We’ve all said “yes” at work when we really wanted to say “no.” In this episode of My Emotional Work Life, Jennifer McCanna welcomes back coach Lucy Gower to share practical strategies for setting boundaries without burning bridges.

They explore why we default to pleasing others, the impact on our time and energy, and tools like the “yes, if…” approach to decline requests confidently. If you want to protect your energy while staying professional, make sure you tune in.

Here are the Highlights:

1. Pause before answering to check your capacity
2. Buy time by asking to come back with an answer
3. Use “Yes, if…” to clarify priorities instead of a flat no
4. Lucy’s formula for saying no in a way that feels good
5. The importance of practising saying the words out loud
6. Focus on when you are available, not when you’re not
7. Let your no stand without over-explaining.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tap to Support You

This short tap will boost your comfort around saying no. Let me know what resonates? https://vimeo.com/1140019128?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources here Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen’s coaching here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn Jennifer McCanna PCC |...

Redundancy can feel devastating, yet the emotional impact is often brushed aside. Host Jennifer McCanna is joined by facilitator and coach Lucy Gower to unpack the real feelings behind workplace restructures from shame and fear to self-doubt and share practical ways to move forward with clarity and confidence.

If you’re facing redundancy, or still carrying its emotional weight, this episode is for you.

Here are the Highlights:

1. Redundancy brings messy emotions even when it’s not personal
2. Talking about feelings at work isn’t unprofessional — it’s essential
3. Poorly handled redundancies deepen the emotional impact
4. Confidence doesn’t protect leaders from self-doubt
5. There’s no “right” way to respond to job loss
6. Support networks matter more than ever during transition
7. The single most important thing managers can do during change
8. Why leaving well, when possible, really helps

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tap to Support You

This short video shows you a tap that will support you surf the many emotions you may feel whilst navigating change at work. Come back to it as many times as you like!

https://vimeo.com/1152238428?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources here Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen...

Ever found yourself agreeing to things, festive gatherings, extra work, even another helping of trifle when every fibre of your being is shouting “No!”? Join host Jennifer McCanna for the Season Two opener of My Emotional Work Life, a festive special exploring why we struggle to say no, especially during times of heightened expectations and family traditions.

Jen draws on her expertise as a leadership coach and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner to break down the beliefs and cultural conditioning that drive our reflex to please others at the expense of our own wellbeing. She considers workplace and family scenarios, explains why saying yes too often leads to resentment and offers practical strategies for setting compassionate boundaries in and outside of work.

If you want this holiday season to feel less overwhelming and more meaningful, this episode is for you.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction: Welcome to Season Two and the festive pinch point for boundaries
• The universal struggle of saying yes when we mean no (at home and at work)
• How beliefs and upbringing shape our boundaries especially for women
• Recognising the consequences: resentment, stress, and masking resource problems
• How to shift unhelpful beliefs using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
• The five types of energy and how holiday periods drain or restore us
• Tips for maintaining your energy and honouring your boundaries this festive season
• Valuing your time (and why it helps others)
• What to expect in Season Two.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tap to Support You

Jen says: "If you find yourself saying yes when you want to say no, check out the EFT video in the show notes. In just a few minutes, you can tap along and start shifting those automatic responses and unhelpful beliefs that make it hard to set boundaries."

Watch a short EFT (tapping) video here for a welcome moment of pause and to start to give yourself permission to no, if you want to https://vimeo.com/1140014774?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free...

What happens when the transition to work after parental leave doesn’t go as planned? Step into the world of working parents with your host Jennifer McCanna as she chats to Charlotte Speak, the dynamic force behind Power of the Parent. Charlotte shares her story and the challenges she faced returning to work, which has insight for all of us to empower parents and organisations to thrive together. This episode holds wisdom for parents, leaders, and anyone striving for meaningful work-life balance. Join us to discover how redefining success and supporting parents can transform workspaces for everyone.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Facing biases and challenges as a mother in the workplace
• Charlotte's career change into coaching
• How our language around emotions has evolved for the better
• What Charlotte wished she knew before returning to work
• Work-life balance and the frustrating 50/50 myth
• Helping organisations integrate impactful parental policies that meet parents’ lived reality.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tap to support you

Jen says ‘This is a short tap to build your confidence in your version of success. If, like Charlotte, you have had a challenging return to work, and you have some anger or frustration about that, however long ago that was, you might find the tap in the show notes of ‘The difficult boss survival guide’ helpful.

Watch our Emotional Freedom Technique Video

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram...

Could laughter be the secret ingredient for business success? Learn about the surprising power of joy in the workplace with your host, Jennifer McCanna. She explores the science of laughter, uncovers how it can enhance team bonding and performance, and takes a look at how to balance lightheartedness whilst tackling challenges head-on. With practical advice and real-life examples, learn why creating space for silliness can transform team dynamics and drive exceptional results. Tune in and embrace the lighter side of your emotional life at work and learn how it really does make good business sense.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• The benefits of a lighthearted work environment
• Jennifer’s example of when silliness had a real impact
• How to balance lightness with uncomfortable challenges

If you need permission to make space for joy and laughter at work, because it can feel counter intuitive, check out this Emotional Freedom Technique video.

Jen says: ‘work being fun can feel a bit risky. A bit not allowed. A bit frivolous. Especially if we work with serious or difficult subject matter. This is a tap to gently give yourself permission to enjoy yourself at work.’

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

If you’d like to discuss working with Jen, you can book in a call with her here Contact Us | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here

Have you ever wondered how emotions impact your professional journey and workplace environment? Join your host Jennifer McCanna as she interviews Nick Basannavar, a social historian, author and leadership coach who specialises in supporting leaders to build inclusive teams. They explore the intricate intersection of emotions and professional life, from navigating the challenges of suppressing emotions to understanding cultural impacts on workplace dynamics. Nick shares his profound insights and stories taken from an interesting and diverse career. Make sure you listen to explore strategies to better understand and navigate your emotional life at work.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• The personal journey to self-awareness
• Intellectualising your feelings doesn't lead to emotional healing
• How to embrace uncertainty within team dynamics
• Letting go of the answers and creating an open space
• A look at evolving workplace cultures in Japan
• How to start building inclusive, ethical work cultures
• Leadership in the social sector and supporting mental health

Want to support your own emotional wellbeing at work? Watch Jen’s Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Video

A note from Jen: This is the kind of tap I might do before even getting out of bed in the morning if I’m struggling to do so. It won’t solve everything, but it might create a moment of space to make some choices about how to address the day.

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self-help tool with ever-growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch, and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here

The world of work in 2025 can feel overwhelming. Heck - the world as a whole can feel overwhelming, and so much of it is way beyond our pay grade to control. So, what to do?

Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, as she takes a look at how we might maintain our emotional equilibrium in spite of the pace and uncertainty of modern working life. Learn practical strategies to protect your energy, set crucial boundaries, and create a workspace that encourages breathing room for thought and creativity. From mastering the art of emotional acceptance to exploring the stress bucket concept, this episode offers to help you manage your energy and control your stressors.

Jen mentions The Resilience Dynamic® in this episode, which is years of studies into human resilience, and a book by Jenny Campbell. You can read more here.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed try out this Emotional Freedom Technique to help.

Jen says ‘When we feel overwhelmed it can be about all the things and nothing in particular, so this tap is to help us notice where we might be holding tension in our body and a bit of permission to delegate, to say no, and to find the space we need.’

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self-help tool with ever-growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch, and I’ll share some options.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Navigating the pressures of work and leadership
• Techniques to help you enhance your emotional resilience
• Acknowledge the stress, and release the rest

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

If you’d like to discuss working with Jen, you can book in a call with her here Contact Us |...

Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, along with guest Emotional Freedom Technique whizz and menopause coach Louisa Hussey, as they explore the emotional complexities of menopause and its impact on work life. Whether you're experiencing it personally or supporting a colleague, this episode unravels the intricacies of menopause and its myriad of emotions. Gain practical strategies to foster understanding and compassion in your team, and learn why it's crucial for everyone in the workplace to be part of this conversation. This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to making the workplace a supportive and understanding space for all.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Louisa’s personal menopause journey
• Menopause awareness for men in the office
• EFT as a tool for emotion processing
• Creating a supportive work environment (nothing to do with fans!)

This is a tap to support you in your peri-menopause or menopause experience.

A note from Jen: ‘As we know, everyone has a different experience, and as such I’ve attempted to keep this as generic as I can, whilst referencing some key emotions, such as anxiousness, that come up for me and my clients.’

Emotional Freedom Technique (or tap) to support you.

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos