August Plans – Four things you need to know from The Balance Collective
August is the border between summer and autumn: it is the most beautiful month I know. – Tove Jansson I’m looking forward to some lovely birthday celebrations, a visit from my sibling, a family holiday and some downtime! Even with all of that planned,...
Seven easy ways to build your confidence
I’ve been speaking with many people about confidence recently. It arises in every aspect of life, both personal and professional. It’s one that, since I began my time in personal development and skills, has always been there. Either people feel like they...
The power of community for mental wellbeing
Community. What does that word mean to you? For me, it’s about being with people where I feel I belong, having a shared interest or purpose, and having a chance to support and share. While I remain the constant, the people within these communities change, and...
The perfect part-time working pattern for parents
Hello! It’s Clara from June 2025 here. Life has moved on considerably since this blog was posted in April 2017, on the best part time working pattern. But, my stats tell me there are lots of you that still want to read it! So, I wanted to update it with links to...
Why this Career Coach is wary of AI
I can see it happening, and I’m sure hiring managers can see it, too. AI is creeping into CVs and applications. At first glance, it seems to make sense. Simply feed the machine the job you want, plus your current CV, and it will create a tailored version to...
The Redundancy Support Toolkit from The Balance Collective
Job hunting when you have been, or are about to be, made redundant is tough. There are layers of emotion, rejection, fear, and, sometimes, relief that need to be managed while trying to find the next best opportunity and organisation for you. Sometimes, like me,...
The balance benefits of understanding your hormonal cycle
Today, I want to talk about a balance tool that I haven’t discussed in this blog before. It’s something that comes up frequently with my clients during 1:1 coaching sessions and wellbeing workshops. However, it’s a topic that is often shrouded in cultural...
Three literary lessons for International Women’s Day 2025
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights: Equality: Empowerment.” The theme is a driver for a call to action, one that makes a real difference to unlock “equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where...
How my coaching helps you Create a Career to Enjoy
I believe that everyone can have a career they enjoy. Work shouldn’t be something to merely endure; it’s a sentiment you’ll see echoed throughout my coaching philosophy. This conviction has been a long-standing one, predating my coaching career....
How I will be managing my time in 2025
This week, I noticed a 10 a.m. slot was free. There were a few options: I could push this out to my clients, add this extra hour to my to-do list, or reclaim my time for myself. What do you think I did? Did you guess right? I removed the slot and reclaimed my time,...
The Balance Collective 2024 Blog Round-Up
It’s that time again; to close off the previous 12 months with a reflection on the blog topics. Like the annual book retrospective, this gives me the chance to share a round-up of the articles that I feel represent my work and the themes that clients have brought to...About
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
Isn't it time to have career to enjoy not endure?
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