Squiggly Careers

Pixiu
  • 5.0 (52)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Squiggly Careers

Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.  Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.  The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today. For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4D AGO

    #487 Ask the Expert - The Power of Influence and the Messenger Effect with Steve Martin

    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 traits can transform your influence at work. Together, they talk about how you can be more effective in meetings, remote settings, and team communication—plus how to match the right message to the right messenger for maximum impact. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 01:00 Why the Messenger Matters as Much as the Message 04:40 Trust vs Truth: How We Really Decide Who to Listen To 07:20 Hard vs Soft Messengers (and When Each One Works Best) 13:15 The Kevin Keegan Story: Choosing the Right Messenger 15:20 Why Content Isn't Everything: Choosing the Right Voice 16:30 A Better Way to Start Meetings (That Builds Credibility) 20:00 The Role of Introductions in Empowering Messengers 21:15 Influence in Remote Work: Tips for Zoom & Teams 25:30 Mimicry and Mirroring: Small Shifts That Build Connection 29:08 Announcements 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why who delivers a message can be more important than what they say - The difference between hard and soft messenger traits—and when to use each - Practical ways to increase your influence in meetings and remote settings - How to elevate others as effective messengers to get results as a team 📚 Resources Mentioned Steve's Book, Messengers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messengers-Who-Listen-Dont-Why/dp/1847942350 Try Steve’s free quiz: https://www.influenceatwork.com/quiz/ Influence with Robert Cialdini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5VBsx-Rec For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  2. JUL 1

    #486 Why you don't delegate (and what to do differently)

    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 to The Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:48 Why You Don’t Delegate (Even When You Should) 12:55 4 Don'ts Of Delegation (And What To Do Instead) 13:15 Don’t Delegate the How 16:52 Don’t Delegate and Disappear 22:41 Don’t Do It for Them 25:06 Hybrid Approaches to Teaching & Delegating 26:25 Don’t Expect It Done Your Way 28:00 Letting Go of “Your Way” and Embracing Other Styles 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why delegation feels uncomfortable for even experienced leaders - 4 delegation mistakes to avoid & what to do instead - How to give people freedom without micromanaging - The power of clear outcomes, expectations, and trust For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. JUN 24

    #485 Why Thinking Together Boosts Team Performance

    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 space for smarter, more intentional team thinking. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:43 Why We Struggle to Think as Teams 01:56 Who Are Your Thinking Partners? 02:18 Team Thinking Drives Team Performance 03:02 Principles for Better Team Thinking 07:38 Signal Thinking Activities in Your Team 08:46 Turning Thinking into Action via Experiments 09:43 The Team Thinking Matrix Explained 11:48 Idea for Improvement: Worry Lists 17:20 Idea for Improvement: What's Not Working (The "Knots") 23:30 Everyday Idea for Inspiration: Borrowed Brilliance 🎯 What You’ll Learn: - Why teams need more time to think (and how to make that time work) - 3 powerful principles for better collective thinking - Tools like “worry lists,” “what’s not working,” and “borrowed brilliance” - How to run quick team exercises - Ways to turn thinking into action—without overcomplicating it For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

  4. JUN 17

    #484 How Role modelling leads to rewards for your career

    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. They explore practical ideas to help you decide your role model focus, borrow brilliance, and put role modelling into practice in your day-to-day work. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  5. JUN 10

    #483 Ask the Expert: How to have better conversations with Jefferson Fisher

    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 that can help you handle these moments with more clarity and confidence. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  6. JUN 3

    #482 How to Stay in Control During Change At Work

    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 to make the best of where you are right now and take action, from shifting your mindset, to spotting opportunities in uncertain situations and choosing your change story — so change doesn’t stall your Squiggly Career. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  7. MAY 27

    #481 Four AI Prompts To Accelerate Your Squiggly Career

    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 might be saying about you (without you realising it!). Whether you're curious about AI or looking for new ways to learn and grow, this episode will help you get started. For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  8. MAY 20

    #480 The Art of Noticing: 9 Ways To Start Noticing At Work

    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 seem to get done. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What is noticing? 03:57 Idea 1 05:04 Idea 2 07:15 Idea 3 10:35 Idea 4 12:36 Idea 5 15:37 Idea 6 18:42 Idea 7 22:27 Idea 8 26:33 Idea 9 For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
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5
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.  Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.  The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today. For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    Pixiu
  • Creator
    The Squiggly Career
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    490
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amazing If
  • Show Website
    Squiggly Careers

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