Bonus Friday: Getting Past the Hero Mindset

As you rise into higher levels of responsibility and visibility in your career, at some point you're likely to get feedback about your executive presence. Let's start with recognizing you already have a presence, and that it has an effect on those around you. In this episode you'll gain a better understanding of what presence is, and how to recognize it in others. It's the first step to cultivating your own executive presence and wielding it in a useful way at work....After the EpisodeJoin the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team workshops or off-sites:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠~⁠⁠⁠Into meditation? This is for you:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/mindfulness-for-managers-at-work⁠⁠

Being a great manager doesn't require you to be a hero.  But you might slip into that mindset.  It can look like perfectionism, and anxiety about how others see you.  It leads to overworking, isolating, and being overly responsible.  It also creates a lot of pressure, feeling like everything is on your shoulders and it's up to you to keep everything together (no mistakes allowed!).  In this episode, you'll learn more about why the hero mindset is easy to slip into, and how it will hold you back from being an effective leader.  You'll also learn why seeing yourself as a whole human is the key to managing yourself and your own wellbeing.  Let's discuss!The book referenced in this episode is Persephone Returns by Tanka Wilkinson...After the EpisodeJoin the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team workshops or off-sites:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠~⁠⁠⁠Into meditation? This is for you:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/mindfulness-for-managers-at-work⁠⁠

The way you define a problem will point you towards a certain set of solutions. When you reframe the problem, you will start to see new kinds of solutions. It can be kind of magical. Let's discuss!...After the EpisodeJoin the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team workshops or off-sites:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠~⁠⁠⁠Into meditation? This is for you:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/mindfulness-for-managers-at-work⁠⁠

If you're conflict avoidant, or grew up as the peace-maker in your family or friend group, then save this episode! You probably have a gut sense that conflict is bad, and must be prevented. But did you know that conflict can actually be an indicator of psychological safety?Conflict is a normal part of human relationships. What's important is what kind of conflict it is, and how you handle it. Let's discuss!...After the EpisodeJoin the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team workshops or off-sites:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠~⁠⁠⁠Into meditation? This is for you: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/mindfulness-for-managers-at-work⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Confidence is not all or nothing -- it's not something you have or you don't. It's also not something that's rock solid or non-existent. Instead, see it as a dynamic quality inside you that can help keep you steady through uncertainty and change. Learn to identify it in yourself, so that you can access it when needed....After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team workshops or off-sites:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠

Every manager needs to learn now to give effective feedback.It's ok if it doesn't come naturally -- you can learn how to do it well.  Thinking in terms of "Feedback as a Service" takes the pressure off, and helps you feel like you're on the same team.  This episode will give you a useful way to think about how to give feedback, be human, and create a working relationship that works for everyone....After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team off-sites and workshops:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠

When you're more comfortable with the skill of feedback, your life becomes so much easier! In this episode you'll get some simple ways to build up your skills, so you're ready when the time comes.Practice pays off! When you feel more confident in your skillset, you're less likely to stress over or avoid important conversations....After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Reach out for private coaching, team off-sites and workshops:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠

It's frustrating when you don't feel heard. And: sometimes we forget that listening is NOT the same as agreement, compliance, or obedience. We can hear someone, and still have different priorities, or choose different trade-offs. Today, we're revisiting Episode 51, Opinion Tennis, which is when you have two or more people talking and no one feels like anyone is listening. You can use what you learn in the workplace, and in your personal relationships, too!...After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Explore private coaching, team off-sites and workshops:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠

A big part of being a manager comes down to relational skills, and realizing that communication isn't just about what you convey. It's also about your ability to listen. This is a good practice, especially if you tend to jump into solution mode! Because sometimes your job as a manager is NOT to solve the problem -- but to listen deeply and understand the bigger context and what's really going on....After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠~Explore private coaching, team off-sites and workshops:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠~Connect with me on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠

When you're clear on what success means as a manager, you will have an easier time focusing on what matters and letting the rest go. This can be tricky at first, especially when you care a lot and are a high-achiever. The uncertainty of what "success" means can be frustrating and anxiety provoking. This week, we revisit Ep. 175 - Defining Success as a Manager.After the Episode:Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠Talk with me about private coaching, team off-sites and workshops:⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠Connect with me on LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠