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?

When we’re vulnerable and open up, it increases our ability to connect with people. It develops trust. And strengthens relationships.

And yet it can be safer to be neutral and not attract too much attention to ourselves.

Here’s what a tin of white paint and a recent networking event taught me about opening up to others.

Raising your visibility and value at work. Deepening your engagement with your clients and stakeholders. Developing more trust and connection with colleagues. These are big, bold asks. And you can improve all of them by doing this one thing. And, speaking from direct experience: not many people do this at all.

I used to work as a receptionist. A role that mostly gets ignored by folk. You’re in the background in many ways. Almost invisible, really. And not many people really talk to you.

But one person did.

611. That’s all it said. And that number guaranteed privacy. And that the message would be read shortly by one of the most powerful men in the world.

Our world is crammed with distractions. 

Shiny things that get our attention.

39 tabs open on a laptop.

Whether it's acing interviews, engaging with audiences, or crafting stories to boost your brand, we're all in the business of communicating these days. And how we use our words matters.

How much can you fit into 30 mins about speaking with impact and using your words well? It turns out, quite a lot!

I was a guest on Gillian Whitney’s LinkedIn Live recently and we had a great conversation about…

Believing good food encourages good behaviour meant that these luxuries could be enjoyed:

• Cream of celery soup

• Roast turkey

• Ripe olives 

Kinda fancy, yes?

Working from home and needing to inject some va-va voom into your day? Here are some top tips on how to make completing your to do list feel more glamorous:

• Wear something with sequins.

• That pair of shiny earrings? Put' em on. 

• For men - that crisp shirt with snazzy cufflinks.

• For introverts - that vibrant pair of socks? Give them their first wearing. Your tootsies will thank you!

“I’m almost ready. I’m just going to put on a bit of an earring” I said to my husband.

To be clear I didn’t go out with one boot on. Or with my jacket half on. Or wearing one earring.

I’ve been around for a while and have got the getting dressed thing figured out. But my husband knew what I meant when I made the comment.

Everyone has a wobble, a crisis of confidence. This is a story about what one of my role models did when that happened to her.

Colleen was one of my teaching tutors at Uni.

She was creative, had a glint in her eye in the best kind of way and made good teaching look really easy.

Thinking and feeling. Making considered decisions and being led by emotions. Opposite ends of the spectrum.

I watched Moonstruck this weekend, a film that won three Oscars: two for actresses, Cher and Olympia Dukakis, and one for the screenwriter, John Patrick Shanley. 

Now Moonstruck isn’t a new film. It was made in 1987. But its themes are universal.

Looking for a way to introduce yourself?  That won’t have people plastering a polite but not interested smile on their face? And instead instantly start to build rapport and connection?

Here’s how.

Chances are when you give a presentation at an event, you’ve got something prepared for how to introduce yourself to your audience. Do you have this kind of introduction for other audiences?

It’s back, it’s back! The mild mannered, moustachioed man, Ted Lasso, is here and it’s crammed with terrific communication skills lessons. Like these four gems…

**spoiler alert, go watch episode 1 of season 3 and then come back**

First up, there was some amazing stuff out of the mouths of babes.

There’s just the two of them and it’s raining and dark. They’re in shock. And the look they share is intense. It’s clear there’s a history here. And still very much a sizzle.

And this is in the opening episode.

There’s a new thrilling series in town. 

You’re probably familiar with Oliver Twist,  who was brave enough to ask ‘Please sir, I want more’ after he’d finished his food.

But do you know the real life story of what happened to a group of hungry American women when they wanted more?

Picture the scene.

Going to be speaking to a group of folk? Want to engage with your audience? Add more energy to how you present?

Do this.

First up, you’ll need a bunch of coloured pencils.

I’ve music on in the background and I’m thinking “There’s something odd going on here. Something strange.”

I listened.

And then I heard it…

She takes a step forward and the crowd goes wild. It‘s a moment of huge celebration. And yet also of danger.

When we think of public speaking we think of the what.