There is a question that sounds simple, but for many people it is surprisingly difficult to answer. Who are you when you are not working? For some, the answer comes easily. They are a parent, a partner, a gardener, a musician, a walker, a volunteer, a traveller, a cook, a friend, a grandparent, a reader, [...]
When most people think about ADHD, they picture someone who is easily distracted, struggles to sit still or finds it difficult to focus. While there is some truth in those stereotypes, they only scratch the surface of what ADHD actually is and how it shows up in the workplace. One of the most important things [...]
Few conversations trigger us as quickly as being criticised. Someone questions our judgement, challenges the quality of our work, or suggests that we have caused a problem. Before we have fully understood what is being said, our nervous system may already be preparing a response. We explain. We justify. We correct the record. We point [...]
Viktor Frankl noticed something after the Second World War that still has something important to teach us about retirement. As a psychiatrist, he observed that many people did not feel most unsettled when life was busy, demanding or difficult. They often felt worse when life became quiet. Sunday afternoon, in particular, seemed to expose something. [...]
One of the biggest surprises for people moving towards retirement is that work has often been doing more for them than they realised. Yes, work provides income. But it also provides structure, purpose, conversation, shared goals, a reason to get dressed, a place to be useful, and a group of people who know what you [...]
We often talk about dementia as though it is something that arrives suddenly in later life. In reality, brain health is shaped over decades by how we live, learn, connect and stay engaged. Education matters, but not only in the formal sense. A brain that keeps learning, solving, adapting and interacting is a brain that [...]
Why the move out of work needs to be a move into purpose, challenge and connection When people think about preparing for retirement, they usually focus on money, timing and lifestyle. Will we have enough? Where will we live? What will we do with our time? Far fewer people ask a quieter but equally [...]
One of the most useful leadership ideas to emerge from the military over the past century is the concept known as Commander’s Intent. While the phrase originates from military doctrine, the principle behind it has enormous relevance for modern organisations, particularly those operating in complex, fast-moving environments. At its core, Commander’s Intent is about clarity. [...]
For many professionals, the most uncomfortable part of a career transition isn’t uncertainty — it’s networking. Particularly for people in mid- to late-career, networking can feel artificial, self-promotional, or misaligned with how they’ve built their reputation over decades. Many have never needed to “network” in a formal sense; their roles came through performance, reputation, and [...]
There was a time when building your network meant building it inside one organisation. If you stayed long enough, worked hard enough, and built the right internal relationships, promotion followed. Your future sat within the walls of your employer. That world has changed. Today, job tenure is shorter. Restructures are common. Industries evolve rapidly. Loyalty [...]
Dr Susan Roberts says: