My Emotional Work Life

About My Emotional Work Life

If you’ve ever been told to ‘leave your emotions at the door’ to your workplace, and thought ‘how? What? Really?’ This podcast is for you. Guess what, it’s ok for you to have emotions about your work. It’s even ok for you to have emotions at work too. But how do we navigate the often challenging, overwhelming, frustrating, but also brilliant, world of work in the 21st century, whilst maintaining our energy and motivation? Jennifer McCanna PCC has been coaching leaders around the world since 2011, and brings her trademark down-to-earth, practical strategies as well as inspiring stories to help you surf your emotional life at work (rather than bottle it all up and pretending it doesn’t exist.) Jennifer’s clients work in big multi-nationals, tiny local charities, government departments, think tanks, global banks and everything in between. They have something in common - they are all human and helping humans navigate their emotional work lives is something she does daily, along with helping them transform tricky relationships and feel energised at work. My (Emotional) Work Life is a mix of stories and strategies to help you navigate your own emotional work life. As an emotional freedom technique practitioner and emotional human being, as well as a leadership coach, Jen shares the approaches she’s seen work with countless clients, to help you navigate some of the most challenging work situations. Enjoy conversations with guest experts who share stories around topics such as returning to work after maternity leave, grief, job hunting after a particularly toxic job experience and navigating the menopause. My guests will share their top tips for navigating the very real challenges many of us face at work. Do you need some practical strategies for that difficult colleague who is bringing up all the feelings? Want to reflect on how to support a colleague through a challenging period in their lives? My Emotional Work Life has got you covered. If you enjoy My (Emotional) Work Life, please make sure you follow, rate and review the show and share it with your work colleagues and anyone else you think may benefit from the podcast. Find out more at https://mccannacoaching.co.uk/

Publisher

Jennifer McCanna

Category

business · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Apr 2025

Latest episode

10 May 2026

Latest episodes

20 of 21 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   10 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S2 Ep 10: It’s lonely at the top, or is it? Insight from a CEO

   What does it really feel like to lead an organisation? In this episode, Jennifer McCanna gets behind the mic with former hospice CEO Claire Irving to explore the often unseen emotional side of leadership in the third sector. From pressure and uncertainty to moments of isolation especially during the turbulence of the pandemic, Claire opens up about the reality behind the job title. She also shares her personal journey to becoming a hospice CEO, and why building strong support systems is vital for leadership success. Here are the highlights: Becoming a CEO on the brink of a global pandemic The hidden loneliness of leadership Practical ways CEOs can overcome isolation Why the CEO–board relationship can make or break success The true cost of burnout and why wellbeing isn’t optional Balancing compassion with high performance How early role models shape lasting leadership styles Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tap to support you In this episode we speak about the importance as a senior leader of creating space to think so this tap is to help you do just that https://vimeo.com/1177425505?fl=pl&fe=sh (https://vimeo.com/1177425505?fl=pl&fe=sh) A note from Jen: 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 and now used by the NHS in trauma therapy. Self help 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 like to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch. Meet your host Jennifer McCanna: Jen 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. She works with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designs and delivers insightful leadership development and away days. Connect with Jennifer: Download free resources at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna (https://mccannacoaching.co.uk/resources/) Read about her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna (https://mccannacoaching.co.uk/) Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-mccanna-pcc-2b96361/) And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos (https://www.instagram.com/jen_the_leadership_coach/) Don’t forget to follow this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. About Claire Irving: Claire Irving is the co-founder and Director of Better Strategic Consultancy, where she partners with charity leaders, trustees and senior teams to shape strategy that is clear, practical and rooted in how organisations really function. With senior-level experience across organisational strategy, leadership development, income generation and complex stakeholder environments, Claire has supported organisations through periods of growth, merger, cultural change and uncertainty. Her work brings together rigorous strategic thinking with emotional intelligence, helping leaders make better decisions and navigate pressure without losing sight of their people. Claire is known for her thoughtful and human approach, trusted counsel and ability to turn complexity into calm, shared direction. Connect with Claire: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-irving-64017515/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-irving-64017515/) https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/ (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/) Produced by Winter Audio (https://winteraudio.co.uk/)

2. 

   26 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S2 Ep 09: Avoiding Sunday night dread

   Jennifer McCanna, a leadership coach, explores the roots of "Sunday night dread" and offers eight practical strategies to foster calm and reclaim control over your work week.

3. 

   12 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   S2 Ep 08: How to be human – the messiness of life as a leader with Joshua Okunlola

   What does it really mean to be human at work, especially as a leader? In this episode, Jennifer is joined by coach, mediator, and facilitator Joshua Okunlola to explore the realities behind the façade of professional perfection. They candidly discuss the power of naming vulnerabilities, the courage it takes to admit you don’t always have the answers, and why embracing the “messiness” of leadership is more impactful than pretending to have it all together. Here are the Highlights: How to build work relationships that feel real and *buzzword alert* authentic Joshua and Jen’s stories of being messy as leaders How being human impacts what the group can achieve together When and why we keep ourselves small for fear of rocking the boat The difference between pretending to be perfect and being truly human How mediation can help in a difficult relationship (and why the need for it might be on the rise) How to help someone else, a colleague or team member, find their voice Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tap to support you This is a gentle 5 minute tap to help you play around with the idea that it’s ok to put some stuff down, it’s ok to be messy and to be human. Do let me know what resonates with you? https://vimeo.com/1153557948?fl=pl&fe=sh (https://vimeo.com/1153557948?fl=pl&fe=sh) A note from Jennifer: 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. Connect with Jennifer: Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna (https://mccannacoaching.co.uk/resources/) Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna (https://mccannacoaching.co.uk/) Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-mccanna-pcc-2b96361/) And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos (https://www.instagram.com/jen_the_leadership_coach/) Don’t forget to follow this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. About Joshua Okunlola: Joshua is a coach, facilitator and mediator who cares deeply about helping people find clarity in the places where life and leadership feel tangled. His work often begins with simple but human questions: Who am I becoming? What role am I really here to play? And how do I lead without losing myself? He brings over a decade of experience across schools, charities, corporate teams and faith communities, but what shapes his work most is his belief that leadership is personal before it’s positional. His approach blends psychological insight with grounded, reflective conversation. He helps leaders slow down, see themselves more clearly, and reconnect with their own values, voice, and purpose. As a mediator he supports people through conflict, tension, and relational strain, helping teams rebuild trust and communicate in healthy, sustainable ways. Connect with Joshua: Follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaokunlola/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaokunlola/) Website: https://reclaimingpotential.com/ (https://reclaimingpotential.com/) Produced by Winter Audio (https://winteraudio.co.uk/)

Inside a recent episode

S2 Ep 10: It’s lonely at the top, or is it? Insight from a CEO

Published 10 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Yeah, so it was my, it was the biggest learning curve was, was how to manage that loneliness and what to do, you know, what tactics to use to make sure that you didn't kind of succumb to becoming isolated because there's all sorts of risks associated with that, you know, risks to your mental health or to the productivity of the organisation and how successful it can be, you know, because if you do, like, only lean into yourself, you start to miss out on opportunities, you start to miss out on connections. For me, forming links with peers was the first thing and finding safe spaces where, you know, and like you say, Jen, like, finding a really great coach who can help you talk through, you know, either doing a bit of kind of after -action reflection on something that's happened or talking through your approach to something so that you just have someone's sense check, you know, is it me? […]

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

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0

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