by Margaret E Ward | Sep 11, 2026 | Career Development, Work-Life Balance
Who am I when I’m no longer working every day? Am I still a professional if I’ve retired from my job? What’s my purpose now? What will I do with all that free time? These vexing questions hit too many of us only when we’re on the cusp of that dirty R-word: retirement....
by Margaret E Ward | Aug 28, 2026 | Future of Work, Work-Life Balance
Computer, desk, chair, phone, keyboard, mouse. These are the things we have the most physical contact with during the working day, but what about the impact of our overall environment? Looking beyond our computer, we might see a busy open-plan office, large windows,...
by Margaret E Ward | Aug 21, 2026 | Company Culture, Work-Life Balance
When we think of peak performance, we visualise medal-winning athletes such as Kate O’Connor, Mark English, Rhasidat Adeleke and Andrew Coscoran. Their stellar performances at the European Championships follow years of physical, mental and emotional discipline. Peak...
by Margaret E Ward | Jul 17, 2026 | Company Culture, Leadership & Management, Work-Life Balance
Happiness: is it your employer’s job to provide it? Many leaders I’ve encountered say “no, staff is paid for doing a job and that’s enough. We don’t need this ‘employees of the week’ lark, birthday cards or baristas for them to work hard.” That’s partly true. Two...
by Margaret E Ward | May 15, 2026 | Future of Work, Women at Work, Work-Life Balance
What do glass slippers, leather shoes, and the world of work have in common? Too many people pretend they’re the right size. Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters and US president Donald Trump’s officials all attempted to wear shoes that didn’t fit. Likewise, too many...
by Margaret E Ward | Apr 30, 2026 | Future of Work, Women at Work, Work-Life Balance
When I first met Laura (not her real name), she was an associate solicitor in a small but busy general practice and excited to be pregnant with her first child. Five years later, she was a solicitor at a top Dublin law firm and a parent to two young children with a...
