CommunicationsCzar Podcast

Do you bring your true self to work? Freely sharing your ideas, opinions, and genius, despite what other people may think. Or, are exhausted by trying to fit in and afraid of being discovered as the fraud that you sometimes feel like? Are you able to have difficult conversations at work, or do you just go along with the flow, trying to please other people? Do you spend time in your day feeling like an imposter, holding back parts of yourself? Guest Czar and author, Linda Basso, shares the value of bringing your authentic self to work and how being authentic can be freeing to you and those around you.  Basso spent more than two decades in corporate marketing and advertising. Despite her unquestionable success, she felt the pull for something different. She didn't want to mingle at cocktail parties or schmooze clients. Basso wanted to write and she became a yoga teacher on the side, trying to somehow atone for what felt to her like a misaligned career.  Upon discovering coaching Basso realized her passion for helping small business owners and professionals claim their authenticity by designing a business or career that fits their lifestyle. This work, she soon discovered, impacts not only the client but their clients, colleagues and even their families.  Basso shares some good news about authenticity, including: *It can be learned *Being authentic is your natural state -- so it requires less energy to maintain *It's never too late to start to cultivate your authenticity -- you can begin today! Basso's nightstand reading recommendation was: Essentialist: Do Less but Accomplish More, Guide to Identifying the Essential Things, Focus on and Getting Them Done by Martin Hell. Basso's book,  The Authentic Marketer: The Real Girl's Guide to Know Your Worth, Get More Clients & Grow a Business that Genuinely Fits Your Lifestyle is available on Amazon. You can also purchase her book, take enlightening quizzes and read a ton of useful material on Basso's website, www.LindaBasso.com

Joey Chandler, Purpose Coach and Host of The What's Your Purpose? Podcast, has identified five core values: Love, Joy, Happiness, Excitement and Freedom - that drive people.  Isn't it time that you figured out who you are and make greater use of that in your life? The challenge, according to Chandler, is to identify what purpose actually motivates you rather than just what you think you are supposed to value.  Identifying and being more intentional about your purpose will prevent you from having that feeling of exerting a lot of effort but not making much progress in life. You can take Joey's assessment and find out more about his work on his website: www.joeychandler.net REOLxmmGilTzEGn4HW73          

Speech and Communications Coach Tiffany Foote joins us to share her insights into how you can have fearless and engaging presentations. Tiffany, who earned her "Fearless Millennial" title in her workplace, has personally conquered her own fear of public speaking and now enjoys helping others to do the same. She focuses on practical tips that you can put to immediate use.  Listen and learn how you can: *Keep nervousness in perspective *Choose clothing that boosts your confidence *Gesture comfortably to encourage audience attention *Reel in an unwieldy audience *Avoid coming across as manipulative *Use stories and examples to make boring materials come alive for your audience *Develop and deliver engaging virtual presentations *And more! Tiffany's nightstand picks: in addition to her dog's leash and the lamp that Tiffany DIY'd during Covid, Tiffany's book pick is "The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go" by Amy E. Reichert. Find out more about Tiffany and her work at: https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/thefearlessmillennial

First a confession: when it comes to public speaking, my freak number is off the charts. I know most people don't like talking in front of groups of strangers – or even groups of friends -- and I know that some people will go to great lengths to avoid those situations. That's where my freak factor comes in. I love public speaking. I love doing it, I love talking about it, analyzing other people's speeches, talking with other people about public speaking, reading books about it, writing articles about it – I just can't get enough. I have not found a support group for freaks like me and I am not sure it exists. I am starting to think I may be the only one in the world with this problem. Fortunately for me – and for you –the Guest Czar for this episode wrote a book on transitioning from nervousness and nausea to becoming a passionate presenter. If you get nervous and nauseous when it comes time to present, you are in good company. I will even go so far as to tell you that you are normal. Lucky you. The good news is that my guest, Mike Acker, author of the book, Speak With No Fear: Go From a Nervous, Nauseated and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter, shares some great tips that you and I will both enjoy. Before you roll your eyes and think that Acker is a freak too, I can assure you that he is not. He too hated speaking. As a child, he had a speech impediment. He was terrified of speaking in public. His fears increased exponentially when his family moved to Mexico and he had to speak in Spanish. Acker was further challenged when his family moved back to the United States and he had to adapt to speaking English again. Oh and in college, Acker lived through one of those nightmarish situations where he was presenting and the walls started to close in on him and his words became garbled. So yeah, I think Acker has earned his stripes in the Public Speaking Haters Anonymous Club. Fortunately, Acker transformed himself out of the darkness and into the light of becoming an engaging and passionate presenter. Lucky for us, Acker took notes along the way – and he is willing to share. Listen in and take notes so you can put his tips to use the next time you are preparing a presentation to make it a more enjoyable and enlightening event for you and for your audience.   Find out more about Mike, his books, and programs at: www.MikeAcker.com  

Stop trying to fit in to the mold that the world is forcing upon you. Speak up and speak out. Express yourself, your thoughts, ideas, and convictions, and, in turn, you will give others permission to do the same.  Find out more in Keith Fraser's new book, Cojones: Grow a Pair for success. Visit Keith's website: www.cojones.biz Contact Keith directly: Keith@cojones.biz

Tyler Foley has been acting on stage and screen since he was 6 years old. Over the years he has learned exactly what it takes to connect with an audience, reframe self-doubts when speaking to groups, regain focus and composure and compel an audience to engage with the material you are presenting.  In addition to actionable how-to's, Tyler provides important insights into soliciting productive feedback and recording yourself so you can continue to improve.  Tyler's book, "The Power to Speak Naked," as well as the book that is currently on his nightstand and that he encourages everyone to read, "The Fool's Progress" by Edward Abbey and "Positive Intelligence" by Shirzad Chamine are all available at the site that he recommends, bookshop.org where you can support your local bookseller (and get great prices too!) You can find out about Tyler's new online course, his in-person training, private coaching, and events -- as well as access his free downloadable workbook at his site: seantylerfoley.com If you have any questions or feedback in regard to this episode, or you have a guest idea for a future episode, please feel free to email: roseann@communicationsczar.com

How to Break Out of a Soul-Sucking Career to Find Work You Love with Jay Bahadur   Do you jump out of bed in the morning, excited to do work that you love – or do you find yourself groaning as you hit the snooze button, wishing you would be magically granted a day off from work?   About one third of your life is going to be spent at work – why not spend that time doing work that fulfills you? Guest Czar and Career Change expert Jay Bahadur had to blaze his own trail away from work that drained him and now he helps others identify and pursue their professional passions.   In this lively discussion Jay will tell you how to: Take action instead of waiting for permission Manage your self talk so you don't talk yourself out of happiness Persevere and stay motivated in the face of fear and challenges Handle the comments and expectations of friends and family Put the experience of others to work for you through informational interviews Use “What if's” in a positive, productive manner. What are you waiting for? Don't spend any more time at a job you hate. Change the way you talk to yourself and start working on your career change today. Find out how you can work with Jay and download his FREE Career Change Cheat Sheet at: www.evacuatetheoffice.com You are also welcome to contact Jay with questions at: evacuatetheoffice@gmail.com 

Public Relations and Marketing Strategist Marybeth Bentwood got her start in acting and then transitioned into marketing and public relations. Along the way she has identified exactly what it takes to command attention and compel an audience to listen and act on what is being presented.  Marybeth shares insights that you can put to use today to command attention and get your message across.  Videos Marybeth references: Click here to find Amy Cuddy's TED Talk about Power Posing Click here to watch the funny Cat Lawyer video Get more from Marybeth Bentwood:  Find out more about Marybeth's work at: www.brandelevationco.com Follow Marybeth on Instagram: @marybethbentwood

Do you like the way you sound? Would you like to improve the quality of your voice so people listen when you speak and remember what you say? You are going to want to listen to this episode featuring Award-Winning Vocal Coach and seasoned professional vocalist Judy Rodman a few times so you can capture all of her helpful advice.  Judy distills her wisdom into practical tips and techniques that you can put to immediate use to improve the way you sound.  You can find out more about Judy's work, her "All Things Vocal Podcast" and sign up for her free newsletter on her website, www.JudyRodman.com 

Visual Communications Designer Nela Dunato explains the importance of finding your authentic brand voice. Nela tells you how to look more professional through: *The use of white space *Choosing a clearly readable font *A statement color *And more! Nela's book is, The Human Centered Brand Get more from Nela and read her blog and find her book and other resources and links on her website at: www.neladunato.com

Kurian's book, "The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell" is available in both ebook and paperback on Amazon Follow up with Kurian Tharakan via: Strategy Peak Sales & Marketing Advisors website: www. strategypeak.com Connect with Kurian on LinkedIn: @KurianTharakan If you hurry and email Kurian right away, he is giving a limited supply of Communications Czar listeners a free Kindle copy of his book, email him at:  kurian@strategypeak.com    

What have you been telling yourself over the years? Once you uncover your limiting beliefs, you can learn to reprogram them to support your goals and desires. Listen to this thought-provoking episode and learn: *Why we use labels *How to reprogram your beliefs to support your goals *The power of the Parking Lot to keep you focused *How to develop the confidence to put yourself out there *Fight perfectionism Now is the time to stop talking yourself out of your goals and start achieving them! Fran is a lifelong learner and currently listening to the Great Courses on audio. You can get a great price on Fran's book, and support the podcast through our Amazon affiliate link: Your Life As A Movie: Scripting and Producing Your Dreams Into Reality Get more from Fran at: www.frantbanting.com Contact Fran: info@dreampath.ca

Executive Coach, Trainer and Facilitator Diana Lowe says that the concept of leaving your emotions at the door when you go to work is akin to telling someone to, "Leave your arms at home in your bed" -- emotions are part of the human experience and are with us everywhere we go.  Learning how to "name and tame" our own emotions helps us understand how they impact our interactions with others.  Lowe teaches busy professionals how to leverage the power of emotional intelligence to become better communicators, build trust and rapport with colleagues, and get more done. Diana's bedside reading book is a book that she recommends entitled: "Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth & Death: . . . And Everything in Between, A Buddhist View Life" by Daisaku Ikeda (You can get it for a great price on Amazon and support the podcast at the same time!) You can follow up with Diana and get more information on the work that she does by connecting with her via: Diana's website: www.dianalowe.com LinkedIn: @DianaELowe

You can find out more about Fred Moore, The Funny Productivity Keynote Speaker That: • Helps you SAVE TIME & Money • Teaches You How to Get MORE DONE • Makes You Laugh to RELIEVE STRESS • Gets You INVOLVED in the Program • NEVER Has a Bad Hair-Day And get the FREE download that will teach you 9 simple things that you can do to get an extra 3.8 hours out of your day when working from home -- by visiting Fred's Website: www.dosomuchmore.com

Whenever someone says, "I'm calling my attorney," something is wrong. Most people try to stay far away from attorneys -- unless they work with Asha Wilkerson. Asha has a refreshing approach to the legal profession, to communications -- and to life! Listen in to this inspiring conversation to learn: *How to prevent others from dragging you down *How to give your prospective clients a peek into your personality * How Asha created a career around her zone of excellence *And more! On Asha's Nightstand: (if you use the Amazon affiliate links below to purchase either of the books that Asha is reading, you will get Amazon's great price and delivery while also be supporting the Communications Czar podcast -- thanks!) Asha is currently reading, Paulo Coehlo's The Alchemist (Asha is reading it in Spanish!)  And for business books, Asha is reading: Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz Follow up with Asha to find out more about her membership and all of her other projects: Her website: www.TheWilkersonLawOffice.com Asha's Instagram: @AshaWilkersonEsq You can read the Medium Article I wrote about Asha: Meet The Attorney That You Would Actually Want Your Kid to Grow Up to Be: Lessons Learned from Asha Wilkerson  

Everyone yearns for more understanding in life. Whether you want to become a more effective communicator, or you want to eliminate a communication problem, the starting point is to determine if you are dealing with the cause or a symptom of that problem. Guest Czar Nick Simmonds, explains how conscious communication can facilitate these improvements and eliminate many obstacles. Listen and learn why you can permanently replace the phrase "I understand" with the more accurate, "I have an understanding" You can get in touch with Nick and find out more about his work on his website: https://www.consciouscommunication.co.uk

Connect with J. Kelly Hoey via her website: www.jkellyhoey.co You can purchase Kelly's book on Amazon using the affiliate link below. You'll get a great book (or ebook or audio!) at the low Amazon price and support the podcast at the same time -- talk about a win-win!   "Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World"    

The only prerequisite to sales success is a desire to meet the needs of your customers. If you have that, according to sales veteran Lynn Whitbeck, you already have what it takes to succeed.  Here are some easy ways to connect with Lynn: On LinkedIn: Lynn Whitbeck on LinkedIn Lynn's website, is a great source of information, articles, videos and infographics to help you move forward in your sales career: www.futureforwardsales.com If you want to check out the video and downloadable tip sheet on The Pickle, you can do so at: www.futureforwardsales.com/pickle Get some free sales tips by visiting: www.futureforwardsales.com/salestips  

When it comes to career change, Melanie Mitchell-Wexler has been there and done that -- and now helps everyone from C-level executives to new grads do the same. She draws from almost two decades of recruiting and staffing as well as her own personal career change. As a coach, Melaine knows how to strike the balance between helping people and empowering people to help themselves design a career path that leads them where they truly want to go. Driven by a deep desire to help people find meaningful and fulfilling work, I draw from close to 18 years of recruiting and staffing experience to provide a clear structured framework to help my clients better understand themselves and make better career and life decisions. I have experience working with a wide range of individuals from college graduates to C-Level Executives, coming from all industries across the United States. Melanie has a soon-to-be-released website chock full of job search tools and templates. You connect with her on any of the platforms below - and remember to congratulate her on her new Communications Czar title! Melanie's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AchieveinFindingSuccess Melanie's Instagram: @MWexlerCareerCoach Melanie on LinkedIn: Melanie Wexler Melanie on Clubhouse: Melanie Mitchell -- and make sure you join her Cultivating Careers Club What's on Melanie's Nightstand: Melanie recommends "Everybody Always" by Bob Goth and says it a book full of simple acts to help you love difficult people in difficult situations. You can click on the affiliate link below to purchase it through Amazon -- and support the Communications Czar podcast at the same time! Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goth

Just because Dave Bricker lived on a sailboat for 15 years and sailed across the Atlantic on a wooden boat doesn't mean he's the only one who has a story to tell! Guest Czar Dave Bricker is a Speaker, Trainer and Coach who can help you use stories to connect with any audience.  Dave's answer to the "What's on your nightstand?" question that we pose to all of our Guest Czars was unique -- and interesting -- referring to the audio version of "Shantaram: A Novel" -- a 40 hour audiobook that is so well narrated that Dave doesn't ever want it to end!  *Time for the disclaimer: Purchasing the recommended book on Amazon using the link below is an easy way to support this podcast because Amazon provides a nominal commission through their affiliate program. Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts (Dave recommends the audio version!) Here's how you can get more from Dave Bricker: *His speaking/training/coaching website: storysailing.com *His online public speaking course sending public speaking lessons to your inbox every week: 52speakingblunders.com

This free-wheeling conversation with Self-Love Warrior Seth Pearson (and yes, that is one heck of a job title!) sheds some light on how we can be more "in the moment" and therefore more impactful when we are communicating.  Seth shares some interesting insights into what it takes to share our thoughts with confidence.  Seth's ideas for warming yourself up before you go into key communications situations like important meetings or interviews will help you exude confidence and make a great impression. Get more from Seth at: www.loveamped.com Follow him on Instagram: @loveampedseth Here's what's on Seth's nightstand - and please note that purchasing Seth's book recommendations through the Amazon Associate links below is a great way for you to support the podcast. You get the books at the usual Amazon price and the podcast makes a little money -- talk about a win-win! "Breath" by James Nestor "Becoming Supernatural" by Dr. Joe Dispenza

Are you starting conversations the right way? Communication should be clear, concise, and should get to the point quickly. The problem is we don't always know how to do this. Chris teaches you how to: *Be concise *Summarize complex information quickly *Transform time-sucking meetings into productive updates. Chris Fenning, author of "The First Minute: How to Start Conversations That Get Results" teaches us how to streamline all of our communications. Visit Chris' Website for more details on his work: www.chrisfenning.com The book that Chris referenced was: Brant Pinvidic - The 3-Minute Rule (note from Roseann: I have since listened to the audiobook of Pinvidic's work and it is excellent!) 

Dust off your briefcase and find a belt. Ready or not, we are headed back to the office –well, sort of anyway.  Of course, things will look different. We will be distanced and masked and there will be a lot of hybrid meetings – but meetings, nonetheless. You’ll have to continue making presentations but don’t be surprised the settings have changed. Like it or not, Zoom is becoming increasingly the way to do things virtually. Now is a good time to upgrade your presentations and maybe even invest in some new tools. I sought out our Guest Czar, Matteo Cassese, a communication, productivity and digital marketing coach, to help you learn how to navigate your way around the new world of hybrid presentations. Cassese, who spent seven years at Warner Brothers and taught at the University of Palermo, is passionate about planning, designing and delivering impactful and engaging presentations that are high not only in content but also production value. Cassese has some practical advice that you can implement right away to improve your Zoom presentation. He says that the biggest takeaway for people is usually that the first few elements that you can fix are super easy.  You can connect with Matteo and get more information on his work and courses on LinkedIn or on his website, Fabbrica.la   

  Follow The Mystery Box Show everywhere: Website: mysteryboxshow.com Facebook: mysteryboxshow Instagram: @mysteryboxpdx Twitter: @mysteryboxpdx Youtube: mysteryboxshow

Wow! Annie is a font of sales avoidance wisdom and actionable information. If you haven't already done so, enjoy the Medium article I wrote distilling down some of the many nuggets of wisdom Annie shared in this episode: Not Knowing How to Sell Can Kill Your Business: Annie P. Ruggles Can Save You From Yourself No surprise here, Annie’s website is a wonderland of shiny things, you will want to check it out at: www.anniepruggles.com You can find links to her podcast and all the things Annie is up to on the site as well as gain access to Annie’s free Masterclass, take a quiz and find out how Annie’s fun and game-changing work can help you. If you are stuck and you don’t know how to eradicate the sleaze from your selling, Annie welcomes you to reach out to her on a platform where she can respond: Instagram: @anniepreneur LinkedIn: Annie P. Ruggles on LinkedIn The book that Annie referenced, is about fungus – that’s a Communications Czar first! Check it out and get enlightened: “Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures” by Merlin Sheldrake.

True confession time -- I originally listened to the audiobook of Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen when I was doing a virtual run across California over the summer. I loved the book (and Steve and his accent!) so much that I listened to it three times from start to finish.  When I asked him to be a Guest Czar on the podcast and his people said yes, I was thrilled but I had a fangirl moment right before I we started recording. Fortunately for you, Steve was so generous with his information, I didn't have to do much other than just let him go. He dropped truth bombs the entire time and was both fun and insightful.  Even though he is a big guy with a big personality, he is very much an introvert and he shares some great insights into how introverts can survive -- and thrive! -- in our extroverted world.  Listen to the episode, take notes, write a review and share it with your friends!  Want more of Steve? You are in luck because Steve has a free Facebook Group and offers tons of great information and opportunities to for you to engage with him, get all the details at: stevedsims.com simsdistillery.com

You’ve heard it before. You really should get working on developing your personal brand online. Maybe you created a social media account or two, posted some pics from your last vacation, and like a few posts here and there. The problem is, it’s just another thing to do and you already have too much on your plate. Things that seem to matter more. So, you can’t help but wonder, “Is all this social media stuff really worth it?” “If you’re not controlling your brand online, you’re falling behind,” Ewa warns. She’s been there, so she knows. Obsessed by her online presence, Ewa even had to conquer a mindset block of her own, which she did it. Indeed, she started a blog and paved the way. She forged ahead and learned the hard way. Eventually, she successfully developed an online brand that attracts her ideal clients and opportunities that align with her values. And now, she is willing to use her personal experience to show you the way. Ewa shares tons of great advice on this episode and on her website, which includes a super helpful LinkedIn Profile Optimization download.  Visit Ewa's website: www.uandeve.com for more helpful content Ewa also references a book, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

Melbourne Australia's beloved International Style Blogger and Fashion Icon, Imogen Lamport teaches us how to communicate with our personal style.  If you’re in front of people, you may not be speaking, but you are still communicating, so make sure you are sending the messages that you want to convey. This means that you have to consider what you are wearing and how you are groomed. Make sure every element of your appearance transmits the same message. “It’s so much easier to get your message across when it’s not incongruent with your appearance,” Imogen suggests. Visit Imogen's site to take your own Style Personality Quiz, sign up for her newsletter and get a free download: insideoutstyleblog.com

The featured Guest Czar for this episode of The Communications Czar Podcast, Tracy Lamourie, turned her calling into a profession and has become an internationally award-winning public relations executive. Lamourie, the founder of Canada-based Lamourie Media, is no slouch when it comes to creating a buzz around worthy causes. Her career was a natural outgrowth of her activism and dedication to social justice. Her first foray into the uncharted waters of public relations was in response to her advocacy for an innocent man whom she had never met. His name was Jimmy Dennis and he had been sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Lamourie and her husband, Dave Parkinson, who worked as telemarketers to pay the bills while devoting all of their spare time to raising global awareness of his plight, Dennis was eventually exonerated and released. Now Lamourie counts Dennis, a musician, among the hundreds of people she represents in a myriad of industries. The lessons that Lamourie shared in her interview are numerous, however, in the interest of providing the most impact for your brain and eyeballs, I will limit them to the Top 5 Lessons That a Rockstar Publicist Can Teach You. EVERYONE Can Benefit From Building a Personal Brand You Already Have What It Takes to Build Your Brand Stop Underselling Yourself Don’t Be Afraid to Share Your Wins Keep at It! “It’s really a situation where your own self-doubt is the only barrier,” Lamourie states. “Believe me when I say there are a million opportunities on the internet, literally thousands of podcasts about everything where your story would be a perfect match. There are so many forums now. If you are not using these forums and you’re just doing your work, you’re falling behind. You’re literally falling behind,” Lamourie warns. Take her advice and put yourself out there. Start building your personal brand, share it with the world, and see what comes back to you. You can reach Tracy Lamourie, founder of Lamourie Media at: www.lamouriemedia.com and if you are lucky enough to be able to work with her to promote your business, project or cause, be sure to mention The Communications Czar Podcast for a special rate!

The idea of a new job with a higher salary, better working conditions, more intellectual stimulation, and lots of new opportunities for advancement sounds great. There's a giant roadblock that comes between many people and their dream jobs: interviews. Job interviews likely share the same space as root canals on your list of fun ways to spend your day. Before starting PracticeInterviews.com, Guest Czar Jeff Sipe spent more than a decade as a recruiter, including 5 years at Google, conducting thousands of job interviews so he knows exactly what you need to succeed.  Some of the many insights Jeff shares in this episode include teaching you how to:  *Curate Your Examples *Make Yourself Memorable by Providing Visual Details *Take Control of Awkward Questions *Use the Benefits of Video Interviews to Your Advantage *And more! The last piece, and most critical, is to take those examples and actually practice with another human being because speaking it out loud is a game-changer,” Sipe relates. Practice answering questions of varying degrees of complexity in multiple ways. Move over, Nike; when it comes to the best advice for crushing your next interview, Sipe says, “Just Verbalize It!” Jeff has tons of great advice, free downloads and more on his site: www.practiceinterviews.com Jeff does a YouTube Live every Wednesday at 10am Pacific where you can get your questions answered and he has a slack channel that you can access through his website. Watch Jeff's YouTube Channel for more than 150 great videos with interview tips and answers to your interview-specific questions and dilemmas: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-7SAP1mhEQF1NlubjSzqQ Find out how you can work with Jeff and his team to prepare for your next big interview at: www.practiceinterviews.com 

Listening Ambassador, Lyn Lindbergh, the featured Guest Czar on this episode shines the spotlight on some of the common practices that undermine our ability to connect with one another. Lindbergh’s role as a Listening Ambassador was an outgrowth of a need that she saw in society, “I was thinking to myself, so many of our issues, so many of our personal struggles this year are coming out of a need to just be heard and be seen and coming out of quarantine, we just want connections and it comes out of listening. Its’ a constant, lifelong practice,” she enthuses. If you want to build better relationships with clients, coworkers and your family, you’ll want to listen to Lindbergh’s advice and discover: *The Cell Phone Mistake That You are Probably Making *How to Curb Your Interrupting Habit *The Importance of Cues for Appropriate Eye Contact *And more! The bottom line when it comes to listening, according to Lindbergh, is “The more you help the person who is talking feel like you actually care about what they are saying, the more they are going to share and the more honestly they are going to share and the more honestly and deeply they share, that’s power for you, that’s powerful, I think sometimes people mistake that listening is a thing of weakness and letting the other one talk over them no it’s understanding, it’s connecting in your communications.” That’s a true Communications Czar manifesto if ever there was one! Check out Lyn’s book, Listening 101, her “Be A Better Listener Now” Podcast and find out more information about her programs at: www.ListeningSkillsShop.com For more information on this podcast, free articles and downloads, visit: www.communicationsczar.com

Well here you are, almost four weeks into the new year and all those goals and plans that you had resolved to take action this year are, well, pretty much exactly where they were on New Year’s Day. They are in your head or your heart and maybe even written down on paper. Your goals seemed so doable when you first committed to them. Unfortunately, life and work and family and all the other things that pull at you got your attention and you got sidetracked. The days and weeks slipped by and you are starting to think that you will never achieve that goal or turn that dream into reality. Fortunately, our Guest Czar, author, speaker, and podcast host, Christina Eanes, is a productivity expert who specializes in helping people transform their personal and professional lives. Christina shares exactly how we should be talking to ourselves if we want to get back on track and take action on achieving our big goals in life. Christina also shares her recommendations for great books and resources to help us on our journey to improve the way we talk to ourselves and achieve our goals. Check out Christina’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=christina+eanes Or her websites: ChristinaEanes.com QuitBleepingAround.com SecretToSuperProductivity.com LifeIsAnEscapeRoom.com Or the books and resources that Christina recommended: Taming Your Gremlin by Rick Carson Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg. Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine You can take the free Self Sabotage Assessment on PositiveIntelligence.com Please listen in for the special tribute to our beloved co-host, Tom Guarino, at the end of this episode.   

Guest Czar, Aman Agarwal, founder of global educational company Sanpram Transnational, joins us from New Delhi to teach us how to make complex subjects understandable and interesting to any audience. Aman’s unique educational and professional background make him well suited to bridge the chasm that exists between the worlds of the technical and non-technical. In addition to training as an engineer in India, he traveled to China to study liberal arts. “Everything I learned about how to teach and how to explain things better came from my liberal arts background,” he told me. “I was a student of filmmaking and foreign languages and history; and these three disciplines, put together, whatever I know about teaching and explaining things, it comes from there.” These experiences helped Aman form his unique perspective on how professionals in the tech sector, finance, pharmaceutical sales – or any situation where you need to present complex or detailed information or products to people to laypeople – can do so in a manner that will be easy for the audience to follow, engaging for them to listen to, and compelling for them to act upon. Listen in and learn how you can: *Follow the lead of filmmakers and design presentations that draw your audience in from the start *Use easy to follow visuals to support your message *Create a presentation that makes your audience the stars of the show *And more! Check out the Aman Agarwal’s website, www.sanpram.com, to learn about the world’s first technical fluency training program.

Meet our newest CommunicationsCzar, Brenden from MasterTalk. Brenden is a young purpose-driven entrepreneur and YouTube star who is singlehandedly democratizing communication training. Brenden will teach you: *The importance of “having dinner with your audience” *3 Daily Public Speaking Exercises to elevate your speaking skills *What you can learn from comedians *The importance of working on foundational public speaking skills first * How to convince your audience that you understand them as much as they do * How to encourage participation and involve more people in you video meetings *The keys to confidence *And more! You’ll enjoy learning from Brenden and sharing in his zeal for communication skills training and his passion to upgrade the way people think about public speaking. To learn more about Brenden, search for MasterTalk on YouTube – and while you are there, check out the great new video that he just posted, "3 Lessons from Rappers for Presentations," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRpqoQghyGM Episode Transcript: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/egl_sZinANHD6pvLKVrdsC-Pil3yM0T9zYZWXAy-h5KN6ORiw24K5HzZ1aQP6XZef8VyRG10FqJ7fegem3QF0iXmgHk?loadFrom=SharedLink    

If you're in business, the reality is that it's not a matter of "if" but "when" you will need to have a crisis communications plan ready to roll out.  Crisis Communications Czar and author of the new book, "Breaking Bad News: 12 Essential Crisis Communication Tools, Jeff Hahn joins us to give you his tips for: *Avoiding common mistakes *Assembling a Rapid Response Team when a crisis occurs  *Picking the right spokesperson *Developing a Holding Statement *Creating your own Digital Newsroom Don't resort to the "Ostrich Paradox" by being underprepared and in denial. Join us for this enlightening and refreshingly sensible approach to developing and executing a crisis communication plan for your business.  You can check out Jeff's free downloads, order the book and find out more information about Jeff Hahn's work by visiting: www.breakingbadnewsbook.com   

Are you about to walk into a contentious room? Do you want to win over an angry crowd at a public meeting? The best approach, according to former Palo Alto City Manager and columnist for the International City/County Management Association, is to try to get to know your opponents before you take them on in public. Listen in and discover how you can: Appropriately acknowledge opposing opinions Comfortably move away from the podium  Use the right kind of microphone When it comes to visuals, keep them simple and impactful Prepare to answer the questions you hope no one will ask Keep your head up and stay loose under pressure And more! 

Our Guest Czar for this episode, internationally known Author and Communications Expert, Mike Aguilera teaches us how to be more persuasive on Zoom – and in real life! Join us and learn how you can: *Speak in a way that puts people at ease and makes them feel comfortable opening up to you *Use your hands to compliment your message *Look more confident on Zoom *Develop a mindset that will facilitate rapport. From word choice to mindset, Mike shares useful tips and techniques, based on neuroscience research, to help you improve your ability to connect with people.  

Listen and learn from this episode's featured Communications Czar, author, and networking guru Ali Scarlett. You will learn: How to avoid common networking mistakes and missed opportunities. Why saying "Thank You" is not always a good idea. How to build your professional network in person and online. Get a sneak-peek into Ali's new book, "The Clever Connector: The Easiest Way to Become Powerful, Regardless of Your Situation. The Underdog's Guide to Networking with Billionaires, Celebrities, and Executives."

Online educator and video producer, Anna Runkle, shares her secrets for making a great impression on Zoom of any video conference.  Find out how you can:  *Use lighting to look great *Dress for Zoom success *Exude confidence and command attention in your next Zoom meeting!