Career Espresso – Details, episodes & analysis

You've rehearsed this conversation a hundred times. You know exactly what you're going to say. And then your manager responds with something you didn't expect and suddenly your brain goes blank. The script you'd prepared just evaporates. You find yourself nodding along, saying "I understand" or worse, backing down entirely.

This episode of Career Espresso is about how to actually ask for more when the conversation doesn't follow your plan. Not the theory of negotiation. The real work of staying grounded when things go sideways.

• Why most advice focuses entirely on preparation but misses what actually happens in the room when things go off-script
• The specific ways women are conditioned to backpedal when conversations get uncomfortable (and why recognising this helps)
• What to say when you get hit with budget constraints, the praise pivot, or "I need to check with HR"
• Why this is rarely one conversation and how to follow up without feeling like you're being annoying
• Common patterns that keep women stuck: preparation as procrastination, the grateful trap, the "one shot" mentality

Perfect for leaders who've rehearsed these conversations but still find themselves accepting less than they came in asking for.

Want more support with real-world leadership challenges? Head to How to Build a Leader on Substack for in-depth guides and scripts.

Never miss an episode. Sign up for the weekly Espresso Brief email and get each episode with quick takeaways in your inbox.

Get the full episode transcript

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know exactly what you want to do. You've got the plan. You might even have the opportunity sitting right in front of you. And yet... you can't seem to make yourself do it. You're not confused about what needs to happen. You've got ambition coming out of your ears. But somewhere between knowing and doing, there's this gap. This heaviness. This "I know, I know, but I just... can't right now."

This episode of Career Espresso is about what to do when your drive is intact but your fuel tank is empty. Not motivation tips. Not goal-setting advice. The real work of keeping going when you've got nothing left to give.

• The difference between "I've given up" and "I'm depleted" and why that distinction matters
• What minimum viable progress looks like when you're running on empty
• Why pushing harder when you're exhausted just digs a deeper hole
• How to match your actions to your actual energy instead of the energy you think you should have
• The extra costs women carry that often go unacknowledged and how they drain you faster

Listen to this episode if you still care about your goals but haven't got the energy to chase them right now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You got promoted and now you manage the people you used to work alongside. It feels odd for you and for them. This episode of Career Espresso is about naming the shift early, resetting how you work together, and staying human while you do it. We'll also talk about the quiet “who does she think she is” undercurrent women can face and how to hold your ground.

• why this discomfort is normal when a peer becomes the manager
• what to say in your first 1:1 so no one is guessing
• how to step back from group chats and after-work venting without making a scene
• how to respond if a colleague goes around you to another manager
• a simple coffee-shop check-in that helps clear the air fast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In my first bonus podcast episode to support my Career Summer School, I'll be looking at how you can create your own career vision statement 

In the episode I cover - 

• Wny a vision statement gives direction to your career
• How to define what career success means to you
• How to create your career vision statement 
• And how to put it to work once it's done! 

And I've included a 'Designing Your Career Vision" Worksheet to help you record your thoughts which you can find here

Career Summer School

16 lessons over 4 weeks to help you work on your career development this summer - sign up here between now and 22 August to get your daily email reminder and to be in with a chance of winning a Career Power Hour with me worth £99.

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling lost is tough and not knowing what comes next in your career can feel uncomfortable, to say the least. 

In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -  

• Why feeling lost can actually be good for your career development  
• What being lost does for you
• Reframing your career as a jungle gym instead of a ladder  
• What to do next to take action and make progress instead of looking for a quick fix 

Thank you for listening and see you next week!

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In my work as a career coach, I've noticed that many of my clients know they need to develop in their careers but often struggle to begin taking action on their intentions. In short, they need to start doing, stop overthinking, and take imperfect action. 

In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -  

• Why too much research on your career options can lead to a false sense of productivity 
• Why Newton's first law applies to people as well as objects!
• How to push past the mental barrier we put up when procrastinating 
• Working on shifting to a beginner mindset and away from perfection
• How to create an action plan to hold yourself accountable for your progress

Thank you for listening and see you next week!

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever founds yourself working towards a goal that really matters to you only to fail because you did something that tripped you up? This can be a sign of self-sabotage which over time can harm your career progress 

In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at how you can identify and tackle self-sabotage in your career, including - 

• How to spot self-sabotage 
• Learning to challenge self-sabotage triggers 
• Developing self-supporting behaviours to build your confidence at work
• The final career coaching question of this season

Thank you for listening to Season 1 of Career Espresso, see you soon for Season 2! And don't forget to let me know if there is are any topics you would like to see featured on future Career Espresso episodes. 

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's world, there are so many distractions around us 24/7 that giving someone your full attention when they speak is a precious gift.  Not only that but learning to be a better listener can set you apart at work. 

In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -  

• Why we all need to be listened to
• What happened when Lego lost millions of dollars and how listening bought their business back from the brink 
• The different types of listening to add to your toolkit

Thank you for listening, see you next week!

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever steer away from asking for feedback at work, fearful of what you might hear?  And even when you do gather the courage to ask, is the structure actually that helpful to your career?  

In this week's episode of Career Espresso, I look at -  

• Why it's so hard to receive constructive feedback (and how to work on seeing feedback as a career gift)
• How using 3 simple questions can help you get feedback that's meaningful 
• The do's and dont's of requesting feedback at work 

Thank you for listening, see you next week!

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one will ever care quite as much about your career as you will - it's such a big part of your life, identity, and happiness. 

In this week's episode of Career Epresso, I  share how taking ownership of your career growth could be the smartest investment that you will ever make.  I look at 

• Why how you react to disappointment at work could be getting in the way of demonstrating ownership 
• How to share your career vision in a way that feels inspiring 
• Why actively seeking feedback can boost your ownership  

Download your Above or Below the Line worksheet here 

Thank you for listening, see you next week!

Work with me

As well as coaching women to get the career they know they deserve, I also deliver leadership coaching and run workshops, courses, and programmes to organisations who want to retain, develop and engage their staff.

Get in touch to book your free Career Consultation call here.

If you are an organisation that would like to discuss how I can support your teams and leaders, book a call here.

Connect with me

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Sign up for the 'Work Your Way' newsletter here

How can I support the podcast?

→Subscribe
→Share this episode with a friend or on your socials
→Leave a review

I would love to hear your feedback on my podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social or at amanda@wearereadytorise.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.