People Skills with Karen Amlin

What if success had less to do with motivation and more to do with how you think when you don’t feel like moving? We dig into the psychology behind people who finish what they start and show how to build a system that makes progress inevitable, even on rough days. We start by replacing the "feel-like-it" myth with a vivid, long-term vision that survives low-energy mornings and busy weeks...

What if the real test of character isn’t how kind you are on easy days, but how you show up when it costs you? We delve into the messy, daily moments where values collide with pressure: late projects, tense meetings, and difficult conversations, and outline a practical path to being a truly good person, not just a pleasant one that others approve of. The core idea is simple yet demanding: goodness...

Karen Amlin, Ashleigh Ford, and James Tyack answer Reddit questions from managers: Tension between coworkers, and a team feeling the weight: sound familiar? We unpack how to stop workplace friction from stealing momentum by pairing a values-first stance with practical tools you can use the moment tensions rise. We start with the “surgical” approach to conflict: build trust in one-on-ones, surface...

Ever felt your voice shake and thought, “Maybe I’m not a leader”? We go straight at that fear and show why confidence is built through action, not bestowed at birth. From public speaking jitters to the quiet strength of introverted managers, we share practical tools to grow real influence—without becoming someone you’re not. We start with the myth that leadership belongs to the loudest person in t...

What happens when a manager's good intentions collide with spectacular misjudgment? Join us for an eye-opening conversation about a workplace nightmare that's almost too outrageous to believe. We dive deep into a Reddit post that had us both gasping: a manager who hired their massage therapist—doubling as a "spiritual guide"—to lead a mandatory team-building workshop. The agend...

Embark on a voyage of self-discovery with Dianne Dupuis – a force of nature in the financial industry, whose life reads like an adventure novel. She's not only reshaped her own destiny, moving from the culinary arts to senior finance manager, but also embodies the essence of a nurturing leader, a mentor, and fitness enthusiast who has turned the corporate world into a place of growth and kins...

When we peel back the layers of management, what core truth do we find? For James Tyack, engineering manager at Coursera and a new dad, that truth lies in the intersection of leadership and vulnerability. Our latest episode brings you a riveting conversation with James, where he shares his journey of discovering how showing his human side has helped create a culture of trust and empowerment within...

In this conversation, Karen Amlin interviews Ashleigh Ford, a former director of nursing who transitioned to leadership training and mentorship. Ashleigh shares her passion for leadership and helping others, emphasizing the importance of people skills in leadership roles. She discusses the challenges of building trust and highlights the need for ongoing dialogue and training in conflict resolution...

In this conversation, Karen Amlin and Twinkle Patel discuss the challenges and morale issues faced by managers in the long-term care industry. They explore the impact of delegating on morale and the importance of building trust and relationships with staff members. They also discuss the role of asking the right questions and tying people to a vision and purpose. Additionally, they address the appr...

Just a short little introduction of our new Be THAT Leader Podcast with Karen Amlin   Thank you for listening to People Skills with Karen Amlin , a podcast dedicated to understanding why people think, behave, and communicate the way they do. Each episode invites you to look more closely at your own patterns while gaining deeper insight into the motivations, behaviors, and relationship dynamics of...