Flex E-Book

Elizabeth Willetts

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 322

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

“This book is essential for anyone seeking inspiration and practical advice on balancing professional goals with personal aspirations. Its candid storytelling and empowering insights make it a must-read for women at any stage of their career or family journey.”

- Lizzie Martin, Founder of Work Life Mother 

“Managing working life alongside family responsibilities can be a fraught and exhausting experience. A must-read for ambitious mothers seeking to forge ahead and embark on a path to career fulfilment while successfully parenting young children.”

- Rosie Reynolds, Chief Commercial Officer at Aspect Capital

Build A Career That Works For You: Smart Strategies For Career Success 

Flex: Smart Strategies to Build a Successful Career Around Your Life, by Elizabeth Willetts is a dynamic guide for anyone wanting to build a successful career — on their terms! This book, written by a seasoned recruitment entrepreneur and career coach, offers a wealth of strategies, real-life success stories, and expert advice to empower you to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace and advance your career, even when life throws you curveballs.

Whether you’re looking to pivot to a new field, climb the corporate ladder, or integrate more flexibility into your current role, Willetts’ insightful and actionable advice is designed to help you maintain momentum and advance your career in a way that works for you. Through captivating case studies of women who’ve successfully navigated the modern workplace this guide highlights the non-linear nature of career progression and demonstrates how to assess and use your skills effectively, overcome common obstacles, and make bold moves with confidence.

You’ll find:

• Strategies to help you gain clarity on your career and identify a job you'll love - great if you want to switch careers
• Advice for rebooting your career after a lengthy maternity or family leave
• Actionable tips on writing your CV, creating a LinkedIn profile and nailing job interviews
• Techniques to help you make a flexible working request your employer is more likely to say YES to
• Real-world stories from women who have created a career they've adored - whatever life has thrown at them

Flex: Smart Strategies to Build a Successful Career Around Your Life by Elizabeth Willetts is more than just a career manual; it’s your personal blueprint for crafting a fulfilling career that truly fits your life. Packed with actionable strategies and inspiring stories, this book is the go-to resource for anyone ready to tackle the challenges of the modern workplace with confidence. Whether you’re pivoting careers, climbing the corporate ladder, or seeking that perfect work-life balance, Flex offers you the tools you need to thrive on your terms.

Elizabeth Willetts is the founder of Investing in Women, an organisation that helps businesses reach candidates looking for flexible and part-time work. She is passionate about educating businesses on the benefits of flexible working and attracting top female talent. She also provides one-to-one coaching to job seekers looking to advance their careers.

Get ready to transform the way you approach your career with Flex, and start building the successful professional life you deserve.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Note

Chapter 1

: What Do You Want?

Evaluate Your Strengths

Putting Your Strengths to Work

How to Identify Suitable Jobs

Summary

Notes

Chapter 2

: What to Do When You Want to Switch Careers

Case Study – Jodie Mason, Brand, Digital and Communications Executive at Saint-Gobain

Summary

Notes

Chapter 3

: Where to Look for Jobs

Your Existing Company

Job Boards

Recruitment Agencies

LinkedIn Is Your Friend

Facebook Groups can be Hidden Gems

Network, Network, Network

Summary

Chapter 4

: Career Breaks

What do YOU Want?

Do Your Research

Network, Network, Network

Make the Most of Your Online Presence

Update Your CV to Reflect Your Career Break

Practice Interviewing

Everyone Is on Their Own Path

Case Study – Christa Davis, Mechanical Engineer at UKAEA

Summary

Notes

Chapter 5

: Staying Positive When Life Throws a Curveball

Case Study – Charlotte Ralph, Personal Stylist with Colour Me Beautiful

Case Study – Nicola Lee, Sales Manager at Jewson

Case Study – Ali Fanshawe, Adoptive Mum of Two with Founder of FizzyKids

Summary

Notes

Chapter 6

: Gender Discrimination

Case Study – Donna Patterson, Founder of Let’s Talk Work

How Can You Protect Yourself Against Workplace Discrimination?

Summary

Notes

Chapter 7

: Writing a CV

Step 1: CV Structure

Step 2: Use Relevant Keywords in Your CV

Step 3: What Impact Have You Made?

Step 4: Look Professional

Step 5: Keep it Short and Snappy

Step 6: Check and Double-Check

Skills-Based CVs

Summary

Chapter 8

: Cover Letters

But What Is a Cover Letter?

Research

Who Should Your Cover Letter Address?

How Should You Structure Your Cover Letter?

End on a High

Keep it Short and Concise

Don’t Forget

Summary

Chapter 9

: LinkedIn

So, What is a LinkedIn Profile?

Why Is a LinkedIn Profile Important?

Right – Let’s Start From the Beginning

Using LinkedIn for Networking

Case Study

Summary

Notes

Chapter 10

: Offline Networking

How to Make Networking Work for You

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Networking Pro

Summary

Notes

Chapter 11

: Job Interviewing

Company Research

Plan for Possible Interview Questions (and Answers)

Why You?

Practice, Practice, Practice

Plan Your Route (or Tech)

What Shall I Wear to My Interview?

Is There Anything I Should Take to an Interview?

Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

How Should I End the Interview?

Case Study – Investing in Women

Summary

Chapter 12

: Video Job Interviews

Do Your Interview Preparation as Normal

Test Your Tech

Have a Practice Run

Set the Scene

Minimise Interruptions

Dress the Part

Make Sure You Have Enough Charge

‘Arrive’ Early

Close Any Other Browsers, and Mute Your Phone

Build Rapport with a ‘Digital Handshake’

Smile

Maintain Eye Contact

Don’t Interrupt

Have a Backup Plan

End on a High

Summary

Chapter 13

: Job Offers

Step One – Market Research

Step Two – Give a Number, Not a Range

Step Three – Justify Your Salary Expectations

Step Four – Leverage

Step Five – Ask for Details of the Full Job Offer Package

Step Six – Take Your Time

Step Seven – Timing Is Key

Step Eight – Remember You Are on the Same Team

Step Nine – Know When to Walk Away

Step Ten – Get Everything in Writing

Summary

Chapter 14

: Flexible Working Requests

Case Study – Laura Walker and Chloe Fletcher, Job-Shares and Founders of The Jobshare Revolution

Embracing a New Dawn of Workplace Flexibility in the UK

Understanding the Change

How to Draft a Flexible Working Request

Summary

Notes

Chapter 15

: Handing in Your Notice

Short and Sweet

Positivity Is Key

A Touch of Gratitude

Lend a Hand

Proofread, Then Proofread Again

Face-to-Face Is Best

Respect the Notice

Summary

Chapter 16

: Counter Offers

What Is a Counter Offer?

Summary

Note

Chapter 17

: Making an Impact at Work

How to Get Over Imposter Syndrome

Setting Goals, Achieving Objectives, and Getting the Recognition You Deserve!

Case Study – Nicola Lee, Sales Manager at Jewson

Summary

Notes

Chapter 18

: Asking for a Pay Rise – and Getting Paid What You Deserve!

Research the Market

Highlight Your Value

Timing Is Key

Practice Your Pitch

Be Open to Compromise

Follow Up

Summary

Chapter 19

: Starting Your Own Business

What Do You Want?

What Can You Do?

Case Study – Amanda Henderson, Freelance HR Professional

Is There a Market for Your Business?

What Business Structure Suits You?

How Much Should You Invest?

Be Brave, and Just Do It!

Summary

Notes

Chapter 20

: How to Make it Work

Case Study – Rosie Reynolds, Chief Commercial Officer of Aspect Capital

Summary

Notes

Final Thoughts Embracing the Journey

Appendix

CV Template

Cover Letter Template

One Month’s Worth of LinkedIn Post Prompts

Flexible Working Request Template

About the Author

Index

End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Begin Reading

Final Thoughts Embracing the Journey

Appendix

About the Author

Index

End User License Agreement

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FLEX

Smart Strategies to Build a Successful Career Around Your Life

ELIZABETH WILLETTS

This edition first published 2025

© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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ISBN 9781394267798 (Paperback)ISBN 9781394267835 (ePub)ISBN 9781394267842 (ePDF)

Cover Design: WileyCover Image: © vika_k/Adobe Stock Photos

For my daughters, Emily and Annabelle – everything is for you! I hope I’ve shown you that anything is possible. Keep reaching for the stars!

Foreword

In the final stretch of my therapy sessions, the focus shifted to preparing me for my return to work.

Seventeen months had passed since I took maternity leave at the height of my career to welcome my son into the world. Six months after my initial attempt to return to my role – a job at which I excelled – I found myself reduced to a mere shadow of my former self due to my organization’s refusal to embrace flexible working arrangements.

It took a monumental battle, union intervention, a grievance, countless tears, and the support of my husband before I felt strong enough to go back. But when I did, I kept my promises and delivered results beyond expectations. I demonstrated that motherhood hadn’t diminished my capabilities; if anything, it had enhanced them. I proved that reduced hours didn’t equate to reduced ability and that I could deliver exceptional results in my senior leadership role.

But if I’m honest, I had mentally checked out.

I decided I deserved more than to be underestimated, doubted, and made to feel inadequate for wanting both a career and to be a mum. So, I redirected my energy towards retraining as a coach and mentor for women, helping them advance their careers and secure the salaries, success, and recognition they deserved.

This is when I met the mighty Elizabeth Willetts.

I first noticed Liz on LinkedIn. I was instantly drawn to her warmth, friendliness, and fierce passion for elevating women in the workforce. I detected a familiar Yorkshire accent (albeit a slightly posher one than mine!) and knew I had to reach out. We connected immediately and, after months of supporting and championing each other’s work on the platform, began collaborating on various projects. The rest, as they say, is history.

Liz is an absolute powerhouse.

She is unwavering in her commitment to investing in you as a woman and helping you succeed in your career. Her extensive qualifications and experience uniquely position her to help you secure a well-paid, rewarding job that offers the flexibility you need and deserve.

Liz tirelessly partners with forward-thinking, family-friendly organizations that recognize the value of flexible working. She’s not just a champion for gender equality; she’s a force for change, working directly with companies to help them recruit and retain exceptional female talent – like you.

But here’s the most important reason you should read this book: Liz gets it.

She knows firsthand how challenging it can be to secure a part-time role without taking a step down or accepting a significant pay cut – because she’s been there herself. Liz, being Liz, decided that something needed to change and took matters into her own hands.

Fast forward five years, and Liz IS the change.

She’s founded Investing in Women, a recruitment company and jobs board specifically for women, bridging the gap between talented women and progressive companies. She’s making a significant impact on the UK’s gender pay gap and has helped thousands of women find flexible part-time work they love.

In addition, Liz has built a community of over 60,000 like-minded women, paving the way for a brighter professional future for women everywhere, one hire at a time.

I told you she was a powerhouse!

I can’t wait for her daughters, Emily and Annabelle, to grow up and realise how much their mum has done for them and for working women everywhere.

And I can’t wait for you to get stuck into this book!

Liz has crammed over 18 years of recruitment experience into this masterpiece, covering everything you need – from figuring out your next career move to making an impact when you land that dream job, and everything in between. She’s also brought in professional insights from her vast network of industry experts to fast-track your progress and skyrocket your results.

This is the book I needed all those years ago when I went on maternity leave, and it’s the one you need today.

So, dive in, dig deep, and discover everything you need to know to keep your career on track when life gets in the way.

I’m so excited for you.

Leanne Cooper

Founder, You First Coaching Ltd

July 2024

Acknowledgements

Wow – where to start? First of all, I would like to say a huge thank you to the publishing and editing team at Wiley for all their help and support. This is my first (but hopefully not my last) book, and the team has always been on hand to answer any questions I may have. Big thanks to Tom Dinse, Alice Hadaway, Stacey Rivera, and Gemma Valler, who believed in the book’s vision before I’d even written a word!

Of course, I have to say a HUGE thank you to Up the Gains’ Sammie Ellard-King, who very kindly invited me to guest speak on his podcast, The Money Gains. By chance, a member of the editing team at Wiley listened to it, leading to this book!

This book would not be here without the incredibly rich conversations I’ve had with countless guests on my Work It Like A Mum podcast and LinkedIn Lives. A big thank you to all those who allowed their stories and advice to be featured in this book, including Leanne Cooper, Roz Hobley, Lizzie Martin, Rosie Reynolds, Sarah McMath, Jen Smollett, Rachel Exton, Jodie Mason, Tiggy Atkinson, Charlotte Ralph, Donna Patterson, Nicola Lee, Ali Fanshawe, Christa Davies, Leigh Welsh, Rebecca Newenham, Tom Stenner-Evans, Laurie Macpherson, Laura Walker, Chloe Fletcher, Amanda Henderson, and Rose-Marie Fox. The book is all the more valuable and relatable because of your contributions.

To Adele McNicholl for literally keeping the Investing in Women show on the road, allowing me time to write this book. Thank you so much for all the candidate sourcing, interviewing, sharing jobs and account management. You are so much more than a colleague! Thank you!

Thank you so much to my lovely mum, Ann, who has provided us with countless hours of unpaid babysitting since launching my business and writing this book. She’s always there if I need her – and does an amazing job looking after not just my children but also me! Thank you!

To my husband, Henry, who has supported Investing in Women from the very beginning. He gave me the confidence to give it a go, understood when I had to work late, and is always on hand for business advice. He is the best friend and father for our children I could wish for. I love doing life with you! Finally, this book is for my daughters, Emily and Annabelle. It was only when I became a mum that I realised how difficult it is to juggle work and family and how workplaces are not set up for those with caring responsibilities who may want to work flexibly. Ever since, I’ve been on a mission to educate employers about the benefits flexible working can bring. But I’m also determined to show my daughters that no matter what others say, our careers don’t have to stop after children. In fact, it is often the start of a brand-new, magical chapter.

Introduction

‘It doesn’t look good.’ I can feel the doctor moving the cold, hard probe around inside me. He’s trying to get a better look.

I stare up at the plain, white ceiling.

My heart’s beating so loudly that I’m surprised no one else has mentioned that they can hear the ‘thud, thud, thud’ pounding from my chest.

I pray to a God I don’t believe in that I misheard the words. I wish with every fibre of my being for him to take those words back – words that have shattered what feels like my reason for living.

I continue to lay in silence, clutching my husband’s hand so hard my knuckles turn white.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the doctor says the words I’ve been dreading to hear – ‘I can’t find a heartbeat.’

Say hello and welcome to your new career bestie as this book aims to have your back, no matter what life throws at you. In it, you’ll find a mix of my own job searching and career advice – gained from 18 years in the recruitment business, tales from the recruitment front line, plus inspiring real-life case studies from people who have navigated life’s unexpected twists and turns – and STILL managed to thrive in their careers. But this book isn’t just about sharing stories (no matter how inspirational): it’s about giving you the tools and confidence to navigate your own career path, whether you want to climb that ladder, need to take a step back, or pivot entirely. Inside, you’ll find practical steps to dust off your CV, nail that interview, and balance a job you love with a busy life you love even more! Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and build that dream career of yours, step by step. I’m with you every step of the way!

* * *

I’d never been overly career-ambitious, but I enjoyed working and the satisfaction that came with doing a good job. I was also good at my job and thrived in the fast-paced world of recruitment. I became one of the top performers in the City of London branch of one of the world’s largest recruitment agencies. Here, I recruited accountants for some of the world’s largest banks. I quickly rose through the ranks and, by the age of 24, was managing a team.

But the hours were long and the work demanding. Having been brought up by a traditional stay-at-home mum, I couldn’t see how such a demanding job would work when I became a mum. And becoming a mum was ultimately what I wanted to be. When I got married a couple of years later, I checked out of my career before we even started trying for children! Silly right?!? I didn’t realise it would take four and a half years of trying, a miscarriage and eventually IVF to realise my dream of parenthood. Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, eh?

So I left my recruitment career without a backward glance (or so I thought) and set myself up as a beauty therapist and personal stylist through Colour Me Beautiful, working from home, a set-up I thought would work perfectly around my, at this point, make-believe family.

But after one and a half years of nada – not even the faintest line on a pregnancy test, and painful ‘Are you planning to have children’ questions from well-meaning clients, I went scurrying back to my old job with my tail firmly between my legs. It felt like I was back where I started, but in my absence, my juniors had been promoted ahead of me, and my best clients distributed to my colleagues. I really was starting again right at the bottom.

And my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. I felt cheated being back – this wasn’t the life I’d dreamed of. I no longer had the passion or felt the same connection to my clients or candidates. It was just a job that paid the bills. For a year and a half, I just trod water. Got up, went to work, came home, ate, watched tv, bed, repeat.

But then the miscarriage happened, my boss got pregnant, and watching her growing belly became increasingly painful. I knew now was the time to move on. Because children may or may not have happened for me, but work, work was there. It took up 90% of my waking hours, so I needed to enjoy it, right?

And, after what felt like countless interviews, I was finally offered my dream job as an in-house recruiter at one of the Big 4 accounting firms, and that’s when things finally started to look up for me.

Joining such a corporate firm, which seemed to really value its staff, was a breath of fresh air. They even had an onsite gym and WFH (work from home), before anyone else knew what those three little letters stood for! And I spent a year or so healing – making friends, looking after my health, and getting good at my job. I met my stakeholders, earned their trust, and delivered excellent service. Once more, I took pride in my work, and although we were still ‘trying for a baby’, it didn’t feel quite as desperate as it had when I thought a baby would be a ‘get out of jail free card’ from a job I hated.

Once I felt strong enough, we decided to try IVF and could not believe our luck when, on the second round, it worked. Nine months later, our daughter was born, and then – even more extraordinary – we got pregnant naturally a few months later.

So there I was, with two small kids, about to go back to work, when boom, a pandemic hit! Yep, I don’t think any of us saw that coming! And, like many others, I found my job on the chopping block and was made redundant.

And that was that – my career was over – or so it felt. I’d listen to my husband on work calls with other adults. Work calls I wouldn’t have thought twice about, but they suddenly sounded so glamorous and stimulating when I was up to my elbows in Play-Doh!

And with my eldest about to start pre-school, I knew I wanted to get back to work – working with other adults and feeling the thrill of recruitment again. But could I find another job that offered me the flexibility I wanted with two small children? Could I heck!

I’d chat with my friends who were dropping out of the workforce like flies, leaving well-paid careers having spent their 20s climbing the ladder to take something lower paid and lower skilled in exchange for the flexibility they wanted/desired.

I looked back on my recruitment career and realised that of the hundreds of people I’d placed, I’d never hired anyone into a part-time role. I’d been part of the problem! So I vowed to use my small redundancy payout of £5,000 to help people like me – and my friends. Those who enjoyed work, were diligent employees, and wanted to contribute to society and business but just needed something more flexible to fit around their lives – but didn’t want to be punished with low-paid or low-skilled work because they also had other commitments.

So, I spent several months planning and writing business plans (that I’ve not looked at since) before founding Investing in Women – now a multi-award-winning job board and recruitment agency that helps forward-thinking organisations find talent looking for flexible and part-time work. Through our jobs board and free resources, we’ve helped thousands of people find flexible work that works around them and their lives.

In addition to offering our recruitment services, we host weekly Facebook and LinkedIn Lives with guest experts to help empower people to take control of their careers. Previous topics covered have included ‘How to successfully return to work after maternity leave’, ‘Writing a CV recruiters will love’, ‘I hate my job – what should I do?’, and ‘Interview skills hiring managers are looking for right now’, as well as several Lives with employment solicitors centred around discrimination at work and your rights to flexible working.

As well as our LinkedIn Lives, I host a weekly podcast called Work It Like A Mum, where I’ve interviewed some phenomenal women who have overcome various challenges, including cancer, raising four children under five!, baby loss, imposter syndrome, a lack of confidence and lengthy career breaks, but are now smashing it in the world of work. Some of their stories will be shared in this book.

I’ve also helped thousands of individuals land their dream jobs through my career coaching. Services include CV writing; LinkedIn profile building and strategy advice; interview confidence boosting sessions, as well as a career crossroads consultation for those feeling stuck in their career and don’t know what they want to do. In these sessions, I help people identify their most valuable skills and experience and unravel what their dream career looks like — and a clear path on how to get it. A lot of the advice I give to my clients will be shared with you in this book so you too, can achieve the career you always dreamt of.

I’ve shared my story because I want you to know that sometimes, life gets in the way. Work and our careers aren’t always our number one priority – and that’s okay. It’s normal, and it’s life. And if you find that your focus is elsewhere, you’re not alone. In fact, even some of the UK’s leading CEOs haven’t always been racing up that career ladder at 60 mph…

Sarah McMath1 is a great example of viewing your career as a marathon, not a sprint. Whilst her children were small, she took several sideways steps in her career to roles that offered more flexibility. Here’s what she had to say about that period of her career:

‘I was clear I wanted to be a mum, and I also wanted to carry on working. No part of me considered stopping work. But I think that’s hard in a working mum context. My children are now 20 and 18, but if I think about my mum friends, none returned to full-time work after having children. I didn’t either at first, but nobody went back into the job they’d left for very long. Some of them did for a short period of time and then either changed careers or gave up work completely. So when I first went back, I worked three days a week. I did three days a week for about three years. And my husband went to four days a week. We found that worked well for us. But my experience when I went back was nobody on my team had really thought about it. I think I was a bit odd in that I was (one of the only women) in the team anyway, and then coming back after maternity leave was even harder.

I’d gone from being in a very senior position with a lot of responsibility and was suddenly asked to do more junior tasks. But I decided to take ownership of my career. And so entered this slightly weird phase of my career where I chased pregnant women. I would see another woman I didn’t know very well at the coffee machine, very heavily pregnant, and ask her, “Well, who’s covering your maternity leave?” She could be from a completely different department. I’d never worked with her before. Sometimes – I didn’t know her name. And I’d say to my boss, “Well, they haven’t sorted anything out, so I’m going off to cover their job next week.”

But it was brilliant. I actually covered three different people’s maternity leaves in three different parts of the business and learnt loads because they were things I would never have normally got involved with.’

While some of these roles weren’t particularly stretching, they meant Sarah kept her foot in the door. Once her children started school and she had more time, she could put her foot back on the pedal and progress higher in her career. Sarah is now CEO of MOSL (the market operator for the non-household water retail market) in the male-dominated water industry.

Like Sarah, I’ve also learnt that our lives and careers are a marathon – not a sprint. Some years, you’ll be going hell for leather, raising your hand for every promotion going – and others, you’ll tread water or even feel like you’re going backwards. It’s during those times when you do decide you want to relight your career spark again that this book will be there to hold your hand. I’ll use my 18+ years of recruitment experience to guide you through how to identify suitable jobs based on your skills, experience and interests, craft the perfect CV and a standout cover letter, and use LinkedIn to build a network and personal brand so that dream job literally lands in your inbox; how to have a standout interview so you become the unforgettable candidate, negotiate your job offer like a boss and return well to the workplace – no matter how long your career break. Please take notes as you go. I’ve crafted all the advice in this book to be actionable so you can create a career that you truly adore – one that stretches you (in the best possible way), lights you up and slots perfectly into your life.

Are you ready? Because here.we.go!

Note

1

.  Elizabeth Willetts (2022). How to Get What You Really Want in Your Career – Top Tips from a CEO Who’s Made It to the Top of Her Male-Dominated Industry – Whilst Working Part-Time.

Work It Like A Mum

(podcast) 24 November 2022. MP3 audio, 48.07,

www.buzzsprout.com/2046830/11663396

. Accessed 1 August 2024.

Chapter 1What Do You Want?

I’m assuming that many of you are reading this book because you feel stuck in your career and want to make a change. You might be on a career break, feel stuck in a role you just ‘fell into’, or work at a company with a toxic culture you want out of.

I get lots of messages from people who tell me that although they want to leave their current job, they don’t know what to do. So, if this is you, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Lots of us become adults and still don’t know what we want to do when we ‘grow up’.

In this chapter, I’m going to talk about how you can get clarity on what you want to do in your career – and how to reach it.

Evaluate Your Strengths

I firmly believe that we enjoy what we’re good at. No one wants to feel out of their comfort zone all the time (although this is normal in the early days of any new job), or pretending to be someone they’re not. Therefore, one of the first things I recommend you do is a personality strengths test so you learn what you’re naturally good at and what will make you tick. You can take a personality test like this through a company called Gallup. Here’s what Gallup says about the importance of personality strengths in their book Now, Discover Your Strengths:1

‘Many people have little sense of their talents and strengths, much less the ability to build their lives around them. Instead, they are raised and taught to become experts in their weaknesses – and spend their lives trying to fix them while their strengths lie dormant.

Led by Don Clifton, the Father of Strengths-Based Psychology, Gallup created a revolutionary program to help people identify their talents; develop them into strengths; and enjoy consistent, near-perfect performance.’

At the heart of the Gallup programme is a CliftonStrengths assessment, which is available on their website, gallup.com. Their book Now, Discover Your Strengths, which accompanies the assessment, is a brilliant read that will enable you to get further clarity on the different strengths and personalities that make up the human psyche – great if you manage or work in a team.

According to Gallup, the CliftonStrengths assessment is ‘the product of decades of research and hundreds of thousands of interviews to identify the most prevalent human strengths. There are 34 dominant talent themes … or patterns of human talent … and used with insight and understanding, [they] help capture the unique themes playing in each person’s life’.

Once you’ve done your personality assessment and identified your strengths, use them. According to Gallup, ‘The real tragedy in life is not that each of us doesn’t have enough strengths. It’s that we fail to use the ones we have.’

I took their strengths-based test, and it was eye-opening – one of the best things I’ve ever done. Suddenly, my whole personality made sense, and since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to lean into my strengths and worry less about any ‘weaknesses’ – delegating tasks that I know I’m no good at, don’t serve my personality, and that I don’t enjoy to others. I also no longer feel the need to apologise for who I am.

Gallup says that our personality traits will be in place by the age of three! Roz Hobley,2 a leadership and performance coach with GiANT London, agrees:

‘The wonderful thing about our personalities and wiring is that it doesn’t change. So whether you’re reading this as a university student, a mum at home who is going back or just gone back to work, your tendencies, the things that you naturally excel at, will always be there. Being a person of influence, where you can leave a real impact and legacy starts with understanding yourself – what you’re like and can bring at your best, and also how you can undermine yourself.’

Rather than fighting those traits and working on our ‘weaknesses’ to become more rounded people, we should lean into our strengths. Do you think top CEOs like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Richard Branson worry about their ‘personality weaknesses’? No, they have a strong sense of who they are and play to their strengths.

On the Diary of a CEO podcast, Branson, who suffers from dyslexia and left school at 15, explained this point to host Steven Bartlett, who recounted the tale in his book Diary of a CEO:3

‘I was dyslexic and pretty hopeless at school; I just assumed that I must be a little bit thick. I could just about add up and subtract. But when it got to more complicated stuff I couldn’t.

I was in a board meeting at about 50 years old, and I said to the director, is that good news or bad news? And one of the directors said, “Come outside, Richard”. I came outside, and he said, “You don’t know the difference between net profit and gross profit, do you?”

I said, “No”.

He said, “I thought not”, and brought out a sheet of paper and some colouring pens, and he colours it in blue, and then he puts a fishing net in it, and then he puts a little fish in the fishing net. And he says, “So, the fish that are in the net, that’s your profit at the end of the year, and the rest of the ocean, that’s your gross turnover”. And I went, “I got it”.’