We've all heard the phrase work smarter and not harder, but how do you do that?
This is what I'm diving into with the fabulous Liz Hardwick.
Liz is an award-winning Professional Speaker and Tech Entrepreneur, known for delivering practical, high-impact strategies in AI, Digital Productivity, and Time Management.
With 25+ years’ experience turning “digital” into real human and business benefit, Liz helps individuals and teams work smarter, focus deeper, and achieve more… without burnout. Her sessions combine proven frameworks (including her own), modern technology tools, and actionable tactics – trusted by global names such as BBC, NHS, GSK, Rolls-Royce, and General Assembly. Whether on stage or in a masterclass, Liz inspires lasting change that elevates performance, clarity, and momentum in today’s fast-paced digital world.
We talk about:
- How to manage your emails
- Different time management hacks
- Apps that will maximise your day
The apps we mentioned:
Focus Friend
Todoist
Asana
To learn more about Liz click here
To complete the Confident Leaders Scorecard click here
To find out more about how you can Smash Your Own Ceiling click here
Barbara Nixon shares how to step up to the next iteration of you, so you not only achieve your goals, but you elevate!!
Go to barbaranixon.co.uk to complete the Confident Leaders Scorecard and start your journey.
Welcome to the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast.
Today I'm delighted to share a great conversation that I had with choir director Maria Mullin.
Maria is the choir director and founder of the Great Yorkshire Chorus. Originally from Liverpool, Maria moved to Yorkshire to study music and has never left!
She is passionate about making music accessible to all and has worked as a freelance musician for many years.
Maria studied music at the University of York, specialising in classical saxophone (in which she holds an LRSM Diploma). This is where her interest in choirs and conducting first began.
Over the years Maria has lead many different choirs - community, gospel, office and school singing groups. She’s also taught piano, saxophone, played with various ensembles and lead music in schools.
In 2018 Maria set up the Great Yorkshire Chorus to be a wonderful new choir based in Saltaire and has been delighted to see GYC grow and flourish. She’s also recently been writing her first musical, Salt, which is currently in development towards a full production.
Maria lives in Shipley with her husband and four children and also enjoys running.
In this conversation we talk about:
- Creating a great welcoming community
- How to juggle a family, a business, and lots of additional projects
- The systems that need to be in place to make that happen
- How to re-think failure
- How to focus on things that move the needle when you're really busy
To learn more about Maria click here
If you're ready for more visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
Welcome to this weeks episode of the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast, and I'm so pleased to share an amazing conversation with the lovely Amy Rowlinson.
Amy is the author of Focus on Why and today we chat about:
- The beautiful serendipitous story of how she discovered her Grandfather's story that inspired her book, and purpose.
- What Focus on Why really means
- How to find and tease out your Why
- And so much more.
To learn more about Amy's work:
To learn more about Smash Your Own Ceiling visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
To complete the Confident Leaders Score-card click here
Have you ever found yourself looking at your diary and craving some time for some headspace?
This episode is for you if you're really good at:
Putting everyone else's needs before your own
Saying yes when you really should (and want) to say no
Or find yourself staying involved with things that you really need to be letting go of
If so, you're in the right place because I'm sharing some really practical tips on how to to stop overcommitting.
And for more info visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
What do you do when you're forcibly separated from your 10 year old son and can only see him via Facetime for an hour a week?
This is exactly what Kate Markland had to deal with, and in this amazing chat she shares how she turned that hour into a global movement.
Kate shares:
To learn more about Kate visit:
We also referenced the book: Make Your Bed by Willliam H. McRaven
Take the 2 minute challenge: I'm a huge advocate of sharing things that I find useful to my clients and friends. It only takes 2 minutes to help someone smash their own ceiling and be part of that ripple effect, so is there someone you can share this podcast episode with today? If so, take the 2 minute challenge.
And if you love what we do, hit the subscribe button so you've got us in your pocket whenever you need it.
Finally, if you're a Business Leader and want to learn more, visit barbaranixon.co.uk
Have a fab week
Barbara
In this episode I talk to the fabulous Business and Marketing Consultant Shannon Stone.
And together we talk about:
- How to trust yourself in business
- That making mistakes is actually the point
- The tools that help to move past self doubt
- How to catch yourself doing things right
- How to get momentum whenever you're feeling stuck
- The things to do to market your business that many don't
- The importance of the basics
- The power of consistency and why we don't do it
If you want to find out more about Shannon click here
And if you like this episode please share with someone you think would benefit, and don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss and episode.
And if you're ready for more visit Barbaranixon.co.uk
In this episode I'm answering a question:
Barbara, I'm craving headspace right now but I feel as though I'm being pulled in all directions, what do I do?
I get this question a lot...so if you can relate this is the episode for you.
And if you have a question you'd like me to answer in a future episode visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
One of the questions I ask in my Confident Leaders Scorecard (click here to complete) is:
I know what I need to be at my best and I have these in place.
We're talking about Success Habits!
Do you know what you need to be at your best?
Do you have these in place?
And how do you make them work?
Join me, Barbara Nixon, for a solo episode of the Smash Your Own Ceiling.
For more info visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
Wouldn't you love to know how a leader at the top of their game tackles imposter syndrome?
That's exactly what I'm chatting to the fantastic Nick Bowen about. As the headteacher and creator of one of the largest high schools in the UK, it's no surprise that he had a moment of feeling like an imposter.
In this episode we cover:
- Why sometimes you need to step up even though you don't think you can
- Behind the scenes of imposter syndrome
- Tools that works for Nick
- How it's lonely at the top in Leadership
- That accountability is a must and not a dirty word
- The power of connecting people, and then letting go
This is a fantastic chat. Let me know what you think, and if you want to learn more about Nick click here
If you're not a natural speaker and you need to speak in front an audience as part of your work, what do you do?
In this episode I chat to the amazing Presentation Coach Simon Raybauld, and as well as talking about Doctor Who we also cover some pretty cool stuff. Things like:
What people really care about when you're telling a story
How to choose the right story so people take the action you want
The power of an alter-ego in boosting your confidence
How to use music to give you a much needed confidence lift
And...So many more tips
You can find more about Simon here
And if you're ready for more and to Smash Your Own Ceiling visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk
I loved this conversation with the awesome motivational speaker Steve Judge.
We talk about how Steve's near fatal accident changed his life.
How he motivates himself through his day with his success habits
How he stays enthusiastic and motivated and passes that onto others.
This is such a great conversation, let me know what you think.
For more info on Steve click here
Here's the second episode in our End the Year Strong Series.
Today we're talking about the Golden Trio of results - Habits, Mindset and Actions.
When you focus on these, amazing things start to happen.
And if you'd like more info to do more, visit Barbaranixon.co.uk, and if you'd like to join the Elevated Leaders Programme click here.
Or take the Confident Leaders score-card here
See you in there
Barbara
Welcome to the Smash Your Own Ceiling Podcast.
Welcome back to a brand-new season of the Smash Your Own Ceiling Podcast!
After a little break, I’m diving straight in with an episode that’s all about hitting the reset button.
If you’re a senior leader, ambitious professional, business owner this is the perfect time to do a self-audit and get clear on what’s working, what’s holding you back, and what needs to change so you can finish the year strong.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through:
Why September is the ultimate fresh-start moment for leaders and professionals
How to celebrate your wins (and why this matters for confidence and success)
A simple self-audit process to get clarity on your goals and mindset
Practical steps to reset, refocus, and achieve the results you really want
Whether you’re stuck in the weeds, battling imposter syndrome, or just want a boost of motivation, this episode will help you press pause, realign, and set yourself up for success at work and in life.
Don’t forget to connect with me on Linkedin and let me know how your September self-audit goes. And if you’re ready to elevate your leadership, join us in the Elevated Leaders Programme, starting at the end of September, or go to www.barbaranixon.co.uk for more info
Have you ever wanted to improve your relationships or understand more about how to adapt to the people around you?
If so, this is exactly what I'm talking to Vicky O'Farrell, Queen of Behaviours about.
We talk about:
How to improve relationships
Personality Profiling and how to really use them
How to adapt to support other people
And so much more
You can find out more about Vicky here
Welcome to this weeks episode of Smash Your Own Ceiling.
The doors of The Elevated Leaders Programme are now open and we kick start on the 30th January 2025!!
This is for you if you're ready to reach your leadership potential, stop holding yourself back and become a high performing confident leader.
For more info visit https://www.barbaranixon.co.uk/elevatedleaders/
Now onto todays episode where I'm sharing 3 powerful practices to set the next phase (whether that's a new year, new month, or any period of time) up for success.
Get your notebooks ready and dive in.
Welcome to the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast.
The Elevated Leaders Programme is now open for enrolment. For more information click here
Today I'm taking you through my end of year close down ritual. So, grab a notebook and pen and join me.
The doors are now open for my 8 week group coaching programme - Elevated Leaders.
This is for you if you’re a business owner or leader and you’re ready to Elevate in your space and up-level.
Maybe you’ve noticed that you’ve been holding yourself back in some way.
Maybe you know you’re capable of more and you can feel that you’re not living to your full potential or maybe you’ve noticed that your feeling like an imposter. If you’re ready to elevate and step up - this is the programme for you.
It’s an 8 week group coaching programme where we meet every week on zoom, and you get the coaching, training, accountability and community to give you the results that you want so you can up-level and get the momentum to carry yo forward.
If you’re interested or you’d like more information visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk/elevatedleaders
Now onto todays episode. I am delighted to share a chat that I had with the fab Mark Saxby. Mark is a Social media consultant, trainer & speaker at Status Social and is a Passionate co-founder of the Positive Social charity and creator of Be More Colin.
The question for this episode isn’t what did we talk about, but what didn’t we talk about.
But here’s a bit of a snap shot
We talked about
- Creating the life we really want
- Deciding what you want from life and business
- Shutting your business for a month every year
- How hard it is to switch off
- Getting your priorities right
- How much time we spend on our phones
- Going old school
- Getting results from social
- How to use Linkedin well
- Mixing the online off line world
And loads of practical tips
To get in touch with Mark click here
Welcome - I'm so excited to share this conversation with 7 times Emmy award winning Beth Sherman.
You're going to LOVE this chat!!
We talk about all things comedy and:
- How the truth is funny
- How to use comedy as a seasoning
- And also how to make a great tea and coffee 💁♀️
You can find more about Beth here:
Today I'm sharing a fantastic conversation with the lovely Kay Korsh - all about getting confident with your style.
If you've ever wondered 'what on Earth do I wear?!' this is the episode for you.
We talk about how to create your style so you not only feel comfortable, make a great impression but also to get your message across , and Kay shares so many tips along the way.
Here's more about Kay:
Kay has spent 20 years dressing actors like Elizabeth Debicki, Riz Ahmed, Ben Whishaw and Lily James.
Kay started Mind Over Fashion to combine her passion for style with her love for learning about human behaviour to help professional speakers all over the world gain more confidence and find their Signature Speaker Style, which is aligned with their message.
Because whether we want it or not, we are being judged for the way we look, even before we start speaking.
To find out more visit: