Inspiring Voice

Do you feel like people do not listen to you? Do you listen to them? There are many reasons to improve upon your ability to listen. They include the opportunity to connect and build trust, which is the most important element that should flow through communication. Plus, when we learn to listen better, we acquire to ability to learn from each other as we move forth as partners and collaborators.Studies tell us that deep listening is on the decline. According to the NationalInstitutes of Health, there’s a Listening ‘Crisis’, driven by digital overload. Listening isa vital skill to strengthen because, especially in the workplace, we spend more timelistening then we do speaking. And very few people have been trained how tosharpen these skills and listen ‘actively’. Ahhhhhh....but there\'s hope! When you have the guidelines. And you APPLY.

We humans deal with lots of Communication Habits…such as people pleasing…and perseverating/ruminating/over thinking.How can you overcome or at least decrease or unwind these super common habits?Try Dr. Judson Brewer’s : 3 Step Habit Change process… Dr. Jud is a neuroscientist and addiction psychiatrist…who I’ve been fortunate enough to study with.Dr. Jud’s 3 step process is called the Mindshift Method and uses the analogy of Gears: Like on a Car or Bike.1.       Awareness: Is this that habit loop again? Notice it…stay aware…2.       Curiosity (sans judgment…zero into the results): What am I getting from this? …How does it feel in the body (embodying results…)?3.       BBO? Could I try something different? Compassion - breathe - take a walk or call a friend. Is there a BBO that’s different that you could consider?When you tap into the Mindshift Method… 3-step process…remember, you’re in learning mode…SLOW DOWN…staying off electronics…stay present.And know…that even you …I…can update our habits…when we’re aware.

Executive and Leadership Presence begins with your ability to focus and be fully present.That’s harder than ever. With so much competing for our attention—our ability to engage, listen, and hold meaningful conversations has been compromised.Research…A Harvard study found…our minds wander almost half of everyday. Autopilot is fine for routine tasks, but when it becomes the norm, it undermines both engagement and happiness. People who struggle to stay present feel less satisfied and more disconnected.To counter this, start by noticing when your mind drifts. Then ask: Is this affecting my ability to concentrate, connect or communicate? If so, you might want to consider the practice of becoming more present. I can send you a brief audio to help get you going with that…. Just message me.Presence is the foundation of Executive Presence—at every stage of your career. It’s a skill you can strengthen…even in this distracted world…with practice and over time.

Deep breathing while recognizing and regulating stress is not a silver bullet but it's crucial in our overloaded business world. Consider the following 3 steps a few times a day to clear your mind and open your cognitive capacity:1. Loosen up and stretch as you notice your stress level and how you're feeling (is stress low, medium or high?).2. Turn your attention inward and focus on some deep breathing. When the mind wanders (it will), redirect attention inward (to build that mindful muscle).3. Notice if you're feeling any differently after you increase your oxygen intake.This can be done between meetings, before a stressful conversation/presentation, and occasionally throughout the workday. 'Small moments with lots of oxygen' is a great habit to build. This exercise does not take the place of medical advice. It's practical, will help you maintain energy, in addition to recognizing and regulating your stress.It's my hope you listen to the audio a few times then do this on your own. And pay it forward.

If you or anyone you know has ever struggled with Imposer syndrome---you’re going to want to listen to Dr. Valerie Young who is featured today. Valerie Young…is uniquely qualified on the subject of Imposter Syndrome. She has a PhD, began studying it in the early 1980s and she, herself, has experienced it. So she’s well aware of what it it, how it feels and how it debilitates.  On the podcast today you’ll hear her talk about:How Imposter Syndrome affects individual and how it affects the bottom line of business.If Imposter Syndrome is ‘just’ a female issueHow prevalent it is in all industries - especially academia, the sciences, engineering, and health care.How we can better understand Imposter Syndrome AND unlearn it.www.ImposterSyndrome.comwww.SLCWomen.comwww.iVoiceCommunication.comKnow and OWN Your Worth, To Be a Leader

Today, some liberation!The newer definition of liberation is, when you no longer feel like you must protect yourself…you trust yourself…you’re free to speak what’s true to you… you’re liberated.Please enjoy… something we’ve been sharing and teaching for a long time.How to Control Fear of Speaking or Imposter Syndrome.https://www.ivoicecommunication.com/https://www.ivoicecommunication.com/leaders-communication-women/

Today’s Guide is Industrial Organizational Psychologist and traveling psychologist Dr. Chris Sopa. Chris has impressive credentials…schooling and degrees AND she also has that deep life experience that is hers alone and hers to share.  Through some pretty huge challenges Chris has learned how to improve and perfect listening to her own Inspiring Voice…while extracting what we call the sweet lessons from life experiences.I met Chris while she was on a 4 month journey … visiting many portions of the world, solo. When she returned to the states, she was hit hard. And ended up having to have some major back surgery…which went very wrong.  Through it all…Chris endured and leaned, endured and learned and continues to. As Chris’s physical healing continues…you’ll hear a few things that she’s uncovered:The importance of being tuned in and mindful of your thoughtsHow to RETEACH people how to treat youShifting your perspective to counter social expectations and conditioningHow to set boundaries as opposed to protective walls And what she sees as a healthy, more enlightened future for her, her family and for people everywherewww.ChrisSopa.com Donna Rustigian Mac Speaks - iVoice Communication - Donna Rustigian Macivoicecommunication.com

On the podcast today we get to hear from a couple of guys…Good Guys who wrote the book, Good Guys, How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace.  Brad Johnson and David Smith are very evolved men…both are highly educated, spent time in the military, and both have personal stories as to WHY they want to help women grow as leaders in the workplace. I’ve spent much of my career helping women take full responsibility for their leadership journeys - so it was heartwarming and so refreshing to meet Brad and Dave who want to give women an assist. Today they’ll talk about:The tremendous business and personal benefits of doing this workHow becoming better allies for women in the workplace can ignite and support your DEI initiative. They’ll talk about some realities…like women who’ve had their ideas stolen…and they’ll also discuss how this is not a women’s issue…this is a leadership issue.Plus Brad Johnson and David Smith introduce and explain some very cool and important phenonea… like…Exposure TherapyGQ (I’ll give you a hint on that one…it’s kinda a cousin to EQ…)Reluctant male syndromeAnd some solid steps you can take to get this started…and help women step into their roles as leader in the workplace. It’s all coming up…To Contact Brad and David go to: WorkplaceAllies.com Contact us anytime at iVoiceCommunication.com 

Dr. Carole Robbin taught at Stanford University’s school of business for 17 years. She didn’t teach a business course, instead a super popular elective Interpersonal Dynamics. MBA students called it…Touchy Feely…because they learned the incredible value of human to human connection and the feelings that come along with generating them.Dr. Carole Robbin spends most of her time these days working with leaders in Silicon Valley. That’s where she gets to continue this work…and share her gifts...like teaching us:·      The importance of authenticity and disclosure·      Learning the vocabulary of feelings and…·      Remembering that ‘what you say isn’t always what people hear’Dr. Carole Robbin is the author of Connect, Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues.www.connectandrelate.comwwwiVoiceCommunication.com

Inspiring interview with Leadership Communication coach, Deborah Grayson Riegel and her latest book, Go To Help.