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In this third episode of our 5-part mini-series about Having Courage, we focus on the ability to make a decision when, on paper, there might be every reason to stay exactly where you are.

How do you know whether you’re just having a wobble - or whether something really does need to change?

This week’s letter from the SFAC Postbag comes from a listener who has a good job, decent salary, lovely colleagues and has worked hard to get where they are. From the outside, there’s nothing to complain about. But something has changed. They don’t feel like themselves anymore, the thought of staying for another five years fills them with dread - yet walking away from everything they’ve built feels irresponsible. So how do you work out what’s genuinely right for you?

In this episode, we explore the courage it takes to listen to yourself when there isn’t an obvious ‘right’ answer. From tuning into what your head, heart and gut are telling you and getting curious about what has changed, to challenging the fear of wasting what you’ve already invested, we share practical ways to create the clarity and confidence to make a decision that feels right for you.

Because sometimes courage isn’t about immediately making the big leap – it’s about being brave enough to admit that something may need to change.

Our call to action: give yourself permission to explore what you really want, without requiring yourself to make the decision just yet.

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In this second episode of our 5-part mini-series about Having Courage, we focus on the ability to have a straightforward conversation.

What do you do when you inherit a difficult relationship you didn’t create - but it’s now yours to rebuild?

Our second letter from the SFAC Postbag comes from a listener who has taken responsibility for an area with some tricky stakeholder history. They weren’t responsible for what happened, but they’re worried they’ll be seen as part of the problem before they’ve even opened their mouth. So how do you acknowledge what’s gone before without taking responsibility for something that wasn’t yours?

In this episode, we explore the courage it takes to be straightforward when a conversation feels uncomfortable. From addressing the elephant in the room and resisting the urge to over-explain or apologise, to starting with curiosity and focusing on what happens next, we share practical ways to approach difficult conversations with clarity, confidence and care.

Because sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is simply say the thing that needs saying.

Our call to action: acknowledge to yourself the risk of never having the conversation at all.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to approach a difficult stakeholder relationship
• How to acknowledge previous problems without taking responsibility for them
• How to start a difficult conversation
• How to communicate directly without becoming confrontational
• How to begin rebuilding trust at work

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In this first episode of our 5-part mini-series about Having Courage, we focus on the ability to have a straightforward conversation.

What do you do when you inherit a difficult relationship you didn’t create - but it’s now yours to rebuild?

Our first letter from the SFAC Postbag comes from a listener who has taken responsibility for an area with some tricky stakeholder history. They weren’t responsible for what happened, but they’re worried they’ll be seen as part of the problem before they’ve even opened their mouth. So how do you acknowledge what’s gone before without taking responsibility for something that wasn’t yours?

In this episode, we explore the courage it takes to be straightforward when a conversation feels uncomfortable. From addressing the elephant in the room and resisting the urge to over-explain or apologise, to starting with curiosity and focusing on what happens next, we share practical ways to approach difficult conversations with clarity, confidence and care.

Because sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is simply say the thing that needs saying.

Our call to action: acknowledge to yourself the risk of never having the conversation at all.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to approach a difficult stakeholder relationship
• How to acknowledge previous problems without taking responsibility for them
• How to start a difficult conversation
• How to communicate directly without becoming confrontational
• How to begin rebuilding trust at work

Send us Fan Mail

In this final episode in our 4-part Thriving Through Life’s Challenges mini-series, we explore a life stage that can creep up on us almost without us noticing: balancing work, life and increasing responsibility for an ageing parent or loved one.

We are joined by the brilliant Liz Fairbank, Care and Lifestyle Director at McCarthy Stone, who brings 30 years of experience in the care sector alongside a real passion for helping older people retain choice, control and independence. Liz explains how caring responsibilities often begin with something small – picking up a prescription, doing some shopping or giving someone a lift to an appointment – but can gradually grow until, almost without realising it, you have become a carer as well as a daughter, son, partner or family member.

We explore the practical juggle but also the less visible mental load: the worry when the phone rings, the guilt of feeling you should be doing more, the challenge of making decisions for someone you love and the pressure of trying to remain fully present and ambitious at work while carrying significant responsibilities outside it. Liz encourages us to have conversations about ageing and care before we reach crisis point, asking not simply “What care might you need?” but “How do you want to age, and what matters to you?”

And there is an important message here for workplaces too. Caring responsibilities don’t disappear when someone walks through the office door. Liz challenges managers to notice the potentially ‘invisible carers’ within their teams, ask one more question, offer flexibility and make practical support easier to find. Because someone can still be a brilliant employee, an ambitious leader and a dependable colleague – while also being a worried daughter, an exhausted son or someone waiting for the phone to ring.

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In this third episode in our 4-part Thriving Through Life’s Challenges mini-series, we explore what happens when you realise that the life you’re living might no longer be the life you want. How do you find the courage to listen to yourself, make conscious choices and move towards what feels right - even when you don’t quite know what comes next?

We are joined by the wonderful Gillian McMichael, transformational coach, author and wellbeing practitioner, who shares her own very personal experience of rather than losing some of herself and simply go through the motions – taking the courage to ask: what do I actually want from the rest of my life?

We explore the difference between surviving and thriving, letting go of some of the ‘shoulds’ we accumulate through life, and learning to notice where we might be shrinking ourselves or putting our own needs on hold.

And importantly, choosing your life doesn’t have to mean ending a relationship or moving to another country. It can start much smaller: listening to yourself, making more conscious choices and finding your voice again. Gillian leaves us with three beautifully simple foundations for thriving: accept yourself, love yourself and know your worth. Or, as she would tell her younger self: don’t put yourself on hold. Follow your heart and trust every ounce of your whole being.

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In this second episode in our 4-part Thriving Through Life Changes mini-series, we explore one of those career moments that can look like a promotion on paper, but feel like a complete identity shift in practice: becoming a manager for the first time.

We are thrilled to be joined again by the inspirational Dave McCabe, who first stepped into management at just 21. Dave shares his advice on how to build credibility when you’re young and lead people who may be older or more experienced than you. He explores how to show vulnerability without undermining confidence, navigate difficult conversations and, importantly, stay yourself as your responsibility grows.

Dave also shares a brilliant reminder for more established leaders: questions from younger people aren't necessarily a sign of disrespect, ambition isn't necessarily impatience, and being outside your comfort zone doesn't mean you're not ready. Sometimes it simply means you're growing.

And perhaps that works both ways. One of the gifts of leadership is being able to spot potential in others and give somebody else their shot. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers – or reaching a certain age. It’s about helping people realise what they’re capable of.

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In this first episode in our 4-part Thriving Through Life Changes mini-series, we explore what it means to keep a growth mindset as we acquire more experience and wisdom - alongside potentially more bias and baggage! Growth doesn’t have an age limit; age and maturity don't necessarily arrive together.

It can be reassuring to remember that there is no point at which we become the finished version of ourselves. Every day is a school day. And that's good for us – it keeps us looking forward rather than settling in.

In this episode, we are delighted to be joined by Andreea Batrinu, who shares her experiences of what happens when we intentionally stay curious, keep learning and remain open to possibility throughout our lives and careers. Drawing on her own journey from Romania to building a career in UK aviation, Andreea shares why she chooses ‘yes, and…’ over ‘yes, but…’, and the value of stepping beyond what feels comfortable. As many people are feeling overwhelmed by life and work at the moment, she reminds us why sometimes we simply need to start before we have everything figured out.

From simply taking a different route to Tesco... to making life-changing career moves, it’s a brilliant reminder that every day really can be a school day.

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Aloha and welcome to our Summer Relax and Unwind Series! In this final episode we hear from Linz (Lindsey Thompson) who shares her top tips for reframing the return to work so we can enjoy every last moment of a well-earned break.

Silencing our inner critic and treating ourselves like we would a friend, Linz shares how to flick off the switch of workload worry and practice a healthier thinking pattern. Surely a holiday is the moment to give ourselves a break, focus on the here and now and release our inner child state!

Ideal listen for anyone who knows they have a tendency to let work creep back in as their holidays comes to an end. Set that Out Of Office in your head as well as your diary and enjoy yourself.