232. Listening is part of your Manager Toolset

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/⁠

This special guest episode is from The Confidence Lounge, a podcast hosted by Elyse Conroy, Confidence Coach and Career Strategist for women in the beauty industry. Elyse invited me onto her show earlier this year, and we talked about what it actually takes to rise in your career and lead with confidence. Learn about The Beauty Career Lab LIVE:https://www.soulmakeup.com/beautycareerlabliveConnect with Elyse on IG or LinkedIn:https://www.instagram.com/elyseconroyxo/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyseconroy/**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/⁠

Today we're taking another listen to Ep 188: Working with Difficult People. The goal is not to prevent or avoid all difficulty, or friction at work. Instead, it's to increase your capacity for discomfort AND gain confidence with some tools and a mindset that will enable you to respond in a useful way. This way, you step out of reactivity and feeling powerless -- and become a more responsive, capable leader.**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/⁠

There are a few reasons why people have chosen to study with me, or hire me as their coach -- and sometimes, it's because they want help managing difficult people. Today I share a story from my own career journey of managing a difficult person, and what I learned from it that can help you move forward, too.**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/

When it comes to feedback, most managers focus so much on how to give it to their team, that they completely forget to consider: How can I get quality feedback?And the truth is, the higher you go in your career the harder it is to get good feedback! Your boss will be busier than ever. You will be expected to take responsibility for your own professional development, and have the self-awareness needed to know what to work on.And the more power you have, the more people will want to keep you happy -- and will be less candid with you about your blind spots.In this episode I'll walk you through a few simple steps to make it easier for you to get quality feedback.** After the Episode**Enroll in Communication Strategies for Managers:https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategiesGet private coaching, or support for your team development:https://kimnicol.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/

Being a manager requires relational skills, because you're not just managing work you are managing people and relationships. That's why communication is so important.**After the Episode**Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers:https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategiesReach out for private coaching to deepen your personal growth and accelerate your professional development (mindfully!):https://kimnicol.com/Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/

Hey, you are a human first. (Sometimes that seems to get lost in all of the conversations about leadership and how to be a good manager.) So in today's episode, I'm sharing three prompts to shift the conversation -- to center you as a human person, first.Who you are as a person, and how you're doing in your life, will absolutely influence how you lead.**After the Episode**For private coaching, go to kimnicol.com Deepen your personal growth and boost your professional development with Communication Strategieshttps://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategiesFollow me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol