Following You Passion | Jennifer Shipside | Reachminds - Thoughts for your Life Journey

Welcome to our 17th episode  'Reach Minds Thoughts for Your Life's Journey' podcast. In this podcast we will be exploring about discovering your passion in your work, whether you are someone who is at the beginning of their work journey or heading into retirement. Today I am joined by Jennifer Shipside. Jennifer has over 25 years of experience as an executive coach and leadership team facilitator. She enables people to recognise and play to their strengths, to make more of a difference with their life and work. In this podcast we pose the questions below on following your passion:Why is passion important?Is there a particular belief and values people who have passion hold about themselves? E.g. is it innate or learnt? What can someone do to find out what their passion is? What happens if someone hasn’t found their passion? What tips, resources would you offer to others Spot your own strengths Set yourself the task of noticing how many strengths you can spot in yourself in your normal day-to-day interactions and making a note of them. Notice that when you’re talking about your strengths, you’re more energised and engaged, compared to your weaknesses where your energy levels drop, and you may become more withdrawn. Discuss your observations with others to get their perspectives and ask them what they see as your strengths. Ask someone to ask you the questions below, and to make some bullet-point notes for you, to give to you afterwards:Pay attentionWhat do you naturally gravitate towards doing? When are you energised and engaged?Where and when do you learn quickly?What have you repeatedly done well in the past?Ask some Curious Questions When you’re asked the Curious Questions below, what happens to your energy, noise levels, body language? When you’re at your best, what’s happening? What’s the best day you can remember having?What was happening? Who was involved? What results did you get?What was the impact on others?What would you do for free if you had to, because it would be painful for you not to?When do you feel most like your ‘real’ self?What are you most looking forward to in the future?Use these questions to help others recognise and own their strength.SAYING A NICE NO – OR NOT YETYou want to make the most difference with your time. So, you first need to be clear about the goals you want to achieve, at work and outside. Then you need to spend your time only on doing the most important things that will help you achieve your goals.That means prioritizing. It means you choose what you say“Yes!” to.Below are some ways to break the habit of automatically saying “Yes!”. They will enable you to say instead an acceptable“No” or“Not yet”.Your goal is to break your automatic habit.Pause and check in with your feelings - always.Instead of saying“Yes!” automatically, pause. Breathe in and check how you’re feeling about the request - always.Play for time.“I’d love to help. Let me check with my diary/my team/my manager, and I’ll come back to you.”Practice saying “No” or “Not yet.”Work out who you automatically jump to say “Yes!” toEducate them about what’s involved.“We’ll need to drop everything/pay overtime/work late to deliver this in 24 hours. Normally we’d need 72 hours to do it”. The next time they ask with too little notice, you’ve given yourself permission to point out the 72-hour deadline. (You may need toAND IF YOU HAVE TO SAY YES…Negotiate the deadline.“I won’t have time to get it done by Tuesday, but I could do it by Thursday morning.”Make a counteroffer.“I can’t do this, but I could do that.”Limit your personal involvement.“I can’t do it all by Tuesday. But I could do this bit, if you/someone else does the other bit.”Resources Mentioned in This Episode:⁠[email protected]⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-shipside-2052a97/⁠Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count.⁠Oliver Burkeman