They’re pure gold so listen up, says uevolve careers coach Lucinda Harlow
When our very own WATC guru Vanessa Vallely asked me to use my coaching knowhow to get 2015 off to a flying start, I knew exactly what to do. My clients make incredible progress once we’ve unpicked exactly how they tick. So for some solid New Year advice I went straight to successful women who are living, breathing proof of what works in a demanding job. I asked them a big question and these are their secrets…
How do you keep going when the going gets tough?
Margi Conklin, Managing Editor/Features, New York Post
“I work on a daily paper, where deadlines are pretty relentless. But one of the great things it’s taught me is that every day is a fresh start. If you didn’t do your best work today, you can try again tomorrow. Also, it’s pretty darn near impossible to be awesome every day, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t meet your standards every now and then. Especially if you’re challenging yourself and taking on new responsibilities, you’re guaranteed to occasionally feel like a failure. If I’ve had a rough day, I try to go to bed early, go for a run in the morning and it’s incredible how much better I feel about going back to work and giving it my all. Keeping my body active makes me happier and a better boss with more mental energy to weather the ups and downs. Also, going out at night with other people in my industry is essential – it reminds me that my job is fun and exciting and I really do love it. Sometimes that’s easy to forget when you’re in the midst of the daily grind!”
Vanessa Vallely, Managing Director, WeAreTheCity
“I keep going by seeing the end game. When I am feeling like nothing is going my way, I step back, take a breath and think about the big picture. I also visualise myself in situations where I am already successful. I have come to realise success takes time. I have also learned not to beat myself up as much as I used to. We all make mistakes and no one is perfect!”
Hannah Dickinson, Global Head of KYC Process, BNP Paribas
“Ok I’m a bit of perfectionist and when I do something, I want to do it well. That’s not to say there aren’t periods in my work life when my energy levels are low; one full year back from breast cancer and I am still feeling the effects. Those low moments are when you need to really watch out for the negative voices in your head. Recognise when they’re getting louder so you can shut them up. Sometimes life creates natural opportunities for us to mentally check if we’re are on track and where we want to be, but you can’t rely on those reminders coming along at the right moment. Be sure to create your own times. The challenge for me is to forgive myself for the stuff I’m not great at and get on with the stuff I am good at.”
Sally Chacatté, Group Head of HR at Knight Frank
“In a professional context it’s all about taking responsibility for your own destiny. I don’t expect anyone else to make my future, it’s down to me. The choices I’ve made to date in my career and personal life have been mine and it’s up to me to influence where I go next. Women need to get out there and create their own equal opportunities. In my personal life, things have been tougher. When he was 13, my son was shot in the face on the way back from school. We had to make a choice, moan about it or do something about it. We chose to do something good and set up W4 Youth, a youth charity which is a safe place kids can go 5 days a week with Ant and Dec as our patrons. Life is an experience and whether it’s a good or bad experience depends upon how you choose to handle it”
Sarah Edwards, Acting Editor, Tesco Mum of the Year
“I love handwritten lists and highlighter pens. They keep me focused and mean I don’t get overwhelmed by complex projects. I try to stay positive and remind myself that whatever crisis I’m tackling will pass and I’ll soon be beyond it and onto the next thing.”
Anna Favre, Partner at Pemberton Greenish
“I think for me it’s a question of consciously closing off any negative self talk which might serve to defeat your professional objectives. Your subconscious hears negative expressions such as ‘this is a nightmare’, ‘I can’t do this’ and so on. Mentally changing an experience from what might seem an overwhelming obstacle to something that will ultimately lead to enlightenment is the best way to get through the task in question! I think the test of tenacity and determination is how you fare when things are rough and motivation is at its lowest. Sculpting your attitude from negative to positive really does help in those challenging moments.”
All fired up for 2015…
Wow! I don’t know about you, but hearing from these inspirational women has made me even more determined to make 2015 a year to remember. Finding your motivation mojo is at the heart of great coaching – so if you want more help finding yours, get in touch.
Happy New Year!
