With the return to the office, the rise of AI in the workplace and women still navigating hostile environments, the way we work is at the forefront of our minds. It’s why at this year’s Stylist Live, we had a new Work Life stage, in partnership with Google, to tackle some of our work woes and pick up a few nuggets of advice in the process. And what nuggets we had.

From Simon Horton chatting about the art of negotiation to Juliet Landau-Pope helping us tackle that procrastinating feeling, we’ve rounded up some of the best pieces of career advice we picked up this year. Pens and notebooks at the ready…

Tobi Asare on celebrating imposter syndrome

During her talk, Tobi Asare, founder of My Bump Pay, shared how to make job progression work for you whether you’re expecting or planning a family. She noted that we don’t “celebrate feelings of imposter syndrome enough” and it should be rebranded as something to be proud of.

“When you’re stepping into a situation that’s new or uncomfortable, that’s exciting and nerve-racking, but being an outsider can be a real strength. So many organisations are looking for newness and freshness, so while feeling like an outsider can be odd, that different perspective is really valuable.”

Viv Groskop on the ABCD approach to conquering self-doubt

Conquering self-doubt can be a daunting task, but writer, comedian and presenter Viv Groskop has a useful and catchy mnemonic to help us feel more confident in our lives. The ABCD approach includes four key tips: always put yourself first, be careful what you let in, cultivate evidence and don’t make it about you.

Ros Atkins on speaking your points out loud

Ros Atkins, the BBC’s analysis editor and author of The Art Of Explanation, shared his tips for effective communication and getting your point across. “I hardly say anything out loud for the first time when it matters. I can’t tell you how powerful practice is. I remember covering the Dutch elections a few years ago, and I’d done all my homework on different politicians, but when I went on live TV and started talking, it just wasn’t coming out properly. It wasn’t because I hadn’t done my research; it was because I hadn’t taken the time to say it out loud.”

Simon Horton on negotiating effectively at work

“We have micro negotiations thousands of times a day,” said the author of The Leader’s Guide To Negotiation. “Who deserves a pay raise? That is negotiation. If you are renting a home, thinking of renting alone or thinking of buying, that is negotiation. In a relationship of any kind? Want to get out of a relationship of any kind? Negotiation. We’re negotiating all the time. If you can negotiate in these situations, you quickly and smoothly get great outcomes, and you’re improving the relationship at the same time. That can really transform your world.”

Tskenya-Sarah Frazer on learning to let go

“My shoe business wasn’t my first choice. My first business was an online magazine, and I held on to it for such a long time because it was my baby. But it got to a place where I had nothing else left to give, and I had to let it go. Failure is an inevitable part of life, so it’s important to try out your ideas but recognise when it’s not working out and move on to the next thing.”

Juliet Landau-Pope on procrastination and turning whys into whats

“The first thing lots of my clients say is ‘Why can’t I get round to this?’ or ‘Why am I spending so much time on the less important things?’ My first tip is to stop asking why, because it takes us into our head. We start ruminating and speculating rather than doing. As a coach, I’m about getting people moving and changing their habits, so I want them to shelve the ‘why’ questions.

What I do want to talk about is what. One of the main reasons people avoid important tasks or difficult conversations is because the focus isn’t clear. The first step is to have a really clear sense of what your end goal is. Come up with a concrete, tangible ‘what’ and you’re more likely to achieve it.”

Natalie Duvall and Alison Burton on the joy of collaboration

March Muses founders Duvall and Burton shared their experiences of setting up a business together and how invaluable having a collaborator was for their work. “It feels like burnout is inevitable when you’re starting out, but if you can find someone you’re able to work with well, it can help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed. We are constantly multi-tasking: doing marketing, sales, contracts and everything else. But having a collaborator I can talk everything through with is invaluable.”

Dr Nerina Ramlakhan on tackling burnout through being vs doing

“Every 60 to 90 minutes, you need to do something unrelated to your work. So, make sure you get up, walk around, get away from your desk, breathe, hug someone. You will start to notice that your energy levels, your batteries start getting topped up,” says Dr Ramlakhan.

Burnout, procrastination and self-doubt: 8 of the best pieces of careers advice we’re taking into 2024