The Balance Collective 2022 Blog Round-Up

This time, each year, I go through all the blogs I have published over the previous year. It is a reflective time for me, to consider what has happened personally and professionally, and my blog is like my journal. The topics that have been covered often reflect what is happening for me and my clients, and the books I have reviewed demonstrate the questions that I, and others, needed answering. As part of this reflection, I think it’s useful to pull the articles that I feel are the “must-read”. Having all of these in one place makes it easier for you to find them too! So, without further ado, here is the 2022 Blog Round-Up.

 

How to stop feeling guilty

This emotion comes up all the time when I am working with parents; it doesn’t matter if someone is coming back to a work after parental leave, looking for a promotion, upgrading their business or developing their career, that internal chatter will pop up. It’s no surprise that it’s been covered before in this very blog, including a “confessional” about how I deal with working parent guilt.  Despite the world telling us that we don’t need to be guilty, these feelings can chip away and tell us we need to change. Confusingly, we are told we should:

 

Be doing more,

We should be doing less 

We should be spending more time with our kids.

We should be more focused on our work. 

The list goes on! 

 

Ultimately, this issue is seeping into our consciousness and impacting our confidence.

Within this blog, I share three tips to reduce feelings of guilt.

 

 

Why Wellbeing at Work is Essential

I hear every day the impact of being in a workplace that is supportive; somewhere that is psychologically safe, that are inclusive, diverse, open to change, fair and appreciates the unique value of each member of their staff. The organizations that make this work make sure that this is a companywide approach, not just a “pet project” run by certain team members at certain times of the year. I am sure we have all seen certain topics be high on the agenda during awareness weeks but disappear into the ether for the remainder of the year.

All anecdotal and research pieces have one overriding result. That focusing on the well-being of your staff helps across the board; from “increased resilience, better employee engagement, reduced sickness absence and higher performance and productivity”

Here, you can learn more about the research that supports this essential piece of cultural development, and two key elements you can work on straight away.  

 

How do you want hybrid working to work?

There is no doubt that the fourth industrial revolution has accelerated because of the impact of the pandemic. Originally futurists believed we were set to transform into this new stage by 2030. But here we are in 2022, interconnected in a way many had only hoped to be.

We all must acknowledge that, like our experience of remote learning, working at home during a pandemic is not a true experience of remote working or hybrid offices. Now the world is opening up again, we can make moves to reinvent what hybrid or agile working looks like paying attention to what worked and adjusting to what has been shown to have advantages for productivity, well-being and skills attraction.

Let’s deal with the elephant in the room. Some businesses are leaning HARD to bring their staff back full-time, seemingly having amnesia when it comes to their experiences over their virtual work.

This is a deep-seated cultural issue, and if I’m honest, there is very little I can do or say to convince them of an alternative. If a cross-sector, global experience can’t them, this blog won’t. If that is your situation, then maybe it’s time you look for forward-thinking organisations that have adjusted and listened.

Luckily you may know a career coach to help! However, if you are part of an organisation open to change and appreciate collaboration to move forward in this new era, then read on.

 

How to quieten your inner critic

I don’t think I have come across anyone that hasn’t succumbed to negative self-talk at some point in their life. It’s that niggle in your brain that tells you, you can’t, you shouldn’t, it’s too risky, it’s not for you. From career moves to new hobbies, there are moments where fear and doubt overcome our confidence, resolve or risk-taking, and we convince ourselves to keep to the status quo. If that’s you, and you want to start making a change, I’m here to tell you how to quieten your inner critic. Find out how to use, what I call, Q-tips! 

 

 

Is a dream job a realistic aspiration? 

Let’s start by unpicking the meaning of the word. Yes, I may be splitting hairs with semantics, but I think it’s an important part of reframing the lens we see our lives and how our careers fit within it. When you hear the word “dream” what do you imagine? Something unobtainable? When you pull apart the dictionary definition of this word, we see the issue. Results vary from “a cherished ambition or aspiration” to “indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired”. It sets the expectation of being out of reach. 

Find out more about the best way to create a career to enjoy.

 

So, there you have it, five blogs that, I think, demonstrate the key issues, questions and talking points of careers in 2022. Hopefully having them in one place will help you! Which blog stood out for you this year?