Wendy Jocum

Creating psychological safety for collaborative teams

Wendy Jocum — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:51:05 +0000

Below are some strategies how to build an inclusive culture, trust and psychological safety for high performing teams.

Warning signs of a toxic team

Psychological safety and high performing teams

Psychological safety and leadership

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Happy 2025!

Wendy Jocum — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 02:52:53 +0000

Wishing you all a happy, healthy year, doing things that are important to you – both personal and professional.

I hope this year is about prioritising your values, wellbeing, relationships, goals, and carving out time to do this (time for self, family, friends, exercise etc, and not only for work).

Hope you had a recharging, restorative break! We need to continue recharging throughout the year with regular self care, wellbeing rituals, positive habits and small steps for behavioural change.

This could be just pausing for a few moments to be present/mindful, taking a few minutes to reflect, a few slow, deep breaths when you notice you are overwhelmed or stressed, scheduling downtime, going for a quick walk and fresh air, taking time off – shorter holiday/long weekend breaks, or lunch breaks, mini breaks between work tasks and meetings.

Part of wellbeing/self care is also about being assertive, managing boundaries and setting expectations (with yourself and others – be clear and kind). This is the open, honest culture of psychological safety (at work and home).

Some articles below:

Asserting boundaries without causing offence

Also, building self care strategies before you get burnt out, recognising and proactively taking action, or pushing back/saying no/asking for help, when you are slipping from “normal stress” to burnout.

Beating burnout

Burnout signs

Let’s get rid of the culture of “busyness” – which is not productive or effective for wellbeing and performance!

Hope it is a great 2025!

Cheers

Wendy

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Assertiveness, boundaries and giving feedback effectively

Wendy Jocum — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:32:18 +0000

Practical tools and phrases for assertive, honest conversations – for positive impact on relationships, positive culture and performance!

The essence of Kim Scott’s “Radical Candor” – care personally and challenge directly (giving and receiving feedback), balancing the skills of assertiveness and active listening/empathy/asking questions.

https://hackspirit.com/phrases-smart-people-use-to-assert-boundaries-without-causing-offense/

https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/how-to-give-effective-feedback

https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/radicalcandorgivingfeedback

https://www.radicalcandor.com/blog/how-to-receive-feedback/

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Past year review and time management strategies for 2024

Wendy Jocum — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:30:46 +0000

Happy new year! All the best for a great 2024!

Sharing 2 articles about reviewing the past year, and planning/prioritising for this year!

Also, some great tips and additional links to communicating boundaries/expectations, scheduling to do lists and breaks, the importance of rest/sleep, reducing “hustle culture” and “toxic productivity”.

https://tim.blog/2021/12/27/past-year-review/

https://www.calendar.com/blog/5-time-management-strategies-that-will-help-you-crush-your-workweek-in-2024/

Regards

Wendy

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Celebrate your year’s small wins

Wendy Jocum — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:58:02 +0000

As we get to the end of another year that went so quickly, it is good to pause, rest, recharge and reflect.

Before we get into new year resolutions, goals and action plans for next year, rather first take stock and acknowledge what you have achieved this year, personally and professionally – small steps, big or small wins, overcoming challenges, starting or completing tasks/projects, a difficult conversation, health checks, family time, wellbeing habits etc.

Continue to do this daily/weekly/monthly during the year. This is know as a Ta-da list, like ticking off or list what you have accomplished, to complement your goals/actions/To-do list.

Acknowledging what we have done or started, and giving ourselves a pat on the back (and also to others), builds positive emotions, motivation, action and momentum.

For a task that we have started, this recognition tells our brain to complete the task (now or another time), and to continue working on goals, short or long term.

As James Clear calls it: “Atomic Habits” – chunking down goals into very small steps, actions and habits.

We can’t do it all, but we can do that most important thing!

Prioritise, plan and block out time to do one important thing each day (work and personal), and give yourself credit each day for doing so! It could be just 5 minutes of mindfulness, or taking quick, regular breaks!

To-do and Ta-da lists go hand in hand!

Set and review personal/professional realistic goals and action plans daily/weekly/monthly, and not just at the beginning of the year. Block out and allocate time for each step. Keep tracking regularly, based on changes, workloads, your mental/physical energy and wellbeing.

All the best for a restorative, happy festive season break, and a successful, peaceful 2024.

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Habits, small changes, performance and wellbeing

Wendy Jocum — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:07:33 +0000

Hi everyone

Some timely articles and reminders below!

Great article on habits. Making habits small and incremental for long lasting change. Also, the amazing work of James Clear. Awesome book: Atomic Habits. He has been interviewed on numerous podcasts.

https://experteditor.com.au/blog/say-goodbye-to-these-habits-to-change-your-life/

https://jamesclear.com/

Article on getting the best from yourself and your team, regular breaks, performance and burnout

https://hbr.org/2023/06/to-build-a-top-performing-team-ask-for-85-effort

Greg Mckeon (Books – Essentialism, Effortless and podcasts)

https://gregmckeown.com/

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Slowing down – being less busy (but productive)

Wendy Jocum — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 07:29:35 +0000

Another year has passed quickly, and the festive season is upon us!

Let’s slow down and make it a habit – not only at this time of year, but recharging and refuelling on an ongoing basis, and through the work day – no different to fueling our cars or charging our phones! Taking regular body/brain breaks, removing notifications/alerts, and not always being “on” and available. Set boundaries and expectations with ourselves and others.

Brian science research tells us that we actually need to slow down in order to be more productive. Even though this sounds counter intuitive, we know this, and are examples in action!

However, we need to be mindful and aware, and check in with our body/brain frequently to notice when we are tired. Sometimes the most productive thing in that moment may to take a quick break.

Also, to schedule regular breaks – where possible, choose higher cognitive tasks that require focus, when we are more alert and energised.

We don’t get the best performance from ourselves (and our teams) when we are overwhelmed, overloaded, under resourced, back to back meetings, overscheduled and “busy”!

Our brains can’t think clearly, nor problem solve, innovate or be creative. Besides negatively impacting our performance, “running on empty” impacts our stress levels, wellbeing and work/personal relationships.

I have included some short articles below on slowing down, being “busy” is not productive, and leading this culture in yourself and others!

Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing and restorative holiday. All the best for a happy, healthy, successful and “less busy” 2023!

Regards

Wendy

https://theconversation-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/theconversation.com/amp/how-workers-become-seduced-by-the-cult-of-optimal-busyness-173308

https://www.entrepreneur.com/growth-strategies/want-to-be-productive-take-it-slow/438996

https://wwhttps://www.fastcompany.com/90813957/how-to-manage-a-team-thats-burned-out-especially-if-youre-new-to-leadingw.fastcompany.com/90813957/how-to-manage-a-team-thats-burned-out-especially-if-youre-new-to-leading

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Virtual wellbeing workshop for Cancer Chicks Australia

Wendy Jocum — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:52:04 +0000

I am so grateful to be facilitating another session for Cancer Chicks Australia – a wonderful organisation, that is a support group and network for young women going through cancer and chronic illness.

Inspiring, resilient and amazing women!

They are a registered charity, if you would like to make a tax deductible donation.

https://cancerchicks.org.au/donate/

Thanks

Wendy

https://cancerchicks.org.au/

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Check in with yourself and others

Wendy Jocum — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 03:11:06 +0000

Hi everyone

Hope you are doing well, as the year passes quickly again!

So many of my coaching clients and workshop participants are feeling stressed, burnout, overloaded and overwhelmed. I support people through workshops and/or coaching to deal with these ongoing challenges.

For our own and others’ wellbeing, mental health, relationships and performance, we need to keep checking in with ourselves and others on a regular basis – daily!

Below are some great articles on burnout, wellbeing, communication, leadership, and creating a culture of connection and belonging (virtually or in person).

Take care, and be kind to yourself and others

Cheers

Wendy

https://www.fastcompany.com/90771131/how-leaders-can-encourage-mental-health-in-the-workplace?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1450551-7-ways-leaders-can-stay-emotionally&utm_source=lists%2F76291-Mindful-Leader-Weekly-Our-latest&simplero_object_id=su_Y35v4RsCaVZA829uEMkpK2Es

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/29/tom-gimbel-strategies-to-make-you-a-great-work-from-home-leader.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1450551-7-ways-leaders-can-stay-emotionally&utm_source=lists%2F76291-Mindful-Leader-Weekly-Our-latest&simplero_object_id=su_Y35v4RsCaVZA829uEMkpK2Es

https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/6-super-effective-ways-to-show-your-emotional-intelligence-at-work.html

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/8-tips-for-creating-a-culture-of-belonging-at-work/?utm_source=Newsletter_General&utm_medium=Thrive

https://mindtoolsbusiness.com/resources/blog/top-tips-for-tackling-employee-burnout?utm_source=work_life_balance&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=managers_matter

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Resilient leadership, team engagement and work life integration

Wendy Jocum — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 07:02:27 +0000

Hi everyone

Hope you are well and safe with everything going on (Covid, floods, work and life)!

Many of us continue to navigate whatever “new normal” is – frontline, office/workplace, virtual, mix of remote or “hybrid” working, limited resources, stress, exhaustion/burnout, and ongoing work-life balance/integration challenges.

Below are some great articles for leading ourselves and others with compassion and empathy. Also, role modelling constructive mindsets, behaviours and strategies for flexibility and wellbeing.

Take care.

Regards

Wendy

https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/great-resignation-or-great-exhaustion?mc_cid=d37b5a21c0&mc_eid=ed98ea71a5

https://www.inc.com/mandy-gilbert/how-to-motivate-your-team-during-yet-another-year-of-remote-work.html

https://officevibe.com/blog/workplace-flexibility

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