"We started it because we felt work had changed. The idea of a predictable linear career is shifting." Introducing a live recording of the 100^th episode of the Amazing If podcast, Sarah Ellis, the Co-Founder of Amazing If and Strategic Client Director at Gravity Road, articulated the shift afoot in the modern workplace.

It’s a shift which is reflected in Amazing If’s Squiggly Careers podcast, which highlights the fact that career trajectories are changing, which means the skills you need to thrive and find happiness in the workplace are changing too. In short, careers are becoming more ‘squiggly’, a trend that Amazing If is rising to, both through its podcasts, book as well as training designed to provide practical tips, tools and techniques to help you be your best at work.

Yet making work that works for everyone isn’t always easy. As Ellis explained, workplace stress was a common theme and challenge across both the podcast guests and individuals who have undergone Amazing If’s training program. However, people who take ownership of their own careers are increasingly thriving and finding workplace happiness. "The squiggle has meant more time thriving [at work] rather than just surviving,” she noted.

Ellis noted that there is a big discrepancy between the number of people who want to become founders and the number of people who want to work for founder-led businesses. It’s a trend which means employers need to be mindful of the cultures and rewards system they use to incentivise, motivate and retain staff.

Pip Jamieson, Founder of The Dots, shared her story as a founder taking on LinkedIn as she explained, "I saw a real-world problem that I wanted to solve. Anyone can be a Founder, but I am lucky enough to have dyslexia which means I tend to be more creative.” Jamieson went on to explain how people with dyslexia have higher levels of perseverance, are very empathic and tend to make better leaders.

John Vincent, the Co-Founder of Leon, took aim at the hyper masculine language that still dominates so much of business. Where customers are routinely reduced to being just a target and Marketing Directors believe themselves to be generals in a war where, in reality, such an outlook creates an environment where all too often no one is winning.

To combat this Vincent has written a book, Winning Not Fighting: Why you need to rethink success and how you achieve it with the Ancient Art of Wing Tsun.

Vincent urged the audience to shift their perspective, noting that is incumbent on each individual to understand their ego. For, all too often an ego-led approach tends to respond with aggression under pressure. He noted that stress is rooted in relationships with people, adding, “Don’t let your own insecurities get in the way of your relationship with anyone.”

Photography © Bronac McNeill

To hear more on how work is changing tune into the 100^th episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast here