it spills over into other areas of your life? Many women tell me that they lose sleep, stop caring for themselves, feel tension in their relationships, and second guess their skills and abilities.

So, what can you do if you notice that you’re beating yourself up?

1. Be aware.

The first step is to notice when you start beating yourself up. Only when we recognise and become aware of something, can we change it. Pay extra attention to how you’re feeling and talking to yourself. Then commit to stop the pattern.

2. Make amends.

Consider if there is ONE action you could take to make amends. Perhaps you could offer an apology to someone, fix your error or invest some time and energy into upskilling.

3. Do things differently.

When things don’t go to plan there is a temptation to become overwhelmed by EVERYTHING you need to do differently … and so end up doing nothing. Pick just ONE thing to focus on to get a better outcome next time. Would you prepare more? Be less of a perfectionist? Ask for support?

4. Recognise the positive learnings.

Now – shift your focus from what didn’t go well to ALL the things that went well (I can guarantee you that there will be plenty!) When we’re stuck in a cycle of beating ourselves up, this shift of focus can feel challenging, but it’s oh-so-important. And it’s the quickest way to shift you out of the downward spiral you may find yourself in.

5. Let it go.

Now is your time to release what happened. Dwelling on it and continuing to put yourself down will not serve you going forward. Make the commitment to take your learnings with you and let. it. go.

I know it can feel hard to choose to respond to difficult situations in new ways, but believe me when I say that doing so will support you to step more fully into your role as a Leader, progress your career and be a role model to those around you.

If you’re someone who tends to beat herself up when things go wrong, I invite you to book in for a 1:1 Leadership Support Session here.

Together we will help you better understand your triggers, and identify tangible ways that you can change your self destructive cycle of puts downs and self-deprecation, and instead, step more fully into your most powerful and confident self.

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March 2, 2021March 10, 2021

Do You Need To Share The Load?

DO YOU NEED TO SHARE THE LOAD?

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As fiercely independent women, we’ve prided ourselves on how much we can do and what we can achieve on our own.

We look after the kids.

We build our careers.

We run teams.

We support our loved ones.

We cook.

We clean.

We plan.

We organise.

We do so much.

And while being independent and getting-things-done is a definite strength of ours, it’s also one of our greatest weaknesses.

Why?

Because doing ‘all the things’ on our own is e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g and, very often, it takes us away from investing time and energy into doing the things that matter most to us.

Many of the leaders I work with desperately want to take their careers to the next level, but don’t feel like they have the capacity (energetically, mentally and practically) to get themselves to where they want to be.

While they look productive on the outside, many of them are treading water on the inside. They’re spreading themselves too thin, and their minds and lives are busy and full to the brim.

I’m here to let you know that there is another way, and that you don’t have to do it all on your own.

What if you were to give yourself permission to share the load?

Here’s how you can begin to share the load and reclaim your time and energy, so you can do more of what’s important to you.

1. Delegate

Whether it’s at work, or in your personal life, delegating will support you to create lots more space in your day!

Let’s start by mastering the art of delegation. Let go of the sense of guilt that often comes with asking others to take greater responsibility. Allow your team to build their skills and capabilities by taking on some of what you’ve been holding onto.

Delegation is one of the key traits of working like a Queen Bee, and it’s this kind of work that gets women recognised and promoted in their workplaces.

Consider who you have on your team, what their strengths and interests are, and what tasks/meetings/opportunities you can hand over to them.

But don’t just stop there. Think about how you can delegate a little more in your personal life. Sometimes as women we OVER FUNCTION allowing our kids, partner other family members to UNDER FUNCTION.

Let go of the need to control it all. It may mean the washing/cleaning/shopping isn’t done to your usual high standards – and that’s OK! You don’t have to do everything on your own (nor should you!)

2. Be okay with saying no

Just because someone asks you to do something, doesn’t mean you should, or that you have to.

It’s okay to say no to work tasks that don’t fit your brief, or would be better executed by someone else.

And it’s okay to say no to social engagements when you’d rather stay in and relax.

The best thing you can do for yourself, and everyone else in your life, is honour your time and energy, and work in your zone of genius. Saying no to the things that don’t support you to do this will bring you closer to your goals and dreams.

3. Ask for help

You have other people in your personal life, and in your workplace, for a reason … to support you!

There’s no shame in asking for help. In fact, all of the great women and leaders I know, constantly ask for help.

It takes courage and vulnerability to call on others for support when you’re so used to doing everything on your own, but it’s worth it.

Not only will you have more time and space in your day, by leaning on other people (whether that be your colleagues or loved ones) it will allow them feel valued and important too.

It’s a win-win situation.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic ladies!

If you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and are exhausted from doing and achieving (even though you may be great at it!), know that you are not alone.

Please pop on over to our free Facebook Group for mid career professional women, share your experience and join in the conversation!

Together, we can support one another and find ways of sharing the load.

See you in the group!

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January 29, 2021May 25, 2023

5 Ways You Can Start Leading Your Way, Now.

5 WAYS YOU CAN START LEADING YOUR WAY, NOW.

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As I shared in this article, the number one thing you need to do to be a great leader and advance your career is to show your true self.

Now, as great as this is for us ladies, my guess is that some of you are sitting at home thinking, ‘Yes Jane, but that’s easier said than done. How do I show more of my true self?’

Today I want to share 5 practical ways you can step more fully into your true self, so you can lead in a way that works for you (and therefore feels easy, elegant and enjoyable!)

Before I jump in though, I want to acknowledge the fact that stepping into your own leadership style, and leading your way, can sometimes feel uncomfortable and (let’s be honest) scary.

It takes courage to step outside the traditional leadership mold – even if it is outdated – and be ourselves.

It takes bravery to show up, instead of flying under the radar, and allow our colleagues and staff to get to know the real us.

It takes guts to lead OUR way, and let go of the pressure we feel to be someone we’re not (like being assertive when that’s just not in our DNA!)

The simple fact that you’re here with me right now, reading these words, shows me just how great a leader you truly are. That you’re willing to embrace these challenges, so you can lead in a way that compliments who you truly are, rather than ticks the boxes of who you think you need to be, is cause for celebration.

Now, let’s get practical, shall we…

Here are 5 ways you can start leading your way – today!

1. Be you

I want you to repeat after me, ‘I am enough’.

‘I AM ENOUGH’.

You are valuable, and you are who you are truly meant to be, just as you are. The more you can bring your true character into your workplace, the more people will be able to get to know you, like you and trust you.

Do you have a quirky side? Let your team see it! Do your loved ones describe you as ‘real’ and ‘down to earth’? Let it shine through! The more YOU you can be, the better!

Consider: What makes you, you? How can you be more of your true self in your workplace?

2. Model wisely

Having role models is very important as a leader BUT you need to choose the right ones for you.

Don’t just model the leader you report to, or your CEO – model the leader you look up to and whose leadership style resonates with how you want to lead.

Consider: What leadership traits do you admire and respect?

3. Mix and match

Because everyone is different and no one role model will ever have all the traits we ourselves aspire to have, it helps to mix and match and have a number of people we can look up to.

Perhaps you admire how your Manager speaks up in meetings, or how your past employer would create space to think and reflect before she responded to a complex situation.

Consider: Which 6 leaders do you look up to? What traits of theirs do you admire?

5. Have the courage to lead

It’s your time to really believe in yourself, step forward and take up more space in your workplace. No more hiding and no more dulling your light. So many opportunities will reveal themselves to you when you have the courage to be seen and lead.

Consider: How can you allow yourself to be seen more in your workplace?

6. Own it

Own your greatness, claim your space (in your workplace and in this world) and give yourself full permission to lead YOUR way. You deserve to lead, just as much as the next person. Now is your time!

Consider: What are 5 of your greatest qualities as a human, and as a leader?

Ladies, no more being who you think you need to be in order to lead! It’s time to lead in a way that complements who you truly are.

P.S. Know that I’m over here cheering you on – and that constant cheering and encouragement is always available to you in our free Facebook Group. This group is specifically for mid career professional women. If that’s you – we’d love to have you join the conversation.

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January 18, 2021January 13, 2023

Back to work Blues? Here’s what to do.

Back to Work Blues? Here’s what to do.

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After a turbulent few years, have you found yourself re-evaluating your priorities and what’s important to you? And as we ease into a new year, are you battling the back-to-work-blues?

Perhaps you have returned to work after some precious time out, reconnecting with your friends and family and immersing yourself in all those activities that truly bring you joy. As you step back into the office it would be normal to experience a little sadness for the loss of the sense of freedom that comes with long days at the beach, the joy of settling into a good book or enjoying a long lunch with friends.

But if you are dreading the end of holiday time and wondering how you will survive the year as it stretches out ahead of you… then perhaps it is time to reconsider whether you and your job are meant for one another.

However, before you take this as permission to go out and quit your job, let’s first look at a few ideas that might help you reignite your career mojo.

How to overcome the back-to-work-blues:

1. Clarify your goals.

I know you have heard this one before and you may have wondered if it’s really important. Well, it is! One year is much more likely to flow into the next without you actually making any progress in the absence of the focus and direction that comes from setting goals.

If goals are not your thing, then one idea I like to play with is to set a theme for the year. For example, I had a year of focusing on taking action outside my comfort zone and another year it was about building relationships and connections. What will be your theme this year?

2. Set boundaries.

This one is for you if you have found yourself consistently working longer and longer hours. All of us know that we will need to put in some extra hours from time to time, but when it becomes the norm we have let it go too far.

I recently worked with a client whose average working day had stretched out to be more than 12 hours EVERY day. Her health was suffering, and she was beginning to resent the fact that she was spending so little time with her family. By simply setting some personal boundaries, identifying some opportunities to maximise her efforts and saying NO to the extra tasks that were not her responsibility, she reclaimed more than two hours a day of personal time.

3. Commit to working smarter not harder.

No matter how you juggle your schedule, the number of hours in the day will always remain the same. But it is possible to adjust your habits to create more time for the things that matter most.

Working smarter starts with planning regularly, carving out specific time in your diary for the bigger, more strategic tasks to be completed at your most productive time of the day, and delegating those tasks that don’t need to be done specifically by you.

4. Focus on your strengths.

Ask yourself, are you working to your strengths or has your role morphed into a bunch of tasks that do not capitalise on what you do best? When you work to your strengths you are much more likely to enjoy the work you do and produce much better results to boot!

5. Strengthen your working relationships.

For many people the quality of their working relationships determines the degree of job satisfaction. And like any relationship… this takes some work. It is about staying connected, adding value, collaborating and supporting others to meet common goals.

6. Focus on your personal wellbeing. There is a growing mountain of research that points to the value of focusing on healthy eating, making time for exercise and taking time out to still the mind through meditation or mindfulness. It is hard to be at your best at work while also having energy for an active and fulfilling life outside of work if you are not taking care of your heath.

7. Set an end point.

If, after all of this, you are still struggling to find enjoyment and fulfilment at work, then perhaps it is time to take the plunge and go after something new. Life is too short to spend most of your waking hours stuck in a job that doesn’t “float your boat.”

Commit now to an end point, a date by which time you will either have found a way to re-ignite your career mojo or to move on!

Now it’s over to you.

If you have been hit by the back-to-work-blues and are struggling to get fired up and motivated for another year, then it is time to do things differently. Without change you are destined for more of the same. So, go out and do what it takes to re-ignite the spark for more enjoyment and fulfilment in your work.

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December 14, 2020November 28, 2023

Your end of year survival guide

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You’ve almost made it… to the end of 2023! And what a year it’s been.

As we hurtle our way to the end of the year, are you feeling the pressure to get those last few projects completed?

If this is more about surviving and limping your way to a well earned rest, here are my best tips to managing it all.

Your final week survival guide:

1. Be Super Intentional

Get really clear on what matters most. We sometimes have to come to terms with the fact that we can’t do it all. This is the season to double down on focusing your time and energy on those things that will have the biggest impact – for you, your team and the organisation.

I know you can juggle a LOT… but, with only a limited number of days before we all head off on well earnt break, I want you to practise using one simple word – NO.

Every time you say NO, it allows you to stay focused on those activities that matter most

2. Create Thinking Time

With limits to your time and energy in this countdown to Christmas, creating space to think strategically and make critical decisions will be essential to your survival. Take a look at your calendar now and schedule in at least 20 mins of “thinking time” every day.

3. Protect your energy

When people ask me what my number one productivity tip is, my answer is – get more sleep! Intuitively, we all know that we do our best work when we’ve had a good night’s sleep and have taken good care of our mind and body.

Don’t be fooled by how simple these suggestions are.

That’s the beauty of them. They aren’t fancy – but they work.

So I wonder… which of these strategies could make a real difference to how you close out your year?

Here’s to a brilliant end to the year.

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October 8, 2020November 13, 2020

7 simple ways to boost your capacity as a strategic thinker

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When you reach a certain level of leadership – you are employed to think not just do! Being able to think creatively, solve problems and create new and innovative ideas will have you stand out in the crowd and put you in a powerful position.

Innovation, creative thinking and problem solving are becoming increasingly important skills for all leaders to foster.   Organisations are hungry for employees who can see things from a new perspective, solve long-standing problems with simple changes and really drive progress within the business.

I once thought that I wasn’t creative, able to think strategically or to come up with innovative ideas. I now recognise that actually I am … I just hadn’t nurtured these skills or learnt how to create the best environments for me to allow my creative juices to run free.

Here are 7 surprisingly simple ways to boost your capacity as a strategic thinker.

1.  Create thinking time.

It is near impossible to be creative, let alone productive when you are surrounded by distractions or on high alert for the distractions that are likely to come your way.

Put aside a chunk of time in your calendar each week dedicated for work that requires thinking clearly and creatively such as specific project work, big picture planning or nutting out a problem.   Turn off your phone, shut down your emails and find a quiet space.

 2. Manage your mood.

Research has found that we do our best creative work when we feel positive. We tend to be bolder and more focused on solutions and what is possible when we feel good. Think about what gets you in a positive mood. Is it heading out for a quick coffee with colleagues, is it meditating in the mornings before work or hitting the gym?

3.  Find your creative space.

Our work environment plays a huge part in our ability to think strategically and creatively.

One leader I worked with was struggling to come up with a business strategy that was innovative or inspiring. She felt bogged down and void of new ideas. Not surprising really… she was working in a classified area of the Defence Force requiring her to conduct all her work in a windowless bunker!

I wonder where your creative space is? Is it a café, sitting on a park bench or your kitchen bench after the kids have gone to bed? Wherever it is … plan to spend more time there. Not only will it be good for your ability to think creatively and strategically, you will also see your productivity take off.

4.  Get exercising.

We know exercise is good for us for lots of reasons and here’s another… studies have shown that exercise can improve our ability to think creatively.

I love the way it’s explained in this Psychology Today article:

“Sweat is like WD-40 for your mind—it lubricates the rusty hinges of your brain and makes your thinking more fluid. Exercise allows your conscious mind to access fresh ideas that are buried in the subconscious.”

So … get into motion and notice the ideas begin to flow.

5.  Extend your boundaries.

There is a very good reason why training programs usually involve butchers’ paper and colour textas. It is to encourage us to return to our childlike exploration of ideas and to remove the limits and linear thinking that comes with lined paper or the standard work document.

To get ideas flowing ditch the computer and map out your thoughts on flip paper or a white board. Go analogue. Breakthroughs rarely happen on a laptop! And science backs this up. Apparently, paper and pixels access different parts of our brain.

6.  Find some friends.

You are no doubt smart. It may be your responsibility … but you don’t have all the answers. Very often the best solutions and ideas happen through collaboration.

Reach out to your team, colleagues and mentors to bounce ideas around with. Ladies, we are known for our strength as collaborators so let’s put that skill to work. Stop believing you need to do it all. You don’t!

 7. Be Inspired.

We do not find new solutions or become more creative by maintaining the status quo. New ideas come when we step outside what we already know and experience new things.  

Explore new places, seek out new experiences, visit places of inspiration, engage in wild and crazy conversations to extend your thinking of what is possible and expand your horizons by immersing in the works of the brightest thought leaders of today.

Building your capacity to think creatively and strategically is just like building any muscle.

It takes persistence, practice and perseverance. We were all born creative but somewhere along the way it gets beaten out of us. We are told to colour between the lines, to be like everyone else and to follow the rules.

If you want to create innovating marketing ideas, develop game changing strategies or to solve the challenges that are thrown your way day in day out, you must flex your creative muscle. See this as a critical skill you can develop.

Be bold. Be brave and have some fun.

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Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support

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Get my best tips on working smarter not harder

Read my latest blog post.

Book a FREE leadership support session with me.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

My guiding word for 2023

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Your end of year survival guide

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