The Highly Valued Leader Podcast

You've set your sights on a promotion, and that's a great goal. But what's your plan to get there?  While excelling at your job is essential, it's not the only strategy. Getting promoted requires more than just doing your job well; it's about making an undeniable case for your advancement. You want decision-makers to be unequivocally convinced that you're the right ch...

Can you envision a scenario where you enter your workplace each day and are met with a chorus of praises – "fantastic job," "way to go," "exceptional work," "we're lucky to have you"?   It might seem wonderful at first, but the truth is, this constant external validation can become like an addiction, needing more and more to sustain your self-esteem. Th...

Do you currently have a 90-day Plan in motion?  Having a 90-day plan is a strategic gem. It makes logical sense, but surprisingly, not many individuals have embraced its power. Why is that? People might assume it requires too much time, lack the know-how to craft one, or believe they can manage without it. Some may think it's only necessary when starting a new job or role, missing the ongoing...

Embracing failure as an essential component of success often goes unnoticed, yet it significantly impacts personal growth.  The fear of failure can paralyze progress and deter potential. This apprehension is particularly prominent at work, where failure can carry negative consequences. Despite this dilemma, it's essential to cultivate a space for failure in order to innovate and flourish.  In...

Have you ever wished you could love your job more?  While you might downplay the significance of loving your work, its importance shouldn't be underestimated. Though love and work might seem disparate, they intertwine in your expressions of feelings towards your job, colleagues, or superiors.  Given the immense time invested, caring about your job is only rational – it’s a pivotal relationshi...

Amidst career decisions, many find themselves spinning in uncertainty.  Accomplished women, despite their achievements, often grapple with the idea that their choices must be perfect for happiness. This external locus of control is exhausting and futile. The truth? Your happiness is within your grasp, irrespective of outcomes.  In this episode, learn to make career decisions free of regret and red...

Personal Branding is something you often don’t really think about.  Most people just think if they do their jobs well, that’s enough.  That’s their personal brand.  And isn’t that enough? No.  Not if you’re someone who wants to grow in your industry…’cos guess what?  There are a lot of people who do a good job doing what you do. So what makes you special?  That’s an excellent question and the one...

Work relationships are as important to your career success as any achievement on the job.  You know it’s true.  You’ve seen the people who aren’t so great at the job but nail the relationship part. Yet so many people let the work relationships go or don’t make time for them. It’s a mess, my friends.  The good news is, you can not only refresh work relationships at any time and easily make them wor...

Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves: discomfort is the currency of your success.  Let's cut to the chase because being aware of the price isn't sufficient; you need the know-how to make those discomfort payments. I won't sugarcoat it—this isn't a walk in the park. The concept sounds simpler than it plays out. Your primal brain resists discomfort fervently, wired to shield yo...

Many individuals find themselves grappling with the elusiveness of desired career outcomes, be it improving boss relations, securing a new title, conquering a project, or honing fresh leadership skills. Striving for novel career results often unfurls an array of dissonant emotions like self-criticism, frustration, evasion, and anxiety – hardly a thrilling prospect, is it? Contrary to a carefree es...

While some believe a career plan is unnecessary, relying solely on excelling at your job, it's crucial to recognize that your job and your career are distinct entities.  Your job is merely one facet of your career plan; there are at least five additional strategies to contemplate if you're truly invested in manifesting your career aspirations. While some of these strategies might interse...

Goals are born from visions of success, yet as the year turns, we're poised to start anew, leaving past failures behind.  We set fresh goals with fervor, but here's the catch – most folks abandon these aspirations within a mere month. What divides the dreamers from the achievers? A pivotal aspect is acknowledging the hefty workload involved.  Success necessitates unwavering focus, dedica...

It's astonishing how many people have a career plan but hardly put it to use – seldom following, reviewing, or even glancing at it throughout the year.  It's a squandered opportunity, akin to ignoring the lowest-hanging fruit. Yet, simply telling you this won't likely spur action; we tend to evade beneficial tasks. It's a quirk of our brain's design. Instead, let's fo...

Dive into a thought-provoking concept I've coined as "Career Impotence." It might raise eyebrows, but sometimes a little jolt is essential to recognize what's right before us.  Join me in dissecting the drama that unfolds when one experiences career impotence, a condition more widespread than acknowledged. Impotence, synonymous with the inability to take effective action, becom...

The dilemma "I think I want to change careers" is one I encounter frequently. Usually, people struggle with that back and forth for a while. And if that’s you, then you absolutely need to listen to this episode. How do you know if it’s time to change careers? How do you know it’s not just a phase or a quick or easy way out of a bad situation?  Let's cut to the chase: swapping career...

In this episode, a simple formula for career success is introduced, emphasizing the role of individual mindset and emotions in achieving professional goals. The concept of "Success Intolerance" is revisited, highlighting how self-generated stress, fear, and negativity can hinder progress.  The podcast underscores the importance of managing mindset and coaching to overcome these barriers....

The concept of "Success Intolerance" is explored in this episode as a mindset challenge that involves the brain's resistance to pursuing success due to discomfort. Coined as an alternative to the term "Self-Sabotage," Success Intolerance delves into the thought processes that hinder actions leading to growth and achievement. The episode defines and discusses this phenomeno...

In this episode, we’re talking about something I call drama dependency.  I made up this terminology, but it’s based on real cognitive-behavioural principles.  I love the way it sounds … drama dependency… it sounds so dramatic just saying it.  So meta. That’s why it’s so perfect. It’s exactly as it sounds - we get dependent on our own drama.  We get unconsciously dependent on something at work bein...

This episode is for both the perfectionists who know they’re perfectionists and the folks who don’t know they’re perfectionists. So it’s basically for all human beings. Because perfectionism shows up in so many ways.  This isn’t just for those people who try to make their work perfect or get upset when there’s a hair out of place. It’s for anyone who has a goal that they just can’t seem to achieve...

This episode delves into the distinction between confidence and self-confidence, highlighting the significance of understanding this difference. Exploring how self-confidence is a catalyst for growth and achievement, the podcast emphasizes its importance as a tool for trying new things and accomplishing new goals.  Addressing common misconceptions, the episode clarifies that self-confidence doesn&...

Imposter Syndrome is a common experience in many people's careers, but this episode reframes it as a lie generated by the brain.  The podcast explores why Imposter Syndrome doesn't necessarily have to be a negative force, and how to view it as a sign of your brain functioning properly.  By shifting the perspective, Imposter Syndrome can be seen as an indicator of success rather than a so...

"Serious Goal Setting" in your career involves going beyond vague dreams and truly committing to a goal with actionable steps. Most people settle for generic aspirations, but this episode emphasizes the importance of taking your goals seriously and offers a three-step process for effective goal setting.  The episode discusses why many goals remain unfulfilled, the reasons people often ov...

Navigating job interviews can be nerve-wracking, and this episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the process, both from the perspective of interviewees and interviewers. Sarah Wing Lima, an expert with over two decades in talent acquisition, shares her insights. You may have already met her because she was with us when we talked about Resumes That Get You Noticed.   She is the Director of T...

LinkedIn is more powerful than you probably ever considered, extending beyond a mere resume repository. LinkedIn is a place to build your career. Tyron Giuliani, an accomplished entrepreneur and recruiter, shares how to effectively harness LinkedIn's power in just 20 minutes a day to enhance your career. We discuss three main topics. BUILDING AUTHORITY. How to use LinkedIn to strategically be...

Thinking of a job change?  So are a lot of people.  It’s one of the most common things I hear from clients. They don’t know if they should start looking for a job. This podcast episode is dedicated to helping you explore why you might be looking for a job change, and how to make a decision that’s right for you.  I’ll be sharing the most common reasons people give for considering a job change. We’l...