One thing which makes the new paradigm of leadership distinct is the fact that it thrives not on competition – success despite others – but in collaboration and connection. Success with and through others. I was vividly awakened to the importance of this level of connection when I realised it was missing from my own life. […]
One of many® ideas
That just might change your world.
Self-esteem versus self worth – what you need to know
Defining your life’s work starts with defining your value. But what does “value” actually mean? Your own sense of how important you are, or something else? Today I want to share my personal distinction between self-esteem versus self worth, and explain why getting the difference clear can be a source of immense freedom (it has […]
One of many Voices: Shona Easton
Shona Easton is a designer and business owner whose bright and beautiful handbags and accessories help successful women stand out. Her quality, ethical accessories are made in India by women she works closely with in her workshop and her commitment to making a difference also shines through in her more recent charity work. We asked […]
Liz Gilbert, Mother and the Alpha Wolf
You love certain people in your life deeply. Your family, dear friends, partner or team. They’re so precious to you that when something goes wrong in their lives, it affects you too. And for those you care most strongly for, you’d do anything to help them be the happiest version of themselves. Only… what happens […]
How to motivate yourself to exercise
You already know what you need to do to stay healthy. Eat your greens, move your body, get enough sleep… And yet, so many of us find ourselves lapsing when it comes to taking care of our bodies. Today I want to share a simple mindset technique for how to motivate yourself to exercise, change […]
Why failure matters
I don’t think many of us start the day wondering what we’re going to fail at, or getting excited to discover which of our brilliant ideas will end up falling flat. And yet, failure is also inevitable – if we’re to do anything that’s outside of our comfort zones. Here’s why failure matters – and […]
The truth about burnout
I’m one of many women who know burnout first hand. In fact, once upon a time I’d been running on adrenaline for so long, I ended up in hospital. Which seems nuts to me, now that I know it is possible to be effective without getting swallowed up by everything on my plate. But I’m […]
Can women leaders be true to themselves?
The trouble with deciding to be “true to yourself” as a leader, is that first you have to know which self to choose. You in the car doing a one-woman karaoke version of a song you don’t actually know all the words to? Might not wash with the senior leaders who need to really respect […]
Society 5.0 – Our final exam as leaders
At a recent event I learned about Society 5.0 – Japan’s new vision for the future of society. It’s a world where a digital layer is embedded in everything we do, from drones delivering parcels to robots assisting in manual work. It’s exciting, sure, to think about the potential of such technology to rapidly transform […]
What procrastination means
We’ve all been there. There’s a massive deadline looming, or a really important task to do. And you’re on Facebook. Or tackling a bunch of waaay less important things. Rearranging your desk drawer… watching Netflix… we’ve all got our particular habits, but one thing is certain. You’re not doing the one thing you know you […]
How the Women’s PowerTypes can be useful in daily life
The Women’s PowerTypes™ are 5 archetypes that guide us to access our power as female leaders. You might have read inspiring stories of women like Carol, who used them to manage an international NATO workshop. Or seen other women in our community sharing big projects and impressive wins. But what about the day to day stresses […]
Guest post: How to change financial habits
Changing a habit – any habit – can be challenging. But when it comes to finances, change can be especially tricky. Perhaps you’re constantly overspending, and you know it’s time to rein in your daily budget so you can focus on some longer-term goals. Or you’re ready to get a handle on your debt once […]
Guest post: How to stop judgmental thoughts
Competent women all too often feel we have to supervise everything; that it’s up to us to decide if something or someone is up to scratch or not. This urge to control is often born from a deeper fear of getting things wrong. And very often it doesn’t help us – which is why knowing […]
What anger can do for us
Anger’s a complicated emotion, isn’t it? Whether you’re someone who tends to direct her anger inwards in the form of self-critical thoughts, or find yourself getting cross with others when they make mistakes or act selfishly, it can be tricky to develop a healthy relationship with this controversial emotion. As women, we’re often taught that […]
Feeling cynical about politics? How Michelle Obama and an ex-president changed my mind
Have you been feeling cynical about politics? Lately, it’s been hard not to feel sceptical about the quality of leadership we’re seeing in those at the helm of our nations. Today, I shared some of my recent personal journey around feeling cynical about politics on joannamartin.com – here’s a taste of some of what I’ve […]
3 people every leader needs on her team
If you want to be the most effective leader you can be, you can’t do it on your own. Sometimes that means making sure you have specialist support on a nitty-gritty level – team members to delegate to, or support around practical things like childcare. But today I want to talk about 3 people every […]
Guest blog: What to do when they won’t listen to you
Do your children do things when you ask them to? Or, are you like most parents I speak with, frustrated because your children won’t listen or respond when you need them to? If you’d love to know what to do when they won’t listen to you, you’re not alone. Here’s an example of what I […]
Guest Post: The Inner Game of Money
When it comes to your finances, it’s the inner game of money that makes all the difference. Today I’m going to share 4 profiles that can help you figure out what your “inner game” is, but first, let’s think about the context we’re in. How many women do you know who are super confident about […]
Guest blog: Is positive thinking good for you?
Positive thinking is everywhere! You can’t have a coffee, go on Facebook or buy a journal without seeing messages to “think positively” and “be happy”. In our modern culture of busyness, stress and overwhelm, staying positive has become ever more popular as a way to keep focused on what we want to achieve and how […]
4 centuries of anger – time for a change?
Women have been maligned, undermined and overlooked for hundreds of years. In a recent article on joannamartin.com I explored some of the implications for us as leaders… as well as opening up about my personal response to recent events. Today I am angry. Angry at being overlooked. Angry at feeling unsafe my whole life. Angry. […]