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Isn’t it fascinating that Japan has a strong culture of reflection in the form of “hansei-kai,” but the focus is on what wasn’t good enough? As well as acknowledging opportunities to do things differently, we can learn so much by reflecting on what went well. Then we...
I remember years ago a friend told me he’d visited an art museum at the weekend. For some reason, that really hit me. It was at a time when I was working 7 days a week and had a young daughter at home. It was so hard to imagine doing something relaxing and fun just...
– a conversation with Julie Clark Have you noticed that when you’re really busy, you tend to neglect your nutrition and wellbeing? And this is the time when your body most needs energy! For example, you don’t eat regular meals. Or you reach for lots of sugary or salty...
As humans, it’s natural for us to feel uncomfortable, anxious, or scared when facing uncertainty because of how our brains work. We use the neocortex - the newest part of the brain, which developed around 2-3 million years ago - for rational thinking. But the...
Years ago, I was having lunch with a Japanese lady who was a regular commentator on a live weekend television show. After asking about my work as a coach, she said, “Actually, Helen, every time I’m on the show live, I’m terrified that I might not be able to answer a...
“How can I compete in a male-dominated workplace?” is a question I increasingly hear from women. You may have heard advice like, “Be sure to speak up,” “Go for a beer with the boys,” “Don’t be too easily offended…” Well, here’s a perspective that’s completely new to...
What is it about difficult conversations at work that many of us dread? For example, you have to tell a colleague that their work was unsatisfactory or that their job is at risk. Or you have to deliver the news that a deadline can’t be met or results aren’t what was...
What do you do when you’re feeling overloaded with work and other responsibilities? If you’re like many working women, you may do one of two things. 1. You keep pushing through with what you’re doing (especially in the Japanese culture where “gaman” is often seen as a...
Suddenly all the balls are being thrown at you at once. Everything seems urgent. You don’t know which to prioritize. You feel overloaded and there seems to be no way out because the work just keeps coming. And you just feel exhausted scrambling to keep up with it all....
– a conversation with Alma Barrero Her mother told her that she would never be feminine until she could wear flowery dresses. But she didn’t like flowery dresses. So she never felt feminine - even though she wanted to. Then she met Alma. Alma was taking her shopping...
People often see me now as a successful businesswoman - a confident and skilled communicator. But, it wasn’t always that way... When I first joined the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, I felt surrounded by INCREDIBLY intelligent people. I hesitated...
– a conversation with Patty Dominguez It’s normal to have ups and downs in your career. When you’re doing something new - especially something you’ve personally decided to do - you’re probably full of inspiration, excited to get started, and convinced how great this...