So often I feel overwhelmed. There are hundreds of actions I could take right now, the to do list is massive and seems to get bigger each day, my internet browser is open with a dozen tabs. Some days it can take time to wade through the overwhelm. I switch from tab to tab on my computer, scan my emails and then achieve nothing because I’m lost in it all. This is when I know something is off.
There are three strategies that help me get back on track and navigate the chaos
Before setting goals for the year ahead, there is one thing I do first. It gives me power, takes away guilty feelings around past goals and gives me freedom. I’m sure there are lots of ways to describe this process and in our house we call it ‘getting complete’.
Getting complete about 2020 is more important than ever before to reflect, learn and process what happened with uncertainty and lack of control.
Read MoreAs we move through rapidly changing times on our planet, the world of work is also undergoing a huge demographic shift. Today more than half of the work place is Millennials, and by 2025, the number of Millennials will increase to 75%.
Right now 2 out of 5 people have a boss that is younger than them. Are you one of them?
In this demographically new time, what kind of leadership is needed? What is the job of a leader today compared with even five years ago?
Knowing versus thinking
Did your school teacher ever say to you “you better remember your times tables because you won’t be carrying around a calculator in your pocket everyday”?
Now, of course, most of us permanently have access to a calculator with our smart phones within arms reach 24/7.
Knowledge is accessible to us like never before.
Thinking seems distant with the constant distraction in our life.
Leadership is often thought of as having an impressive title like CEO, General Manager or Founder or decades of experience.
Leadership actually is more everyday rather than a fancy title.
Leadership can be everyday, small, courageous actions and anyone can take them. It doesn't matter what your title is or what you do for work, you can be a leader moment by moment in your life.
Read MoreWhen is it a good time to launch a business, change jobs, get married or have a baby? Is there a ggod time or a right time?
My good mate Alysha Herrmann once said ‘There is always a good time!’ - I didn’t believe her when she said this to me with a beaming smile.
Is it possible that the language we speak affects what we see? What about something as basic as the colours we see...
If you speak Russian you would know that there is one distinct word for light blue pronounced ‘goluboy’ and one word for dark blue pronounced ‘siniy’. This is unlike English which has one word for ‘blue’ and we add adjectives to make it 'light' or 'dark'. Researchers discovered that because of this, Russian speakers when compared with English speakers, see more shades of blue and were faster at distinguishing the shades of blue!
My husband and I are excited to be expecting our first baby in a few weeks time. In preparation, my wonderful husband booked us in for some parenting classes. While right now I still can’t think beyond the birth part, the classes have given brilliant and, even surprising insights, into life, clear and effective communication, team work and leadership.
Deb, our parenting teacher, gives us bonus insights that aren’t in the parenting book including her perspective (from Todd Bodett) on what we need to be happy.
Inside all of us there are dreams and goals. When I was growing up I wanted to be an inventor then somewhere along the way I thought that was going to be too hard and I wasn’t smart enough to make it happen. I wanted to be an astronomer and even had my 10th birthday party at the planetarium a few minutes drive from my house. But I couldn’t see what career I would have so I gave up on that one too.
Then school became about surviving and getting through it without a big dream of what I wanted to do when I finished. I had totally forgotten about my dream.
Looking to inspire your students or children in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) while at home? The good news is awesome there are so many free STEM resources available but how do you choose what will engage young people? Check out the top 4 things I look for engagement in STEM and my favourite FREE real world STEM resources.
Read MoreThere is always one question I hope I never get asked about my career. I really don’t want to be asked it when speaking to school students, when I am ‘inspiring’ them about engineering careers.
“What is it like working in a male dominated field?”.
My brain flicks between all the possible answers. This ranges from “awesome” because it’s easy for people to remember your name to “one of the most challenging things about my career” because it can feel so lonely. I want to be real and open about my experiences. I wonder - can I be authentic about my challenges, while also inspiring people into engineering?
This week, I was asked my most feared question by a cheerful Year 11 student. That day I chose to give some different advice.
Read MoreEmbracing difference is the biggest opportunity we have to design a diverse and inclusive world.
We know poor design outcomes can be a result of a lack of diversity in design. It is literally dangerous for us. Well, it’s dangerous for women or the people who were not considered in the design. It is what happens when biases influence decisions in the design making process.
Designing for difference is an opportunity. It sparks innovation and, like diversity, benefits everyone.
So how can we design for difference?
Read More90% of the world is designed by men.
This is my usual opening line for speeches on diversity in engineering. It's followed by a long pause.
The way we design our world is having a real impact on people's lives. Women are 47% more likely to die in car crashes because of overlooked design biases. Want to know what we can do about it?
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