They smile. Laugh. Scrunch up their eyes a bit as they think. "Wow. That was fun, Mica!” This is the answer. But what’s the question? The question is “What’s it like to work with me?”

One of the ways I work with clients is through doing a series of communication skills exercises. They’re short and snappy. And – the important bit – they get results.

My clients get promoted. They take on new, big pieces of work that would have scared them before. Their words are more fluent, natural, and calm in those important meetings. So, what exactly happens in a coaching session when we do these communication skills exercises?

Life and work can be tricky when you’re stuck. This gentle book takes you by the hand and helps you get unstuck.

Recently, a friend told me about a book. I was intrigued by the title and was also interested in what the book looks at because it explores some quite big issues but does so in a kind of gentle, storytelling way.

The book is called “The cafe on the edge of the world” and it’s a fairly short read of 125 pages.

If you’re looking for a new job, or a change in career there’s one thing you can benefit from knowing really well and one thing you shouldn’t be scared to do.

So, what am I talking about?

First up, knowing your skillset well means you know yourself well, meaning that you know what you’re good at, what you enjoy doing and the benefits these skills bring to others. As for the one thing that you shouldn’t be scared of – that’s standing out.

So, you’re bored in your job. Or you’re feeling lost and wondering what to do about it.

And like colourful flowers in a meadow, there are lots of jobs that catch your eye. But how do you know which is the right one for you? Ever thought of career coaching?

Career coaching is getting to know yourself better so that you can explore what you’ve done in the past and the present that lights you up and use this to discover what your next role can be.

Maybe you’re wanting to make improvements in your life. Go for that promotion at work. Get a new job. And get more balance and control into your life. Or perhaps you want to develop your communication skills, be better at public speaking and raise your visibility at work and being heard and seen more.

When we communicate well, say what we mean and connect with others, it can do wonders for our reputation at work and boost our career prospects.

But where do you start? How do you know what exactly needs developed? Try this fun and creative exercise.

Developing strong writing skills saves you time in the workplace and makes your audience happy. And a clear writer is often the sign of a clear thinker. Here’s one place you can read brilliant writing and one exercise that you can do to develop your writing muscle…

Big things in a small space. Mining meaning out of millions of minutes. A lifetime on a page. 

There’s a place where you can see brilliant writing. Often it’ll be about someone you never knew. And now sadly never will.

Here’s my third and final post on how to manage your inner critic, and today it’s all about changing the tune that you listen to.

Imagine the scene.

Something’s happened and you’re not happy about what you said or did. And in your head the “Ballad of Regret” is playing big time.

D’you know that voice in your head? Recently, I posted the first way to manage that. Here’s a second way you can tame the voice if it’s getting a bit big for its boots and all bossy and judgy with you. And it’s to do with having good manners.

Using this technique lets you create distance between you and your thoughts. And puts in a bit of a boundary.

And why’s that important?

Your inner critic. The sh*tty committee. Fred. Or perhaps Tabitha. Do you have a name for the voice in your head?

I’m going to share 3 ways of managing that voice, and this is the first of those articles.

This first method is to check in with yourself.

Here's how to tell stories to make you sparkle at your next job interview. Do you have an interview coming up? Are your communication skills up to scratch? Got your stories ready and good to go? Things like…

“Can you tell me about a time …?” “How do you approach a situation when…?” “Describe to me what you’ve done for…”

Ring any bells?