Amazing If

The 40 hour work week was established as part of the New Deal in 1937, yet it's still the prevailing work structure we work within. More recently, technology has blurred the boundaries of work and life, creating an always-on work culture that leaves us questioning what the new normal is. At one extreme Elon Musk has been reported as working 120 hours per week and at the other, Arianna Huffington champions a more balanced approach. This week, Helen and Sarah tackle the question of how many hours a week should you work, sharing their own experiences of when they have got it right and when it's got wrong! Listen this week for their tips on getting to the right number of hours for you. To access all the resources mentioned, head to www.amazingif.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over 60% of us would consider a complete change to our careers, but many people struggle to take the leap and put those dreams into action. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share their career pivots, moving from different industries, professions and working styles on the road to a happy and successful Squiggly Career. Head to www.amazingif.com for all resources and links mentioned.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Workplace loneliness is on the rise and in this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about what is causing the increase, the times in their careers when they have felt most lonely and what coping strategies and techniques you can use to combat loneliness at work.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Helen and Sarah are back with another Squiggly Career Q&A, where they respond to questions from the Amazing If community. This week they cover how to get over a bad week, how to make time for yourself, whether meetings should be limited to 15 minutes and their most recommended books and podcasts. If you have questions for future Q&A podcasts getintouch@amazingif.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Values are what makes you you and knowing that can help you to make better decisions at work, leaving you more fulfilled and happy. This week, we share how you can start the process of exploring what your values are and make practical changes at work so you get to live them more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you love interviews or loathe them? In this week's podcast, we share some of our best and worst interview experiences and what we have learnt about how to come across with authenticity and impact to give you the best chance of success.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We all have a natural preference towards introversion or extroversion. In this week's podcast, Sarah and Helen talk about their own preferences and where this works for and against them at work. They discuss the critical career moments which can trigger your preference and how self-awareness can help you to manage your default responses. Head to www.amazingif.com for links to all resources mentioned.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Squiggly Careers are full of opportunity and change, but they can also be confusing and stressful, affecting our happiness and mental health. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah talk about 4 crucial elements of work well being; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. They share honest reflections of their own scores and experiences of each, with actions and tips for how you can improve your work well being.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Getting promoted is not the be all and end all of a happy career, but it's relevant to most people at some point. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share their 5 top tips to get a promotion and their examples of how it's worked for them. Hear how getting a sponsor, acting like you have the promotion and being brilliant in your current role are all activities that can accelerate your progression.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Being part of a great team makes such a positive difference to how you feel at work. Equally, those bad teams make the snooze button even more appealing than normal. In this week's episode Sarah and Helen share their experiences of great teams and the not-so-great ones, and what they have learnt about how to contribute to building a better team, whether you're the leader or not.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Angela's Duckworth's TED Talk on Grit is one of Amazing If's 'must watches' for people looking to invest in their Squiggly Career Skills. In this week's podcast, Helen and Sarah share how grit has helped them overcome career challenges like getting promoted, completing an MBA and delivering big projects at work. They also share 4 ways in which you can develop more grit to increase your impact and success at work.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Asking for a pay rise can be one of the most difficult conversations we're faced with at work. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah share 5 actions you can take to increase your chances of success. These actions include anchoring your ask, negotiating the whole package and getting prepared! Whether you're faced with a difficult conversation now or in the future, this podcast can help you take control and increase your confidence.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Whether you're in the early days of a new job, or feel like you're stagnating in a current one, Sarah and Helen's '5 ideas for impact' will help you to focus your attention on the activities that make the biggest difference between being good and being great. Sarah is the guinea pig this week, sharing her experiences as she reaches the first 100 days of her new job. Listen, learn and take control of your Squiggly Career.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Managers are key to a happy career, but we don't get to pick them so we need to develop the skills to manage them the best we can. This week, Helen and Sarah talk about how to set expectations and work with empathy to build effective relationships with managers. They also address what to do when the relationship isn't working, so you can react positively to the challenge.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode, Sarah and Helen tackle audience career questions and cover everything from how to fund your learning when your company won't pay to how to escape a job you feel stuck in. Listen, learn and send in your questions for the next Q&A to getintouch@amazingif.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did you know that over 70% of us suffer from Imposter Syndrome at work? A fear that you don't know enough, aren't good enough and might get 'found out' is all too common! This week, Sarah and Helen look at some of the career triggers for Imposter Syndrome so you can predict them beforehand, be more aware of them in the moment and take control of your own limiting beliefs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Presenting is often a part of our jobs, whether it's to a small team or on a big stage. Being able to present yourself and your ideas with confidence can help you to do more of what you love, build your brand and be more successful. This week, Sarah and Helen share advice and actions to become a more confident and authentic presenter.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Busy is the new normal and our always on jobs with never ending To Do lists are causing higher levels of workplace stress than ever before. This week, Helen and Sarah share their experiences of stress at work and the tools and techniques they have learnt to manage it.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a world of Squiggly Careers, rigid career plans can hold you back. Instead, Helen and Sarah share the value of exploring your career possibilities, giving you their top tips and resources to find out what your next step might be.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Knowing what you're great at is a big part of taking control of your career but many of us haven't got the insight or confidence to talk about it with others. In this week's episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how to identify your strengths and manage your career so you get the chance to use your strengths everyday.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.