Purple rain

I love Jacaranda season in Sydney – it’s absolutely my favourite time. Now the purple pathways are signalling that it’s almost over for another year – one good storm and that’s it for 2022.

Every year it goes so ridiculously fast and (not to sound macabre) it makes me ask myself, how many Jacaranda seasons have I got left? Maybe I’ve got 30, but maybe I’ve only got 10….

Our time is not unlimited – but we all tend to forget that immutable truth. Forget New Years, it’s Jacaranda time that makes me ask myself the big questions – what do I want? Who do I want to be? How do I want to live my life?

Memento vivere.

What's next for you?

I love this quote by Eckhardt Tolle – maybe it resonates with you too? Honestly if you’ve been complaining about your job for a while now, then perhaps it’s time to leave. And see what else life has in store for you.

As 2022 comes to a close, it can be a good time to reflect on what’s next for you.

Work friends (are worth working on)

Someone shared in a coaching session with me recently that they had worked in the same organisation for decades and hadn’t really made any friends. It struck me as such a wasted opportunity.

“I’ve got enough friends” is also something I sometimes hear and never really know what to do with. Can you ever have enough real friends?

Finding your tribe at work just makes work (and life) so much better – people who ‘get’ you and really like you, challenge and support you, make you laugh, have your back and remind you who you are.

The career coach in me also knows that your friends are your very best network. Time spent on building friendships is not wasted. They’ll help you, promote your brand and keep you in the loop. But only if that’s not the reason why you became friends in the first place.

Making real friendships requires a little vulnerability and a whole lot of honesty – no one will truly connect if they don’t really know you. A ‘version’ of you is not going to make the cut.

For leaders, this exposure can be a challenge. So many HR professionals I’ve worked with struggle with this too. Secrets come with the territory.

It also requires time and opportunity. Which can be tricky in a hybrid working environment.

It’s worth it though – don’t you think?

Connect. Reflect. Expand

Such a great afternoon at the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Australasia workshop in Sydney on Tuesday. Loved the speakers and topics and the chance to meet some new people, discuss ideas and reflect on concepts that will make me a better coach.

Everything is better with good company and it was great to attend (in person not zoom!) with my work mates (and good friends).

The old rules are obsolete

This week I got to be in my happy place again. Facilitating my "Career Catalyst" workshop for the very talented team at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at University of Technology Sydney.

And it was face to face - bliss!!

The topic is close to my heart - as a coach I know that setting career goals and pro-actively managing your career is an absolutely essential skill in our lifetime.

Knowing what you want, working with your strengths, figuring out the "new rules" so that you can take the reins in your own career is vital in a world where the old rules seem kind of obsolete.

Interested in discussing a virtual or face to face workshop for your team?

My secret

Wrestling with fear

I’ll tell you a secret – when faced with almost anything new or unfamiliar, I’m usually wrestling with fear. I’m not using the word “wrestling” lightly – we have a bit of a tussle, my fear and I, but (and I’m proud of this) I don’t give in without a good fight. And I usually win.

I know I’m not alone and many of us feel this way. Courage does not require an absence of fear.

This wonderful quote from Anais Nin says it so much more eloquently than I can. When I can manage (if not completely conquer) my fear and say a big confident YES (or even a small, timid yes) to new opportunities then all kinds of great things happen. I learn new stuff, or make friends, or get new job offers. I get wiser. I eventually get comfortable doing the stuff that was so scary and my confidence grows. It changes the way I see myself. It changes the way others see me. My life gets bigger. And much more interesting.

It’s not always comfortable – actually, usually it’s super uncomfortable. But I don’t want a comfortable life – what about you?

But what kind of coach are you Tess?

One of the lovely aspects of being a coach is that new people I meet socially are often interested in what I do. This didn't happen when I worked in the world of Chartered Accounting! 'Are you a life coach?' is a question I often get asked and I'm never quite sure what to answer...

To keep it simple, I'll often say that I'm a career coach. Or a leadership coach. Sometimes a transition coach. Just because it's easier for people to be able to label you. But to be honest I'm a life coach too. And a mindset coach.

People are complex, coaching is fluid and one goal can easily morph into something much more important - life changing even.

I think all coaching is coaching. I work with your energy, knowledge, goals, fears, motivations. I ask questions and give you space to reflect. I challenge and support you in change, in fulfilling your potential and becoming "unstuck".

Ultimately you are the expert on you and I help you get your own answers - whatever the goal.

When you need more than coaching

When people want to work with me they are usually ready for what's next. They're wanting something to change. And coaching can absolutely build determination, resolve, energy and inspiration to move forward.

But sometimes people are stuck. They need therapy - not coaching. When I get a sense that this is the case, I'm always going to go there and open up that important conversation. I'm also happy to share that I've sought counselling and therapy at different times in my life and it has made all the difference - in a really positive way. 'Conquer yourself and you conquer the world' (to misquote Plato).

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week (this week) is "Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority". What do you do to make your own mental health and well-being a priority?