Happier At Work®

How can you overcome perfectionism and people pleasing at work?

In the latest episode of the Happier at Work podcast, I sat down with the extraordinary Ellen Taaffe to delve deep into the intricacies of women's leadership and personal growth. Ellen, with her vast experience spanning a 25-year corporate career, board memberships, and her current teaching role at Kellogg School of Management, brings a wealth of knowledge and actionable insights to the table.

Ellen introduces the pivotal mindset shift from "Who am I to do this?" to "Why not me?". She outlines five strategies to overcome the barriers that hold women back. These include preparing to perfection and eagerly pleasing.

During the episode, Ellen also discusses the challenges posed by perfectionism and the tendency to eagerly please others. She shares insights on how these can lead to being viewed merely as a "worker bee" and holding back from leadership opportunities.

Ellen’s work at the Kellogg School of Management emphasises the need for community and support among women. Ellen's research and teaching help bridge gaps specific to women in the workplace, addressing challenges like negotiating raises and overcoming biases.

Ellen’s book, "The Mirror Door: Breakthrough the Hidden Barrier That Locks Successful Women in Place," celebrates its one-year anniversary and has received multiple awards. It explores how self-reflection and internal doubts can prevent women from advancing and emphasises the importance of courage over confidence.

The main points:

• How perfectionism and people pleasing can lead to being viewed merely as a "worker bee" and holding back from leadership opportunities.
• It's essential to balance preparation with timely action.
• While building strong relationships is vital, it should not come at the expense of your personal needs and boundaries.
• The importance of building networks, seeking feedback, and advocating for oneself as strongly as for others. 

Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Connect with Ellen

In the latest solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, I talk about the 3 C’s, a highly requested topic by you for a long time. 

In this episode, I introduce my 3 C's of Thriving Talent framework, designed to foster more engagement, higher retention, greater happiness, and overall success within organisations. 

I discuss each of the 3 C’s in turn, focusing on the very essence of each in their own right, and how they are interdependent on each other. A positive culture and strong career development can't thrive without the right capabilities. Similarly, having the skills and tools without a supportive culture or clear career path doesn't lead to thriving talent.

The main points throughout this podcast include:

• The foundation of an organisation: Culture.
• The importance of personal responsibility in managing your career.
• The value in equipping employees with the right skills and tools to strive.
• Emphasis on investing in continuous learning, mentoring and professional growth opportunities.

Curious about where you or your organisation stands? I've developed an assessment to identify which areas require focus to create an environment of thriving talent. Click the link below to take the assessment.

This is a synopsis of the key points from my conversation with Ali Dunne.

The main points:

• The balance between striving for excellence and embracing imperfections.
• Understand how knowing your own and others' Enneagram types can foster better collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Continuous learning and self-awareness are vital in achieving both personal and professional growth.
• The importance of personal insights and strengths in coaching and business success.

Tune in to uncover how Enneagram avoidant traits might relate to psychological attachment styles and how family dynamics shape our behaviors.

Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Connect with Ali

Do you want to gain more insight into the enneagram and how it impacts your happiness at work? 

In this week's episode, I sat down with leadership and Enneagram coach, Ali Dunn, for a deep dive into self-awareness, team dynamics, and the quest for workplace happiness.

Ali shares the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones for self-expression and growth.

For Ali, true happiness in the workplace means being surrounded by people who share aligned values and a common purpose, along with the freedom to explore new ideas.

We discussed how different Enneagram types influence team dynamics and conflict resolution. Ali emphasises that self-awareness and understanding others' motivations are crucial for effective teamwork.

We also talked about the specific motivations and core fears associated with each type, from originality and understanding to security and control.

The main points:

• The balance between striving for excellence and embracing imperfections.
• Understand how knowing your own and others' Enneagram types can foster better collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Continuous learning and self-awareness are vital in achieving both personal and professional growth.
• The importance of personal insights and strengths in coaching and business success.

Tune in to uncover how Enneagram avoidant traits might relate to psychological attachment styles and how family dynamics shape our behaviors.

Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Connect with Ali

This is a synopsis of the key points from my conversation with Kinga Mnich.

The main points:

• The importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for emotional expression at work.
• The unique emotional cultures and rules in different organisations.
• Personal background influences on emotional expression and understanding.
• The importance of recognising emotional diversity to reduce miscommunications.
• Factors influencing emotional expression such as cultural background, family dynamics, and personality.

Tune in to deepen your understanding of emotions' critical role in enhancing workplace dynamics and fostering a thriving organisational culture.

Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Connect with Kinga