Your Time With James Sweetman

Episode 105 Do you need a rest?

Are you tired? Are you tired of being tired? We’ve all been through so much, especially in the last year. Keeping the show on the road, juggling work and personal life commitments can be exhausting.

Recently, I came across a short Ted Talk by Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith all about rest, the 7 different types of rest, and how rest is different from sleep. Inspired by her talk and my own research and reflection, this week I speak about the different types of rest we all need, as well as the practices I’ve developed to ensure I put the ‘rest’ into ‘restoration.’ 

Episode 104 Managing nerves as a presenter

This week, in the second of two episodes on the topic of Presentation Skills I’m sharing tips and insights on managing those presentation nerves.

As a professional speaker, I still have to manage my own nerves and I’ll take you through techniques that work for me. I also explore the main causes of nervousness because if we can deal with the cause, the symptoms will dissipate.

If you present as part of your role, or you simply want to leave that all too familiar stomach-churning nervousness behind, then be sure to catch this episode.

Episode 103 What it takes to be a great presenter

As well as being a business & personal coach and author, I’m also a professional speaker. Professional in that I’m paid to speak to audiences. I also work with clients both 1-2-1 and in group workshops on the topic of presentations skills.

This week, I’m drawing on my experience to share 10 ways to boost your impact as a presenter. So, if you harbour aspirations of developing your speaking career, or simply wish to enhance your presentation skills, be sure to tune in.

Episode 102 Tap into your creativity

It’s easy to think that creativity is the reserve of artists, writers or musicians, something we put down with the toys of childhood, but we would be wrong. To be human is to be creative.

So whether creativity is a familiar friend or a dormant skill waiting to be resurrected, in this week’s episode I share 8 ways to help you tap into your creativity.

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.