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Squiggly Careers
#472 Squiggly short: If You're Navigating A Toxic Workplace, Try This.
In this Squiggly Short, Helen and Sarah offer a quick summary of practical tips for staying confident and coping when you’re dealing with a toxic work environment. From minimizing stressors to finding energizers outside of work, they share simple actions you can take to protect your mental health and build resilience—even when things feel tough. Plus, they discuss how to take control of your situation and find support outside of your team to help you navigate the challenges.
Full episode: https://shows.acast.com/amazingif/how-to-cope-and-stay-confident-when-work-gets-toxic
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SquigglyCareers
For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com](mailto:helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com)
More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:
1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/
2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024
3. Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction
4. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ [www.amazingif.com/books/](http://www.amazingif.com/books/)
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AI Skills Sprint: How To Design Your Future Career Using AI
11:08|This is the fifth and final episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series.Today, Helen and Sarah talk about exploring Future Possibilities in your career. As careers become less linear and more unpredictable, having multiple options and directions is essential for resilience and control.In this episode, they show how to use AI prompts to generate a mind map of career possibilities, from obvious to ambitious, pivot, and dream options. They also introduce an AI tool for practicing curious career conversations through role play, helping you build confidence and get feedback first.With people having 10-15 different jobs on average throughout their working life, embracing a variety of possibilities actually reduces career risk and builds long-term resilience.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:07 Why future possibilities matter in a squiggly career02:48 AI prompt to explore different types of career possibilities05:40 AI Tool: Yoodli08:39 Team activity: who are your career role models?🎯 What You’ll Learn* The importance of having multiple career options* How to use AI to generate a mind map of career possibilities* Why creating rather than waiting for opportunities matters in modern careers* How to practice curious career conversations📚 Resources MentionedFuture Possibilities Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day5-summaryYoodli - https://yoodli.ai/For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/AI Skills Sprint: How To Make Networking Easy with AI
11:16|This is the fourth episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series. Today, Helen and Sarah are talking about Networking. Before you skip this one (we know some of you want to!), remember this squiggly stat: 70% of people's roles come through connections.The key is reframing networking from "people knowing people" to "people helping people." This creates career karma - when you help others, good things come back to you over time.In this episode, Helen and Sarah introduce AI tools to build your personal career board with different personas like challengers, supporters, and questioners. They also explore Crystal Knows, an AI tool that helps you communicate better with your team and network by understand their communication style.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:47 70% of roles come through connections01:15 Reframing networking & creating career karma02:04 Building your personal career board with AI06:20 Crystal Knows: AI personality analysis tool09:36 Team activity: Learning goals and mutual support🎯 What You’ll Learn* How to reframe networking as "people helping people"* How to use AI to create a diverse personal career board* Team exercises for sharing learning goals and building connections📚 Resources MentionedNetworks Daily Summary: https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day4-summaryCrystal Knows: https://www.crystalknows.com/For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/AI Skills Sprint: How to cage confidence gremlins that are getting in the way of your growth
11:04|This is the third episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are tackling Confidence. We all have gremlins - those beliefs, doubts and fears that hold us back in our careers. They're often hidden and they can grow when we don't address them. When you learn to cage them, you get better at navigating tough moments and saying yes to opportunities that stretch you.In this episode, Helen and Sarah introduce their brand-new custom Gremlins GPT - a tool they've trained with everything they've written about confidence. This AI coach helps you identify what gremlins are getting in your way and practice difficult conversations in private. You'll discover how to create visual representations of your gremlins, role-play challenging scenarios, and build a "confidence gremlin gallery" with your team.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:37 What are confidence gremlins and why do they limit us?03:11 Introducing the custom Confidence Gremlins GPT tool05:29 Creating visuals of your gremlins06:36 Using AI to role-play your gremlin during challenges08:58 Team activity: Creating a confidence gremlin gallery🎯 What You’ll Learn* How to identify and understand your confidence gremlins* How to use the custom Gremlins GPT for private confidence coaching* Tools for role-playing challenging scenarios with AI* Creative ways to share and discuss gremlins with your team📚 Resources MentionedConfidence Gremlin GPT - https://bit.ly/squigglycareerconfidencecoachConfidence Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day3-summaryFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/AI Skills Sprint: How To Identify Your Values (Your Filter For Your Future)
11:02|This is the second episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are diving into Values. Your values are what motivate and drive you - they're your internal compass that guides decision-making and career choices.In this episode, Helen and Sarah share the best tool for identifying your values and how AI can accelerate the actions you take about your values, turning them into a brilliant filter for your future. They'll show you practical ways to use your values to respond to challenges at work, and share some playful approaches you can also use with your team.When you understand what really drives you, you make better decisions for your career and become more confident as a result of having clarity about what matters most to you.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO⏱️ Timestamps00:38 What are values and why do they matter?03:15 The best tool to identify your values04:39 Using your values to respond to challenges05:52 AI prompts to action your values08:41 Team activity: Fun ways to talk about values with your team🎯 What You’ll Learn* How to identify and clarify your core values (and why it's important)* Why values are a powerful career decision-making filter* How to use AI prompts to turn values into actionable insights* Fun and engaging methods to share values with your team📚 Resources MentionedValues Daily Summary: https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day2-summaryRun Your Own Race Episode: https://youtu.be/cUdwIvnDpNQAsk the Expert: Purpose with Simon Sinek, author and speaker: https://youtu.be/DATg__SZcwEValues Tool: https://values.institute/Gemini: https://gemini.google.comFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/AI Skills Sprint: How To Discover Your Strengths Using AI (in 10 Minutes)
10:35|This is the first episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are kicking things off with Day 1: Strengths.Our strengths are what we're known for - they shape how we show up and help us make more impact at work. And because strengths develop throughout your career, it's important to keep reflecting on them.In this episode, Helen and Sarah share how to give AI the right prompts to help you spot your strengths in action, stretch your strengths in your team and build a clearer and more confident LinkedIn profile.AI doesn't know you better than you know yourself, but it can act as a sparring partner - giving you new ways of looking at your experiences and surfacing patterns you might miss. By combining reflection with the power of AI, you'll walk away with practical ways to build on your strengths and accelerate your squiggly career.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:48 What are strengths and why do they matter?02:13 AI prompts to help discover you strengths08:20 Optimising your LinkedIn profile around your strengths with AI09:19 Team activity: 3 ways to talk about strengths with your team🎯 What You’ll Learn* Why strengths evolve throughout your career* How to use AI prompts to uncover and reflect on your strengths* How to optimise your LinkedIn profile to reflect your value* Ways to stretch your strengths in a team setting for more impact📚 Resources MentionedStrengths Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day1-summaryAmy Edmondson - https://amycedmondson.com/Claude - https://claude.ai/Canva's AI Tool - https://www.canva.com/magic-design/Strengths Toolkit – https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 2025 🥇
03:58|AI is on everyone’s minds and we’re getting curious about how it can help to develop our squiggly career skills. Join us for a 5-day sprint from the 15th September where we’ll be exploring lots of AI tools to support our 5 squiggly career skills: Strengths, Values, Confidence, Networking, and Future Possibilities. Just 10 minutes a day for lots of ideas and insights on how AI can help you to accelerate your squiggly career.🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/3UC3jPy 👥 Join our Squiggly Community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazing-if/⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 202500:43 What is a Squiggly Career?01:10 What is a Sprint?01:40 Supporting you while you sprint02:13 FAQs03:12 Learning with thousands in our communityMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/#496 4 Team Habits That Are Holding You Back (and What to Do Instead)
39:44|🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYOThis week, Helen and Sarah shine a light on the unhelpful habits that teams often slip into without even realising it. From meetings that drag on autopilot to one-to-ones that don’t deliver what you need, these routines can waste time, reduce energy, and stop people from working at their best. In this episode, they share the four most common team traps and practical alternatives to try instead. You’ll hear how to spot unhelpful routines, reset them without blame, and create new habits that help your team feel more energised, inclusive, and effective.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Announcement01:02 Introduction05:15 Why teams get stuck in autopilot08:20 Trap #1: Repeating the same roles in meetings15:40 Trap #2: Defaulting to recurring meetings21:58 Trap #3: One-to-ones that lack focus29:45 Trap #4: Unhelpful communication and collaboration38:37 How to experiment and reset as a team42:30 PodSheet and next steps🎯 What You’ll Learn4 common team habits that hold people backWhy recurring meetings and default roles reduce effectivenessAlternatives to traditional 1:1s that create more valueHow to reset team communication for clarity and collaborationSimple experiments you can try together to build better ways of workingFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/#495 The September Reset: Stop Old Habits, Start New Wins
38:39|🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYOAre old habits holding you back from the progress you want to make? September often feels like a natural reset point—a chance to stop what’s no longer serving you and start building new wins. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share their own September “starts” and “stops” to inspire you to reflect, reset, and refocus. You’ll hear how small, intentional changes can help you create space for growth, protect your future self, and build habits that last beyond the September spark.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Announcement01:02 Introduction03:45 Why September feels like a reset moment07:18 The power of starts and stops10:35 Weekly Borrowed Brilliance15:40 Building from scratch with AI21:58 Parallel learning (habit stacking with podcasts)26:45 Monthly mentor moments32:30 Responding quicker instead of waiting36:55 Leaving the phone behind in the evenings41:48 No more post-it actions44:55 Stop moaning about Mondays48:20 How to use this as a team activity52:00 Wrapping up & accountability🎯 What You’ll LearnWhy September is such a powerful time to reset and refocusHow to identify habits that are helping—or holding—you backPractical ways to design new starts that spark motivationHow to stop habits that drain your energy and confidenceWhy sharing starts and stops as a team builds connection and support📚 Resources MentionedHow to Change by Katy Milkman (for the “fresh start effect”)For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/#494 Be yourself more with skill
23:27||Season 2This is the fourth and final episode in the Squiggly Careers Quote Series, and today Sarah shares the quote that has shaped her approach to leadership: “Be yourself more with skill.” Inspired by the book and article Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?, this episode explores how true leadership comes from leaning into your strengths and embracing uncomfortable situations that spark growth. There’s no blueprint for being brilliant, and whether you're in a leadership role or not, you don’t need to become someone you’re not—it’s about being a better version of yourself. ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction & Announcement02:33 The quote: "Be yourself more with skill"07:44 Action 1: Job Crafting – Be the architect of your career10:30 Action 2: Ask for feedback on blindspots13:03 Action 3: Have a squiggly stretch🎯 What You’ll Learn- How to lead authentically by leaning into your strengths- How to be the architects of your own work life- How to take intentional control of your job description - Smart ways to ask for feedback on blindspots- The value of stepping into uncomfortable situations📚 Resources MentionedWhy Should Anyone Be Led by You?: What It Takes To Be An Authentic Leader Hardcoverby Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Should-Anyone-Led-You/dp/1578519713HBR Article 'Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: https://hbr.org/2000/09/why-should-anyone-be-led-by-youJob Crafting Article by Dan Cable https://dan-cable.com/linkedin-article/job-crafting/For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/