Antoinette Oglethorpe author of the COMPASS Journal blog, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, sits smiling on a white sofa with magazines and papers spread out in front of her in a bright, minimalist room.

The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

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Blog: Career Conversations

January 24, 2022

Are you limiting yourself by focussing too much on your job title?

Does your current job title REALLY reflect the work you do? If yes, then you can probably skip this blog post. If not, then you should realize that organisations have a tough time with job titles because they are generic, and you are not. You are unique. And you will have developed your job in

A close-up, black-and-white photo of a person holding a finger to their lips in a gesture signalling silence or secrecy, subtly capturing the weight of self-doubt. The image is slightly blurred and the background is out of focus.

January 12, 2022

Silence the Impostor: How to end self-doubt and build confidence in yourself

In my last blog post, Impostor Syndrome. Are you letting it damage your career growth? I described the negative impacts that Impostor Syndrome can have on our careers. I also promised to share some ideas to help you overcome it. So, that’s the plan for this blog post, looking at ways to silence the impostor,

A person with blonde hair styled in plaits covers their face with their hands outdoors, perhaps feeling impostor syndrome. They wear a black shirt, a wristwatch, and have white polished nails, with greenery and blurred people in the background.

January 7, 2022

Impostor Syndrome. Are you letting it damage your career growth?

Have you ever had the feeling that you’re going to be found out? That you don’t ‘deserve’ this, that you’re not good enough, or you don’t belong? You may be suffering from Impostor Syndrome. Regular readers will realise that a lot of my recent blog posts have related to subjects I am covering in the

Two women wearing blazers sit on a windowsill in an office, smiling and chatting. One woman holds a laptop, possibly discussing strategies for influencing your manager. Large windows reveal a building outside.

October 30, 2021

Managing Upwards: 8 tips for influencing your manager

In my blog post, Managing Upwards: How to make progress through influencing your supervisor, I introduced the subject of managing upwards. And I emphasised the importance of ‘Seek first to understand; then to be understood.’ In my last blog post, Managing Upwards: First you need to clearly understand your Manager, I shared some ideas on

Two men in business suits stand by a large window in a modern office, smiling and looking at a mobile phone together—perhaps sharing tips on how to better understand your manager. An empty meeting table and chairs are in the foreground.

October 30, 2021

Managing Upwards: First you need to clearly understand your Manager

Managing upwards is one of the most valuable – yet often overlooked – career skills you can develop. It’s not about trying to curry favour or play politics. It’s about building a productive, respectful relationship with your manager so that you can both succeed. The starting point? As Stephen Covey famously said, “Seek first to

August 19, 2021

7 Actions You Can Take to Deepen Your Self-Awareness

In my last blog post, I talked about why deepening self-awareness is critical for career growth and success. Deepening your self-awareness is a lifelong effort. Researcher and author Tasha Eurich uncovered a disturbing statistic. Her multi-year study showed that 95% of us think we are quite self-aware, but only about 10-15% of us actually are.

A large, vintage-style question mark sign with exposed light bulbs lies on its side against a dark background. The glowing bulbs evoke self-awareness for career success, casting a warm, inviting light.

August 18, 2021

Why Deeper Self-Awareness is Critical for Career Growth and Success

When I reflect on the pivotal moments in my own career, one thing consistently stands out. It wasn’t a promotion.It wasn’t a training course.It was a conversation – one where I finally understood how I was getting in my own way. Up until then, I’d been described as “calm under pressure.” But what I didn’t realise was

June 23, 2021

Want to future-proof your career? Adaptability is the number one power skill

Charles Darwin’s words still very much ring true. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.” If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that the environment in which we now work is incredibly unpredictable; things change fast. So, employees

Aerial view of intersecting country roads dividing green and dark farmland, with a few scattered trees casting long shadows—symbolising a career development journey through varied landscapes.

May 11, 2021

Your Career Development Journey. Consider These Six Different Routes You Can Take

In my last blog post, ‘Career Development has changed. It’s time for a meaningful 21st century definition‘, I talked about how the world of work has changed. If ladders still exist, they are harder to climb. Here we explore other ways to take your career development journey. People still move upwards in a career. In

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