From Energise - The Talent Liberation Company

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What’s Your ‘Aha Moment?’

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I love those moments when the light goes on.‘Aha’ moments as I call them. I had a client last week who had a blinding insight. I love it when that happens because it represents new clarity and the beginning of their new improved future. Seeing them go on to make it happen is the golden icing on the insight cake.

I remember well the first time I spoke with this client. They said “I’ve got a business idea in me” and in our session out it popped, like a newborn baby, which is soooo exciting. Often people are so close to themselves that they can’t see insights, or they have such busy lives , they don’t have the time and space to notice them, make sense of them and work out what to do with them.

I am a bit like a midwife of people’s insights, future careers, hopes and dreams. Love it!   Often people have intuitions and instincts about what they want but allow others, or themselves, through their fears or agendas, to sabotage them. People are really creative at stopping themselves from doing what they want!

If this blog post resonates with you, click on this link:  

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/telegraph/

For a free article about ‘Insight Mining’, e mail me rachel@liberateyourtalent.com

Examined Your Navel Recently?

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I took myself on an away day this week. It was horrible. I sat in the sun in 21 degrees in a beautiful garden in the Cotswolds thinking and reflecting. The fluff is pink and green since you asked. We often don’t make time for reflection and contemplation, when it is one of those ‘important but not urgent’ tasks that make all the difference to success and happiness. 

The catalyst for my reflection was a new business year. The last 12 months has been so full-on, I felt like my head was spinning off my neck at times. I had an enjoyable and productive day and did about 3 days work in 1. Next is an away day to think about all the non-work areas, but I am leaving that until the school holidays are over as one of my values is peace. Shhh!  

What do you need or want to reflect about that would make all the difference to you? How to improve a relationship; how to murder your boss painlessly and without being caught; how to achieve more in less time; how to change career in a time of uncertainty? 

Our bulletins might be useful for your reflection. Click on this link to read historical ones on Smart living and working; Career strategies and Self-promotion topics:   

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

Here is one example on How to manage difficult emotion: 

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1104576359789.html

If you want to opt in to receive our free monthly bulletins, click on this link:

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102862873131&p=oi

Small Things Make A Big Difference

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I am quite simple, so I like simple things. How about you? I think little things make all the difference and I love seeing the light go on with clients.  Do you ever need to do something but keep on not getting around to it?

A client needed to do his expenses, but had put the task off for 9 months. I asked him what kind of environment was conducive to doing the task enjoyably. He replied going to his local pub for a quiet pint. The next day he e mailed me to say that he had done them. 

Another client claimed that she detested networking; a common phenomena. I was surprised; after all she was a people person. I explained that networking was all about connecting with people, something I knew she loved doing. “Oh, in that case, I love networking” as the penny dropped with a resounding clank as she headed off to book some networking events with a smile on her face.

What small change would make a big difference with you?   

Changing your career makes a big difference to your happiness and fulfilment. Click on the link below to find out more: 

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/telegraph/

Endings And Beginnings.

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Do you find life sometimes is full of endings and beginnings at the same time?

This week an ending is that I am doing my last ‘Steer your career workshop’ to help professionals who have been made redundant. Over the last 2.5 years, we have helped over 200 professionals from diverse backgrounds to find a new direction, hope and confidence.

What have I noticed from working with them? A desire for work to have more purpose and to make a difference; wanting a better work life balance and being fed up of the corporate rat race to name a few themes.  

And the beginning? It is that we have been chosen as a partner by The Telegraph for our career change e course which means we can help more people and write more too.  A while until I retire mind, since women in my family live until 98. That is a lot of care home funds to fund!

Click on this link for more info: 

http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/energise_career_change_ecourse.aspx

From Fixed Grin To Wry Smile?

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Is your face aching from that fixed grin? That expression that says ‘I am happy to have a job, but I am sick of doing 3 jobs, having no pay rise, little feedback or praise and I would like to stuff it where the sun don’t shine?’

If so, smiling at these work signs will change your facial expression and give those face muscles a workout. Enjoy! 

“If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t people happy?”

“I don’t look busy because I did it right first time.”

“Work is like taking a sledge across the Arctic. Only the lead dog has a pleasant view”

“We believe in give and take here. I give my time and effort. They take my freedom and dignity.”

“Who says that nothing is impossible? There are people here who do it every day.”

“If at first you don’t succeed, delegate the job to someone else.”

“The beatings will continue until morale improves.”

If you designed your own work sign, what would be the caption? Do share.

Have you downloaded your free ‘Pain free career change report’ yet?

Click on this link to download it and look busy: http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Have a laugh at our video on YouTube too – more free tips for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8CFaOq6GY

What Rubbish Do You Utter?

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Life is full of ridiculous sweeping statements. An apt expression since a lot of them are rubbish.  ‘All bankers are greedy.’ ‘Creatives are temperamental.’ ‘A lot of comedians are manic depressives’.  

I went to a networking event last night with lawyers. I heard someone describe lawyers as ‘dysfunctional’. Such crazy generalisations enrage me. What is ‘normal’? Is there such a thing? We all get given labels; I was the ‘analytical’ one in my family. We get given nicknames. We have job titles, which create a hierarchy and yet a division. I hate being put in a box – it feels like prison. My job title, if you want to call it that, is self-created; ‘talent liberator’ because it best expresses what I bring not what I do. What do labels give us do you think? What purpose do they serve?

Be aware of what labels you put on things and what basis you are using in gossip or discussion. The news feeds people rubbish and many take it as gospel. Everything carries an energy; a word, a thought so notice what you and others express, the basis of your views and the implications. e.g. ‘troublesome youth’ ‘the lost generation’ or about immigrants – are they helpful? I don’t think so. What’s your view?     

Why is a good CV like squeezing oranges? Do you have the imposter syndrome? For the answers to these questions and more, click on this link:

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

What Gets Your Goat?

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I caught myself being a very grumpy arse this morning. Steam was coming out of my ears faster than a train and Puff the magic dragon for anyone old enough to remember got a run for his money. The cause? Poor communication.

Communication isn’t rocket science. You don’t need a PHD to know that people like to understand what is going on, be kept informed and not caught on the hop with things taken away that they are used to having. My London office base has an event today, so the usual facilities including desktop computers are not available and members feel like battery hens squeezed into a cupboard.

Whenever people get mad, usually their values i.e. what is important to them are being trodden on. In this case thoughtfulness, peace, space, manners and communication to name a few have been stamped upon. Not only do values help us design our lives and work for more fulfilment, they also act as a check for managing difficult emotions.

Are you good at saying how you feel, in conflict situations to resolve things? Read this bulletin to find out.

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1104576359789.html

Are You Flat Out?

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Do you get stuck in wall-to-wall meetings with no time to do the work in between? Many employees are working flat out with scarcely time to catch their breath. Full on! Sound familiar? Working at such a pace gives you little time to think clearly or even straight, which can lead to poor prioritisation and focusing on the urgent rather than the important things that would really make the difference.

Over time, this can create a vicious circle. You get more and more tired and stressed and less productive, creative and resourceful. Ouch! Falling asleep on the sofa at an early hour clutching a glass of something can be the only thing you have the energy for. 

 Here are some tips to try out:

Tip 1: Read this bulletin on overwhelm

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1103079251463.html

Tip 2: Get up from your desk and look back at your empty chair. Imagine you are in the chair. What advice would you give yourself?

Tip 3: Block out time in your diary away from your work station for thinking, planning and reflecting and coming up with ideas to improve productivity, fulfilment, reduce stress and improve productivity

Tip 4: Learn to coach yourself. E.g. ask yourself “What is causing the stress?” “What can I influence?” “What actions can I take and when will I take them?”

What’s Your ‘Plan B’?

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If you got made redundant tomorrow, what would you do? I’m not trying to be a miserable kill-joy, it’s something worth thinking about so you are not caught ‘on the hop’.  Keeping your CV up to date is one thing. Key wording your profile and being active on Linkedin groups to raise your profile another. 

Many people stick their head in the sand and pretend change isn’t happening and then get slapped around the face by it. Painful. By thinking what your options and having an escape route now, it can make you feel good. Isn’t it better to be prepared and have a cunning plan up your sleeve? To quote a quote; forewarned is forearmed?

Taking the first step now could mean you are ahead, even if change speeds up. Taking time to evaluate your work could also mean you enjoy your current job more too.

Here are 2 free resources to help you:

For 5 free tips, view this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8CFaOq6GY

For a free career change report with 2 exercises, click on this link:

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

 

Want To Bump Off Your Boss?

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Tempting? Many people are having to re-apply for their own job in the public sector. If you were to apply for your own job now, would you, or would you rather have your boss’ job? It might feel like a bit of a trick question, as most people are doing more than one job now for the same money. This has the advantages of more variety to keep you interested but more pressure and stress! 

I find that people often stay in a job for longer than is good for their own growth. With job uncertainty about, it seems a good thing to do, but it’s a bit like wearing a suit that no longer fits with the arms and trousers too short for your body. The job that was right for you 3 years ago is unlikely to be right for you now, because we are changing and growing all the time. You could bump off your boss as they are probably sitting pretty too, but the prisons are a bit overcrowded. Could help with the rising cost of living.

If you could create your ideal job for you now, what would it be? Tip – write a job description for your perfect role and compare it with your current one.  Could be an insightful exercise.  Our free report might help you to take a step back too – click on the link to download your free copy: http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/