Jamil Qureshi

10 research-backed ways to clear your mind… Overthinking doesn't shout.  It hums; draining your energy and clouding your next move. “What if I’m making the wrong move?” That’s the quiet thought running underneath so many of the conversations I have with women leaders. (Break free from overthinking with my free guide: https://lnkd.in/gZJrJxhm) They want to grow.  They want to lead at the next level. But the path forward feels murky, and the stakes feel high. They’re wondering: 🔸 “If I stay where I am, am I stunting my growth?” 🔸 “If I leave, will I lose the trust and reputation I’ve built?” 🔸 “Is there even a place for someone like me at that next level?” Underneath it all is a fear that showing up with too many ideas, too much ambition, or too strong a voice might make them “too much” — or worse, irrelevant. So they wait. They overthink. And they quietly carry the burden of uncertainty alone. 1. 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆  → Instead of trying to avoid your worries, have a “worry session”.  ✍️ Write down your thoughts to bring clarity and calm. 2. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  → Break the loop of repetitive thoughts by reflecting on what you can control.  ❓Ask, “What’s really bothering me?” to reframe the situation. 3. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 → Create distance between you and your thoughts by using humor.  🙊 Try something like, “Thanks, mind; that’s helpful!” and use the ‘silly voice’ trick from CBT. 4. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 → Overthinking narrows your focus to just one aspect of reality.  ❓Step back and ask, “What else is true?” to see the bigger picture. 5. 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 → Avoid using extreme words like “always” or “never.”  🗣️ Try: “This is tough, but I can improve.” 6. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ❓Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” ask “What can I learn from this?”  → This will open your mind to new possibilities. 7. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀  → Shift your focus from ‘fear ‘to ‘hope’. ❓Replace “What if I mess up?” with “What if I learn and grow from this?” 8. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵  → Deep, slow breaths calm your nervous system. 😮‍💨 Inhale for 2 counts, holding, exhaling for 4 counts; repeating 3 times. 9. 𝗚𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 → Nature grounds and reminds us that there is more to life. 🌳 Go outside, walk, or sit in a park to reset your thoughts. 10. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → Stop the cycle by taking small, actionable steps.  ❓Ask, “What’s the smallest thing I can do right now?” Create an “I CAN” list. You don’t need to have it all figured out to start moving forward. Sometimes the most powerful move is simply giving yourself the space to ask: What do I actually want?  What’s the boldest next step I can take today? PS. Which one will you start with? 💬 Curious how this applies to you? DM & let’s chat. ♻️ Pass it on

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🍽️ Your seat at the table speaks before you do. I once attended a formal business dinner where a young manager had all the right qualifications, confidence, and charm… But the way he sat—slouched back, elbow over the table, napkin tossed aside—spoke louder than his words. ❌ Within minutes, the impression shifted from “future leader” to “still not ready.” That’s the hidden truth about dining etiquette. It’s not just about what you eat—it’s about how you carry yourself while eating. Here are 3 simple yet powerful tips I always share with my clients: 1️⃣ The Sit: Sit tall, back slightly away from the chair, feet grounded. It shows confidence and respect. 2️⃣ The Style: Keep hands visible above the table (but never resting like you own it). Gentle, graceful movements signal polish. 3️⃣ The Subtle Cue: Napkin on your lap as soon as you sit. When you’re done, place it neatly on the left of your plate. 💡 Why does this matter? Because the dining table is often where deals are closed, impressions are formed, and networks are built. An image consultant’s secret is simple: Style isn’t just about what you wear—it’s also about how you sit, eat, and carry your presence everywhere. ✨ Next time you sit down for a business lunch or dinner, remember: Your etiquette is your silent brand ambassador. #ImageConsulting #ProfessionalEtiquette #ExecutivePresence #DiningEtiquette #Leadership

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Here’s the bit you might not have considered when you become a professional speaker Professional speaking is a business and when you start any business you’re excited, full of optimism and all the possibilities your new life will bring and so it’s tempting to believe you’ll be profitable from day one. Unfortunately, the reality is a bit different, it takes time. In the first months, you’ll probably be: - Investing in your learning - Creating materials and assets - Building your website and positioning - Making a showreel or video content - Setting up systems and processes (these don’t stop, you’ll keep investing in these as your business grows) This is the foundation phase and you may find yourself eating into your savings to make it happen, but it’s what makes profit possible later. I’ve seen too many speakers start with no financial cushion, max out their credit cards, and then feel pressured to succeed immediately. That pressure doesn't usually lead to good decisions. Don't do it. If you can, give yourself six months of living expenses in the bank before you start, or build speaking as a side hustle (sorry I’ve gone American again) while keeping another income stream. It’s far less stressful, and it gives you space to think and be strategic. Give yourself the best possible chance of turning those first steps into long-term success. And whatever business you’re in 6 months living expenses should be your minimum – put money aside for a raining day. Goodness knows we are getting more and more of those these days – and no I’m not talking about climate change. Photo is from recent photoshoot, totally unrelated but hey I paid for it, going to use them.

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How to stop the nerves when you’re presenting. Try this pattern interrupt technique. In this video I’m talking about the ‘first ‘thing you need to do to help yourself get over the nerves when you’re giving a presentation. This simple technique will help you help you to get past the tendency to rush when you present. And I have to say, it’s been a game changer for me. There is no win for us in rushing – and no win for our audience. It’s a huge mistake. That said, it’s not to say we need to speak ponderously slow when we present… We want to have ‘colour and movement’ in our voice – it’s also known as ‘light and shade’. So, it’s important to provide variety in our voice, in pacing and speed – we can speed up a fraction (without rushing) and slow down a bit… And allow ourselves to pause, as you’ll notice I occasionally do in the video. (A pause can be so powerful – I’ve written a post on this earlier here on LinkedIn that you can check out.) And we need to focus on speaking in a more conversational way - in the way we would if we were talking to people where we might be explaining something important and sharing insights with people we feel really comfortable with… Start building your self-awareness (as I mention in the vid) and notice how you speak when you’re feeling really comfortable, and bring ‘that person’ into your presentations. And remember, you need to keep doing this consistently, when you practice your presentations and when you’re actually giving your presentations. It needs to become a consistent habit. As presenters, if we want our audiences to be engaged, we have to avoid rushing, because it has so many negative knock-on effects for us and our audience. And I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you feel when you go to a presentation, and the presenter is rushing their delivery. And what do you do to prevent yourself from rushing? #Communication #PresentationSkills #ControlNerves

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𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟱 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 You’ve handed over the task. You’ve cleared it off your to-do list. But somehow… it bounces back. Late. Incomplete. Not what you expected. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: Delegation isn’t about handing off work and hoping for the best. It’s about clear communication, shared understanding, and structured support. 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟱 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 1️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲? If you can’t define it clearly, your team can’t deliver it confidently. 2️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺)? Purpose drives ownership. Make it meaningful, not mechanical. 3️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? Timelines. Priorities. Decision-making authority. Be clear. 4️⃣ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳? Not to test them but to check you were clear. (This one’s a game-changer.) 5️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁? It’s easier to invest 5 minutes at the start than 2 hours cleaning up later. Delegation done well creates autonomy, momentum, and growth. Done poorly? It creates rework, frustration, and fire drills. 🔥 Want more practical tools to lead your business without being the bottleneck? 📅 Join me for a free 60-minute masterclass: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 🗓 Thursday 14 August | ⏰ 12pm AEST 🎯 For leaders ready to step out of chaos and into clarity 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gQ7e7zJa

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