The Aligned Achiever with Siobhan Barnes Siobhan Barnes

Have you ever had to deal with a “bad” boss, a challenging work culture or felt like you’re not sure if you’re in the right place to work anymore? This thinking is something that a lot of us struggle with (past me included).When you’re in a toxic work environment, we often feel like we can fix the situation on our own if only we could do more. In reality this usually doesn’t work and we end up leaving or being let go which we can take very personally because our identity is tied up in ou...

Health and fitness matters…we all know that. Multiple studies speak to not just the physical benefits but the mental and emotional ones too. And yet finding the time and motivation to get healthy can be hard. Especially when you’re busy doing all the things at work and at home. Personally, figuring out a routine to stay healthy and fit has been a journey. I’ve transitioned from team sports (netball) in my twenties and early thirties to needing to shift things up to do something else that...

Have you ever made yourself wrong for being too emotional or sensitive at work? Maybe you’ve had a difficult conversation, faced a micro-aggression or frozen on the spot…In your mind you want to let things go but physically you find yourself unable to release the residual emotions that are there?Emotional dexterity is the capacity to effectively recognise, understand and manage a wider range of emotions both within yourself and in others.If you’re feeling disconnected from your emotions ...

We’re not taught at school how to think about our careers, or even the importance of taking the time to get to know ourselves.To me, this is a foundational skill that is overlooked until we’re out in the workforce feeling overwhelmed trying to balance our passion and what makes us feel connected alongside the practical components of our career, like financial stability.This intersection is what I like to refer to as the career sweet spot.The intersection between passion and practicality that ...

Is the goal to always be productive?Always being “on” and maximising our productivity sounds good in theory. Like it’s the right strategy that will get you closer to your end goal faster. The reality is very different though.We’re human. We need rest. Our brains have a finite attention span and ability to focus.With that in mind, it’s important for all of us to be aware of what season we’re in. Whether that’s growth, a bit more work/life integration or reinvention. In this way we can ens...

If you’re like many of my clients, then I know you have the endurance to keep on pushing through, but I also know that pushing too hard for too long can come back to bite you in the form of burnout.I don’t want that for you, and I’m sure that’s not the outcome you want either.If you’ve been finding yourself juggling a million and one balls in the air, and you’re starting to drop one here or there or maybe you’re at the point that you’re struggling to keep any of them in the air - then you’re ...