Squiggly Careers

How do you make sure your message gets heard—and acted on? In this Squiggly Careers Ask the Expert episode, Helen speaks with author and influence expert Steve Martin about the powerful role of the messenger in communication.

Drawing on insights from his book Messengers, Steve explains how people respond differently depending on who delivers the message, and why understanding the difference between hard and soft messenger trait...

Are you always doing too much yourself? Do you struggle to let go, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Squiggly Careers Podcast, Helen and Sarah explore why so many of us don’t delegate—and what we can do differently to delegate with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Learn how to avoid the 4 common delegation mistakes and how to give people space without leaving them stuck.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome ...

In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to help teams think better—together. They share simple but powerful tools you can use to encourage reflection, collaboration, and better decision-making in your team. Discover a practical matrix to help you choose the right thinking tool for your team—whether you need to improve performance or inspire new ideas. From “worry lists” to “borrowed brilliance,” you’ll learn how to create spac...

We often talk about the value of having a role model - someone to learn from and be inspired by. But what about the impact of being a role model?

In this week’s episode, Helen and Sarah explore how being a role model can support your development, raise your profile, and help you build stronger connections at work. When you're intentional about how you show up, you attract opportunities and create a community around your work. Th...

Better conversations help you build stronger relationships, understand others more deeply, and make meaningful progress - together.

In this episode, Sarah talks to Jefferson Fisher, lawyer, speaker, and best-selling author, about five common situations where conversations can get tricky. From dealing with someone very different to you, to getting interrupted, or feeling stuck in people-pleasing, Jefferson shares simple shifts ...

Change at work isn’t always something you choose — sometimes your role is restructured, your team shifts, or decisions are made around you. When that happens, it’s easy to feel stuck, like your career progression is out of your hands. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share some practical actions you can take to regain control, build your confidence, and keep moving forward, even when change feels uncomfortable.

They explore how ...

Self-reflection and career development can be supercharged with the right questions — and AI can help you ask them. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore 4 practical AI prompts designed to help you accelerate your Squiggly Career. They focus on key areas including how to build better relationships at work, get unstuck when you’re feeling uncertain, cope with change more confidently, and understand what your LinkedIn profile migh...

We spend so much of our time at work on autopilot that we often miss what's right in front of us. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the art of noticing — how paying closer attention can unlock creativity, spark new ideas, and help you learn and lead in more meaningful ways. They share 9 simple and practical ways to start noticing more at work, from tuning into what’s left unsaid in meetings to spotting the tasks that never s...

In a recent survey, many of our listeners told us that their biggest career worries are around learning new skills and staying relevant. But what skills really matter most for your future career? It’s a big question — and one that can feel overwhelming when you’re juggling a busy job and facing constant pressure to keep up and reskill. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share practical and reassuring ways to take ownership of your sk...

Assertiveness isn’t a tick-box skill or a one-size-fits-all tone. In this episode, Helen and Sarah unpack 5 common “assertiveness watch-outs” — sneaky habits that can undermine your message without you even realising it. Whether you tend to over-explain, over-apologize, or overdo your energy, you’ll walk away with practical tools to lead more effectively.

00:00 What is assertiveness?

05:05 What's your assertiveness watch out?

07...

Ever wondered how Helen and Sarah juggle running a business, hosting a podcast, and everything in between? Spoiler: it’s not about having more hours in the day—it’s about managing energy more effectively than time. In this episode, they share how shifting from a time-focused mindset to an energy-first approach can transform the way you work. From identifying your high-energy moments to understanding how relationships, perspective, ...

In this episode, Helen sits down with organizational psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Tasha Eurich to talk about her new book, Shatterproof: How to Be Resilient When It Matters Most. They explore why self-awareness is a key ingredient of resilience and how we can build habits that help us thrive under pressure.

The Shatterproof 5-minute Resilience Ceiling Quiz can help you to understand where your resilience resourc...

In this episode, Dr. Sunita Sah, expert in defiance and decision-making, shares how to confidently say "no" in challenging situations. Sarah and Sunita dive into the psychology of defiance, discussing how to assess the risks, benefits, and personal costs of speaking up or complying. They explore the power of the "pause" and the importance of third-person self-talk to help make better, more authentic decisions. Whether it's in the w...

In this Squiggly Short, Helen and Sarah break down why understanding your boss is key to increasing your impact at work. Learn how to read your manager’s motivations, preferences, and challenges, and use that insight to improve your communication and performance. Whether you're looking to align with their priorities, get better feedback, or develop a more productive relationship, this episode gives you the tools to take charge of y...

Figuring out what makes your manager tick can be one of the most powerful tools for career growth. In this episode, Helen and Sarah discuss the significant impact that managers have on your development, job satisfaction, and progression within a company. They also share practical tips on how to profile your manager, allowing you to align your actions with their needs, improve your communication, and position yourself for success—al...

In this Squiggly Short, Helen and Sarah offer a quick summary of practical tips for staying confident and coping when you’re dealing with a toxic work environment. From minimizing stressors to finding energizers outside of work, they share simple actions you can take to protect your mental health and build resilience—even when things feel tough. Plus, they discuss how to take control of your situation and find support outside of yo...

1 in 10 people are facing a toxic work environment today, and while it can be tough, you don’t have to navigate it alone. In this episode, Helen and Sarah dive into what makes a team feel toxic and who can contribute to that culture. They also share practical tips for staying confident and in control, even when the environment around you feels challenging. From finding pockets of light-relief to documenting your experience to seeki...

In this short, Helen and Sarah share why searching for your purpose could actually be holding you back in your career development, and how focusing on purposeful work instead could be a more flexible and fulfilling approach. They also offer some useful tools and prompts to help you do understand what meaningful work looks like to you - without the pressure of having it all figured out.

Full episode: https://shows.acast.com/amazi...

Finding your purpose can sometimes feel like a ‘should’—something we’re all expected to have figured out. The pressure to find a perfect purpose can leave us feeling stuck or unsure, especially when career paths are more squiggly than straightforward. But does having a purpose really matter? And if so, how do you stay connected to it?

In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the difference between having a purpose and feeling pu...