Hardcore Soft Skills Podcast

In this episode we talk about Curiosity. This time we talk about the scientific research on Curiosity with Dr Alison Hostmeyer (https://www.dralisonh.com/). She is a humanistic researcher and talent development consultant. Her research focuses on curiosity and associated mental, emotional, and motivational attributes. Dr Hortsmeyer is also adjunct faculty for USC Marshall School of Business Execut...

Today our focus will be not on the concept of skills but attributes. If you are a frequent listener of this podcast you know I really enjoy talking with current and former members of the military because they have great insights learned on the field which we can apply basically anywhere. I was very happy to have this guest on the show to share his lessons as a Navy Seal Commander and which he capt...

In this episode we talk about one of the skills most difficult to master: good writing.  My guest is Leslie O'Flahavan is a get to the point writer and experienced instructor. She is the owner of the company E-write ( https://ewriteonline.com/ ) and she has provided customized writing courses for Fortune 500 compnaies, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. She is also a LinkedIn...

Tech- savviness or being Tech-Savvy is not just about knowing a 'how to,' but about cultivating the desire to always be learning more. This is what we will talk about today with my guest Bob Fabien Zinga ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobfabienzinga/ )   Fabien is a cybersecurity executive and US Navy Reserves Commander with 23 years of experience in Information Technology and areas such as leaders...

Today we will talk about Grit and our expert is former Army Colonel David Fivecoat ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fivecoat-b5860b75/ ), who served twenty-four years as an infantry officer, leading men and women during contingency operations in Kosovo and Bosnia, three combat tours in Iraq, and a combat tour commanding a battalion in Afghanistan. He culminated his service by overseeing the gen...

This is the final episode of the season two. This season we have featured mini master classes from well-known experts so listen to the previous episodes from Season 1 and Season 2 to learn more. In this episode we discuss Emotional Intelligence. In my IO Psychology classes this semester we talked a lot about this concept which was by the coined by Peter Salovey and John Meyer, but popularized by D...

In today's episode we will talk again about the skill of Creativity. (You can listen for the previous episode here: https://www.hardcoresoftskillspodcast.com/creativity-natalie-nixon-phd/ )  Noah Askin ( https://noahaskin.com/ )  is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD business school, located in France, where he teaches Organizational Design and Leadership. Noah is interest...

We consider creativity as a territory that belongs to the people in music and art, but creativity is a skill we all have and can cultivate.   My guest today helps people build what she calls creative confidence. Natalie Nixon is a creativity strategist with a background in cultural anthropology, fashion, and service design, who now focuses on helping companies  innovate. She is also the author of...

Storytelling is not an art reserved for authors. Regardless of your job, you need to start integrating the art of telling stories either if you are selling a product or if you are selling yourself.   In this episode, Amy Blaschka has made a career offering stories as a service. From her degree in film to her three decades spent branding products, places and people, Amy has understood the power of...

The book Getting Things Done , by David Allen, was published over 20 years ago and today is it as relevant as ever.  The book, has which been published in 30 languages, has turned into a whole methodology called GTD and it is now being taught by coaches all over the world.   I spoke with David about the origins of GTD, and he shared specific actions you can take now to enjoy your life. For more in...

Conflict is unavoidable at work, no matter if you work in an office or remotely. If you wish you had a step by step guide for addressing conflict, Dr. Paul Marciano just wrote it. Doctor Marciano, also known as the Respect Doctor, just launched his book Let's Talk About It: Turning Confrontation into Collaboration at Work . The book gives concrete steps on dealing with conflict based on situations...

  Forming teams is certainly not an easy  task and there is no easy formula to follow. There are many books addressing how to recruit and improve teams with very different approaches. One of the recent books I read on the topic fascinated me because it proposed a different yet successful approach. The book The Talent War ( https://thetalentwar.com/ ) proposes that just as it is done in successful...

Empathy at work can bring great business value and increase our ability to become better leaders. In this episode we speak with Mimi Nicklin is the bestselling author of Softening The Edge , the host of the 'Empathy for Breakfast' show (www.empathyforbreakfast.com) and the 'Secrets of The Gap' podcast. She is an experienced marketer, communications strategist, and an empathy advocate. She spoke  f...

Networking is an essential skill which can determine the success in our careers. However, many of us neglect it or do not know the correct way to do it. In this episode, Jordan Harbinger ( https://www.jordanharbinger.com/ ), Wall-Street attorney turned podcaster, shares how networking has driven the success of his career. To access Jordan's free Networking course, go to https://www.jordanharbinger...

Negotiation is not about winners or losers, playing tough or misleading. It is about seeking a deal where everyone can benefit. In this episode we learn how to become better negotiators from Diana Buttu, a lawyer specializing in negotiations, international law, and international human rights law. Buttu worked as a negotiator on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, serving as the only female negot...

In this final episode of the season, we talk about Time Management with Adrian Shepherd, who focuses on consulting with individuals and companies on productivity. His background in education helped him develop The One-Bite Time Management System (TMS), a based entirely around simplicity which we will talk about today He is also a contributor for the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Medium, and othe...

In this episode we talked about Diversity and specifically Diversity Awareness. While Diversity may be seem as part of an initiative a company takes on to  ensure people of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures are treated as equal, diversity is also an individual responsibility. Our guest today, Karen Catlin, is an advocate for inclusive work spaces. After spending 25 years building software...

Curiosity is a very important skill which gives us a competitive advantage. According to research people with high curiosity are more inquisitive and generate more original ideas. Curiosity can also help us have more positive engagement with our teammates. My guest today is driven by curiosity and inspires others to cultivate it as well. Dr.  Deborah Berebichez is the first Mexican woman to gradua...

In this week's episode we discuss two themes: Communications and Covid-19. Our guest today, Alsy Acevedo, is a journalist and until recently, a Senior Media Specialist at John Hopkins Medicine International. In the episode, we discuss specifically the skill of Asking Questions.  This skill allows us to understand and be understood. Knowing different ways to approach people and ask questions from c...

Adaptability is the ability to quickly learn and respond to changing circumstances. Our ability to manage change is considered today one of the key soft skills employers look in candidates. We constantly have to adapt to new technologies, new processes and new teammates. Having the right approach to learn and be open to change is essential. My guest today knows about dealing with changes in the mo...

Heather Younger is a Juris Doctor turned Motivational Speaker and author who has dedicated her career to the study of management and leadership. She is the host of the Leadership with Heart Podcast and author of the book The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty. Part of her motivation to educate leaders who empower others, was her own experience as child when she encountered racial discrimination...

Self-Awareness is what allows us to recognize ourselves: what are our talents, what are our shortcomings, what potential do we have. Research suggests that when we are self-aware, we are more confident, creative, better leaders and workers. Mark Metry is an advocate of Self-Awareness. The author of Screw Being Shy and host of the Humans 2.0 podcast discusses his struggles growing up with social an...

Public Speaking is a skill many of us have struggled with throughout our career. Professional Speaker Pilar Ortiz shares in this episode valuable advice to help us lose the fear and gain confidence, no matter our language.   To contact Pilar via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pilarortiz/

Managing Stress is one of the greatest challenges of our days and dealing with it is a skill which takes great significant practice. In this episode, Dr. Janell MacAulay shares valuable techniques and practices she uses to train military and workers in high stress roles. For over two decades she has managed human performance based on her own experience as a combat veteran in conflict zones. Watch...

Humor is a not just about being funny. Cultivating humor as a skill can help unleash creativity and diffuse tense situations at work. It is also a valuable tool for learning. Kupe Kupersmith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kupekupersmith/) is an Applied Improv Coach who has used techniques he learned on stage  as an improv artist in his technology and business consulting training. In this episode, he...