A scroll through Linkedin this morning, brought harsh realities across my beloved Events industry, with so many people losing their careers. It has been great seeing the #WeMakeEvents and their #Lightitinred campaign showing solidarity and support.

A number of years ago, my own world was turned upside down as the recession of 2009 hit and I was made redundant. It did not feel like it at the time, however it turned into one of the best things to ever happen to me. I got to choose my own path in life.

It is tough out there just now and many people are having to change paths in life, across many sectors.
It is also the time for change within yourself.

If I can offer advice, it is try not to panic. Use this fear and turn it into a driver. Work out what you want to do going forward and spend some time with yourself and your goals.

It will get better, even though it won’t feel like that just now.

My own journey has had its ups and downs, highs and lows, breakdowns and anger. However I learned Self Development and Patience. I though through things calmly and allowed myself to grow into the person I wanted to become.

I was incredibly humbled to be feature in No.1 Magazine this month described as “One of Scotlands top career experts.”

I have included the full transcript to all the questions below. If you are having change forced upon you just now, I hope you find benefit in it.

The magazine is out now.

The Full transcript below.

Questions

1. I’m working from home and I’m having problems communicating with my team. We used to work face to face and now we are communicating solely by email and I feel like some of my colleagues emails are passive aggressive. When we do catch up on zoom I can tell they have been communicating behind my back. It’s starting to get me down?

For team communication, I would set up Trello - we use it for the Panoptic Events business. All staff report on their own tabs about what they are doing each day. Also for each and every project, we have individual tabs set up - so all communication goes in there. Cuts down emails, which is a great thing on its own. However what I find is so powerful is the accountability each person has now.
Also if you feel emails are passive aggressive, phone the person. It is difficult to convey tone on text.
I would suggest also a weekly meeting - Mondays probably best -someone to lead the meeting, each person has time to talk - though put a time limit on it - have 5 things to cover maximum, then an AOB. Ask for everything to be added into Trello etc.
Have a check in again on a Weds afternoon (Can be a quick call) and then a sum up on Friday. We like to talk about successes from the week. Gives a real positive mentality.

2. I’m in my 50s and I’ve just been made redundant. I’ve not updated my cv for a decade, I’ve not had any new training for years. I’ve really not kept up with changes in social networking and things like Linkedin. I’m really worried nobody will hire someone who is likely to retire in 10 years.

Take solace from the fact that Richard Branson never started Virgin until he was 35.
What career are you wanting to do? What type of job? You have a great chance here to do what you want to do - think about this. What do you like? What would make you happy?
I would also suggest a mindset switch here - You have something AMAZING here and it is called experience. You are worrying about people not hiring, however you can only impact what you can do. I would update your CV and also get onto Linkedin. Its a great tool. Be consistent on it also - talk on it, share content. Tell stories of success in work through the years. Brand yourself.
In terms of training, what do you want to learn? Plenty of courses online for free. Also with funds like ILA, you can get funded for courses.
Use the experience to your advantage and tell your story. Don't worry about what you can't control, focus on what you can.

3. I’m married with two kids under 10, I have a really intense job that involves working long hours and I’m struggling with mum guilt. My kids are the first ones into the childcare facilities normally and the last ones out. By the time I’m home all I want to do is sink into the couch with a glass of wine. One of my kids had been really acting up at school (pre-lockdown) but I was non the wiser and apparently it had been going on for months. I feel like a bad mum and that I’m missing their childhood.

I recommend a choose life first approach. My honest advice here would be "quit the job" You don't sound happy in it. Or if that is a security thing, why not speak to your employer and ask for less hours, or if you can work from home instead? Do yourself a favour also, read the '4 Hour Work Week' by Tim Ferris. Be there for yourself first, then for the kids. Find out what truly makes you happy in life and follow that.
Also Schedule time with the kids. E.g every weds night, plan an activity - at the weekends make sure you have things going on with them. Allow them to choose things to do also.

4. I work in retail and like many others I’m now without a job. I don’t know where to start.

I would start with a Vision board. Think about your life. What do you want to do? I don't mean just career here. Break down into the following sections: You (& Health), Travel, Relationships, Family, Knowledge, Career life path, Wealth, Fame, Creativity.
Fill in these sections with things you want to do in life - dream BIG. This is a very therapeutic exercise. Once you do this, you will find out the real you. From that, you will begin to piece together a life that will make you happy. So you start to either set up your own business, or find a career that you want to do.

What did you like about retail? What did you not like about it? Why did you go there in first place? What was the vision you set yourself?
Then use online tools like Linkedin to network.

5. I work in an area of the public sector where most of my colleagues are male. If I express myself passionately they use phrases like ‘I’m getting emotional’. They all meet to play golf etc and they also talk about women (not me) in quite an objective way, which I find annoying too. One of my few female colleagues complained and nothing much got done. Not long after she was moved to a different department which we all knew was a career dead-end. It’s got to the point I dread going to work.

They sound like a charming bunch - I have a stronger word reserved for them, its not hard to work out. I would make your feelings known to them directly, or go to higher person in organisation. Threaten to take action. Or laugh along with them, kill them with kindness and make them understand how derogatory they are being. Or if you don't want to do this, start working on your exit strategy, find a place where you will be respected. I am angry reading this, I can see why you dread these horrible people.

6. I graduated last year and was looking for a job when the pandemic hit, the market is now saturated with job seekers who actually have experience. What can I do?

Concentrate on you. What do you need in terms of experience? Can you get courses? What are your attributes that sets you apart? For me, when I first hired, it was attitude that shown through. Skills can be taught. If a person had the right attitude, it didn't matter about the experience.
Networking is a really good way of finding out about new roles and getting in front of the right people. Be clear on roles you are looking for. Find the people who are hiring online and speak directly to them.
Good luck!

7. My office has a real culture of ‘putting in the hours’. I do my job in the hours I’m paid for but when I go to leave people make comments like ‘part-timer’ etc. My boss also really praises people that stay late and work at weekends. I don’t want to spend my whole life at work?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Change! I love this question. I prefer the 'Work Smarter' philosophy, getting more done by doing less. I would look at the Vision Board and finding out what makes you tick. Put yourself first.
Also, read "The Subtle Art of Not Giving an F..." and you will quickly overcome snide comments, whilst living your own fulfilling life, knowing you are enjoying your day to day, as opposed to being stuck in an office all the time!
You are going to do good things!

8. I’ve never managed to get a good work/life balance. I manage a team so I try to start before the first person and finish after the last, which means I’m working really long hours. I feel like I’ve no personal life and I hardly see my family. I do need to work the hours to get the results though?

There is a few things here to look at. First - you have have highlighted what is important to you. You want freedom and also to see your family. So start to Schedule this into your diary and make a commitment to yourself to make this happen. I schedule all my free time into diary and stick to it. For example, when going for a swim, a cycle, seeing a friend or reading a book. I do this to make sure I switch off.
You have a team. How do you make them all accountable? What are the individual strengths of each person? Things will inevitably change, so how can you implement this now? Create a regular meeting with firm parameters, create a list of top 5s that each person needs to do - shift the workload and watch life become more free. Create a system that will be beneficial for yourself and your team.
If this process becomes like turning an oil tanker, then look at a change of career or starting your own thing, which puts you first.
I would also recommend a gratification journal here, write down at the end of each day what you are grateful for.

ALSO - Read “The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey.”

9. I’ve wanted to start my own business for a number of years. I work in a ‘good’ but dull job that has paid holidays, a good pension etc so I’m scared to take the leap?

"Would you take the leap, if you learned to fly?" One of my favourite quotes.

You only have one life. Take the leap. Will you live a life of regret knowing you never tried?
If security is the thing keeping you afloat just now, then find time and put effort in in your free time - even a couple of hours a week etc. Start to work out how to make income streams, pull the bits together and eventually you will have your business. Mirror this by doing less hours at work.
Or think of this - what would you do tomorrow, if you were told you no longer had the job you are in? Redundancy or Pandemic for example. Would that be the catalyst to start?
Write down your goals and what your business will look like.
Close your eyes and imagine how good this will feel.
Its honestly the best thing in life creating your own journey.

10. My company is intending on making a number of cuts, which means my workload will really increase. I already felt as though I was overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do as I suppose I’m lucky to have a job?

Are you lucky to have this job? It doesn't sound like it.
Raise concerns with boss about workload increasing - look to come to an agreement before putting yourself under a lot of stress.
Could this also be an opportunity to start looking for a change and take a voluntary redundancy? Think this one through though. What is important to you?

11. I work in an office for a huge company and I have done for years. I’m fed up. I don’t enjoy my job anymore but I also don’t know what to do?

What makes you happy?
What would you do tomorrow if you could do anything?
What is important to you?
Answer these questions and start to make your plan / vision for your career and life change.
This is exciting to hear you are going to make the change.

12. I work in a really ‘young’ industry. Most of my colleagues are in their 20s and I’ve become really conscious of how much of a divide there is. Everyone the company hires is young and they place a lot of emphasis on the importance of social networking. The reality is when I left uni we didn’t even have google. I’m scared I will end up getting pushed out.

Concentrate on you. If you want to to learn about Social Networking, there are plenty of courses about. If you don't want to learn, then what will you change? What is the divide you see? How can you bridge it? Or how can you make it work for you?
You have experience.
Is there an opportunity you can create in the industry which uses more traditional methods.
As part of our own marketing for Panoptic Events, I have created a Marketing plan and Calendar with help from Mentors. I have used my experience of structure and thrown in some ideas. However I am not going to be creating Tik Toks, one of the younger staff members loves it and creates amazing videos, though it is under a structure I set. Is there a strategic position you can create for yourself? Almost becoming the mentor for the young team.
What is keeping you there? How do you adapt?
Never stop learning!