In this episode, Rachel Sparkes discusses the top 10 career mistakes that individuals often make, drawing from her experiences in HR and coaching. She emphasizes the importance of being proactive, setting clear goals, and maintaining self-awareness.

Rachel also highlights the significance of personal branding, understanding the job market, and preparing effectively for interviews. Additionally, she introduces two modern mistakes related to boundaries and time management, encouraging listeners to take control of their careers and avoid common pitfalls.

Takeaways

• Most people treat job hunting like window shopping.
• You're 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.
• Self-awareness is a superpower in your career.
• Respect your culture, but your career is yours.
• Purpose plus pay equals a sweet spot.
• Self-belief doesn't mean arrogance; it means backing yourself.
• Your brain grows with resistance; keep learning.
• If you don't market yourself, nobody will.
• Jobs get created when great talent shows up.
• Boundaries aren't selfish; they're professional.

• Avoid These Career Mistakes
• Top 10 Career Pitfalls to Avoid

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Career Mistakes

00:20Top 10 Career Mistakes Explained

05:51Modern Career Mistakes and Conclusion

Summary

In this episode of the Love Your Work podcast, Rachel Sparkes discusses the vital role of creativity in both personal and professional life. She emphasizes the importance of creating for joy, sharing her experiences with music and the use of AI tools like Suno AI for music production. Rachel encourages listeners to engage in creative activities and build a community around shared creativity, highlighting that personal creativity enhances work life and overall happiness.

Takeaways

• Creativity is a critical part of any work.
• Engaging in creativity contributes to your work life.
• Create something new before you consume.
• Creating for joy is essential, regardless of skill level.
• Using AI tools can enhance the music creation process.
• Suno AI allows for innovative music production.
• Building a community around creativity is important.
• Personal creativity adds meaning and purpose to life.
• Encouragement to share creative endeavors with others.
• Life is about doing something amazing with your talents.

• Unlocking Creativity in the Workplace
• The Joy of Creating: A Personal Journey

• "Just create for the joy of it."
• "Suno AI is a really cool tool."
• "What are you creating this week?"

Chapters

00:00The Importance of Creativity in Work

02:26Creating for Joy: Embracing Imperfection

10:30Exploring Music Creation with AI

11:37Using AI Tools for Music Production

19:09Encouragement to Create and Share

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Rachel

Factors Affecting Todays Workplace

Welcome back, friends — we’re diving into Chapter 2 of my book Work It Real Good (yep, the one I wrote a whole decade ago). This is also Episode 2 in our new series where I dust off those ideas, give them a shake, and see how they hold up in today’s wild world of work. Spoiler: a lot has changed, and a lot hasn’t.

Here’s the quick and dirty:

• A whopping 87% of people are disengaged at work. Yikes. Leadership really is the make-or-break here.

• Tech is both our bestie and our frenemy. Applicant tracking systems can ghost your CV, video interviews are now normal, and AI is quietly moving in as your new co-worker.

• Online learning? Totally mainstream now. No excuses — skills are just a click away.

• Younger generations are chasing purpose over pay checks, and women are starting businesses in droves.

• And the big one: human connection wins. Robots may be clever, but they can’t lead with empathy, build trust, or crack a good dad joke in a team meeting.

This chapter is all about how economics, tech, and social shifts collide to create the workplace we’re living in right now. It’s a reminder that while the tools change, what people actually want from work — meaning, growth, connection — really hasn’t.

So grab your coffee, hit play on the video, and let’s go a little deeper together.
This has been Rachel Sparkes, your HR Bestie from Big Tech, exploring culture, creativity, and conscious leadership in the modern workplace.

Love Your Work!
Follow along for the next chapter 3 in the Work It Real Good series which is The Top 10 Career Mistakes.

In this episode, Rachel Sparkes introduces her book 'Work It Real Good' and discusses the importance of self-awareness and personal growth in achieving career satisfaction. She outlines the common struggles faced by individuals in their careers and presents a roadmap for transformation through clarity, confidence, and conviction. Rachel shares her personal journey from IT recruitment to coaching, emphasizing the need for meaningful work and the impact of emotional events on career choices. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to reflect on their career paths and consider the factors affecting today's workplace.

Takeaways

• The secret to finding work you love is self-awareness.
• Many people feel stuck in their careers due to fear.
• Career transformation involves six clear stages.
• Clarity, confidence, and conviction are key to career flow.
• Emotional events can significantly influence career choices.
• It's possible to design a career that resonates with your true self.
• The journey to a fulfilling career requires hard thinking and commitment.
• You have the power to choose a career that makes you happy.
• The book provides a roadmap for career navigation.
• Investing time in a fulfilling career is essential for happiness.

From UX to L&D to leadership—why nothing changes until you meet the right need

Ever tried to roll out a workplace change, only to have it land with all the excitement of a damp muffin?
Yeah, me too.

Recently, I was deep in the weeds designing a technology certification drive. that would be rolled out to thousands of tech folk. The goal? Get people certified. The problem? Most people didn’t exactly leap out of bed thinking, “Yes! Today’s the day I conquer that ServiceNow Pro Plus Suite exam!”

So, I started thinking like a behaviour hacker. Not: How do I tell them what to do? But: What do they actually need? Because if you can speak to someone’s deep human needs, you stop shoving change down their throats and instead make them want to take the bite.

Cue Tony Robbins’ Six Human Needs (here’s the breakdown):

• Certainty ↔ Variety

• Significance ↔ Connection

• Growth + Contribution (the two universal needs that sit above the others)

Change management, learning and development, UX design, EX design, leadership coaching—it all starts here. You don’t need to hypnotise anyone (although… tempting). You just need to know which needs to tickle.

Ask yourself:

1. Which need is their number one driver right now?

2. How can I meet that and sneak in one or two others for good measure?

3. How do I make it feel like their idea to take action?

People aren’t lazy—they’re just busy meeting their own needs.
When you meet those needs better than the status quo, behaviour changes without the eye‑rolling, foot‑dragging, or mysterious “sick days” during training week.

💡 Love Your Work! Takeaway:
Start mapping your change or program against these six needs before you roll it out. Then stand back and watch the “I’ll get to it someday” crowd suddenly find the time today.

by Rachel Sparkes
Exploring Culture, Creativity & Conscious Leadership in the Modern Workplace
Love Your Work!

I just got back from a whole month working overseas — yep, a full four weeks in Manchester, with side quests to our London and German offices, and some much-needed personal travel to Menorca, The Hague, and Amsterdam with my partner.

It wasn’t just a change of scenery — it was a full-blown mindset refresh. And guess what? Science says this kind of thing isn’t just good for the soul — it’s brilliant for your career too.

We’ve been banging on about “flexibility” and “remote work” for years now, but there’s something uniquely powerful about being in the room. Real eye contact. Serendipitous coffee chats. Strategy whiteboards with too many post-its. You just can’t replicate that magic over Zoom or Teams.

🔍 The Research Backs It Up
The Harvard Business Review reports that in-person interactions lead to significantly more trust and cooperation among teams. In fact, a study by MIT found that face-to-face requests are 34 times more successful than email. Thirty-four times! I mean, I love a good emoji-laden teams thread as much as the any millennial leader, but let’s be real — nothing beats a spontaneous hallway chat.

And it’s not just about productivity. According to Gallup, employees who feel “connected” at work are more engaged, have higher wellbeing, and are far more likely to stay.
I felt that deeply this month. Relationships that were once polite Teams calls became real, warm, and full of shared context. I got to sit with colleagues and really listen. I spent quality time with my boss. I even bumped into super senior executives I might’ve never have met otherwise.

✨ Unexpected Perks
There were surprises, too. I learned best practices I never would’ve picked up on if I wasn’t physically present. I saw how other teams onboard, sell, deliver, collaborate. I stole — I mean, “borrowed” — some killer ideas for our teams in other regions. 😉

And let’s not ignore the joy. Travel gave me perspective. Those long workdays in Manchester, weekend escapes to Menorca, Spain and art-strolling through The Hague with my partner, it all made me feel alive. I came back with a full heart and a fresh brain. I remembered why I love this work — because it’s human.

💡 If you’re a people leader — take note. Encouraging international (or interstate, or even in-the-office) collaboration and offering space to combine work with mini-breaks isn’t indulgent. It’s strategic. It leads to better performance, retention, creativity, and connection.

So here’s my cheeky challenge to you:
Say yes to the next overseas or interstate work trip. Or better yet — create one. Make time to connect, explore, and soak up the richness of in-person interaction.

You might just fall in love with your work again.

This has been Rachel Sparkes, exploring culture, creativity, and conscious leadership in the modern workplace.

Love Your Work!

Liv Downing's journey from corporate to becoming a thought leader in workplace wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, creativity, and compassion in leadership.

In this episode of the Love Your Work! podcast, host Rachel Sparkes interviews Liv Downing, a psychologist and mindfulness advocate.
They explore Liv's journey from corporate HR to becoming a thought leader in workplace wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, creativity, and compassion in leadership.
Liv shares insights on the differences between mindfulness and meditation, the signs of burnout, and strategies for creating psychological safety in teams. The conversation highlights the need for self-awareness and the role of compassion in fostering a supportive workplace culture. In this conversation, Liv Downing and Rachel Sparkes explore the importance of connection, mindfulness, and self-awareness in leadership and personal growth.
Liv shares practical mindfulness techniques, the significance of rest, and the balance of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership roles. They also discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and how mindfulness can be tailored to support them.
The conversation emphasizes that true change begins with self-awareness and understanding one's triggers and motivations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Liv's Journey

05:08 Understanding Mindfulness vs. Meditation

09:58 The Role of Creativity in Liv's Work

14:59 Burnout: Causes and Prevention Strategies

19:57 The Importance of Compassion and Psychological Safety

27:40 The Power of Connection

29:46 Mindfulness Practices for Leaders

36:35 Understanding Rest and Recovery

41:25 Authenticity and Vulnerability in Leadership

44:44 Mindfulness for the Neuro-divergent Community

47:4 9The Importance of Self-Awareness

Links
Website: https://www.livmindfully.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liv-downing-06b7974/

You Are Loved Book: https://www.livmindfully.com/new-products/you-are-loved

You Are Loved Podcast: https://www.livmindfully.com/podcast

summaryIn this conversation, Rachel Sparkes discusses the critical importance of company culture in influencing employee performance, retention, and overall workplace satisfaction. She emphasizes that culture is not merely about perks like ping pong tables or free snacks, but rather the collective experience of employees from recruitment to exit. Sparkes shares insights on building a people-first culture, highlighting strategies such as co-creating culture with employees, implementing effective onboarding processes, fostering psychological safety, and ensuring consistent recognition and career development opportunities. She concludes by stressing that cultivating a strong culture is an ongoing commitment that requires daily leadership engagement.takeaways

• Company culture impacts performance and retention.
• Culture is the felt experience of employees.
• Co-creating culture involves giving employees a voice.
• Effective onboarding is crucial for first impressions.
• Psychological safety allows for open communication.
• Recognition should be consistent and celebrated.
• Career development should be employee-driven.
• Purpose-driven companies attract good talent.
• Culture is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time project.
• Leadership must prioritize people to build a strong culture.Subscribe to the Love Your Work! newsletter and podcast to read the full post and for more articles here https://rb.gy/7wxx86

How Self-Knowledge Transforms Fear from a Roadblock into a Catalyst for Leadership

In this episode of Love Your Work!, I discuss the profound importance of self-knowledge in conscious leadership — and how AI tools like ChatGPT can unexpectedly support our personal growth journeys.

A key theme we explored was fear — particularly how it holds many leaders, especially women, back from embracing their true power. I was reminded of the iconic quote from Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."

This idea resonates deeply with the journey of conscious leadership. True leadership doesn’t stem from controlling others — it begins with understanding and leading ourselves. Self-knowledge is the foundation of this power.

In this chat I touch on how AI can serve as a surprising tool for self-reflection. Many of us use ChatGPT for productivity, but what if we used it to uncover insights about our own minds and behaviour?

Here’s a prompt I recommend trying:
“Can you share some extremely deep and powerful insights about my psyche and mind that I would not otherwise be able to identify or see — as well as some that I may not want to hear?”

This prompt invites honesty — even discomfort — which is where the most profound self-discoveries often lie. Leadership requires courage, and that starts with confronting the truths we tend to avoid.
This has been Rachel Sparkes exploring culture, creativity and conscious leadership in the modern workplace….Love Your Work!

Episode Chapters

00:00 Embracing Our Inner Power
00:00 Self-Leadership and Conscious Awareness
03:20 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Authenticity
Episode Takeaways

• Self-knowledge is crucial for effective leadership.

• AI tools can provide deep insights into our psyche.

• Confronting fears is essential for personal growth.

• Many leaders fear their own power and potential.

• Bringing subconscious fears into consciousness is key.

• Reframing negative thoughts can empower us.

• Leadership starts with understanding oneself.

• Everyone has underlying fears, regardless of their position.

• Conscious leadership involves making choices from awareness.

• Life is short; we should strive to do something meaningful.

• Using AI to Deepen Self-Knowledge

I had a huge response to my Blog Post on delegation 2 weeksago. Seems many leaders miss these three game-changing principles:

🎨 Colour: Connecting theDots – Help your team see the full picture, not just their piece of the puzzle.

💬 Be Clear to Be Kind –Vague instructions lead to frustration. Clarity = confidence.

⚖️ Communicate the Consequences –What happens if they nail it? What if they don’t? No surprises = no stress.

I break these down in my latest video—watch now forpractical delegation tips that will transform your leadership!

🎥 Watch this latestConscious Leadership tip, brought to you by Love Your Work! Podcast Host RachelSparkes.

#Leadership#Delegation#WorkPodcast#ConsciousLeadership#ManagementTips