ARTICLES

Understanding how to say no effectively is a critical career and communication skill. Use this bridging technique to help you.

Positive role models, representation and good mentors are vital in life and for career success. Think about how, as a mentor, you can have a powerful, useful and inspiring impact. Build your legacy and give back in a meaningful way.

Strengths are the fuel that makes work feel energising rather than draining. When you take your strengths from good to great, and then from great to extraordinary, you not only stand out in your career, you also feel more confident, motivated and fulfilled.

A vital element of anybody’s professional presence and job search is LinkedIn and if you are going to be on there, then you need to have an effective LinkedIn profile. Here are 11 tips to help you maximise your LinkedIn profile.

Stop stumbling over "Tell me about yourself." Craft a concise pitch highlighting your role, key strengths, and the value you deliver, setting the stage for a powerful conversation about your impact and value.

A lack of confidence can be a very real barrier to career success and being fulfilled at work. It might stop you from putting yourself forward for opportunities, voicing your ideas or pulling back when faced with a new or challenging situation. It can also hinder how well you ‘sell’ yourself in interviews. For those who lack confidence and experience low self-esteem, there are things you can do to help you feel more confident. Here are the five steps I recommend.

Can you talk about why your brand is so strong or great? Do you even have a personal brand? And why is it so important? Find out more...

Successfully asking for a pay rise isn’t about money. Of course, it is about money, but there’s far more to it than the figure itself. Use this simple, structured approach that is proven to work.

Over-apologising, saying sorry excessively, can be damaging, undermining a woman’s confidence, authority and credibility.

Taking time to time is vital to work (and live) well-being. It allows us to generate fresh ideas and use our time strategically.

Confidence isn’t fixed — it’s flexible and shaped by context, experience, and mindset. If it can be lost, it can be rebuilt. Confidence grows through action, self-awareness, and reframing fear. It’s not who you are, it’s how you choose to show up. And it’s always reclaimable.

Our confidence understandably grows when we perceive we have control over what is happening. Conversely, that confidence shrinks when we feel like things are happening beyond our control and, even worse, get ‘out of control’. We feel more confident when we are in control because we know what we are doing and what is expected. We know we have the knowledge/skills/resources required by the situation.

Personal branding is essential for career growth, but many struggle to express their value and keep their CV and LinkedIn profiles current. But doing so is key to career success.

You don't have to be an expert. You can be a highly successful generalist. And it's perfectly normal to be interested in - and good at - lots of different things.

Make networking easier by knowing how to ask great questions and make someone feel interested in what you have to say.

How many of us are good at faking active listening whilst our brains rush to devise solutions we can offer as advice? Two hard but vital lessons for me in my career have been to stop my brain racing and listen and think about the best solution, not the first solution.

Whilst we can be our own greatest critic, we can also be our greatest fan. Focusing on your strengths and recounting your successes boosts confidence and a stronger sense of self.

How do you stand out at interview when you don’t know the competition, but you do know that they have similar skills and experience to you?

When you’re trying to be involved in everything, working excessively to try and clear that (unending) to-do list or be all things to all people, you will inevitably miss something. It can be hard to let go. But if you don't focus, you are diluting your impact, attention and energy.

Perfect Presentations Tip 3 – The 4Ps covers the steps you need to take to develop your skills, build competence and confidence and deliver impactful presentations.