Let’s upgrade your resume! Executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin shares best practices in terms of resume format and content, plus common mistakes people make with their resume. Whether you’re looking for a new job or a board position, having an up-to-date resume that follows best practices can be a big advantage. Link to free RESUME … Read More
It’s almost November. How is this possible? In this part of the 🇨🇦 world, the leaves are changing and Halloween (and Christmas???) items are everywhere. As I plan my future podcast episode and newsletter topics, I’ve been reflecting on my year and thinking ahead to my objectives for next year. I’ve been asking myself what … Read More
About a year and a half ago I hosted a Q&A session on personal branding. I want to share a story with you from that Q&A that I think about often. A woman in the audience raised her hand and introduced herself as a lawyer from Manhattan. Then she bravely shared that she feared she would … Read More
Controlling your narrative means purposefully reinforcing your positive and unique traits in a way that communicates your value. When it comes to your personal brand narrative, you can LET it happen or you can MAKE it happen. Andrea shares many inspiring examples of real-life success stories, actionable tips, and explores the consequences of neglecting your … Read More
Revisiting the Top 10 most downloaded Talk About Talk podcast episodes over the last ten weeks has been a wonderful opportunity to reflect. If you’ve already listened to these episodes, this is your chance to review. If not, now you can get caught up on the Top 10! So why are these episodes, in particular, so … Read More
When I started Talk About Talk, I had NO IDEA I’d be focusing so much time and energy on personal branding. I thought I’d be focused more on communication topics such as listening, confidence and storytelling. But almost every day, one of my clients or listeners shares the significant impact that developing their personal brand … Read More
Personal Branding is important, yet it never seems urgent. Dr. Andrea Wojnicki shares 3 specific reasons why we should all take the time and effort to develop our personal brand, plus she shares a variety of resources to help you develop your personal brand: a new online course, podcast episodes, newsletter blogs, and more. Resources … Read More
In just a few days I’m going live on LinkedIn for an Open Q&A on Personal Branding. I’d LOVE to see you there! Bring on your questions and see you soon! In the meantime, let’s talk about another communication skills topic that comes up frequently: SPEAKING UP Have you ever been told you need to … Read More
Speaking up in meetings is important, but not always easy. Learn ten strategies to help you speak up. Consider what you do before the meeting, your mindset during the meeting, and your words! Resources Speaking Up Tip Sheet: https://talkabouttalk.com/speakup Connect with Andrea & Talk About Talk: Website: TalkAboutTalk.com Communication Coaching Newsletter: https://talkabouttalk.com/blog/#newsletter-signup LinkedIn: Andrea and TalkAboutTalk Youtube Channel: @talkabouttalkyoutube Talk … Read More
Are you on the job market or do you know someone who is? Well then here’s someone you’ve gopt to meet! Please meet Sharon Mah-Gin. Sharon is an executive recruiter with decades of experience across all functional areas, including sales, marketing, HR, operations, general management, and finance. She is also a dear friend with whom I’ve … Read More
Executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin shares her advice for job-seekers, including what to do first, what employers are looking for in job candidates, common mistakes, and (yes!) the significance of your personal brand when it comes to job searching. Resources Sharon Mah-Gin: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmahgin/ Executive Search Alliance – http://www.execsearchalliance.com/ Relevant Talk About Talk Episodes for Job Seekers … Read More
Almost immediately after last week’s communication newsletter went out (focused on what the research says about interruptions), “Sue” emailed me: Hi Andrea – I could really relate to this topic….so interesting that it occurs in business and in personal relationships. Why is it that those who interrupt seem to be so oblivious to how frequently … Read More
Someone tapping your shoulder. A notification chiming on your phone. The crash of thunder. What do these have in common? They’re all INTERRUPTIONS. Interruptions are often annoying and unproductive. Are you ready to talk interruptions? 3 things to Talk About this week: 1. Not all interruptions are created equal 2. What the research says about interruptions 3. … Read More
Have you heard Jeff Bezos’ definition of a personal brand? This definition is particularly useful because we can imagine various scenarios when we’re not in the room – and we really, really care what people are saying! Certainly, this definition works well. But recently I’ve come up with another definition that I like even more. Are … Read More
People make all sorts of mistakes when they’re developing their personal brand. Can you guess what’s the most common Personal Branding mistake? Read on to learn that and more… 3 things to Talk About this week: 1️⃣ 3 common Personal Branding mistakes (yes, including the most common mistake) 2️⃣ Take the Communication Skills Poll (I want to hear from … Read More
Andrea shares the 3 most common personal branding mistakes and misconceptions she sees with her clients: communicating first, scripting, and copying others. Learn why these are mistakes, and what you should do instead to build a strong and effective personal brand. RESOURCES Other Talk About Talk episodes on Personal Branding: #98 The Power Of Personal … Read More
As you know, my passion is helping others improve their communication skills. A huge part of that is building CONFIDENCE. Effective communication fuels your confidence and confidence fuels your communication! This week I’m really excited to share a few things to help you become a more confident communicator! Read on for… 3 things to Talk … Read More
I’m so happy to hear from many of you how much you like the new “3 things to Talk About” format for this communication coaching newsletter. More evidence of “The Power of Three”! Here we go… 3 things to Talk About this week: 1️⃣ Practice makes perfect… or does it? 2️⃣ The elevator pitch 3-point checklist 3️⃣May … Read More
Drop your rehearsed elevator pitch and try this instead! Certainly, being prepared for impromptu conversations with influential stakeholders is important. But elevator pitches typically come across as rehearsed and insincere. Instead, keep this simple 3-point checklist in mind! RESOURCES Website: TalkAboutTalk.com LinkedIn: Andrea and TalkAboutTalk Weekly Communication Skills Newsletter – https://talkabouttalk.com/blog/#newsletter-signup Email – Andrea@TalkAboutTalk.com For a transcript of this … Read More
For a while now, I’ve been saying that INTRODUCING YOURSELF is the most direct way to positively reinforce your personal brand. I just realized that HOW YOU DRESS may be at least as important! Here are some actionable tips to help you reinforce your personal brand through your clothing choices. Integrating Your Personal Brand Into … Read More
Do you ever stand in front of your closet wondering what on earth you should WEAR TO WORK? as3d via Canva This challenge is so common that it’s a cliché. But I would conjecture that this challenge has grown over the past several years, as it’s become more acceptable to dress down at work, even before the … Read More
What to wear to work? Your clothing communicates a lot about you, more than you probably think! Andrea shares what some of the research says about how we dress and others’ perception of us. Then she shares some do’s and don’ts when choosing your outfit. Here’s a question: what’s your most successful, happiest self wearing … Read More
How self-aware are you? Andrea shares the definition of self-awareness, different types of self-awareness, and how we can improve our communication effectiveness by being more self-aware. RESOURCES The 3 Point Body Language Scan Podcast Episode: https://www.talkabouttalk.com/96-3pt-body-language-scan/ Talk About Talk Website: TalkAboutTalk.com LinkedIn: Andrea and TalkAboutTalk Weekly Communication Skills Newsletter – https://talkabouttalk.com/blog/#newsletter-signup Email – Andrea@TalkAboutTalk.com
For many of us (myself included), January is a time to make a fresh start, and to adopt new and improved habits to help us achieve our goals for the year ahead. Image by New Africa studio via Canva Also for many of us, email causes a lot of stress. But email is supposed to be a tool … Read More
How many emails do you have in your inbox? Need some tips to help clear out your inbox? You can increase your productivity and reduce your email anxiety by doing 3 things: make behavioral changes; employ technology hacks; and effectively managing our sent mail. Let’s clear out your inbox! RESOURCES Dr. Andrea Wojnicki & … Read More
Have you ever been in a meeting and it suddenly occurred to you that you’re the only one at the table who hasn’t said anything yet? Or perhaps you’ve been told by your boss that you need to SPEAK UP. These scenarios are very common! SPEAKING UP in meetings is a fantastic opportunity for you…. … Read More
Do you find it difficult to SPEAK UP in meetings? If you answered yes, I promise you are NOT alone. Image by Prostock-Studio via Canva Struggling to speak up in meetings is extremely common, and not only for introverts. We’ve all been there. Myself included! Yes, even me, a self-proclaimed extrovert, has felt the anxiety … Read More
Speaking up in meetings is important, but not always easy. Learn ten strategies to help you speak up. Consider what you do before the meeting, your mindset during the meeting, and your words! RESOURCES Dr. Andrea Wojnicki & Talk About Talk Free 20min consult – Book Andrea Website – https://talkabouttalk.com Communication Coaching Newsletter – newsletter-signup LinkedIn … Read More
So, have you figured out your SUPERPOWER yet? Your superpower is also connected to your Personal Brand. It’s what you’re known for. It’s your reputation. It’s how other people think of you when you’re not there. This is one of the reasons why articulating your superpower is so important – especially in a professional context. … Read More
I’ve got a question for you: Each and every one of us has a SUPERPOWER. I don’t mean the ability to fly or to stop a speeding bullet. I mean the thing that positively and uniquely distinguishes you from others. The thing that makes you remarkable. The thing that makes you, YOU! Your superpower could … Read More
We all have a superpower. What’s yours? Learn the two main benefits of identifying your superpower, and 5 questions to help you identify your superpower. This is a critical element of your personal brand. RESOURCES Get the “How to Identify your Superpower” WORKSHEET: https://talkabouttalk.com/superpower Dr. Andrea Wojnicki & Talk About Talk Free 20min consult – Book … Read More
Whether you’re a job-seeker or a recruiter, have you ever stopped to consider exactly WHY employers hire people? I don’t mean why they might hire a particular candidate, but the overarching reason for hiring someone at all. According to executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin, the answer is 3-fold, and is something that every job-seeker and recruiter should consider throughout the recruiting … Read More
These days, It seems that everyone is either looking to HIRE people or looking for a NEW JOB, doesn’t it? The whole recruiting process can be very stressful. So I turned to my friend, executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin to ask her advice. Whether you’re a recruiter or a job-seeker, this week’s podcast episode is a must! … Read More
Executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin shares her advice for job seekers, including what to do first, what employers are looking for in job candidates, common mistakes, and (yes!) the significance of your personal brand when it comes to job searching. RESOURCES Sharon Mah-Gin LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmahgin/ Executive Search Alliance – http://www.execsearchalliance.com/ Recommendation: Jay Shetty podcast Relevant … Read More
When it comes to our professional lives, the difference between advancing in our careers or feeling stuck often comes down to one thing: our COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Whether your goal is to land a new role at a new company, be considered for a promotion, or to flourish in your current role, communicating effectively is key. Image by abluecup … Read More
Do you have Communication Skills questions? Listen to Andrea answer 12 communication skills questions from a live Q&A event hosted by FishBowl. Learn how to handle a difficult boss, communication tips for introverts, ideas for how to network and secure a new job, and more! RESOURCES FishBowl https://www.fishbowlapp.com/ Andrea on Fishbowl – https://www.fishbowlapp.com/fb/andrea-wojnicki Maye … Read More
Thinking About Thought Leadership Have you listened to the most recent Talk About Talk episode, “DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP“? In this episode, we look at 5 ways to demonstrate leadership: Be a PROACTIVE, Strategic Leader Demonstrate PEOPLE LEADERSHIP Create THOUGHT-LEADERSHIP Communicate with CONFIDENCE Talk LEADERSHIP Last week, we talked about PEOPLE LEADERSHIP. This week, we’re getting a … Read More
Learning to Lead Focused on learning to lead? Are you seeking a LEADERSHIP position? Perhaps you’re looking for that promotion or perhaps you’re struggling with your “leadership style.” Or maybe your boss just said those magic words: “It’s time to start demonstrating leadership.” Whatever the case, leadership skills are in high demand and I believe … Read More
Have you been told it’s time to start “demonstrating leadership”? Learn 5 ways to communicate your leadership potential and make leadership an integral part of your personal brand. You can create thought leadership, demonstrate people leadership, you can talk leadership, and more. RESOURCES Podcast Episodes #52 – Communication Skills of Effective Leaders – with executive … Read More
On Strategic Networking & Who to Have in Your Network A few weeks ago, we focused on the #1 SECRET to successful strategic NETWORKING. Do you remember the secret? Networking is NOT about YOU. It’s about ADDING VALUE. It’s about GIVING, not taking. The feedback was very positive when I posted this insight on social media. One of … Read More
On PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & UPSKILLING There’s no question that we can accelerate our career advancement by focusing on our PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT and strategically UPSKILLING, whether it’s taking a course to acquire formal accreditation, doing a “lunch & learn” workshop at work, or hiring someone to coach you through a “development opportunity” identified in your recent performance … Read More
Upskilling, or focusing on personal development, can propel your career. But what skills should you focus on and how should you develop them? Cherry Siu, chief of staff at Deloitte, shares personal development insights from her personal experience and observation of other global professionals. RESOURCES Cherry Siu & Deloitte Cherry on LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/cherrysiu … Read More
The Secret to Successful Networking Successful networking is not sales-y or awkward. I have a confession: Until recently, the notion of NETWORKING made me cringe. Networking is sales-y. Selfish. Awkward. Right? image unsplash @ neonbrand WRONG. Last year I interviewed executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin about NETWORKING. That episode quickly became the most downloaded Talk About Talk episode! … Read More
IMPLICIT COMMUNICATION & YOUR PERSONAL BRAND We can think of communicating our PERSONAL BRAND both EXPLICITLY and IMPLICITLY: EXPLICIT as in the words. Overt, direct, unambiguous messages. This includes your resume and how you introduce yourself. IMPLICIT as in signalling or sending queues. This is less direct, but critically important communication, as in your body language, your style, and lots more… … Read More
Personal branding is more than just the words we say about ourselves. Learn to reinforce your personal brand through consistent implicit communication, ranging from your personal style, possessions, affiliations, how you show up for meetings, and more. RESOURCES Dr. Andrea Wojnicki Email – Andrea@TalkAboutTalk.com Book Andrea for a free 20min “communication skills training” consult Andrea on … Read More
HOW TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP Several listeners and workshop participants asked me for advice on how to “DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP.” This is a FANTASTIC question! Whether you’re looking to get into an MBA program, get promoted from your entry-level position, or perhaps you’re ready to enter the c-suite, the decision-makers who will decide your fate are focused … Read More
Introducing the Unapologetically Authentic Jill Nykoliation Are you an AUTHENTIC LEADER? If you haven’t had a chance yet, please listen to Part 1 of my interview with JILL NYKOLIATION. Jill’s growth mindset, her candour, her self-awareness and her focus on creating a positive working environment for her team is truly exemplary. Jill Nykoliation I have two words … Read More
Strong communication skills can elevate your leadership effectiveness and your career. CEO Jill Nykoliation shares her general career advice, what she keeps in her 2 notebooks, the most common career pitfalls, and more. Listen to learn how to communicate like a boss! This is the 2nd half of a 2-part interview. Please see episode #75 … Read More
Meet Jill Nykoliation – CEO of Juniper Park, TBWA Are you leadership material? Do you COMMUNICATE LIKE A BOSS? I know someone who does and I’m so excited to introduce you to her! Jill Nykoliation – like a boss! Years ago, Jill Nykoliation and I started our careers together at Kraft foods in brand marketing. About when … Read More
Effective leaders communicate like a boss! Compassion, precision, and frequency of communication are just a few of the values that CEO Jill Nykoliation exemplifies and that she encourages others to embrace. This is part 1 of a 2-part interview. The 2nd episode (#76) includes a summary of both episodes. RESOURCES Jill Nykoliation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillnykoliation/ … Read More
YOUR PERSONAL BRAND – I’m excited to share 5 insights to help you improve your PERSONAL BRAND! Recently my friend Sharon Mah-Gin and I have been coaching female executives all over the world on Personal Branding and Networking. Do you remember Sharon? She’s the energetic executive recruiter who shared her Networking tips with us in two … Read More
On the tension of PERSONAL BRANDS: There’s a real tension here: Do you bring your whole self to work? How can we be authentic without sharing TMI (too much information)? How can we be transparent without appearing unprofessional? image: Unsplash @ loicleray Read on to learn: why navigating this authenticity-TMI tension might be easier for … Read More
How can we be authentic without sharing TMI (too much information)? How can we be transparent, bring our “whole selves” to work, without appearing unprofessional? Copywriter and messaging strategist Tom Megginson encourages us to be authentic, but focus on our audience. Code-switching and filtering are two ways to maintain authenticity without compromising professionalism. RESOURCES … Read More
Do you encourage engagement when you LEAD ONLINE MEETINGS? I have a quick STORY for you… Recently when I was leading an online corporate workshop, I noticed that about 1/2 of the participants had their cameras turned OFF. (For the record, I prefer cameras are on, but it’s not necessary.) The workshop went well and the group was interactive, especially … Read More
Leading online meetings (virtual meetings) is a challenge. Staying focused and encouraging others to participate is a huge challenge! Learn 4 tactics to encourage engagement in others, plus tips on what we ourselves should be doing during virtual meetings. RESOURCES Online Meeting Apps & Websites ONLINE MEETING INTERACTION TOOLS: KAHOOT.com MENTIMETER.com ZOOM website – … Read More
Combating Zoom Fatigue In last week’s ? podcast episode we focused on how to PREPARE so we can excel in online meetings. In this week’s newsletter, let’s shift to combating “ZOOM FATIGUE.” Have you noticed more and more people complaining about feeling exhausted? Fortunately, there are habits we can adopt to overcome Zoom fatigue! Based on some research (e.g. HBR … Read More
Actionable advice on how to communicate your personal brand online, including 3 KEY PRINCIPLES of personal branding, plus instructions for how to UPDATE, PARTICIPATE and MONITOR your personal brand online. REFERENCES & LINKS Resources “How to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile” podcast episode – https://talkabouttalk.com/62-optimize-linkedin/ Updating your email signature – https://talkabouttalk.com/email-communication-blog/ Talk About Talk “Communication … Read More
Your Online Meeting Preparation Checklist ONLINE MEETING PREPARATION… do you know what to do? Virtual meetings are now the norm. That goes for both professional as well as personal communication. image: Unsplash @ becihannah In 2020, Zoom was the #1 most downloaded app in the App Store and the #2 most downloaded app overall (after TikTok)! Nowadays we … Read More
Here’s your online meeting preparation checklist! We cover technology requirements and recommendations, your physical space, and your personal appearance. Preparation can fuel success in virtual meetings. RESOURCES Online Meeting Apps & Websites Most downloaded apps of 2020 – https://startuptalky.com/most-apps-downloaded/ Fastest growing companies of 2020 – https://www.investors.com/research/fastest-growing-companies-2020-despite-coronavirus/ ZOOM website – https://zoom.us/ growth (Bloomberg) – https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/zoom-daily-users-surge-to-300-million-despite-privacy-woes … Read More
Let’s Develop Your Personal Brand! It’s time to develop your personal brand. PERSONAL BRANDING, or proactively managing our identity, is important. But it can also be overwhelming. Let’s take it one step at a time! Last week I wrote and podcasted about HOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND ONLINE. This is a great place to … Read More
On COMMUNICATING Your ONLINE Personal Brand – QUESTION: Do YOU have a “Personal Brand”? ANSWER: Of course you have a personal brand. We all do! The real question is: how actively are you managing it? PERSONAL BRANDING is reputation management or impression management. Ideally, your personal brand transcends both personal and professional contexts. Managing your personal … Read More
On INTRODUCTIONS – Every week in these newsletters, we focus on improving our communication skills. Let’s back up. What about INTRODUCTIONS? Well, clichés exist for a reason… “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” “A first impression is a lasting impression!” “Hi. I’m Andrea!” Read on to learn all about INTRODUCTIONS: How … Read More
These days, we’re all NETWORKING ONLINE. Read on to learn: general networking advice reasons you should be optimistic how to approach people when you’re networking online tips for following up with people when you’re networking online Let’s do this! ? THE PODCAST For this timely podcast, I interviewed Sharon via Zoom. Sharon has so much positive energy! Sharon … Read More
Online networking is the only networking these days! Executive recruiter Sharon-Mah-Gin shares advice on how to approach people when networking online, how to follow-up, as well as general networking advice. There are many reasons to be optimistic! Just remember: “With true networking, it’s really not about you. It’s really about building relationships with like-minded people. … Read More
Let’s focus. 2021 has the potential to be an amazing year. Certainly, there are some things we can’t control, but many things we can. It just takes a little FOCUS. Read on to learn how you can leverage your awareness and ability to FOCUS. FOCUSING can help you succeed in many contexts: focusing your New Year’s … Read More
Top 3 lists from Andrea and Talk About Talk, including the top 3 Talk About Talk podcast episodes and newsletters, Andrea’s favorite podcasts, plus communication insights from 2020 and focus areas for 2021. THANKS for listening – and READING! – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawojnicki/ – Web: https://talkabouttalk.com/ – Email: Andrea@TalkAboutTalk.com ***When referencing resources and products, TalkAboutTalk … Read More
Step-it-up in online meetings – A few weeks ago I was participating in an online meeting, actually a “Communicating with Confidence” presentation to an organization via Zoom. During the Q&A at the end, a young, ambitious manager asked me, “As a junior person who isn’t leading meetings, I have limited opportunities to be heard in online … Read More
This week we’re talking CORPORATE CULTURE. “Culture” is relevant for all kinds of leaders, whether you manage a project team, you coach a sports team, or you’re a c-suite executive. Now might be the ideal time to build a strong culture – yes, even with physical distancing limitations and WFH. This is an opportunity that’s being handed to you “on … Read More
ONLINE MEETINGS Online meetings as in “remote meetings,” “Zoom meetings,” “virtual meetings”… Remember this? ? image: Unsplash @ febrianzakaria Questions for you: Have YOU ever “multi-tasked” when you were supposed to be focused during an online meeting? Checked your email or social media? Do you ever wonder whether the people with their cameras turned off in online … Read More
Here’s a list of 10 things you can do to COMMUNICATE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND ONLINE. (image: Unsplash @ samish_18) Let’s do this! 10 Ways to Communicate Your Personal Brand ONLINE! FIRST – KNOW YOUR PERSONAL BRAND Personal branding is a popular term these days. But identifying your unique personal brand can be overwhelming. … Read More
Step by step instructions on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile. Volterra founder Andrew Jenkins shares how to use LinkedIn for creating your personal brand, networking, thought leadership, marketing, and job-searching. REFERENCES Andrew Jenkins & Volterra LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjjenkins Volterra – https://www.linkedin.com/company/volterradigital/ Talk About Talk podcast episode with Andrew Jenkins #7: SOCIAL MEDIA – … Read More
On SMALL TALK – online & IRL! Recently I read a comment about making SMALL TALK on Zoom calls. Interesting, right? Video-conferencing has become so normalized that phenomena like small talk applies. The SMALL TALK advice and insights below apply whether you’re communicating online or IRL. Read on to learn: What is Small Talk? 5 … Read More
Storytelling is a superpower. Influencer and speaker Bobby Umar shares how storytelling can elevate your personal brand and your identity as a thought leader. For marketers, storytelling is a powerful tool to facilitate consumers’ resonance with brands. REFERENCES Bobby Umar Twitter:https://twitter.com/raehanbobby Facebook Business:https://www.facebook.com/raehanbobby/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyumar/ LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bobbyumar/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/raehanbobby/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/BobbyUmar Speaker Profile:https://www.nsb.com/speakers/bobby-umar/ Recommendations: Gary Vaynerchuk … Read More
Zoom Skills: How to improve your VIDEO-CONFERENCING skills. How are your video-conferencing / Zoom skills? (image Unsplash @ visuals) Since COVID-19 was declared a world-wide pandemic in March 2020, Zoom has become: one of the most downloaded apps one of the fastest growing companies part of our common vocabulary, a generic term for video-conferencing in … Read More
This week we focus on two specific leadership contexts, CRISIS LEADERSHIP and leading VIRTUAL TEAMS. How’s that for timely? Whether you’re managing a corporation, leading a project, coaching a sports team, or parenting your children, chances are you can improve your leadership effectiveness. ? The Podcast: CRISIS LEADERSHIP & VIRTUAL TEAMS Executive coach Heather Stark is back to … Read More
Are you leading a virtual team? Learn how to lead a virtual team and excel in a crisis. During a crisis, everything is magnified, including leadership skills. Executive coach Heather Stark shares her “5C’s of creating a virtual culture” framework to help leaders navigate and excel in the new normal. (This is part 2 of … Read More
This week it’s all about LEADERSHIP. My Dad always had a sign on his desk that said, “LEAD, FOLLOW or GET OUT OF THE WAY.” It’s not quite clear who said this first, but we all need to know our role, right? If you ever play the role of LEADER, this blog is for you. … Read More
Effective leaders are effective communicators. Executive coach Heather Stark shares how to improve our communication skills and why leaders need to be good listeners, authentic, proactive, inclusive, intentional and mindful. REFERENCES & LINKS Heather Stark & Stark Coaching Email – heather@heatherstarkcoaching.com LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherestark/ Recommendations Berkeley Greater Good – https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ Laurie Santos & The … Read More
Competition, or rivalry over resources, encourages us to strive and excel. Meet open source strategy expert Dr. Mekki MacAulay, who encourages us to create value by adopting an inclusive, transparent, open source mindset. According to Mekki: “90% of the equation is collaboration, helping, and communicating effectively.”
This week we’re moving on from EMOTIONS and NEGOTIATIONS to COMPETITION and Open Source Strategy! Read on to learn about: Podcast #51 – COMPETITION with open source strategy expert Dr. Mekki MacAulay (Un)Healthy Competition – and what to do about it! Open Source Strategy 101 – your primer! You can skim this blog or click … Read More
Negotiation. It’s something we all do, be it negotiating our salaries, a sales price, or our childrens’ bedtimes! Read on for: 5 little-known negotiation tips 3 master negotiators negotiating quotes from familiar names Let’s do this! 5 LITTLE-KNOWN NEGOTIATION TIPS 1️⃣ Don’t Be Selfish! It’s certainly advisable to come prepared to a negotiation knowing what you want and … Read More
Are you good at networking? Executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin shares her advice on how to be a better networker, including why it’s critical to attend events, how to thrive at small talk, how to leverage LinkedIn, and the ideal networking mindset. References & Links Sharon Mah-Gin LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmahgin/ Executive Search Alliance – http://www.execsearchalliance.com/ … Read More
Do you know how to be a good networker? I remember when I was in business school, I kept hearing how we all need to become a “good networker.“ What exactly does that mean? Coincidentally, my personal New Years resolution for 2020 is to “get out there with real people in real life.” Apparently, that … Read More
This week we focus on TELLING OUR STORY – as in writing fiction and non-fiction, the power of metaphors, talking to the media, and why we all need a personal 60-second infomercial! Let’s do this! ? This Week’s Podcast: TELLING YOUR STORY I just released this week’s ?podcast, focused on TELLING YOUR STORY with best-selling author, consultant and … Read More
Do you know how to tell your story effectively? The story you tell could be at work in conversation with your boss, in a job interview, or perhaps you seek to write a novel? Best-selling author and legal veteran Norman Bacal shares how stories are impactful because they connect us through our emotions and life … Read More
Listen here… I hope you had a good week. Did you have a chance to INTRODUCE anyone – using the skills we learned about last week? This week’s newsletter theme and ?podcast is on LISTENING. I can’t wait to introduce you to our guest expert – author, consultant, and legal veteran Norman Bacal. But before we get … Read More
Listen, as Norman Bacal, author, consultant, and 35 year legal veteran, shares his insights and stories about how active listening can help you not only learn, but also improve your relationships with co-workers, clients, family, and friends. You will learn strategies for active listening, including the ideal mindset for listening, what to project, how narcissists are … Read More
An INTRODUCTION to the New Year! Did you have a restful break? Are you feeling inspired about 2020? I am so excited about 2020. ? My plan is to continue to focus on upping our COMMUNICATION SKILLS with: weekly email newsletters, bi-weekly podcast episodes, some new things that you will be the the first to hear about though this email blog! … Read More
This week we’re talking about a topic that was suggested by several of you: “How to Deal with Difficult People.” You know – the difficult ones, the grumpy guy, the trolls, the “NO man,” the toxic-types… You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more. Let’s do this… The Podcast: “How to deal … Read More
Working with difficult or negative people can be stressful. Learn reasons why people act so negatively and what you can do about it. Human Resources expert Tamara Finlay suggests diagnosing the issue using the SCARF model, then shares specific Do’s and Do-Not’s, depending on whether it is your peer, your subordinate or your boss. … Read More
This week we’re talking about which Communication Media we should employ. If you’ve listened to the Talk About Talk podcasts, you know that I ask every guest expert 5 Rapid Fire Qs, including “what is your go-to communication medium for personal conversations?” The answers vary widely – from face-to-face, to phone, to text, and more. … Read More
Do you know when to use the phone or email? What about text, social media, and face-to-face meetings? How do you feel when you hear the phone ring? In this podcast episode, HR expert Tamara Finlay shares advice and frameworks to help you choose the ideal communication media or platform to optimize your communication. … Read More
Hello!!! Last week we tackled a rather negative, but very important topic: how to give negative feedback…. (NOT like this!) This week, we tackle another topic that Talk About Talk listeners suggested: How to conquer your EMAIL INBOX! You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more! Let’s do this…. ?PODCAST EPISODE … Read More
How many emails do you have in your inbox? Need some tips on how to conquer your email inbox? You can increase your productivity and reduce your email anxiety by doing three things: (1.) making behavioral changes; (2.) employing technology hacks; and (3.) effectively managing our sent mail! The first thing to do is to … Read More
This week we focus on negative or constructive feedback – “softening the blow,” as they say. You can skim this short blog or click the links to learn more! Let’s do this…. ?PODCAST EPISODE #31: HOW TO GIVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK You ASKED for it … One of the most common Qs that I receive is, “how can … Read More
Giving negative feedback is challenging and stressful. You will learn the mindsets, do’s & don’ts, and frameworks to help you give negative feedback effectively. Be constructive. Don’t make it a surprise, don’t joke around, don’t threaten the person. Be empathetic (compliment in public, criticize in private), be objective and professional, and LISTEN. Make sure that … Read More
