Explore Your Power

At a party where you don't anyone? Attending a networking event and tired of superficial conversations... Ok well, maybe not these days.... but you get the point. ⠀
⠀
Next time you are networking (virtually or in person) start a conversation with someone new and work in the words "I'm curious about ....." something related to their company or role or something you know of them or overheard them say. The words "I'm curious" are very powerful words that work to establish connections between two disparate people. ⠀
⠀
Curiosity in others is a great way to demonstrate interest, form bonds and expand your own knowledge and insights. You can learn a lot by stopping to actually listen to people's stories and what they have to share. ⠀
⠀
Why does this work? You are showing interest in someone and that makes them feel special and heard. Who doesn't want to feel heard? ⠀
⠀
So, I'm curious to learn about you, your journey, and the challenges you face when it comes to presenting and pitching your ideas. Tell me your story.... I'm listening. ⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀

If the majority of a message is interpreted through How we Say Something and our Body Language, imagine how much misinterpretation is going on through all the emails and virtual meetings (that don't use cameras)? ⠀
⠀
Now more than ever we must be cognizant of how we deliver our message, the words choose to use, and being empathetic to the possibility of misinterpretation. ⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀

“I want to empower people to find their voice so that they can express themselves clearly & confidently and share their great ideas with the world.” ⠀
⠀
This goal of mine is quite broad yet it is what is driving me every day to work on my business, to learn new things and to inspire people. It is not my only goal in business or in life. I have several… ⠀
⠀
Why do I bring up goals? We hear about them all the time. We know their importance. “People who set goals are 275% more likely to achieve significant results than those who just work hard”. ⠀
⠀
Writing out our goals acts as a motivator and inspires us to push beyond our comfort zones. Goals remind us that there is more to achieve and aspire to than our day-to-day activities.⠀
⠀
When we want big change in our lives happen, the kind of change that energizes us to achieve greatness, this has to come from having a different type of goal. Some call this having a big harry audacious goal. ⠀
⠀
There are many different ways to classify or create goals. One system that I like to use is the A/B/C model.- different types of goals we should all strive to have for ourselves. ⠀
⠀
A Goals (baseline goals) are for things you know, that you need to do, and can do (e.g. Post at least 1 valuable Power Skills based article on LinkedIn Daily). ⠀
⠀
B Goals (stretch goals) are for things that you have never done before, that are realistic, and that you can figure out a way to get done (e.g. Create and promote a webinar on Finding Your Voice in the Workplace). ⠀
⠀
C Goals are something BIG that you want to achieve, yet you haven’t done before and you are unsure of how and where to begin. It is what you dream of one day achieving. The HOW is no yet important!(eg. Develop a thought leadership in Communication and be invited to guest teach at leading business schools). ⠀
⠀
Regardless of the type of goal that we set for ourselves, the key is to be clear about what we want to achieve so that we can begin working towards achieving them on both a conscious and a subconscious level. ⠀
⠀
When thinking about what you want to achieve in your personal and professional life. What are some of your goals? ⠀

Leadership styles need to change as you move up the corporate ladder. ⠀
⠀
Power Skills are the core people skills that will demonstrate your readiness and ability to step into that next role. ⠀
⠀
These foundational skills are the markers of individual and team success. They create powerful leaders, open up new business opportunities, unite teams, and help us stay agile in a constantly changing world. ⠀
⠀
Power Skills have been traditionally known as “soft skills” as they are the intangibles that all greater leaders demonstrate and possess. They include Communication, Adaptive Thinking (Agility & Resilience), Prioritization & Focus, Creative, Innovation, Growth Mindset, Problem-Solving, and Decision Making skills. ⠀
⠀
Think of a Manager or Leader who inspired you? What skills did they possess that you remember? What made them great at their role? ⠀
⠀
I remember working with a VP at Hudson’s Bay Company. I would sit in leadership meetings observing each of the leaders. One woman in particular stood out to me. She would listen intently, focused on what everyone was saying, and only after they spoke and she gathered information would she speak up. When she spoke, her voice was even and clear. Her points were concise, thoughtful and integrated insights gathered in the meeting. When she spoke, her colleagues listened. Her team loved working for her, and the results were always above expectation. She became a “communication style” role model of the leader I hoped to become. ⠀
⠀
When we think specifically to the Communication abilities of great leaders, we think of individuals who are comfortable presenters, that actively listen to their peers, that express themselves clearly and that build trust within their team have the core Communication Power Skills needed to lead teams. ⠀
⠀
How comfortable do you feel that your Communication Skills area ready for that next role? What are areas you want to develop to get your prepared for that next step forward? ⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
@ Richmond Hill, Ontario

When was the last time that you invested 💸 into developing yourself or your team in the Art of Communicating? 🗣⠀
⠀
Speaking up, building trust, actively listening, presenting with clarity. All skills essential to the success of any high-functioning team. ⠀
⠀
MIT Sloan discovered in a study that training problem solving, communication & decision making over 12 months yielded a 250% ROI in 8 months.📈⠀
⠀
A Harvard, Boston University and University of Michigan study showed that training on power skills that included problem solving, self-awareness and interpersonal communication produced real results on metrics such as productivity and retention. The ROI on the skills training was 256%.↗️⠀
⠀
Upskilling, reskilling and redefining jobs for the future of work is one of the hottest business topics today. 34% of CEOs now rate it as one of their top 3 threats to growth.⠀
Now more than ever, the need for effective communication through virtual challenges and remote work is critical to the ongoing success of any team. ⠀
⠀
What are you doing to prepare your team for this new normal?⠀
⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀

You are super excited about a great new and important initiative that you are launching to your team. You’ve just spent the last 15 minutes running through all the details. There isn’t time for questions right now as this was the last topic on the meeting agenda. Everyone gets up to go at the scheduled end time, quickly dashing off to their next meeting. You walk away feeling great. You downloaded what you wanted to say, and you can’t wait to see what feedback your team will come back with.

A few days later, you’ve fielded a bunch of questions that show your team has not clearly understood what you had to say…. or worse, you haven’t heard anything from them (positive or negative)…. What happened? 🤷

When we communicate, we assume that others are listening and that what we have said has been understood. We’re all guilty of these assumptions. Given the amount of information overload we are all bombarded with on a daily basis from our 24/7 connectivity, we have to assume that when we are speaking our audience may not in fact be listening.🤔

The next time you are presenting, keep these ideas in mind to capture attention and engage your audience:
1️⃣ Find ways to tap their Imagination through visualization & storytelling techniques
2️⃣ Vary your volume, pace & tone
3️⃣ Use strategic pauses and repetition after key points
4️⃣ Call out their Names and work them into your topic
5️⃣ Create a bit of tension and challenge them
6️⃣ Ask Questions

What techniques have you used to engage an audience and capture attention❓

*
*
*
*
*

Are you looking to advance your career? ↗️ If so, have you taken a close look at the quality of your communication skills? How comfortable are you speaking up in meetings, conveying complex ideas with clarity and impact? 🗣🗣🗣 ⠀
⠀
The labour market is increasingly rewarding interpersonal skills. These power skills (also known as Soft skills) take effort and are the most critical for the success of leaders and teams. In fact, 63% of L&D leaders say that they see substantial knowledge gaps in power skills… far greater than the gap in technical or functional skills. So, what does this mean to you and your desire to advance your career? ⠀
⠀
It means that if you want to succeed in a competitive landscape, doing the job accurately is no longer enough. ⠀
⠀
You need to demonstrate the ability to:⠀
🗨Convey complex ideas⠀
📢Communicate clearly with team members⠀
🎤Speak with confidence⠀
👂Actively Listen⠀
🗣Ask Powerful Questions⠀
📢Get your voice heard (i.e. speaking up)⠀
⠀
These communications skills are what will lead you to increasing your performance, staying competitive, getting the role you want and getting heard. ⠀
⠀
It's time to upskill and develop the communication skills necessary to become the leader you want to become. ⠀
⠀
How Confident are you with your Communication Skills? ⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
*⠀
@ Richmond Hill, Ontario

“I can’t possibly do this….”
“I’m not ready yet. I need more experience.”
“I need to get my website just right.”
“I don’t have my business cards yet.”
“I have to work on my marketing.”
“I still need to learn more.”
“I have to Practice more.”
“I need to ……”

Does this sound familiar? This doubt that creeps in when you are starting something new?😳You question your abilities; you make excuses for things to be a certain way before you embark on your new initiative. You hold off on launching your exciting new company/product/project because you are worried that things aren’t perfect…. as time passes ⏰, you hold off on revealing. Then you start to lose your momentum and your confidence. You might launch and you might not. For many, their projects and dreams are put into the back of the closet, only to be forgotten.

As I was building my new business endeavour, I kept this famous quote by Marcus Aurelius taped to my computer screen as a daily reminder to keep moving forward, to keep building, and to launch even when everything is not ready. It will come!

“Begin - to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished.

That is what I’m doing here today. Launching my first Instagram Post as my new business website launches (check it out in my bio). Nothing is perfect. Nothing is completely ready. Except today, I AM READY!

I am ready to help you build and strengthen your Communication & Presentation skills so that you feel confident and professional when expressing yourself at work and in life.

I am ready to empower, support and guide you to Explore your own Power to do more in your personal & professional life so that you can achieve your goals & dreams. Are you ready?

"Resiliency in tough times starts with managers focusing on the basics" to keep employees engaged.

Is Your Culture Resilient Enough to Survive Coronavirus? A Gallup global meta-analysis finds business units are at an increased advantage and more resilient during crisis if employee engagement is strong.