Empowered Leadership

Welcome to the final Season 1 episode of Empowered Leadership. In this special episode, host Alexandra Reese answers the question, “What can one learn from comparing and contrasting the stories and insights of fifteen exceptional leaders?”  Tune in for her seven biggest insights. We don’t want to spoil the surprise by listening them here (and #7 will surprise you!). So go ahead and listen! Alexandra will be back this September with a whole new season of Empowered Leadership (and a few other surprises!). In the spirit of continuous improvement, she’d greatly appreciate your feedback on Season 1 via this short 5-minute survey. And if you’re curious about partnering with Alexandra to improve your leadership, life, and impact, please subscribe to her weekly newsletter, The Growth Guide. In the next week, subscribers will receive early access to a unique developmental opportunity! For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Andrew Brummer, Chief Service Officer of LifeQ, the leading FDA-approved provider of biometrics and health information derived from wearable devices. Andrew has 30+ years of diverse business and leadership experience. He joined LifeQ in 2015, as one of the company’s early employees. Notably, Andrew has helped scale the business globally to drive double-digit annual growth. If you’re working to scale your organization, tune in for candid stories and powerful insights to accelerate your journey. Join them as they discuss: - The counterintuitive link between patience and performance - How to turn around a toxic culture and build a high-performing team - Two keys to unlock productivity gains (while strengthening engagement) - Why you should strive to work yourself out of a job - The unparalleled power of predictability - When more information is not better, and you should hold back in communicating your vision and strategy - How to evolve your leadership as your business scales And more! Resources: - Andrew's LinkedIn - LifeQ LinkedIn - LifeQ Website - Book Recommendations: The Trusted Advisor and Change Starts with You  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Chris Baiocchi, the Founder & CEO of Resolute Philanthropy, a fundraising consultancy that works with nonprofits to scale their revenues and impact. Chris has 20+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has held leadership positions at well-known nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity. Although Chris has dedicated himself to the nonprofit sector, his conversation with Alexandra yields valuable insights that are equally relevant to private sector leaders tuning in. Join them as they discuss: - How structure and systems create freedom and empowerment - How leaders can build and scale trust  - Why personal relationships are the cornerstone of  business success - The strategies exceptional fundraisers use to build high-value, long-term relationships at scale - A fresh perspective on how COVID-19 shifted the power dynamics between employees and employers, and why it’s unlikely to shift back (even with a recession!) - How social enterprise businesses are disrupting the ESG movement, and why that could be good news for communities And more! Resources: - Chris’ LinkedIn  - Resolute Philanthropy LinkedIn - Resolute Philanthropy Website - RevHubOC If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Clark Quinn, the Executive Director of Quinnovation, which partners with organizations to dramatically improve performance through the power of learning. Clark is a thought leader who leverages his diverse background in learning and development, technology, and cognitive neuroscience to push the learning & development field forward. Join them as they discuss: - How to leverage earned experience and evidence based practices to hone your leadership - The dangers of emulating exceptional leaders who came before you - Why you should ditch “best practices” in favor of “best principles” - Why “learning organizations” perform better and live longer - The three types of learning happening in high-performing organizations - How you can start, nurture, and strengthen a learning organization  - Why most organizations get knowledge management wrong (and what to do instead!) And more! Resources: Clarke’s LinkedIn Quinnovation LinkedIn Quinnovation Website Upside Learning Solutions The Learning Development Accelerator If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Tim Winner, the Vice President of Operations and Strategic Partnerships at the Technology Association of Oregon. Tim is a people-driven leader with an abundance of leadership experience, both as an executive at highly-successful publicly traded companies and as an advisor for high-growth startups.  Join them as they discuss: - Why highly-effective leadership begins (or ends) with self-awareness - How to scale leadership by creating a common language within your organization - Why what got you here won’t get you there, and how to evolve your leadership to meet the changing needs of your organization - How to eliminate bias from your feedback, so you can build a high-performing culture - How to identify and overcome roadblocks in the workplace to ensure you find joy in your career  - Unconventional perspectives on what our workplaces (and communities) may look like in 5+ years - Why disengagement from your company may be a good thing! And more! Resources: - Tim’s LinkedIn - Tim’s Website - Technology Association of Oregon’s LinkedIn - Technology Association of Oregon’s Website - The Winner Group - Book Recommendation: Recapture the Rapture If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Maggie Kolkena, Founder and Partner at Third Thought Consulting. Maggie has 25+ years of experience developing future-ready leaders capable of building the future today. She is the author of Today for Tomorrow: A Field Guide to Scenario Planning. Join them as they discuss: - The paradox of empowerment: how barriers propel growth - How to respond to a violation of workplace norms - How to design an organization for speed, agility, and innovation - Where to go for information and insight  - The power of scenario planning, and how to get it right - Three things you can do now to strengthen the future readiness of yourself, your team, and your organization   And more! Resources: Maagie’s LinkedIn Maggie’s book Today for Tomorrow: A Field Guide to Scenario Planning Third Thought Consulting Foresight-Driven Innovation Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation - US Standford Strategic Foresight and Innovation Management: A Comparative Study across International Swiss Banks The role of corporate foresight in exploring new markets – evidence from 3 case studies in the BOP markets René Rohrbeck If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In the second part of this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Doug Hunter, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arjuna Solutions. Doug has more than three decades of experience in marketing leadership, including over twenty years at Lattice Semiconductor, one of Oregon’s most successful publicly traded companies.  Join them as they pick up where they left off to discuss: - How to navigate major life transitions fearlessly - What it was like to transition into a startup after 23 years in a large legacy company  - Why you need an “inevitable success” mindset  - How to develop a sense of agency and control through intentionality in your everyday life - Thinking beyond “face time” to build strong relationships at work  - The fate of remote work, and the CEOs demanding a return to hybrid and in-office workplaces And more! Resources: Doug’s LinkedIn Doug’s Website Arjuna Solutions Lattice Semiconductor If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Doug Hunter, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arjuna Solutions. Doug has more than three decades of experience in marketing leadership, including over twenty years at Lattice Semiconductor, one of Oregon’s most successful publicly traded companies. He’s an accomplished marketing leader with experience in shaping brands, and generating demand, while also building and cultivating high-performing teams.  Join them as they discuss: - Why individual contributors often have the best insight, and how to capture it - How to empower your team to make bold moves, even in large, complex organizations - Strategies to foster effective cross-departmental collaboration in large organizations - How to identify, develop, and encourage each of your employees’ "superpowers" - The differences between managing individual contributors and managing managers that most leaders miss - Things you can do now to build a culture of feedback And more! Resources: Doug’s LinkedIn Doug’s Website Arjuna Solutions Lattice Semiconductor If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by  strategist and innovator Craig Trames. Craig galvanizes and motivates diverse teams to innovate new ideas, opportunities, and relationships that deliver tangible results. Now, he leads his own consulting practice. Prior to that, he was the Senior Director of Innovation at Adidas! He’s also held leadership positions at Nike, Outward Bound, and Coraggio Group. Not only is he a stellar leader, but a kind-hearted person who cares about doing well by doing right.  Join them as they discuss: - How the best leaders strike a healthy balance between doing and being - Why mistakes are a marker of high-performing teams - How rapid change and disruption have changed the way organizations innovate - Unexpected key performance indicators (KPIs) for innovation - Why every person in your organization should think, feel, and act like an innovator - How to strengthen a culture of innovation in your organization, even if you’re starting from square one - How you can use your innovations strategy to attract and retain high-performing talent - Why high-performing teams must master decision-making norms   And more! Resources: Craig’s LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Felicia Rivers, Director of Talent Acquisition at Tillamook County Creamery Association.  Join them as they discuss: - Why you need to provide your team with a clear vision, then give them the autonomy to deliver how they see fit - What it means to have a toxic culture and how you can prevent one - How to create psychological safety in a diverse organization - Why you should always ask you team for feedback (an open door policy isn’t enough) - How to repair conflict as a leader, and what to do when it was you who mis-stepped - Why you need to treat your hiring candidates like customers - How to hire for culture fit the right way - How to be a truly values-driven organization And more! Felicia Rivers is the Director of Talent Acquisition at Tillamook County Creamery Association, a farmer owned cooperative that prides itself on its commitment to bringing the best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible to market. Prior to this, she was the Global Director of Talent Acquisition and Development at Emerald Performance Materials, and was the Region Talent Operations Senior Manager at Comcast! Resources: Felicia’s LinkedIn Tillamook County Creamery Association Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter Comparably  3 Steps to a Successful Job Interview If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Omark Holmes, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Huntington Beach. Omark Holmes is the Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Huntington Beach, the Destination marketing organization that helps bring 4 million visitors to  Huntington Beach every year. Previously, he was the Director of Marketing at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, and the Director of Communications for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transport Authority.  Join them as they discuss: - Why great leaders are hyper-focused on the individual - How to cultivate authentic vulnerability as a leader–without crossing the line - How to utilize the Socratic method to improve performance - Why the best leaders are students, and how stagnation in learning leads to irrelevance - How Omark’s personal experience being “the only one of” fundamentally shaped his leadership - How to cultivate employee ownership over a healthy workplace culture - The trickle down effect that leaders have on organizations, both good and bad And more! Resources: Omark’s LinkedIn  ‘Visit Huntington Beach’ LinkedIn ‘Visit Huntington Beach’ Website If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  For more information on Alexandra Reese, visit her website or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Leanne Hughes, founder, experienced Chief Engagement Officer, Author, and Keynote Speaker! Leanne is a founder, experienced Chief Engagement Officer, and Collaboration Consultant. She is also the Author of The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint; a Keynote Speaker; and an Opinion Columnist at CEOWORLD Magazine! Prior to all of this, she was a Workforce Development and Digital Technologist at North Regional TAFE, and was a Senior Advisor at Thiess!  Join them as they discuss: - Why a leader must be present and visible - Why pattern recognition and synthesis are undervalued leadership skills, and how to improve them - How a leader’s vulnerability can actually be their biggest strength - Tactics to build meaningful learning and development into your daily life - How your work environment impacts performance - New perspectives on health and wellness at work - Why you shouldn’t always bring your whole self to work  And more! Resources: - Leanne’s Website - Leanne’s LinkedIn - ‘Leanne Hughes’ Work and Live Large’ Podcast - ‘First Time Facilitator’ Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you. For more information on Alexandra Reece visit https://opastrategy.com/ or connect via LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Jamie Waltz, Former Director of the Department of Community Services of Multnomah County, to discuss the inner game of leadership, and unconventional ways to redefine success for yourself and your team. Join them as they discuss: Why the best leaders choose to stay fully present, and relinquish control over outcomes The challenges of leading a government agency through the pandemic Why we need to slow down to accomplish more How to cultivate productive conflict and healthy relationships The power of movement in decision-making How stress sabotages you, and what to do about it Jamie is the former Director of the Department of Community Services of Multnomah County, where she led the business and administrative operations of a department with an annual budget of $200 million. She was also the Strategic and Development Manager at the Office of the Chief Administrative Office of the City of Portland, and served as the Resource Development and Policy Manager at the Portland Bureau of Transportation. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.  Episode Highlights (timecodes to be changed once I have edited audio): [02:42 - 06:15] The Inside-Out Approach to Leadership – Jamie believes that we need to work on and ground ourselves as leaders. We need to understand exactly who we are as individuals so that we can be the best we possibly can to lead teams and systems. There’s a lot of power in where we put our attention and focus in leadership; if we can regulate and understand our emotions then we can become better leaders. [08:42 - 14:29] Embrace Your Passion & Curiosity! – Leaders do not know everything - no one does. Jamie believes that it’s the job of a leader not to be the mastermind behind every single choice, but it’s to keep asking questions and let their curiosity guide them; if you try to go into a conversation with control and specific outcomes in mind, you will miss a whole lot of things that you wouldn’t have if you were just open. [14:38 -15:23] Presence is Your Most Important Leadership Agenda - Your ability to be present might be the most important aspect of being a leader. Whilst most leaders are almost immovably focused on external goals, the ones that shine through the most and achieve the best results are those who focus on being present and are there for their team. If you can respond to issues and conflict with some conscientiousness, you will gain more insight and better results. No one is denying that external goals are important, but it doesn’t mean the present and internal goals should be ignored. [15:38 - 19:50] The Burden of Leading During a Pandemic – When the pandemic hit, Jamie admits that it exposed a lot of the cracks in the system of government services. She explains just how much scrutiny she was under; everyone was watching them which only added to the insurmountable pressure. In fact, leaders of all industries had to adapt to such intense pressures and speed up the amount of work they were doing, creating a sort of backlog of work meaning that, even today, organizations don’t have the time, space, and ease needed to be as creative, engaged, and effective as they need to be. [22:08 - 24:18] Red Mode: A Reactive State – There will be times both in life and at work when you feel angry or stressed, and you will end up entering a red mode, one where you can’t think beyond a reactive state, leaving no room for rational thought. Listen to your body when this happens, take a second to really feel-out where you are both mentally and physically, and get yourself back behind the wheel of rational thought. If you can encourage this kind of thinking with your team and develop a shared language of mindfulness around stress and conflict, you will be able to navigate and, in many ways, have a handle on that red mode. [30:06 - 31:40] A Place of Ease as the Foundation for Creativity - Contrary to traditional business rhetorics around struggle and competition, why not consider the path of less resistance as being a fundamental component to tapping into our inner wisdom and creativity? The concept of ease should be valued more in business, as it facilitates space that broadens our horizons and allows us to tap into our creativity and accelerate our growth.    Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Brian August, Chief Financial Officer of Oregon Humane Society, an organization founded in 1868 dedicated to helping animals and people. Together, they delve into how leaders, teams, and organizations can better manage risk and thrive amidst uncertainty and change. Brian has been with Oregon Humane Society for six years, first as the Chief Operating Officer and now as the Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he was a strategy and operations leader for notable companies including Slalom, E&J Gallo Winery, and the Gap.    Join them as they discuss: - The power of choice as a leader - The dangers of binary thinking - How to cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence - The importance of eliminating judgment as a leader - When to use your intuition–and when to ignore it - When to stop planning for the worst case scenario - How successful leadership teams debate risk - How to support productive conflict within your team - Unconventional wisdom about giving and receiving feedback - How to reduce meetings and schedule overwhelm in your organization Episode Highlights for Part 2: Growth and Development Must Be Personal [02:27 - 04:00] - Everyone has a unique background, set of experiences, and goals. What one person needs to grow and develop will differ from that of another. You can't write a development plan for someone because that's your development plan, not theirs. Feedback is the Key to Growth and Development as a Leader [04:01 - 05:27] - Leadership is a service role, and your employees are your primary customers. Just like your organization gets feedback from its customers, you need feedback from yours. To ensure you’re getting quality feedback, tailor when and how you ask for feedback to the preferences of your people. What works for one person may not work for another. It’s your responsibility to shift your approach accordingly.  A Surprising Root Cause of Calendar Overwhelm [19:34 - 25:40] - Most organizations are trying to solve the problem of “too many meetings” all wrong. They focus on band-aid solutions like meeting-free Fridays, which only address the symptom of a deeper issue. In many organizations, that deeper issue is ambiguous roles and responsibilities, which makes it hard for individuals to take ownership and run with work.   Being a Great Leader is a Lot Like Completing an Ironman Triathlon [27:06 - 33:16] - Leadership is an endurance sport. Planning, pacing, self-awareness, and resilience are essential to success, regardless of which race you’re running. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.   Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Brian August, Chief Financial Officer of Oregon Humane Society, an organization founded in 1868 dedicated to helping animals and people. Together, they delve into how leaders, teams, and organizations can better manage risk and thrive amidst uncertainty and change.   Brian has been with Oregon Humane Society for six years, first as the Chief Operating Officer and now as the Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he was a strategy and operations leader for notable companies including Slalom, E&J Gallo Winery, and the Gap.    Join them as they discuss: - The power of choice as a leader - The dangers of binary thinking - How to cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence - The importance of eliminating judgment as a leader - When to use your intuition–and when to ignore it - When to stop planning for the worst-case scenario - How successful leadership teams debate risk - How to support productive conflict within your team - Unconventional wisdom about giving and receiving feedback - How to reduce meetings and schedule overwhelm in your organization Episode Highlights for Part 1: The Power of Choice a a Leader [04:01 - 05:23] - As humans, we have a tendency to think in a binary mindset, one choice or the other; yes or no; right or wrong, nothing else. But as a leader, you need to be able to go beyond that way of thinking and come up with solutions that are creative and innovative, that may present options that others might not have considered, especially when it feels like you’re backed into a corner. Emotional Intelligence and Stepping Back [05:42 - 10:16] - In order to make the right decisions as a leader and think clearly, it’s integral that we take a step back and view the situation from an outside perspective. Brian points out that our emotions can cloud our judgment if we’re not careful, which is why emotional intelligence and having methods of regulating ourselves is so, so important. If we’re not aware of what we’re feeling, it becomes increasingly difficult to think logically. Creating Certainty Amidst Uncertainty [14:57 - 20:38] - Great leaders don’t always have the answers, and there is no point in pretending like they do. Instead, leaders should be upfront and honest about their situation, and anchor in on the things that they do know. You can create certainty and confidence within an uncertain environment. The Danger of Planning for the Worst-Case Scenario [26:21 - 34:05] - When faced with uncertainty, humans are hardwired to jump to the worst-case scenario. While it feels good to be prepared. It’s not always the best use of your time and attention. As a leader, your most valuable resource is your attention, so you must use it wisely. There are better ways to identify and manage risk. The Best Leaders Have One Common Mindset [34:50 - 38:06] – To be a successful leadership team, you must share an organization-first mindset. It’s not about advocating for your department or your team. It’s about advocating for what is best for the organization as a whole. If your team struggles to operate with this collective mindset, sometimes all it takes is one person to initiate the change. You can start by asking the question, “How does this support our mission?” If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.   Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this first-ever episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Mike Reese, Retired Sheriff of Multnomah County, to discuss how leaders can inspire a shared vision and lead a thriving organization during times of crisis. Mike recently retired from a 33-year career in law enforcement. Most recently, he was the Sheriff of Multnomah County. Prior to that, he was Chief of Police in the City of Portland. And he also happens to be Alexandra’s dad. Join them as they consider: - The key attributes of exceptional leadership - How leaders can inspire a shared vision in a large, diverse organization - How to strengthen communicate and a culture of feedback in large organizations - What it takes to create safety, trust, and belonging during times of crisis - How the pandemic continues to impact mental health and performance—and what leaders must do in response - The power of purpose in building credibility as a leader - How to set-up systems that drive your focus to the right things at the right times - How to handle the loneliness and isolation of being at the top - Why great leaders are students of history Episode Highlights: A Sheriff’s Definition of Exceptional Leadership [02:11 - 03:00] – Mike defines exceptional leadership as creating a shared vision that inspires people to follow you; setting measurable outcomes that define success; and personally and professionally committing to the organization and the people in it. With respect to your commitment, you have a responsibility to develop and mentor the next generation of leaders. To Communicate Effectively, Be Present [04:05 - 10:27] – Effective communication is the most important part of great leadership. And it’s also the hardest in complex organizations like the Sheriff’s Department, which have employees working in many different configurations (remote, in offices, in institutional settings, on patrol). The key to being an effective communicator is being present. You need to go to where your people are. Use all the channels you have available. And if you have on-site teams, you need to be present in person with them. This is how you build trust and show that you’re in it together. The Importance of Safety, Trust and Belonging at Work [14:39 - 21:12] - The sense of uncertainty we all experienced has damaged our psyche. We now have many people working for us who may have PTSD. And others have opted out of the workforce entirely. As we bring people back, we need to focus on safety, trust, and belonging. It starts with acknowledging that trauma exists and providing meaningful support to work through it. It also involves celebrating people for who they are as individuals both in and out of work. You Need to Care About What You Do [21:00 - 24:30] – In order to be a credible, outstanding leader, you need to actually care about what you do. If your heart isn’t in it, if you’re not interested in the work, then how can you expect yourself to lead with heart, commitment, and enthusiasm? It would drastically affect not only your work, but their ability to work as well. How to Build Your Leadership Support Network [24:56 - 26:16] – It can be lonely and isolating at the top. You need a community to help you gain perspective, navigate challenges, and grow. That community should include mentors who’ve walked in your shoes, peers who are navigating similar situations, and advisors and coaches to empower your growth. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.     Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Tracy Hooper, Founder of The Confidence Project, to discuss the power of authentic, confident leadership. Tracy is the Founder of The Confidence Project, an organization that works with leaders to practice skills and feel confident in any situation. She is also the Best-Selling Author of “The NOW Hello, What to Say, What to Do in the World of Work”. She has also been described as a “wonderful and skilled presenter” by people she’s worked with! Join them as they discuss: - The power of carrying yourself with confidence - How introverts can demonstrate confidence, especially in large group settings - Body language for confidence and approachability - Tips and tricks for building personal connection in a virtual environment quickly - The power of breath, and how you can transform a room just by changing your breathing - Words to lose and words to use - Science-backed tools to mitigate stress in the moment, so you can remain calm and confident even in the most stressful situations Episode Highlights: The Five Magic Words to Spark Conversation [03:46 - 04:58] - Many of the best leaders are introverts. If you’re an introvert who struggles to show-up in public spaces with authentic confidence, here’s the key: remember that everyone’s favorite subject is themselves. So the best way to spark conversation with confidence and ease is to ask open-ended questions that start with, “what,” “how,” and “tell me more.” For example: What brought you here? How did you learn about that? Tell me more about your experience. How to Build Authentic Connections in a Virtual Environment [9:55 - 15:20] - Although many leaders and teams have been working virtually since 2020, many still struggle to build and maintain deep connections in a virtual environment. Tracy and Alexandra discuss delve into four key strategies to doing so: look into the camera when you speak, watch for changes in non-verbal communication when you listen (these are yellow flags!), demonstrate active listening (no multi-tasking!), and prioritize one-on-one connection and availability.   The Power of Breath [17:44 - 21:12] – Breathing is a surprisingly powerful leadership tool. The way you breathe affects everyone else’s breathing in the room. Not only can you calm yourself by adopting specific breathing techniques, but you can also calm those you’re with. How Hedge Language Diminishes Your Power [27:19 - 30:35] – Hedges are words that we use to sound humble or modest, like “just” or “pretty.” For example: “I’m just wondering,” or “I’m pretty strategic.” We often use them to avoid coming on too strong or to appear demanding. But they diminish the power of our message and the impact of our communication. Instead, practice the power of pause. Where you would insert a hedge, insert a pause. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.    Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

  Empowered Leadership is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so