Christmas - for some a wonderful time of celebration and gathering together. For others a difficult time of melancholy or sadness. For most a time of self-imposed and unnecessary stress. It can seem like there are so many things to do - planning Christmas Day, writing Christmas cards, watching nativity plays, buying presents, doing the big shop, finishing up work. Right now, it feels more busy, less magical.

When you think of leadership skills you might consider 'communication' or 'motivating others' or 'listening' but how many would say 'gratitude'?

I’m grateful. Generally, sporadically, genuinely grateful. I’ve been practising gratitude a while. Even as a happy-go-lucky, hopeless optimist I’ve learnt some things on this journey and I wanted to share them with you. I hope to inspire you to consider putting on your gratitude goggles too.

It’s easy to be grateful when it’s all going well but what about when it’s not?  What about if you are going through a crisis of some sort. How many of us even want to be thankful if we have been made redundant, if we (or someone we love) are ill, or if life is really hard right now? Even if life isn’t traumatic we still forget to be thankful for what we have.

So why should we be grateful and how do you go about it?

"I hate my job. I really want to move but I can't. I am stuck."

Whether it's the security of a permanent position, a good salary, a job amidst a pandemic, or another reason you might need to stay in a job you hate, or one which you are bored in or demotivated. If this resonates with you here are 3 tips to stay motivated whilst you plan your alternative.

Do you wish you had more progression at work? Maybe you would like more recognition for your contributions? Are you making the most of your talents at work? Perhaps you're struggling to recognise your own talents after having kids? I ask because I speak to folks in coaching sessions who want more but feel shy about shouting about their talents and strengths. I mean, how are you going to get noticed if you don’t let yourself shine?

I am an advocate of doing something you love every day – from making time for self-care through to the job that you do. Today I would like to focus on your job/career/business – whatever you call it and whatever you have. It might be a combination of all those things. I want to talk to you about managing your career, rather than letting it manage you. I want to show you that you can develop your career you into one that you love. You can create the life you want to live and find balance. It sounds a lot for a podcast no? Give me eight minutes to see if this resonates with you.

You might think that it's pointless, incongruous or unimportant to consider your career during Covid-19. That's OK. It's likely managing your career will only be important to you if it's a priority for you. It's ok not to have the headspace (which I cover in this episode too) but, if you do then here are five easy tips for managing your career in the current climate.

When my brother introduced me to 'The Chimp Paradox' it changed my life. I suddenly understood why I thought the way I did and why I reacted to certain situations in a way that wasn't always constructive! When your chimp needs to feel in control it asks: what's in it for me?

When it comes to your work life, how many times do you think to yourself "I can't do this" or "I need to learn more to be competent" or "I should have chosen a different career"? You get caught in the spiral of listening to your self-talk...