Your Time With James Sweetman

Episode 101 In conversation with Chris Flack

For many people, Covid 19 has irreversibly restructured working life. Whilst flexible working arrangements promote greater autonomy it also brings new challenges. This week, I’m joined by Chris Flack the co-founder of Unplug (www.unplughq.com) a behaviour change consultancy that supports individuals and organisations to work smarter in an always-connected world.

We chat about digital well-being, managing screen time and task switching. With The Right to Disconnect Bill and the Working from Home Bill before the Dail, Chris shares his views on work design and the challenges facing organisations.

Episode 100 Celebrating the 100th episode

It’s the 100^th episode! In this celebratory episode, the tables are turned and Marian Byrne who joined me last week returns to ask me some of the questions I typically ask my guests. You’ll get to learn a little more about me, from my sources of inspiration and favourite quotes to the failures and setbacks I’ve experienced.

I let you into my creative process and I also share what has been my key take-away from producing over 40 hours of content across the last 99 episodes.

Episode 99 In conversation with Marian Byrne

This week, I’m thrilled to be joined by Marian Byrne, one of Ireland’s leading coaches, trainers and facilitators. Drawing on her 20 years of experience, Marian shares many tips and insights from coping with weariness and the different types of rest we all need, to dealing with and instigating change.

As Marian says we can change by choice, by force or by being forced to make a choice. I hope you will choose to tune into our wisdom rich conversation and enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Episode 98 Do you feel fulfilled?

Over the years I’ve worked with many people who others might classify as successful, but from their own perspective, they don’t feel as fulfilled as they would wish.

Drawing on my personal experiences and from my work in this area, I share what I view as the keys to fulfilment, particularly in a career or professional life context. I also pose plenty of questions to help you adapt the principles of fulfilment to your own situation.

Episode 97 Be a Better Strategic Thinker

For some people strategic thinking is a key aspect of their role, for others, it’s a skill they want to enhance. During these times of change and challenge when we have been forced to reassess what we are doing, and how and why we are doing it, focussing on the bigger picture benefits us in both our work and personal lives.

This week I share my practical approach to strategic thinking as well as thought-provoking questions that will expand your perspective.

Episode 96 In conversation with Dr. Aidan Harney

This week I’m delighted to be joined by Dr. Aidan Harney. With over 20 years’ experience in the area of leadership development, we discuss the psychology of leaders who are effective at working in highly complex environments.

Aidan shares the key findings of the research he carried out, as part of his PhD thesis, with managers and leaders in a range of industries in both the public and private sectors. During this time when there is pressure on leaders across society, I found our conversation both timely and insightful.

Episode 95 Knowing your worth

The vast majority of us run the programme of imposter syndrome, that familiar fear of not feeling worthy or good enough. As I often say, we run the gamut between waiting to be found and waiting to be found out.

In this week’s episode, I’m delving into the topic of knowing your worth. I share 5 ways to widen your perspective so you can take a more objective stance when it comes to assessing how you add value in your role.

Episode 94 Saying No guilt free

Most of us struggle to ‘say no.’ We run a cocktail of fears and beliefs preventing the word ‘no’ escaping our lips. This week I’m sharing 10 tips for saying no and not feeling guilty about it.

Of course, saying no is not about being rude or unhelpful, nor does it mean not doing your job. It’s really about appropriate assertiveness, being aware of how you manage your time and energy, and how you balance your commitment to others with your commitment to yourself.

Episode 93 In conversation with Nick Willams

This week I’m joined from London by Nick Williams (www.iamnickwilliams.com) a gifted coach, speaker and the author of 19 books. Nick’s clients include BAFTA-winning producers, Olympians, CEOs and industry leaders. We explore the topic of thought-leadership, in particular, transforming lived experience into deliverable wisdom.

As writers and content creators, we also chat about creativity and over-coming inner resistance. I picked up many fascinating insights from Nick and I think you will too.

Episode 92 In conversation with Shirley O’Neill

This week I’m joined by Shirley O’Neill, who lectures on change and performance management in the UCD Professional Academy. We chat about coping with change and overcoming resistance to change, as well as the pertinent topics of performance management and staff engagement whilst working remotely.

Shirley was so generous with her tips and insights, personally, I learned a lot from our conversation.