00:00:00: Introduction
00:04:19: Consistency by way of group
00:05:30: Consistency by way of relationships with managers
00:09:33: Consistency equals pleasure
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: along with your studying
00:26:59: … 3: within the relationships that you simply construct round your profession
00:31:49: … 4: along with your strengths at work
00:36:10: Closing 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 imagine 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 loads of time; it is loads of time we spend collectively. It is also loads of time that listeners have spent with us, so we must 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 individuals have listened to the conversations that we have had”.
Sarah Ellis: I am very grateful.
Helen Tupper: And a few folks 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 must be like a reputation for that, you understand, like they are a Squiggly Careers Unique.
Helen Tupper: A relentless, they are 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 suppose what these early episodes are like.
Helen Tupper: Do not hear!
Sarah Ellis: If anybody’s listened to them not too long ago, tell us. No, do not hear, really. Hearken to the more moderen 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 have by no means downloaded the PodSheets earlier than. Perhaps you are a daily listener and you are like, “I do not find out about this PodSheet. Nicely, 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 bought concepts for actions, it’s got coach-yourself questions, and you may work the way in which by way of the PodBook. It is a free useful resource that can assist you along with your profession, you are able to do it collectively in your groups. We simply need it for use by folks and to assist your listening on the podcast.
So, we are going to 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 suppose it takes an enormous leap to determine how we bought 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 he or she 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 bought in thoughts? We see consistency as repeated actions that create a constructive consequence in your profession. Sometimes, I believe 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 can 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 elements.
So at present, we will discuss a bit 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 believe it is truthful 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 believe we predict that it does; or now we have found a brand new space that wants folks 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 believe as properly with this, consistency can generally sound a bit boring, as a result of I believe newness is so horny and thrilling and we each like newness. However I actually suppose that consistency issues and will increase your affect and creates a lot of alternatives. So hopefully, we are going to persuade you that consistency is not boring and it is a fairly elementary factor in your profession success. So, perhaps we discuss first about the way it has helped us. So, I am going to perhaps share my tackle it after which Sarah can share hers.
I imply, consistency has helped me in a lot 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 doubtless my confidence and my studying. There’s a great deal of issues that constantly recording the podcast has helped me with. However I believe if I take a look at my Squiggly Profession as an entire, I believe one in every of my greatest advantages for my profession by way of 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 can 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 believe like pre-pandemic, they had been very in-person, after which they went digital, and now I might say they are a combination of communities that exist on WhatsApp that I am energetic in contributing to, after which I believe it is also gone fairly again to in-person once more. I haven’t got many only-virtual communities; perhaps our podcast group.
I believe I’ve additionally bought higher at creating communities as properly, so there’s a lot of methods by which I’ve constantly contributed to and created communities, and that has been like actually vital for my profession success, positively.
Sarah Ellis: So, I had a barely completely different tackle answering this query. I believed extra about the way it helped me virtually within the jobs that I’ve performed. After which general, I believe 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 individual who actually values house, freedom, autonomy, and selection. That selection is one in every of my values, concepts is one in every of my values, and in addition I believe most of us need house and freedom and autonomy, all people would say these issues. And I’ve labored in a lot of very massive corporations the place it might be fairly exhausting to offer these issues to folks. And I at all times suppose none of us like being micromanaged. However the actuality is usually that occurs, generally unintentionally, or perhaps you are new to a workforce and persons are undecided how good you are going to be and might you do the job. And I actually, actually do not take pleasure in folks 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 might constantly do what I stated I used to be going to do, do it rather well, hold reminding my managers I used to be on high 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 out of the blue 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 assist, so it is not like I am faking it within the background”. I’ll inform them, like I am going, “Oh, I want your assist with this”, and doubtless as a result of I am okay asking for assist as properly. 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 most important payoff for me in my profession. I believe then that consistency simply then meant that I might be each good in what I used to be making an attempt 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 a lot of other ways.
Sarah Ellis: Do you are feeling it? I assume you are type of my supervisor. Have you ever bought 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 factor, however I additionally know that you simply catch issues as properly. So, I believe your consistency really goes past simply your work. Since you’re good — additionally I believe you type of constantly look forward and also you go searching, so it is not simply you take a look at what it is advisable do, you are wanting forward at what’s coming and then you definately’re wanting round at what different persons are doing too. So, I imply perhaps generally I even over-rely on it to be sincere, however I’ve confidence that issues do not get missed as a result of you’ve gotten such a large view of labor and you’ll be able to maintain loads of that as properly.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, and I assume that is actually fascinating there as a result of I do not suppose I might have — I recognise that in what Helen’s simply shared, however that simply exhibits that your consistency is about multiple individual. 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 query to ask another person like, “The place do you see me being constant and the way is that useful?” That’s basically what Helen simply did type of unprompted, and I discovered rather a lot 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 could be helpful”, and I be ok with that.
I believe one of many different issues is once we are constant, Helen talked about we be ok with our affect, and I believe we really feel proud in regards to the distinction that we make. And infrequently really, we do not essentially suppose consistency equals pleasure, as a result of we perhaps go, “It’s kind of boring to be constant”. However I believe 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 have not ready these! I at all times suppose, “Oh, do folks suppose they will spontaneously…?”, and I am like, “Proper, okay, God, I’ve bought to reply this query in a second. What do I really suppose?” So, what I might say is, the place I constantly see you’ve gotten probably the most affect is if you carry your vitality. You’re a light-up-the-room individual 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 individual has bought 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 believe folks really feel higher once they’ve frolicked with you.
Helen Tupper: That is a really good factor to say.
Sarah Ellis: And I believe 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 believe I’ve a singular perspective into you in that different folks 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 in addition, simply be actually in it with folks 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 e book in that, proper?!
Helen Tupper: Is there? That is probably the most narcissistic e book ever!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I might be like, “Oh, yeah, all these things that I see that nobody else does”. I might love to do this “behind the scenes”. You suppose Helen is all constructive and upbeat, however let me let you know…!
Helen Tupper: “Right here you go, here is the reality”. Do not publish that e book! Proper, let’s do what to be careful for.
Sarah Ellis: Watch-outs.
Helen Tupper: Yeah, what do you suppose?
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 believe 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 frontrunner”, and naturally it is good to practise it earlier than turning into a frontrunner. However I believe 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 facet of consistency is when it goes too far, you turn into inflexible, perhaps cussed, you cease being open to different concepts or alternate options. And I believe once more, perhaps if that is the place you get to, and I believe all of us do get to that generally if you’re being constant about one thing, you have bought into your rhythm, you have bought right into a routine with one thing, after which somebody would possibly say to you, “Oh, properly how about if we did this otherwise? Or, perhaps we do not want to do that anymore”, and that may really feel fairly exhausting. I believe it is in all probability an actual set off for being defensive and going into fastened mindset, and it is simply with the ability to keep open sufficient to proceed with that consistency the place it issues most, but in addition understanding the place to let go, the place to be versatile.
I believe we have talked about it earlier than, however I assume I wager most individuals are barely extra agility-focused or consistency-focused in all probability naturally, and maybe simply understanding 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, in the event you’re really somebody the place you are like, “Really, 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, properly, who have you learnt in your workforce otherwise you’re working alongside? Who’s constant, actually good at being constant at reminding you what you have stated earlier than, being good at always iterating and enhancing? So, it would simply be good for folks to mirror on.
Helen Tupper: I used to be pondering like an actual instance of the place I believe I’ve ended up in that entice a bit bit. Early days of what we did, I used to do profession suggestions day by 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 by day. I did it in all types of conditions so as to make that occur. After which I believe I bought to a degree the place I realised that the doing it day by day had turn into extra essential than what I used to be making an attempt to attain, as in so what I am making an attempt to do is assist folks with their profession improvement. And I might turn into so fastened on the way in which that I used to be doing that, that truly I might type of misplaced focus by way of 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 believe when that could be occurring, I believe it is advisable 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, could be my tip.
If you happen to see that that type of consistency and doing it in the identical method 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’d aid you 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 aid you to be constant. And I might say that is one thing the place I believe, I reckon, Helen, you are naturally barely extra constant than I’m. So, I’ve bought selection as a worth; that’s type of the other. So, I used to be actually making an attempt to interrogate the place I’ve managed to be constant, what actually helped. And these had been simply the three issues for me. I believe one was one thing I loved, you understand, I simply had fun doing that factor. Not on a regular basis, clearly every thing has ups and downs, but it surely felt far more enjoyment than it did draining, far more energising than draining. I believe the second factor for me was with the ability to see the affect. That did not at all times should be immediately, and it may be actually small. So, I can take into consideration some issues I’ve performed 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 positive I used to be making a constructive distinction.
Then, I believe 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 performed the primary two with out the third one and it nonetheless labored for me. I’ve performed some issues constantly the place I did not should be a part of a gaggle or a group however I loved it, I might see the affect, and that was sufficient for me to maintain going, to maintain committing to one thing.
Helen Tupper: I am going to let you know one thing that I believe you do constantly for us is one thing known as Win Watch. So, now we have 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 direction of. After which we take 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 direction of. So, it is a win watch. However I believe perhaps you take pleasure in it as a result of it is achievement, presumably, and that is one in every 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 believe, 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 believe that is one thing that you have performed constantly for fairly some time.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I will give myself a bit 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, now we have checked out 4 completely different areas the place we predict it makes an enormous distinction and we’ll undergo every space in flip and simply discuss a bit bit about what that consistency would possibly appear like, and we’re additionally going to concentrate on the payoffs, like what’s the good thing about being constant. After which, we have got 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 will do. And we predict the payoff right here is that this results in autonomy, belief and house. So, if folks know and belief that you will ship in your aims, or perhaps what you would possibly share that you will take motion on in a gathering, they type of depart you alone a bit bit and so they give you extra space. So, regardless that that 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 properly.
Sarah Ellis: And so, I believe right here a few high suggestions. One is, it is not sufficient to say it, I believe you need to write it or seize it someplace as properly. So, it is not sufficient for me to simply say to Helen, “Nicely, these are my three priorities this week, that is what I will do when”, and hope that Helen remembers. And I believe generally 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 essential as a result of it is our day job. However we could say Helen’s my supervisor and he or she’s additionally bought six different those who she’s managing and her personal job to fret about, there is no method she’s holding that every one in her head. And so, I believe one of many issues that actually helped me is, I used to be at all times good at saying it, but it surely was even higher after I began writing it. And after I say writing, I am not speaking about some type of unbelievable grasp doc. This was usually simply an electronic mail earlier than issues like Groups and stuff even existed; or generally it could be a one-page Phrase doc the place I might type of go, “Priorities, duties, that is what’s occurring on this order”.
After I was engaged on tasks, I did loads of mission work, I might have mission standing updates and I might decide to after I was going to ship these. So, “Each Friday morning, I am going to ship you a standing replace”. And I might even embrace my supervisor on these, or perhaps ship them on to them, even when they weren’t a part of the mission, simply to be like, “Okay, properly I am together with you”. After which usually, there’d be a degree the place they’d be like, “Oh, okay, yeah nice, I needn’t see them anymore”, and I might be like, “Sure, that is as a result of they know that I will do the factor”. And I believe the opposite factor is to simply overcommunicate a bit. So I believe, again to Helen’s level, it could actually really feel a bit boring and also you would possibly really feel such as you’re saying the identical factor, however folks overlook and so you’ll have to be a bit repetitive right here, I believe.
Then the ultimate factor is sign the place you may’t be constant. So, I believe that is usually simply as essential, significantly when folks have gotten used to, “Nicely, 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 understand, Helen is my supervisor, “Nicely, often you’d get the mission replace on a Friday. Have you learnt 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 out of the blue 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 performed”. And I believe that is simply when folks really feel such as you’re on it and also you’re throughout it, after which I believe you do get that house. However I believe my greatest studying was, yeah, write it, do not simply say it.
Helen Tupper: It creates numerous confidence as properly, that somebody’s actually — weirdly, even when somebody’s saying, “Oh, it is not attainable 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 folks in our workforce that can write issues on Microsoft Groups and so they’ll have talked about it in a fast chat for me, however then it will be later within the week after I’ve bought a query in my thoughts and I am going to have the ability to go and take a look at it and it simply solutions the query. So, I do suppose it’s helpful to say it, significantly if you wish to have a bit of debate, 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 believe really writing it down helps folks refer again to it once they really would possibly want it, not if you’re able 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 along with your studying. And that is about investing in your studying, being frequently curious. And we predict one of many elements of the payoff right here is that you’ve at all times bought one thing to contribute, whether or not that is an article that you have learn, or an perception that you have from one thing you have listened to, or a bit little bit of knowledge from a dialog you have had with somebody; there’s at all times some type of newness that you have to give, and that is actually useful in your workforce and it is actually useful for many folks that you simply work with, that you have at all times bought 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 might 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 believe I used to be wanting and loads 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 truthfully suppose 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 after I wish to refer again to it, I’ve bought someplace to return to. And I believe 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 individual was speaking about how, it was really somebody at Microsoft, speaking about how that they had built-in AI into their HR operate, and I saved it in LinkedIn as a result of I believed I am going to 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 believe it simply helps me like, I am like a bit magpie, however then I’ve type of bought a house for my treasure.
Helen Tupper: I believe, as a result of I am going into that channel, however really not constantly, fairly sporadically, after which I am going to scan by way of 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 high tip right here is to discover a format that works for you for constant studying. So for instance, virtually day by 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 wish to learn, and I can scan by way of it actually rapidly and it simply provides me concepts and headlines and snapshots of stuff that is occurring in psychology and enterprise and management that I discover helpful. It does not take me very lengthy. So, that is a format that works usually for me. The opposite codecs, we all know that individuals take heed to podcasts weekly, perhaps you take heed to the Squiggly Careers podcast weekly, otherwise you would possibly be a part of our PodPlus group, or no matter it’s you do. So, I believe 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 after I’ve bought 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 understand 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 am going to take the issues that you have curated after which I’ve bought a time or place to learn them. I believe that is the bit that I am lacking. My even-better-if away from at present I believe could be constantly absorbing what you have curated or created.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it is fascinating. Having these moments I believe makes an enormous distinction. So, I used to be doing PodPlus the opposite week, which is the type of quick workshop we do each week in regards to the podcast subject, and I believe I used to be asking folks 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 believe now who come each week, and what they’ve simply performed 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 folks talked about how, I do not know, they modified corporations or one thing after which out of the blue 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 folks and recognizing methods in which you’ll be able to assist 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 assist or a sounding board, all of the completely different ways in which we want folks by way of our profession. However you may assure that they will be there if in case you have constantly noticed methods you may assist them and stayed in contact with them all through a time frame as properly.
So, I believe this is among the areas that has been most useful for me, as I stated earlier. I believe 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 folks and I shield that point. That is in all probability one-to-one time as properly. So, there are a great deal of issues that I might do in my diary and I might be in an terrible lot of conferences, however there are some relationships that I prioritise for a great deal of completely different causes, like that I discover these folks participating or fascinating, or they only spark my pondering, or they have completely different views. However after I put that point in with that individual, and that could be in individual or it might be digital, I actually shield that point. It’s prioritised in my diary, it’s protected, I’m very, very immune to shifting that. And there could be inner conferences or different issues however in my thoughts, that funding in that individual is as essential as one other assembly. And it is ensuring that I’ve bought that common level of reference to folks.
It does not really should be the identical individual. I believe perhaps as a result of I am an extrovert, I fairly like a variety of relationships. However in the event you scanned my diary, you’d positively see that I prioritise and shield time with folks outdoors of my instant world, and that is one thing that I’ve at all times performed. And I am at all times pondering, “How can I be useful?” in these conversations and out of doors of these conversations. So, I would simply ship somebody a fast WhatsApp message and say, “Oh, I’ve seen this and I believed 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 pondering, “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 individual, I am at all times enthusiastic about what have I bought to offer to them, and that’s simply a part of how I work now. I believe I have been doing that for thus lengthy that it is not like I prep for the assembly and give it some thought upfront, it is simply type of what I attempt to carry to these folks.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, and I believe what you’ve gotten 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 take pleasure in, and doubtless a few of these areas the place you need to work a bit tougher 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 suppose anybody, or I imply, think about if they’re that good, however I do not suppose anybody could be excessive, excessive, excessive on all of those. So, I believe you have simply listened to Helen discuss one she could be excessive on; I believe I might be medium or low. Whereas studying, I believe I might be maybe excessive on that one. So, maybe additionally simply value, as you are going by way of simply being like, “The place am I? Am I excessive, medium and low?” after which, “How essential is it to me to be constant in that space?”
So, we predict all of those are fairly essential. So, I take a look at that relationship one, and I believe my problem in the intervening time is to let go of the concept that relationships essentially at all times have that instant affect. So, I believe I am higher at constructing relationships now the place I believe, “Oh, okay, properly that is going to assist”. Perhaps it should 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 believe I’ve then perhaps not made the time for a few of my relationships with folks really I simply actually take pleasure in spending time with, and they’re high-energy folks that can give me concepts and that I simply know that that is at all times been helpful for me prior to now. So, I have to re-find a method of doing that constantly. And possibly for many folks, I believe by way of the pandemic, everybody type of needed to re-shift how relationships labored, after which now I believe you have to do a bit extra unlearning and relearning once more. So now you are like, “Okay, properly are all my relationships digital; are they hybrid; are they again to being in individual? What does that appear like for me?”
So, that is one the place I am like, I believe 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 suppose I am going to ever be the best, as somebody who’s a bit extra introverted, however I believe I might be higher. Principally, 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 ultimate space the place we predict consistency counts is along with your strengths at work. And the purpose right here is that it is very important constantly present up along with your strengths, so the issues that provide you with vitality that you simply wish to be identified for, and it is very important constantly develop your strengths. So, it is about displaying and rising your strengths constantly. And in the event you do it, the payoffs are fairly massive, as a result of we predict that is what pulls prospects in direction of you, as a result of folks 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 along with your strengths.
Sarah Ellis: And once we say strengths, these could be generalist strengths or specialist strengths. So, these might be a behaviour. You would possibly suppose, “I actually wish to be identified for being empathetic and an excellent listener”, or it might be one thing actually specialist like, “I will be unbelievable at Python”. Individuals hold speaking to me about Python in workshops, I do not know hundreds about it, however after I ask folks what do they wish to be taught this yr, 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 a, “Oh, it should appear like this”, your strengths should not look a sure form. However I believe when you begin to consider alternatives to constantly present that energy, we talked beforehand in a podcast about the best way to make your strengths stand out and present up, and that is at all times a extremely common 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 generally, I believe you maybe should inject a little bit of newness into your strengths, since you simply get fairly used to utilizing them in the identical method. So, there’s numerous sameness generally with energy. So, it could be that you simply wish to take into consideration, properly how might you share that energy that you have with different folks? May very well be in a one-to-one method, it might be at scale, it might be mentoring, actually casual mentoring, it might be groups at work that 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 energy, I believe, 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 method that is sensible to different folks.
I believe definitely for Helen and I, one factor that we have realised over time, and we did not know this once we began, is careers isn’t just our energy, it is not simply researching and experimenting with something to do with careers; for us, properly really, we’re at our greatest once we are offering helpful and sensible Squiggly Profession assist. 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 are going to pull extra prospects in 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 at present; and how are you going to 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 that may seem to be fairly an enormous factor now, and it’s now, but it surely wasn’t in 2017, it actually wasn’t. It was small. We simply saved rocking up each week and speaking primarily to one another.
Sarah Ellis: Did anybody even hear?
Helen Tupper: I do not know.
Sarah Ellis: I imply, that first yr? 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 suppose 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 sincere 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 take pleasure in speaking about careers. It does not actually matter whether or not anybody listens to it, however we each loved it. And I believe the odd individual listened and would inform us, “Oh, that was actually useful”, and that was in all probability all we would have liked! That was all of the encouragement we would have liked!
Helen Tupper: So, this factor, you do not have to be wonderful at it, all people, you simply have to do this energy factor constantly. However I believe, you additionally do get higher at it. I hope we have got 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 essential and the place consistency counts in your profession are, on the day job; ensure you are being constant along 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, in the event you’ve bought concepts for the subsequent 400 episodes —
Helen Tupper: She appears so scared! I can see Sarah now, and he or she’s terrified!
Sarah Ellis: — or perhaps we’ll simply do ten extra and that’ll be performed.
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 wish 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 instrument 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 useful for folks. So, look out for it on LinkedIn, search for it on Instagram, and please share it with folks that you simply suppose would possibly discover it helpful.
Sarah Ellis: That is every thing for this week. Thanks a lot for listening and we might be again with you for episode 401 subsequent week. Bye for now.
Helen Tupper: Bye everybody.