00:00:00: Introduction
00:04:19: Consistency via group
00:05:30: Consistency via relationships with managers
00:09:33: Consistency equals satisfaction
00:11:37: Some watch-outs
00:15:04: 3 Aids to sustaining consistency
00:17:41: The place consistency counts …
00:18:02: … 1: in your day job
00:22:17: … 2: together with your studying
00:26:59: … 3: within the relationships that you simply construct round your profession
00:31:49: … 4: together with your strengths at work
00:36:10: Last ideas
Sarah Ellis: Hello, I am Sarah.
Helen Tupper: And I am Helen.
Sarah Ellis: And that is the Squiggly Careers podcast. Each week, we discuss a special subject to do with work and we hope we provide you with some concepts and instruments to navigate your Squiggly Profession with that bit extra readability, confidence and management.
Helen Tupper: And that is episode 400! Are you able to consider that we have sat down collectively and recorded 400?
Sarah Ellis: Arbitrary quantity that nobody cares about.
Helen Tupper: It is a marker in our friendship and our careers collectively.
Sarah Ellis: Is it?
Helen Tupper: Yeah, it is a whole lot of time; it is a whole lot of time we spend collectively. It is also a whole lot of time that listeners have spent with us, so we should always positively — it could be arbitrary —
Sarah Ellis: I am extra grateful for that.
Helen Tupper: There we go. She’s like, “I do not care about spending time with you, however I am fairly grateful that folks have listened to the conversations that we have had”.
Sarah Ellis: I am very grateful.
Helen Tupper: And a few individuals have even listened to all of the episodes. Please message us if that’s you, as a result of I am barely amazed.
Sarah Ellis: There needs to be like a reputation for that, you already know, like they seem to be a Squiggly Careers Unique.
Helen Tupper: A continuing, they seem to be a Squiggly Profession Fixed, yeah; OG.
Sarah Ellis: They had been there from the beginning. They had been a starter. Oh God, do not, I dread to assume what these early episodes are like.
Helen Tupper: Do not pay attention!
Sarah Ellis: If anybody’s listened to them lately, tell us. No, do not pay attention, really. Take heed to the newer ones!
Helen Tupper: Simply begin at episode 300. However in addition to this being only a random second that we have reached 400, it is also the second that we launched the Squiggly Careers PodBook, which is the final 100 episodes. Every of these episodes has a PodSheet. So, perhaps you’ve got by no means downloaded the PodSheets earlier than. Possibly you are a daily listener and you are like, “I do not learn about this PodSheet. Effectively, we have now put it right into a PodBook, which is an terrible lot of studying. It’s a abstract of every episode, it is received concepts for actions, it’s got coach-yourself questions, and you may work the best way via the PodBook. It is a free useful resource that will help you together with your profession, you are able to do it collectively in your groups. We simply need it for use by individuals and to help your listening on the podcast.
So, we’ll put the hyperlink to the PodBook within the present notes, we’ll be posting about it on Instagram and LinkedIn, so observe us there. It is the @amazingif account in each these locations. And if you cannot discover it or whether or not you wish to tell us that you have listened to each episode, simply electronic mail us, helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com.
Sarah Ellis: So, I do not assume it takes a large leap to determine how we received to this week’s podcast subject! We had been like, “Oh, it is 400 episodes. I do know, let’s discuss consistency”. And truly, we have by no means talked about consistency earlier than. So, I at all times hold saying to Helen we will run out of podcast matters and she or he retains telling me it is not true. So, this week we will discuss how consistency contributes to your profession success. And once we say consistency, what can we imply, what have we received in thoughts? We see consistency as repeated actions that create a constructive consequence on your profession. Usually, I feel these constant actions are in all probability fairly small, as a result of in the event that they had been actually massive issues they’re often not one thing which might be as repeatable, however the place it type of provides up, the place the entire provides as much as greater than the sum of the components.
So in the present day, we will discuss slightly bit about the place consistency has helped us, what to be careful for, what lets you be constant, and the place we predict consistency counts in your profession. And I feel it is honest to say with this week’s podcast, there may be not a lot on the market to learn or analysis on consistency. So, both that is as a result of it does not matter, however I feel we predict that it does; or we have now found a brand new space that wants individuals to dive a bit deeper into it. So, these are very a lot our ideas and concepts this week, everybody.
Helen Tupper: So, it began out with Sarah going, “Oh, there is no extra issues for us to cowl”, and now has found that we have a brand-new space, an under-researched space. However I feel as nicely with this, consistency can typically sound a bit boring, as a result of I feel newness is so attractive and thrilling and we each like newness. However I actually assume that consistency issues and will increase your affect and creates plenty of alternatives. So hopefully, we’ll persuade you that consistency is not boring and it is a fairly elementary factor on your profession success. So, perhaps we discuss first about the way it has helped us. So, I will perhaps share my tackle it after which Sarah can share hers.
I imply, consistency has helped me in plenty of methods. I am simply going to maneuver on from the podcast for a second, as a result of that has positively helped us with our enterprise and possibly my confidence and my studying. There’s a great deal of issues that constantly recording the podcast has helped me with. However I feel if I have a look at my Squiggly Profession as an entire, I feel certainly one of my largest advantages for my profession when it comes to consistency has been my funding in my community. So, I’ve constantly joined communities and I’ve contributed to communities, whether or not it was extra marketing-based ones when that was a part of my profession; now, I am related to new communities which might be barely extra about individuals who run their very own companies. However I’ve at all times invested in them. I’ve at all times joined these communities, I’ve at all times been energetic in them, whether or not they had been I feel like pre-pandemic, they had been very in-person, after which they went digital, and now I would say they seem to be a combination of communities that exist on WhatsApp that I am energetic in contributing to, after which I feel it is also gone fairly again to in-person once more. I haven’t got many only-virtual communities; perhaps our podcast group.
I feel I’ve additionally received higher at creating communities as nicely, so there’s plenty of methods during which I’ve constantly contributed to and created communities, and that has been like actually important for my profession success, positively.
Sarah Ellis: So, I had a barely totally different tackle answering this query. I assumed extra about the way it helped me virtually within the jobs that I’ve completed. After which total, I feel that then added as much as serving to me in my profession. Additionally, this does not apply now as a result of that is simply not a factor in my world. However for many of my working life, it was, and that is my relationship with my managers. So, I’m any person who actually values area, freedom, autonomy, and selection. That selection is certainly one of my values, concepts is certainly one of my values, and likewise I feel most of us need area and freedom and autonomy, all people would say these issues. And I’ve labored in plenty of very massive firms the place it could possibly be fairly exhausting to present these issues to individuals. And I at all times assume none of us like being micromanaged. However the actuality is typically that occurs, typically unintentionally, or perhaps you are new to a workforce and persons are unsure how good you are going to be and might you do the job. And I actually, actually do not get pleasure from individuals getting an excessive amount of into the element with me. I wish to be left alone to get on and do what I have to do. So, I at all times discovered that in a short time, if I may constantly do what I mentioned I used to be going to do, do it very well, hold reminding my managers I used to be on prime of it, that they might belief me to make progress.
I at all times actually keep in mind seeing a tipping level in my relationships with managers the place my consistency paid off, the place I abruptly discovered after a bit like, “Oh, they’ve relaxed”, like, “They get that I can do that, they really feel assured that I will come to them if I am caught or if I want help, so it is not like I am faking it within the background”. I’ll inform them, like I’m going, “Oh, I want your assist with this”, and possibly as a result of I am okay asking for assist as nicely. So, they would not see me simply the entire time being like, “Oh, again off, as a result of I by no means want you”. That will by no means have been how my managers would have felt. However I really feel like that is been the largest payoff for me in my profession. I feel then that consistency simply then meant that I could possibly be each good in what I used to be attempting to do in my day job, however then simply benefit from the expertise and the method a lot extra.
Helen Tupper: So I assume, with Helen and her alliteration, mine is, “Consistency creates group”, round my profession, and Sarah’s consistency is, “Consistency creates confidence together with her supervisor”, and people issues have each had advantages to us in plenty of alternative ways.
Sarah Ellis: Do you are feeling it? I assume you are type of my supervisor. Have you ever received confidence in me, that I will do what I say I will do?
Helen Tupper: Sure, utmost, and that is not me simply saying it. Yeah, completely. I additionally know, and that is in all probability not a very good factor, however I additionally know that you simply catch issues as nicely. So, I feel your consistency really goes past simply your work. Since you’re good — additionally I feel you type of constantly look forward and also you go searching, so it is not simply you have a look at what it is advisable to do, you are trying forward at what’s coming and you then’re trying round at what different persons are doing too. So, I imply perhaps typically I even over-rely on it to be trustworthy, however I’ve confidence that issues do not get missed as a result of you have got such a large view of labor and you’ll be able to maintain a whole lot of that as nicely.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, and I assume that is actually fascinating there as a result of I do not assume I’d have — I recognise that in what Helen’s simply shared, however that simply exhibits that your consistency is about a couple of particular person. So, really I’ve gone, “Oh, it has been about my managers”, however really it is about your friends and your colleagues and the way they see you and understand you. Additionally, it is fairly a very good query to ask another person like, “The place do you see me being constant and the way is that useful?” That’s primarily what Helen simply did type of unprompted, and I realized quite a bit from listening to that. And I additionally thought, okay, I felt proud. So, again to the payoff, I used to be like, “Oh, that is how I will be helpful”, and I be ok with that.
I feel one of many different issues is once we are constant, Helen talked about we be ok with our affect, and I feel we really feel proud in regards to the distinction that we make. And sometimes really, we do not essentially assume consistency equals satisfaction, as a result of we perhaps go, “It’s kind of boring to be constant”. However I feel really, if you begin to get to the examples, usually it is the work that we really feel actually good about.
Helen Tupper: So, go on then, the place do you see me being constant and the way is that useful?
Sarah Ellis: So, I imply I assume it is at all times apparent that we’ve not ready these! I at all times assume, “Oh, do individuals assume they will spontaneously…?”, and I am like, “Proper, okay, God, I’ve received to reply this query in a second. What do I really assume?” So, what I’d say is, the place I constantly see you have got probably the most affect is if you deliver your vitality. You’re a light-up-the-room particular person and also you’re so constant, I do not perceive the way you do it. You are at all times upbeat, constructive, energetic, after which I see that everyone leaves their time with you higher due to you, at all times. I am in conferences with you, and I am identical to, “Yeah, that particular person has received extra readability, they really feel extra motivated, they know what they should go and do”, however even when it is exhausting, they may simply really feel higher. I feel individuals really feel higher after they’ve frolicked with you.
Helen Tupper: That is a really good factor to say.
Sarah Ellis: And I feel that is actually, actually distinctive. And also you additionally handle to do it in moments the place I do know behind the scenes how exhausting issues are. So, I feel I’ve a singular perspective into you in that different individuals will not see that, however I’ll know what’s simply occurred quarter-hour earlier than. After which I am like, “How is she managing to smile this a lot, and simply be so supportive; and likewise, simply be actually in it with individuals and never get distracted when there are 4 million different issues occurring?” So, there you go.
Helen Tupper: Stuff that solely Sarah sees!
Sarah Ellis: Oh, there is a guide in that, proper?!
Helen Tupper: Is there? That is probably the most narcissistic guide ever!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I would be like, “Oh, yeah, all these items that I see that nobody else does”. I would love to do this “behind the scenes”. You assume Helen is all constructive and upbeat, however let me inform you…!
Helen Tupper: “Right here you go, here is the reality”. Do not publish that guide! Proper, let’s do what to be careful for.
Sarah Ellis: Watch-outs.
Helen Tupper: Yeah, what do you assume?
Sarah Ellis: So, that is the one space I did learn a few fascinating bits of analysis on, which was really significantly round management. So, the one space the place consistency is talked about is management. However I feel there is a little bit of a mistake there as a result of it is like, “Oh, you solely want this when you’re a pacesetter”, and naturally it is good to practise it earlier than turning into a pacesetter. However I feel it is maybe a bit narrow-minded to see this solely as a management functionality. However I did learn a few of these articles to get a little bit of inspiration and there is numerous description round the necessity to steadiness consistency with agility.
So, I assume the flip aspect of consistency is when it goes too far, you develop into inflexible, perhaps cussed, you cease being open to different concepts or alternate options. And I feel once more, perhaps if that is the place you get to, and I feel all of us do get to that typically if you’re being constant about one thing, you’ve got received into your rhythm, you’ve got received right into a routine with one thing, after which somebody would possibly say to you, “Oh, nicely how about if we did this in another way? Or, perhaps we do not want to do that anymore”, and that may really feel fairly exhausting. I feel it is in all probability an actual set off for being defensive and going into fastened mindset, and it is simply having the ability to keep open sufficient to proceed with that consistency the place it issues most, but in addition realizing the place to let go, the place to be versatile.
I feel we have talked about it earlier than, however I assume I guess most individuals are barely extra agility-focused or consistency-focused in all probability naturally, and maybe simply realizing the place you might be. And one of many issues this text talked about was perhaps surrounding your self with somebody who’s barely the opposite finish. So, should you’re really somebody the place you are like, “Truly, the agility I really feel actually good about. I am open to concepts, I like new issues, I am good at altering course”. It is like, okay, nicely, who are you aware in your workforce otherwise you’re working alongside? Who’s constant, actually good at being constant at reminding you what you’ve got mentioned earlier than, being good at always iterating and bettering? So, it would simply be good for individuals to mirror on.
Helen Tupper: I used to be considering like an actual instance of the place I feel I’ve ended up in that entice slightly bit. Early days of what we did, I used to do profession ideas day-after-day on Instagram.
Sarah Ellis: I keep in mind.
Helen Tupper: That was again within the day, solely the OG, keep in mind? However actually, that to me was a factor that I simply needed to do, needed to do, needed to put up on Instagram day-after-day. I did it in all types of conditions with the intention to make that occur. After which I feel I received to a degree the place I realised that the doing it day-after-day had develop into extra vital than what I used to be attempting to realize, as in so what I am attempting to do is assist individuals with their profession improvement. And I would develop into so fastened on the best way that I used to be doing that, that truly I would type of misplaced focus when it comes to why I used to be doing it. And truly, stopping — that is the place consistency had type of created a little bit of an issue for me. So, I feel when that could be taking place, I feel it is advisable to zoom out with, “Why was I doing this factor within the first place? Am I doing it for studying; am I doing it for connection; am I doing it for my affect?” after which simply enthusiastic about how else that you can do it, can be my tip.
Should you see that that type of consistency and doing it in the identical manner on a regular basis at work, or no matter it’s you are doing, is perhaps risking you turning into fairly closed, simply zoom out a bit on why you are doing it within the first place. It would enable you to to maintain a few of the agility.
Sarah Ellis: And earlier than we get into the place consistency counts, which we hope are some common themes that we predict could be helpful for everyone, there are some things that we predict simply enable you to to be constant. And I’d say that is one thing the place I feel, I reckon, Helen, you are naturally barely extra constant than I’m. So, I’ve received selection as a worth; that’s type of the other. So, I used to be actually attempting to interrogate the place I’ve managed to be constant, what actually helped. And these had been simply the three issues for me. I feel one was one thing I loved, you already know, I simply had fun doing that factor. Not on a regular basis, clearly the whole lot has ups and downs, however it felt rather more enjoyment than it did draining, rather more energising than draining. I feel the second factor for me was having the ability to see the affect. That did not at all times need to be right away, and it is also actually small. So, I can take into consideration some issues I’ve completed constantly, the place my affect was tiny perhaps in comparison with a few of the issues that we do now, however I nonetheless actually loved it and I used to be certain I used to be making a constructive distinction.
Then, I feel the ultimate one, which has been combined for me, however has helped me to be extra constant, is doing one thing with another person. So, I assume inevitably, that will increase your accountability. However I’ve had the primary two, as Helen really identified to me once we did do a tiny little bit of prep earlier than chatting, I’ve completed the primary two with out the third one and it nonetheless labored for me. I’ve completed some issues constantly the place I did not need to be a part of a bunch or a group however I loved it, I may see the affect, and that was sufficient for me to maintain going, to maintain committing to one thing.
Helen Tupper: I will inform you one thing that I feel you do constantly for us is one thing known as Win Watch. So, we have now a Win Watch, it is largely for Sarah and me and it is about what we do in our firm, Superb If, however Sarah leads on it. And so, each quarter, it is a abstract of what we’re working in the direction of. After which we have a look at it each couple of weeks or so and provides it a crimson/amber/inexperienced standing in order that we all know if we’re on monitor with what we’re working in the direction of. So, it is a win watch. However I feel perhaps you get pleasure from it as a result of it is achievement, presumably, and that is certainly one of Sarah’s values; it is one thing you may rapidly see the affect of, as a result of it is actually crimson/amber/inexperienced, and it is very visible; after which it is one thing that we do collectively. So, we type of have a shared — whereas Sarah, I feel, leads the Win Watch course of, really the dialog about it and the dialogue after which that type of shared sense of feat is a factor we do collectively. So, I feel that is one thing that you have completed constantly for fairly some time.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I will give myself slightly little bit of credit score for that.
Helen Tupper: I do know, I am including a bit into the financial institution for you. I really feel such as you would possibly want a bit of additional credit score this week.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, one thing else I do constantly.
Helen Tupper: So, let’s transfer on to the place consistency counts then. So, we have now checked out 4 totally different areas the place we predict it makes a giant distinction and we’ll undergo every space in flip and simply discuss slightly bit about what that consistency would possibly appear to be, and we’re additionally going to concentrate on the payoffs, like what’s the good thing about being constant. After which, we have a few concepts for motion simply to make it simpler so that you can do.
So, let’s begin with space primary the place we predict consistency counts, so construct on what Sarah says, it is in your day job, and that is actually about doing what you say you’re going to do. And we predict the payoff right here is that this results in autonomy, belief and area. So, if individuals know and belief that you will ship in your targets, or perhaps what you would possibly share that you will take motion on in a gathering, they type of go away you alone slightly bit and so they give you extra space. So, though which may sound a bit boring, simply doing the day job, so hopefully you want your day job, however simply doing what you are anticipated to do, because of doing that you simply get the chance to do different fascinating issues as nicely.
Sarah Ellis: And so, I feel right here a few prime ideas. One is, it is not sufficient to say it, I feel you need to write it or seize it someplace as nicely. So, it is not sufficient for me to simply say to Helen, “Effectively, these are my three priorities this week, that is what I will do when”, and hope that Helen remembers. And I feel typically we fall into that entice, as a result of clearly for us, it is very clear and it is very entrance of thoughts and it is actually vital as a result of it is our day job. However lets say Helen’s my supervisor and she or he’s additionally received six different folks that she’s managing and her personal job to fret about, there is no manner she’s holding that each one in her head. And so, I feel one of many issues that basically helped me is, I used to be at all times good at saying it, however it was even higher once I began writing it. And once I say writing, I am not speaking about some type of unimaginable grasp doc. This was usually simply an electronic mail earlier than issues like Groups and stuff even existed; or typically it might be a one-page Phrase doc the place I would type of go, “Priorities, duties, that is what’s taking place on this order”.
Once I was engaged on initiatives, I did a whole lot of challenge work, I’d have challenge standing updates and I’d decide to once I was going to ship these. So, “Each Friday morning, I will ship you a standing replace”. And I’d even embrace my supervisor on these, or perhaps ship them on to them, even when they weren’t a part of the challenge, simply to be like, “Okay, nicely I am together with you”. After which usually, there’d be a degree the place they’d be like, “Oh, okay, yeah superb, I need not see them anymore”, and I would be like, “Sure, that is as a result of they know that I will do the factor”. And I feel the opposite factor is to simply overcommunicate a bit. So I feel, again to Helen’s level, it might really feel a bit boring and also you would possibly really feel such as you’re saying the identical factor, however individuals overlook and so you’ll have to be a bit repetitive right here, I feel.
Then the ultimate factor is sign the place you may’t be constant. So, I feel that is usually simply as vital, significantly when individuals have gotten used to, “Effectively, Sarah does what she says she’s going to do”. If you cannot, for some motive, as a result of there’ll at all times be moments the place you may’t be as constant as you wish to be, sharing that and saying to, you already know, Helen is my supervisor, “Effectively, often you’d get the challenge replace on a Friday. Are you aware what? This got here in center of yesterday, in order that’s going to get delayed till Monday”. And so, Helen is not left ready or beginning to fear, however not telling me. After which abruptly perhaps we get into that humorous supervisor relationship of then I really feel like I am being micromanaged, and I do not know why. And so, overcommunicate the dos, but in addition overcommunicate the do-nots like, “Oh, I am not going to have the ability to get that completed”. And I feel that is simply when individuals really feel such as you’re on it and also you’re throughout it, after which I feel you do get that area. However I feel my largest studying was, yeah, write it, do not simply say it.
Helen Tupper: It creates numerous confidence as nicely, that somebody’s actually — weirdly, even when somebody’s saying, “Oh, it is not doable for me to work on that this week”, I really feel nonetheless assured that they are managing their workload as a result of I am clear. And I actually agree with the writing-it-down factor. So, I usually refer again to, we’ll have individuals in our workforce that may write issues on Microsoft Groups and so they’ll have talked about it in a fast chat for me, however then it’s going to be later within the week once I’ve received a query in my thoughts and I will have the ability to go and have a look at it and it simply solutions the query. So, I do assume it’s helpful to say it, significantly if you wish to have a bit of dialogue, like I am not simply going to say to Sarah, “I am simply not going to do this and that is it”. It is helpful to have a dialogue about what you are engaged on and what you won’t be engaged on. However I feel really writing it down helps individuals refer again to it after they really would possibly want it, not if you’re ready to say it to them.
So, the place consistency counts, primary, is doing the day job. The second factor the place we predict consistency counts is together with your studying. And that is about investing in your studying, being regularly curious. And we predict one of many components of the payoff right here is that you’ve got at all times received one thing to contribute, whether or not that is an article that you have learn, or an perception that you’ve from one thing you’ve got listened to, or slightly little bit of knowledge from a dialog you’ve got had with somebody; there’s at all times some type of newness that you have to give, and that is actually precious on your workforce and it is actually precious for plenty of individuals that you simply work with, that you have at all times received one thing helpful new and distinctive to contribute.
Sarah Ellis: And some concepts right here for issues that we discovered useful. So for me, I discover having a house for my studying and curiosity actually helps it to be constant. So, I’d at all times be taught and be curious, however the consistency would drop off if I like — I am like, “The place does it go?”
Helen Tupper: Yeah.
Sarah Ellis: “What is the place for it?” And since, as a workforce, we began utilizing Borrowed Brilliance and it is so simple as having a Groups channel known as “Borrowed Brilliance”, that is the place all my curiosity lives. And it clearly works for me, as a result of I feel I used to be trying and a whole lot of these contributions come from me. So, I’m a bit like, “Oh, it is type of my curiosity channel a few of the time”. However I actually assume that is as a result of that is how my mind works. I see one thing fascinating or helpful and I do not wish to lose that studying. And so, I put it in there after which once I wish to refer again to it, I’ve received someplace to return to. And I feel it simply retains me constantly looking out for, “Oh, that feels fascinating”. Even now, I can consider one put up that I learn on LinkedIn the place any person was speaking about how, it was really somebody at Microsoft, speaking about how they’d built-in AI into their HR perform, and I saved it in LinkedIn as a result of I assumed I will return to it, take it out of LinkedIn and put it into our Borrowed Brilliance channel. And it is humorous how one can’t keep in mind very a lot, however I can keep in mind that. And so, I feel it simply helps me like, I am like slightly magpie, however then I’ve type of received a house for my treasure.
Helen Tupper: I feel, as a result of I’m going into that channel, however really not constantly, fairly sporadically, after which I will scan via and I will be like, “Oh, that is fascinating. I ought to have spent extra time right here”, usually. However my even-better-if for myself on this one is that I’ve some issues that work for me. So, my prime tip right here is to discover a format that works for you for constant studying. So for instance, nearly day-after-day, I exploit an app known as Feedly that I’ve talked about a lot earlier than, as a result of it is all arrange with issues that I prefer to learn, and I can scan via it actually rapidly and it simply provides me concepts and headlines and snapshots of stuff that is taking place in psychology and enterprise and management that I discover helpful. It does not take me very lengthy. So, that is a format that works repeatedly for me. The opposite codecs, we all know that folks take heed to podcasts weekly, perhaps you take heed to the Squiggly Careers podcast weekly, otherwise you would possibly be part of our PodPlus group, or no matter it’s you do. So, I feel you have to discover the format that works for you.
However my even-better-if is that I see these issues that you simply share, and sometimes if you put up it is not usually once I’ve received the time or consideration to have interaction with it, after which I type of overlook about it. And so, I want I had, like you already know there are instruments like Pocket that you should use, the place you save the factor to Pocket, or no matter, after which I wish to have like quarter-hour within the morning, which is generally my Feedly time, the place that’s the time. So, I will take the issues that you have curated after which I’ve received a time or place to learn them. I feel that is the bit that I am lacking. My even-better-if away from in the present day I feel could be constantly absorbing what you’ve got curated or created.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it is fascinating. Having these moments I feel makes a large distinction. So, I used to be doing PodPlus the opposite week, which is the type of brief workshop we do each week in regards to the podcast subject, and I feel I used to be asking individuals about rituals and rhythms and what works for them and what does not, and so they had been all saying — there is a core group of individuals I feel now who come each week, and what they’ve simply completed is like, they had been like, “That’s how I be taught every week. I assure my studying by, that at all times goes within the diary, that is immovable, I make {that a} must-do”. After which a couple of individuals talked about how, I do not know, they modified firms or one thing after which abruptly that Thursday morning slot did not work, and so they had been like, “I used to be gutted”, since you’ve discovered one thing that is labored for you after which it is inadvertently, and nobody’s fault, it type of will get taken away. So, I used to be like, “Oh, that is so fascinating.” I suppose that is additionally studying collectively and being a part of a curious group, that may make a extremely massive distinction too.
Helen Tupper: So, the third space the place we predict consistency counts is within the relationships that you simply construct round your profession. And that is actually about staying in contact with individuals and recognizing methods in which you’ll help them. And the payoff of doing that is that these persons are then there for you if you want them, and that could be for recommendation or introductions or help or a sounding board, all of the totally different ways in which we want individuals when it comes to our profession. However you may assure that they will be there you probably have constantly noticed methods you may help them and stayed in contact with them all through a time frame as nicely.
So, I feel this is likely one of the areas that has been most useful for me, as I mentioned earlier. I feel that one of many issues that I do right here to attempt to be constantly useful and helpful, is that I positively prioritise time with individuals and I defend that point. That is in all probability one-to-one time as nicely. So, there are a great deal of issues that I may do in my diary and I could possibly be in an terrible lot of conferences, however there are some relationships that I prioritise for a great deal of totally different causes, like that I discover these individuals participating or fascinating, or they simply spark my considering, or they have totally different views. However once I put that point in with that particular person, and that could be in particular person or it could possibly be digital, I actually defend that point. It’s prioritised in my diary, it’s protected, I’m very, very immune to transferring that. And there could be inside conferences or different issues however in my thoughts, that funding in that particular person is as vital as one other assembly. And it is ensuring that I’ve received that common level of reference to individuals.
It does not really need to be the identical particular person. I feel perhaps as a result of I am an extrovert, I fairly like a variety of relationships. However should you scanned my diary, you’d positively see that I prioritise and defend time with individuals exterior of my speedy world, and that is one thing that I’ve at all times completed. And I am at all times considering, “How can I be useful?” in these conversations and out of doors of these conversations. So, I’d simply ship somebody a fast WhatsApp message and say, “Oh, I’ve seen this and I assumed you would possibly prefer it”, or within the dialog, I will be listening to what is going on on of their world and I will be considering, “What do I do know or who do I do know that could be useful for you?” So, in addition to prioritising that point and that particular person, I am at all times enthusiastic about what have I received to present to them, and that’s simply a part of how I work now. I feel I have been doing that for thus lengthy that it is not like I prep for the assembly and give it some thought prematurely, it is simply type of what I attempt to deliver to these individuals.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, and I feel what you have got touched on there may be these areas the place we’re naturally constant, in all probability as a result of it hyperlinks to one thing that we’re good at and that we get pleasure from, and possibly a few of these areas the place you need to work a bit more durable on to get to that consistency; you need that since you additionally need the payoff. And we had been reflecting whether or not we had been excessive, medium, or low for every of those areas that we have talked about the place consistency counts, and I do not assume anybody, or I imply, think about if they’re that good, however I do not assume anybody can be excessive, excessive, excessive on all of those. So, I feel you’ve got simply listened to Helen discuss one she can be excessive on; I feel I’d be medium or low. Whereas studying, I feel I would be maybe excessive on that one. So, maybe additionally simply price, as you are going via simply being like, “The place am I? Am I excessive, medium and low?” after which, “How vital is it to me to be constant in that space?”
So, we predict all of those are fairly vital. So, I have a look at that relationship one, and I feel my problem in the intervening time is to let go of the concept that relationships essentially at all times have that speedy affect. So, I feel I am higher at constructing relationships now the place I feel, “Oh, okay, nicely that is going to assist”. Possibly it is going to be a podcast visitor or one thing that we’re doing for the businesses that we work with to do with profession improvement. And I feel I’ve then perhaps not made the time for a few of my relationships with individuals really I simply actually get pleasure from spending time with, and they’re high-energy individuals that may give me concepts and that I simply know that that is at all times been helpful for me up to now. So, I have to re-find a manner of doing that constantly. And possibly for plenty of individuals, I feel via the pandemic, everybody type of needed to re-shift how relationships labored, after which now I feel you have to do a bit extra unlearning and relearning once more. So now you are like, “Okay, nicely are all my relationships digital; are they hybrid; are they again to being in particular person? What does that appear to be for me?”
So, that is one the place I am like, I feel I am medium to low, if I am being beneficiant, as a result of I do not like the concept of simply being low clearly, however I wish to be medium. I do not assume I will ever be the best, as somebody who’s a bit extra introverted, however I feel I could possibly be higher. Mainly, I simply have to be taught a bit and borrow a little bit of brilliance from Helen right here.
Helen Tupper: Wow, we’re each taking away some stuff from this episode of our even-better-ifs. And so, our fourth and closing space the place we predict consistency counts is together with your strengths at work. And the purpose right here is that you will need to constantly present up together with your strengths, so the issues that provide you with vitality that you simply wish to be identified for, and you will need to constantly develop your strengths. So, it is about displaying and rising your strengths constantly. And should you do it, the payoffs are fairly massive, as a result of we predict that is what pulls prospects in the direction of you, as a result of individuals affiliate you with these issues that you simply wish to be identified for, they in all probability spot alternatives so that you can use them extra, so that you exponentially enhance your affect if you take motion constantly together with your strengths.
Sarah Ellis: And once we say strengths, these will be generalist strengths or specialist strengths. So, these could possibly be a behaviour. You would possibly assume, “I actually wish to be identified for being empathetic and a superb listener”, or it could possibly be one thing actually specialist like, “I will be unimaginable at Python”. Individuals hold speaking to me about Python in workshops, I do not know masses about it, however once I ask individuals what do they wish to be taught this 12 months, they positively hold saying, “Python”. So, I will be taught extra about it, simply so I perceive what persons are telling me. And so, regardless of the reply to that query is for you, there isn’t any, “Oh, it should appear to be this”, your strengths should not look a sure form. However I feel when you begin to consider alternatives to constantly present that power, we talked beforehand in a podcast about methods to make your strengths stand out and present up, and that is at all times a extremely standard episode, and I am like, “Oh, that reassures me that it’s, as a result of we would like that to be constant”, once more, you may simply benefit from the work that you simply do extra.
However typically, I feel you maybe need to inject a little bit of newness into your strengths, since you simply get fairly used to utilizing them in the identical manner. So, there’s numerous sameness typically with power. So, it could be that you simply wish to take into consideration, nicely how may you share that power that you’ve with different individuals? May very well be in a one-to-one manner, it could possibly be at scale, it could possibly be mentoring, actually casual mentoring, it could possibly be groups at work which may profit from that. And we all know that sharing strengths is at all times a great way to stretch them, as a result of it is really fairly exhausting to share a power, I feel, as a result of you need to type of determine what it’s that makes you good at that factor, and have the ability to describe it in a manner that is sensible to different individuals.
I feel actually for Helen and I, one factor that we have realised over time, and we did not know this once we began, is careers is not only our power, it is not simply researching and experimenting with something to do with careers; for us, nicely really, we’re at our greatest once we are offering helpful and sensible Squiggly Profession help. It does not matter what profession stage you are at or the place you’re employed or who you’re employed for, it is nearly being helpful and sensible. And truly, that usefulness and the type of practicality, it is that bit that we have to hold discovering new methods to share and to maintain making stronger, and we hold difficult ourselves on that on a regular basis, as a result of that is how we’ll pull extra prospects in the direction of us to extend our affect.
Helen Tupper: So, with this one, perhaps simply mirror on what do you wish to be identified for; how a lot are you utilizing that in the present day; and how will you constantly and uniquely use it extra? They’re the bits that we actually wish to get to. And it may be small scale. I do know we discuss in regards to the podcast, and which may seem to be fairly a giant factor now, and it’s now, however it wasn’t in 2017, it actually wasn’t. It was small. We simply stored rocking up each week and speaking primarily to one another.
Sarah Ellis: Did anybody even pay attention?
Helen Tupper: I do not know.
Sarah Ellis: I imply, that first 12 months? I am a bit like, “Who had been we doing that podcast for?”
Helen Tupper: I do not know!
Sarah Ellis: As a result of nobody actually listened to podcasts, I do not assume we even actually knew what it was, and we had been positively utilizing it as an excuse to flee our infants, each of us. Let’s be trustworthy about, “What was that point for?” It was identical to, “Oh, let’s simply discuss careers with one another”, with a screaming child! However I do actually get pleasure from speaking about careers. It does not actually matter whether or not anybody listens to it, however we each loved it. And I feel the odd particular person listened and would inform us, “Oh, that was actually useful”, and that was in all probability all we wanted! That was all of the encouragement we wanted!
Helen Tupper: So, this factor, you do not have to be superb at it, all people, you simply have to do this power factor constantly. However I feel, you additionally do get higher at it. I hope we have a bit higher by doing it constantly over the past, goodness gracious, since 2017, all 400 episodes of it. So, fast recap then, the 4 areas that we predict are vital and the place consistency counts on your profession are, on the day job; ensure you are being constant together with your studying; constantly investing in your relationships; and constantly displaying and rising your strengths.
Sarah Ellis: So, we hope you discovered that useful. As at all times, should you’ve received concepts for the following 400 episodes —
Helen Tupper: She appears so scared! I can see Sarah now, and she or he’s terrified!
Sarah Ellis: — or perhaps we’ll simply do ten extra and that’ll be completed.
Helen Tupper: You are not doing ten extra. No, there’s extra coming, everybody, do not panic.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah. Even I do know we’re doing greater than ten extra! I prefer to look forward, so I do know that. You may electronic mail us at any time, we actually love listening to from our listeners. We’re helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com.
Helen Tupper: And please, please, please obtain, use and share the PodBook. It’s a device that we have taken numerous time over the past 100 episodes to get to, so we actually need it to be one thing that is precious for individuals. So, look out for it on LinkedIn, search for it on Instagram, and please share it with individuals that you simply assume would possibly discover it helpful.
Sarah Ellis: That is the whole lot for this week. Thanks a lot for listening and we will likely be again with you for episode 401 subsequent week. Bye for now.
Helen Tupper: Bye everybody.
