How do we work in a way that is sustainable and avoids burnout, while still being successful? This is a difficult question for women to answer, with a 2023 survey of Australian working women finding that 54% reported increased levels in stress. Another 30% experienced ongoing burnout and 16% left their jobs in 2022 citing lack of flexibility.

Today, I’m joined by the wonderful Jo Wagstaff, internationally renowned leadership coach and speaker. She has worked with many premier Australian and global firms to support thousands of professionals to embrace the power of conscious, authentic leadership. Jo has recently written her book, Lead Like You, a roadmap for women to lead more authentic and fulfilling lives. In this episode, we’re talking about just that.

Jo takes us through her earlier years of working in the corporate world, where she seemingly had it all. However, a pivotal moment in her life (at a party hosted by James Packer, no less!), along with a season of loss and grief, caused her to step away. We hear about the following messy years, where she became a person and mother she wasn’t proud of, and how she made the conscious decision to change her life.

We talk about the limiting beliefs formed in childhood that often drive us to overwork as adults. Jo talks about how writing her book helped her unpack how her experiences shaped her, and how she found self-acceptance on the journey.

So many of us struggle to find true meaning in our lives. We’re overloaded by society’s expectations on how to be, work and raise children. Jo talks about the importance of self-reflection, boundary-setting and values alignment to combat this. She also believes it’s not just about leaning in; it's about knowing when to step back and breathe.

There's no question that this world needs successful women. Those breaking glass ceilings, sitting at the top of the decision making tree and helping to develop the world that we want to live in. For Jo, it's about how to make them successful in a way that still feels meaningful.

Her motto? Know yourself, care for yourself and be yourself. What is really driving you? As Jo says: our greatest strengths, when overplayed, become our greatest weaknesses. So join us today as we uncover the secrets to combating burnout and finding our true, authentic purpose in life.

LINKS

Connect with Jo:

Book: Lead Like You

Website: https://jowagstaff.com/

Instagram: @jowagstaffofficial

Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice” here

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m joined by the wonderful and inspiring Jo Gaines, a seasoned professional who has worked in the technology and media sector for over two decades. Jo's career journey has seen her work for high-profile companies including CBS, Krux, Yahoo and more recently, as Area Vice President of Salesforce. Jo is also a dedicated mother-of-two and a fierce advocate for equality, lending her support as an ambassador for women's shelters. She shares with us her journey through hardship to finding resilience and how changing her mindset helped reshape her story.

Through facing a challenging turning point in her career due to redundancy, Jo embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery that saw her turn to practices such as weight training, breathwork and meditation. She shares the new mindset she adopted through these practices, and how her determination to thrive in the face of uncertainty led to a completely new outlook on life.

In our conversation, Jo shares the grief she experienced when her role at Salesforce came to an end, and how lost she felt when it came to her future. However, she notes there are two choices we can make when it comes to facing adversity. Either we can see it as a downfall, or treat it as an opportunity to expand. Jo chose the latter, and decided to view this new path as one she was destined to be on.

Resilience can often be misunderstood as a suppression of emotions or ignoring our problems. However, we define what resilience really is and discuss its ability to help effectively manage our thoughts and feelings. Jo believes that releasing control and trusting everything will eventually work out can free us from fear and the temptation to give up.

We talk about how navigating through our own life challenges produces empathy, and when we view others through this lens, we become more effective leaders. Recognising that everyone experiences change, particularly in a post-pandemic world, we’re able to rally with our team and prioritise their wellbeing. How can we communicate in a way that resonates for each individual? How do we lead in a way that not only gets them through, but also builds resilience?

Jo also shares her shift in perspective that inspired her to live more fully in the present and pursue the passions that had been sitting on the backburner for too long. She talks about the bucket list she created and the importance of making time and space in life to achieve each goal.

Jo's story is a powerful testament to the transformation resilience can create, and the potential for growth when we embrace change with gratitude. I just know you’ll be as inspired as I was by Jo’s incredible wisdom, and hope you find confidence to implement strategies for a full and rewarding life in leadership and beyond.

LINKS

Connect with Jo Gaines

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jogaines

Instagram: @gogaino

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a tendency for so many leaders to constantly want more, do more and strive to be more. But what happens when we continue to forge ahead without ever slowing down?

I know firsthand how operating like this can lead to burnout. So today, I’m talking about an incredibly important yet undervalued strategy that will get you the results you want: taking pause.

While it may seem counterintuitive to stop and breathe in the midst of all the busyness, it’s often the very thing we need to be able to keep going - and improving. I talk about the benefits of pressing the pause button, such as giving your brain a break from overthinking, enabling yourself to process the chaos and reducing overwhelm.

By stepping back from the constant busyness in our work and personal lives, we create space for self-awareness and enhance our capacity for growth. I encourage you to develop a daily practice in setting aside time to breathe, reflect and reconnect with your centre.

A simple breathwork practice can work wonders to calm your nervous system, and I take you through a breathing technique you can implement in your routine to ground yourself when you’re in overwhelm.

I also share with you 5 practical tips to effectively press the pause button:

1. Pick your quiet time
2. Set the length of time for your pause
3. Find your solitude
4. Remove distractions
5. Sit with the silence

Taking pause is not just a valuable strategy to enhance your performance and that of your team; it’s a mindset shift that will empower you to choose how you show up in the world, both as a leader and an individual.

So join me today and learn the tools and techniques to help you become the most resilient and effective leader you can be.

LINKS

Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice” here

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.