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
Are you a POSITIVE person? We all have bad days, and it’s normal to not feel positive about things 100% of the time, but according to academic research, there are real benefits to keeping it positive! 3 things to Talk About this week: 1. The “Magic” Relationship Ratio 2. Sometimes the best advice is what NOT … Read More
You’ve probably heard about the power of positive SELF-TALK, but what about SELF-LISTENING? This week, I’m thrilled to explore this topic and share insights from a recent conversation with my friend, the talented Jill Nykoliation. I’m even more excited because you can now WATCH this and future Talk About Talk podcast episodes on YOUTUBE! Please subscribe, … Read More
What is self-listening? Self-listening is self-awareness and focusing on your unique identity. In this conversation between Andrea and advertising veteran Jill Nykoliation, you’ll learn Jill’s advice on listening to yourself, overcoming imposter syndrome, pausing and asking yourself questions, and journaling! Now on YouTube! – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_n67Yb2wztDFWxw-OAayA Resources Episode #75 “Communicate Like a Boss Part 1 … 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
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadAndrea 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 … Read More
If you’re reading this, I’m going to guess you and I have something in common: we both ❤️ love to LEARN. This week, I’m excited to share some things I recently learned, plus some tools that I hope will help you improve your communication skills. Here we go… 3 things to Talk About this week: … Read More
If you’re a new Talk About Talk newsletter subscriber – WELCOME! If you’re a long-time subscriber, you’ll notice here that I’m trying something new. Each week, I’m going to share THREE THINGS with you. (Yes, “The Power of 3 “!) My goal is to provide a brief summary of three different things that will … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThere are many reasons to adopt a growth mindset. Andrea explains why adopting a growth mindset is the #1 most impactful yet underleveraged skill, how thinking about prototyping can help you adopt a growth mindset, plus her three ideas for how you can adopt a growth mindset right now! … 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
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhat 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 … Read More
Most of us think we are SELF-AWARE. But research indicates that only 10-15% of us are technically considered highly SELF-AWARE. The good news is that we can turn up the dial on our self-awareness. By doing so, we improve our communication, our relationships, and our performance. Basically, we will be happier and more successful! When … Read More
Based on a few recent conversations with clients, it occurred to me that people define the concept of SELF-AWARENESS in different ways. Let me share some examples… “Ashley” was an amazing leader who I had the privilege of coaching over six months. About a month into our program, she revealed to me that recently when she was … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadHow 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 … Read More
Image by pixelshot via Canva 2022 is almost over! It’s easy to get caught up in the end-of-year stress, isn’t it? I try my best to focus on some of my favourite things: LISTS and GIFT GIVING! LISTS Are YOU a list maker? I definitely am! (Thank you, ❤️ Mom!) Image by @glenncarstenspeters via unsplash This … Read More
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the end of the year is another time in our calendar when gift-giving is rampant. There are corporate gifts, teacher gifts, and on and on… For some of us, GIFT GIVING is a beloved tradition that brings us much joy. But it can also bring us stress! Image by alexkich via Canva … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadGift-giving is a highly symbolic form of communication. Gift-giving can also create a lot of stress! Whether it’s a client thank-you gift, a birthday gift, or Valentine’s day, gifts communicate things about the giver, about the giver’s beliefs about the receiver, and about the relationship between them. Gifts can … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadQUICK! What are your pet peeves? What type of learner are you? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What communication media do you prefer? Do you have any podcast recommendations? How would YOU answer the 5 rapid fire questions that Andrea asks her guests at the end of … Read More
Beyond jumping around like a hooligan, what do you think communicating your ENTHUSIASM looks like? Image by Monkey Business Images from Canva Communicating enthusiasm can involve a combination of actions, depending on the context. (You probably wouldn’t communicate enthusiasm to your boss in the same way you would to a 5 year old, am I right?) In the … Read More
Negotiations. Job searches. Teaching and learning. Sales. Have you ever wondered if there is something you could do to improve the outcomes of situations like these? Well, there is! The thing you should be doing? Show some ENTHUSIASM! I was first introduced to the power of enthusiasm by my friend, Dr. Tatiana Astray, whose … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadCommunicating enthusiasm can improve outcomes in many contexts, including negotiations, sales, job-searching, and teaching and learning. Learn why enthusiasm is so impactful and how to communicate it through your body language, your tone and your words. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST RESOURCES Enthusiasm Talk About Talk episode on “Emotional … Read More
Strategic Principles of Personal Branding Before we shift to the 3 STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES of PERSONAL BRANDING… let’s review the most common mistake that people make in terms of their PERSONAL BRAND. Do you remember what it is? COPYING OTHERS Instead of copying others, I urge you to focus on your unique traits and qualities – … Read More
STRATEGIC PERSONAL BRANDING CONFIDENCE is still the #1 most common communication-skills-related topic that I get asked about from listeners and clients. PERSONAL BRANDING is a close second. Interestingly, when we take the time to define and communicate our PERSONAL BRAND, our CONFIDENCE is elevated. So focusing on your personal brand is like a double-whammy! image: unsplash … Read More
How to Overcome IMPOSTER SYNDROME Need some advice on how to overcome IMPOSTER SYNDROME? Let’s back up. Did you take the IMPOSTER SYNDROME TEST that I sent you last week? (Here’s the LINK.) It’s a fun exercise. But it turns out most of us feel like imposters! image: Unsplash @ Jon Tyson Here are 3 … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDo you suffer from IMPOSTER SYNDROME? Most of us do! Learn exactly what imposter syndrome is, how to avoid or alleviate imposter syndrome, and some good news: how the discourse (talk) about imposter syndrome has evolved. RESOURCES IMPOSTER SYNDROME “The 4 Ps of Preparing to Communicate with Confidence” Talk … Read More
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT INTROVERTS & EXTROVERTS Last week we defined INTROVERT, EXTROVERT, and AMBIVERT. This week we cover common misconceptions about these terms. We already covered the first of our 3 misconceptions: We’re all one or the other, an introvert or an extrovert. NOPE! As I mentioned last week, it’s a continuous scale. In fact, most of us are in the … Read More
“Are you an INTROVERT or an EXTROVERT?” This introvert or extrovert Q is question #3 of the five rapid-fire questions that I ask Talk About Talk podcast guests: What are your pet peeves? What type of learner are you? Introvert or extrovert? What’s your media preference for personal conversations? What podcasts or email newsletters do … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIntrovert or extrovert – which one are you? Learn 3 common misconceptions about the introvert/extrovert scale and how to leverage this personality dimension to help you manage your energy and your relationships with others. RESOURCES Introvert vs Extrovert INC magazine – https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-shy-or-introverted-science-says-this-is-1-primary-difference.html Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffboss/2015/09/10/6-facts-you-should-know-about-introverts-that-have-significant-leadership-implications/#390621e2182d FastCompany – https://www.fastcompany.com/90232763/5-things-youre-getting-wrong-about-extroverts “QUIET: … 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
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPersonal 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 … Read More
PERSONALITY TESTS Let’s talk about personality tests. This week it’s all about YOU! As in your individual, unique, very own PERSONALITY… (image: Unsplash @ georgeprentzas) I know this is a popular topic. We are intrinsically wired to seek to understand and learn about ourselves. PERSONALITY is one of the most searched terms on the TalkAboutTalk.com website! … Read More
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNICATION Certainly, gender differences exist: “Men are direct. Women are emotional….” “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.” You’ve probably heard the comments and perhaps you’ve witnessed differences between how men and women talk. Recently a few people asked me about the differences between how men and women communicate. Like you, I’ve … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadTop 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 … Read More
This week we focus on another aspect of our personal and professional IDENTITY: our NAME! Over the past month we’ve covered ARCHETYPES 101, ARCHETYPES & FEMALE POP STARS, and PERSONALITY. Are you getting the theme here? It’s all about IDENTITY. What does YOUR NAME say about you? Read on to learn: What your name means How our names affect us … Read More
Let’s talk PERSONALITY. Are you a leader? A risk-taker? Funny? Charismatic? Read on to learn about: Personality Tests Can We Change Our Personality? Brand Personality This concept of personalities is closely related to ARCHETYPES. Have you listened to last week’s podcast ? on ARCHETYPES? If yes, let me know what you think! If you haven’t listened yet, think of this short (23min) ?episode as your “Archetypes 101” … Read More
This week we focus on the Introvert/Extravert scale. When I asked Dr. Nadine Kelly, the guest expert from last week’s podcast, “Are you an Introvert or an Extravert?”, she said, “I think a good solid mix of both. I used to think I wasn’t extraverted but I don’t think you can be a podcaster and … 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
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWorking 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, … Read More
This week – it’s all about being FUNNY… I know I’m not very funny. Maybe I can be clever sometimes – maybe. But I would like to be funnier. And I love comedy! Let’s do this! ? PODCAST #22: FUNNY TALK with stand-up comedian & business school professor Hillary Anger Elfenbein So in this podcast episode, we learn some … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadYes, you can learn to be funny! Do you appreciate humour? Do you ever imagine what it’s like to be on the stand-up comedy stage? Listen as stand-up comedian Hillary Anger Elfenbein (also a fully tenured business school professor) shares her insights on learning comedy, and compares that experience … Read More
I hope you had a great week! Based on last week’s blog & featured podcast (“Artificial Intelligence”) – Did you ask your virtual assistant any of the 10 entertaining Qs? ?? For the record, YES, we have tried all of these Qs (and more) in the Wojnicki household. Nerds in paradise, I say! In this week’s … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhat’s your personal style? Carolyn Quinn, executive director of Toronto Fashion Week provides us with insights on fashion trends, environmental sustainability in the fashion industry, and tips on purchasing clothing and pulling together a great outfit! References & Links Carolyn Quinn, executive director Toronto Fashion Week Toronto Fashion … Read More
I hope you had a great week. Based on last week’s blog – Have you taken opera-singer Bradley Christensen’s advice and used your “inner smile”? Have you ceased all whispering? Personally, I have been saving my podcasting voice by whistling for my kids’ sports teams! In this week’s TalkAboutTalk email blog, we talk and learn about Siblings, Birth … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadAre you the bossy eldest? The troubled middle child? The baby of the family? Or an only child? Does your personality fit with your birth order stereotype? What about your kids? Listen as Dr. Andrea and her brother, musician and sound producer Brian Campbell, talk about birth order effects, … Read More
This week we Talk About COLOUR – colour theory, trends, how we communicate with it, five fascinating facts, colour of the year, and quotes! (you can skim this blog or click on the many LINKS to learn more) ?FIRST – THE PODCAST For this week’s podcast focusing on COLOUR, I interview three talented guest experts whose careers all … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhat are you saying with the colours you wear? How do the colours on your walls affect you? Learn about how colours affect our moods and perceptions, our purchase decisions, and even our level of aggression. Listen as Dr. Andrea and the three experts she interviews (quilting store owner … Read More
This week we Talk About BRANDS (your personal brand, brand management frameworks & the top brands!) ?FIRST – THE PODCAST For this week’s podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing CEO and team performance expert Michael Boydell. Sounds intimidating, right? But Michael is very down-to-earth and honest–AUTHENTIC. He describes several exercises that anyone can run through … Read More
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadAre you actively managing your professional and personal brand? Can brand management frameworks help us manage our own careers? CEO & team performance expert Michael Boydell suggests we start with a blank sheet of paper. If it feels uncomfortable, we’re on the right track! Ask yourself: Where & with … Read More
