Unlocking Leadership Through Authentic Communication

It’s easy to get paralyzed by complex issues that are given to you to solve. I use a simple set of steps to help me break down the issue and systematically address it from there. Using this method will not only make addressing issues less daunting, you’ll be able to create efficiency by pulling in the right people the first time and and could possibly solve a whole host of other issues you weren’t...

I HATE disrespectful behavior. But sometimes it comes from people in positions of power. I happen to believe you shouldn’t accept disrespectful behavior from anyone, regardless of their job or leadership level. It’s easy to address and although the first time might give you pit stains and sweaty palms, once you turn a rocky relationship into a collegial one, you’ll never avoid addressing behavior...

Any time we’re told “no” it’s common to feel rejection. In this episode, I share a trick I use to help me overcome the feeling of rejection to get information I can leverage to get what I want. With this strategic edge you can not only get the things you’re asking for but you can also solve problems efficiently, effectively and strengthen relationships in the process.

In this episode, we’ll go over how we decide who is involved, what roles people play and all of the other important steps to having a robust conversation that results in everyone being on the same page by the time the discussion is over. I’ll also go over how you can change your mindset to look at your role in these conversations in a more realistic way.

My least favorite thing to do at work is attend meetings. I don’t even love organizing them or leading my own! However, it’s a necessary evil in business and this episode is going to help you put a meeting together that will be successful and set the stage for future follow-ups with ease.

I often tell people that my day is full of mysteries. It’s true. If you’re anything like me, most of the time I receive a problem and have to work backwards to figure out the root cause to address it. But what do you do if you don’t know the root cause? Instead of waiting for the root cause to fall into your lap, which I do not recommend at all, use this method to start addressing the issue. You’l...

I break down the three primary components to a performance conversation and demonstrate how you can have this discussion in an effective and impactful way. This is part mindset, part word choice and a whole lot of commitment. Congratulations! Performance conversations just got easier for you!

If you’re someone who dreads having impromptu conversations about complaints or concerns that come to you without any warning, you absolutely have to listen to this episode. Here, I break down what you should communicate and how you should communicate it to effectively problem solve, build trust and rapport and get people back on the right track.

Do you never say no? Are you available for everything regardless of whether or not you have time, and energy or are the subject matter expert? If you never stop working and have very flexible boundaries about when you’re off the clock, you are in danger of having Superwoman/Superman syndrome and could be facing decision fatigue. In this episode, I talk about decision fatigue and simple things you...

The number one reason employees leave is because of their leader. So in my book, that makes you pretty darn important! So how do you get it right? How do you figure out what makes people stay and what sends them running for the hills? In this episode, I share my top four leadership attributes that have helped me build strong teams, attract like-minded talent and surpass our team goals. Just ask yo...

If you are not doing “stay interviews” with your team, you’re missing out on a big retention opportunity. Today, I share three of the most important questions I recommend asking your team to understand what it will take to keep them. I also help you weave in some feedback on their performance in the introduction of the stay interview, as many probably haven’t participated in one of these. This qui...

We’re talking about the internal locus that drives how you are without even thinking about it. If you’ve never given this much thought and aren’t sure what your “main thing” is, I’ll give you some practical tips on how to figure it out. You’ll also get some recommendations on how to share your main thing and why it’s so important to identify and showcase whenever you get the opportunity.

This is one of my favorite topics. I’m BIG on protecting my energy. Some of you might think this is just a trendy thing that people are saying but I wholeheartedly believe in it. Many years ago, I let people suck the life right out of me. I was complacent and said yes to literally everything even if it was going to dread the commitment until it was over. Today, I manage people in every area of my...

Terminating someone’s employment is the worst part of leadership by far. In fact, it’s so bad that many say that if it gets easy, you should get out of leadership. I disagree. In this episode, I teach you the difference between terminations that are sloppy and and treat people as a commodity versus terminations where work was put in to retain the employee, no one is surprised and they even get an...

Be tactical yet be human with the way you lead an investigation. It is possible and I’m going to tell you how I do it. In this episode, strategy meets human connection in one of the most important parts of your job as a leader.

I’m breaking down the simple steps I use to make sure I have a well-thought out proposal. Everything is covered from research to vetting the chosen idea, to who I chose to be in the room and what I leave the decision-makers with for next steps. And the best part? You can use this approach in any area of your life where you want to create change and get buy-in.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve been nervous about a conversation. In this episode, I’m sharing how I do it. It isn’t magic and it doesn’t even take a lot of planning. Want to have truly honest discussions, build rapport and get results? I share six steps that will help you get there.

If you fixate on every mistake you make, I’m going to give you a simple trick I use to stop. I’m also going to share with you my top mistakes in business and leadership, how they didn’t end my career and give you hope that even your biggest mistakes won’t end yours either. It’s time to let it go!

My answer may surprise you. I’m going to take you on a trip down memory lane, teach you a lesson I learned in my youth about desire, and put you on the path to figuring out just what kind of leader you want to become.