Why do so many of us find ourselves stuck in meeting after meeting, losing hours we could actually be using to work? In this episode, co-hosts of Headflex Rebecca Walker and Diane Williams get honest about the explosion of meetings in modern work life and what we can do about it.

Rebecca and Diane dig into how meetings have quietly become the default response to almost everything at work, even when a quick chat or email would do. They explore the habits, fears, and trust issues behind recurring meetings that overstay their welcome, as well as how remote work has made “let’s just jump on a call” the easy option.

As experienced coaches, they share practical ways to reclaim your calendar, from questioning the real purpose of every meeting to shifting the focus to outcomes, not just updates. They discuss how meetings can create a false sense of productivity, what truly makes a meeting worthwhile, and how to experiment with different formats, lengths, and approaches to collaboration.

Ready to stop letting meetings run your week? Listen in for new perspectives and practical strategies.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Why are there so many meetings?

02:06 How meetings crept into our calendars after the shift to remote work

04:29 Why quick conversations became full 30 or 45-minute meetings

06:12 How meetings become habits and questioning if they’re still useful

08:09 FOMO, trust issues, and the hidden reasons meetings persist

10:04 Is your meeting about control or genuine collaboration?

12:13 Turning agendas into questions for real engagement and outcomes

16:18 Recognising when meetings work and when they’re a waste of time

19:03 Getting intentional: Who really needs to be there, and for how long?

21:04 Practical alternatives to unnecessary meetings

22:14 Asking: keep it, change it, or kill it? Doing a calendar MOT

24:43 Respect for everyone’s time and protecting space for real work

25:35 Self-coaching questions for meeting sanity

26:47 Wrapping up: small changes, big impact for your work week

About Headflex:

If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme. We also offer Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk to find out more.

Connect with us at Headflex:

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@headflexcoaching

Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/

Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1

Produced by Winter Audio

How do you keep showing up, and keep having fun, when you’ve stepped well outside your comfort zone? In this milestone 50th episode, Rebecca Walker and Diane Williams look back on the journey of creating Headflex, sharing their favourite moments, hard-won lessons and the impact the show has had on them, their coaching practices and their listeners.

Rebecca and Diane revisit standout conversations, from Andrew Blair’s fresh take on curiosity to Oscar Trimboli’s masterclass in deep listening. They open up about the early doubts (including nearly pulling the plug!), the commitment it takes to keep going, and the nerves that come with putting yourself out there for others to hear.

As experienced coaches, they reveal how making the podcast has sharpened their skills, kept their curiosity alive and pushed them to rethink their ideas (yes, even arguing with themselves on air). They’re honest about the awkwardness of those first few episodes, grateful for the support behind the scenes, and proud to be making coaching conversations accessible, helping listeners feel less alone and more empowered at work.

This episode is a celebration of growth, honest conversations and the power of asking better questions, for yourself, your team and your career.

Ready for a fresh dose of inspiration? Tune in and celebrate 50 episodes of learning out loud!

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Intro - Celebrating Headflex’s 50th episode

00:20 The value of pausing to look back

02:51 Carrying forward lessons from a guest's perspective

03:22 The value of the ADHD series and guests' openness

07:04 Embracing fear and learning the world of work is messy

08:12 Providing a safe space for workplace reflection and conversation

09:42 The value of continuous learning and research

11:39 The energy and fun of recording studio “vodcasts” for YouTubewith Winter Audio

13:23 How podcasting has refreshed their approach to work and practice

15:59 Reflective questions for listeners about their own working lives

16:43 Gratitude for the journey and their community.

About Headflex:

If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme. We also offer Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk to find out more.

Connect with us at Headflex:

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@headflexcoaching

Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/

Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1

Produced by Winter Audio

What do you do when you finally accomplish a long-awaited goal, only to find yourself feeling unexpectedly underwhelmed? In this episode of Headflex, Rebecca and Diane dig into the "arrival fallacy" the idea that achieving success will automatically bring lasting happiness. They share why our emotions often don't match our expectations after promotions or big wins, and how tying our self-worth to achievements can leave us feeling perpetually dissatisfied.

Throughout the conversation, Rebecca and Diane reflect on their own experiences and their work as coaches, revealing how many clients confuse outcomes with the feelings they’re really chasing. Instead of focusing relentlessly on the next title or milestone, they encourage listeners to uncover the deeper needs like confidence, belonging, or purpose that drive ambition. They also offer practical advice for leaders aiming to support their teams’ personal definitions of success, rather than pushing uniform goals.

For anyone who’s ever thought, "I thought I’d feel different when I got here," this episode offers both validation and actionable strategies. Listen in for thoughtful self-coaching questions and new ways to reframe what success truly means to you.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Intro: Why achievements sometimes feel underwhelming

01:53 The belief that reaching a goal will bring lasting happiness.

02:58 How we often confuse the outcome with the feeling

07:07 The endless cycle of "I'll feel good when," leading to burnout

08:46 Warning not to make achievement responsible for happiness.

13:41 The importance of self-compassion and celebrating wins

16:05 Climbing the ladder vs excelling in your current role

18:02 Reframing success to focus on personal fulfilment

22:23 Bringing goals into the present

About Headflex:

If you're curious about coaching, Headflex offers a range of coaching programmes to suit different needs. 1:1 coaching, team coaching, group coaching and their Headflex in Residence programme. We also offer Headflex Lunch and Learn sessions. Visit www.headflex.co.uk to find out more.

Connect with us at Headflex:

Email: hello@headflex.co.uk

Website: www.headflex.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/head.flex/

Connect with Rebecca Walker: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawalker13/

Connect with Diane Williams: www.linkedin.com/in/dianewilliams1

Produced by Winter Audio