Whether you are a practitioner working in a high performance sports institute or federation, or you’re a freelance consultant with your own business, your ability to flex your working style to adapt to your clients is almost certainly going to be the most relevant and important skill to have…or to develop (fast!). Because if we aren’t able to match our style to that of the coach to effectively meet their needs, then our careers are as good as over…probably quicker than they started. Read More
Yes, for the fans, I am about to reference the movie Shrek, that wonderful piece of cinematography. Honestly, who doesn’t love it? The life lessons to be learnt from these children’s movies can really be so insightful! And it was this one that struck me on Saturday night, as I rekindled my love for the film.
We are all just like onions. Read More
I listened to an excellent episode of the Virgin Disruptors podcast yesterday, and the closing remarks from the host Holly Ransom really got me thinking about the course of my own career. The episode was on the theme of Purpose, and listening to the panel of young entrepreneurial disruptors speak with Richard Branson about how they’re pushing the boundaries of their respective industries was incredibly inspiring. A very interesting point made by one disruptor was that if she had known in the beginning how much work it would be and the sacrifices she would have to make to float her business, she probably wouldn’t have started at all. And this is absolutely true. Read More
I’ll be honest with you straight up, I’m not even sure what possessed me to agree to an amateur boxing match. It certainly wasn’t my intention to fight when I signed up to the gym a year ago, I was actually just so bored running and cycling on my own for hours on end that I decided I wanted something a little more social (if joining a boxing club can be classed as social!). Another disclosure – I am prone to challenging myself in quite extreme ways and often things I consider highly entertaining and fun cause most of my friends to question my sanity. I guess this could be classed in the same category. Read More
I had an interesting discussion with a very close friend and colleague in academia about managing high workloads and the expectations and pressure placed on work output. Both of these topics have been major issues for both of us for most of our short careers, so the current situation and ensuing discussion was nothing new; sadly, it was quite familiar. So here we were on a Sunday night, she was home working on her laptop (as she had been doing all weekend in a desperate attempt to “catch up”), and I was on Skype for moral support and to “workshop” the issue of reducing her workload to a more realistic level, and integrating some steps towards work-life balance. Read More
New Year, Same You
I have spent quite some time recently exploring the concept of professional identity and what it actually means. During this process I came across some really interesting concepts during the countless hours I spent poring over seminars, leadership summits, self-development readings and the rest, that made me take a closer look at myself and my philosophies. For starters, what were they?? Read More
New Year’s Intentions
The start of a new year – welcome! I admit I’m not actually sure what happened to 2015, but there you have it. 2016. It’s at this time that most of us sit down with notebooks, pens, iPads, iPhones, dictaphones, tape recorders and the like to list out our “New Year’s Resolutions!” with such gusto and anticipation, only to have forgotten them by Easter. So this year, it is my resolution not to make resolutions, and to make intentions instead. Read More
