2019 Career Moves

New Year, New Me...probably the most used words in January, but how do you put these in practical action? Sometimes, it can be difficult to know when to start or even ask for what you want. Samantha Clarke is the founder of GrowHappySchool and has some mega wisdom on how to create the job you LOVE. Fejiro Oganwu heads up a team of business analysts at Santander Bank and has mega tips on how to negotiate for exactly what you want! 

Tell us about yourself? 

My name is Samantha Clarke and I have a portfolio career as a happiness consultant and change-maker, podcaster and founder of Growth & Happiness school. After an eclectic work journey moving from the world of advertising, trends and branding to footwear design and styling, I’ve found home in creating transformations for companies and individuals around work happiness and wellbeing

As a happiness consultant, I’m on a mission to liberate tired company cultures from unhappy work environments through coaching and consulting on wellbeing strategies and happiness at work initiatives. Achieving big results with clientele including P&G, Shopify, Innocent, Mediacom, Deutsche Mobile, Dishoom and more

I created  the Growth & Happiness School, the UK’s first online school with courses & training programmes to help individuals find their own work happiness or create it for others at work.

As a faculty lecturer at the School of Life and The Guardian, part of my portfolio also includes facilitating workshops and masterclasses on career potential, building a portfolio career, managing stress, confidence and authentic leadership as well as speaking at events like Stylist Live, Cannes Lions and Elle Weekender.

What are your top 3 tips on how to create a job that makes you happy? 

• Find the pain:  So first up, I always ask people where is the pain? If you are in a job you don't love, where is the ick? Is it the people, the role or the company? Over the course of the week, make of note of your highs and lows to help you get a clear picture of where the pain is and where you need to start thinking about making changes. 

• Hone into your strengths: Often our jobs can feel like a hard slog when we aren't working or playing to our strengths. Do you know what your top strengths or skills are? Take some time to identify what's in your skills toolkit by doing a strengths test finder like VIA or Gallup strengths test. This will help you address where your current role might be working with or against your innate abilities. 

• Find the opportunities for change - Taking into consideration the areas causing you pain and your signature skills, where can you spot opportunities for growth towards a happiness place? Can you shadow someone at work doing a role you love? Could you pitch a project to your manager that will help you stretch outside your current role? There is no need to stay unhappy in your job. You have the power to make changes in small ways. It just starts with a little self reflection, then take some action and keep tweaking as you go. 

Takeaways? 

For more amazing wisdom on happiness at work, confidence and leadership, check out Samantha's podcast series "Conversations with Samantha&" - where she geeks out with philosophers, technologists, heads of people & talent, startup founders and communication experts on the impact of technology on our happiness in work, life and our cities. Also look out for her articles on Stylist Magazine, Psychologies, Forbes, Harper's Bazaar, Elle Magazine, Guardian Small Business Network, BBC Global Business Review, BBC 1Xtra, Radio 4, Evening Standard and City AM. 

Tell us about yourself? 

My name is Fejiro Oganwu and I lead a team of business analysts at the investment banking arm of Santander. My Computer Science degree was inspired by a family friend who studying computing after her Zoology degree and was able to completely change her life with this new qualification. I studied Computer Science and got in the graduate scheme at HSBC as a software developer….despite the fact that I hated coding!  Thankfully, a few moves and belief from my bosses led me to ever more customer facing roles and ultimately to where I am now. What I enjoy most about my current role is that it involves analysis and deep thinking but also interaction with people.

What are your top tips for negotiation? 

Half of negotiation is actually in asking and many do not actually do not take this vital step. My top tips for negotiation would be:

• Know your ask: Know what you want to achieve and how far from your that goal you are willing to accept/concede. They call this the 'BATNA' i.e. 'Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement'. 

• Plan your approach: Do your research and go into the negotiation process. This will help give you the confidence required for negotiation. Knowledge is power!

• Communicate clearly: State your case as clearly as you can. Don't be shy to share what you bring to the table. 

• Empathise: Try to see the situation from the other person’s point of view. Remember you are negotiating with and not against. Negotiation is about understanding the other party - what do they want and how you both get what you need? 

Goodluck and wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!