Communicate to Lead

Kele Belton
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Ready to step into your full potential as a leader? Join communication expert and leadership coach Kele Belton for conversations that go beyond traditional leadership advice. Each week on Communicate to Lead, discover practical strategies to strengthen both your leadership presence and communication impact. Through solo episodes and inspiring guest interviews, Kele tackles the real challenges women face in management - from mastering high-stakes conversations and building executive presence to overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Whether you're an experienced manager or an aspiring leader, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help you navigate workplace dynamics, amplify your voice, and lead with authentic confidence. Tune in to transform challenges into opportunities and build the leadership career you envision.

  1. 3D AGO

    [Hall of Fame] How to Get Promoted in Q4: The Strategic RISE Method Every Woman Leader Needs to Know

    Send us a text 🎉 CELEBRATING 10K DOWNLOADS:  To celebrate hitting 10,000 downloads this month, we are unlocking the vault and re-releasing the top 3 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. This episode on navigating a disengaged manager was one of our most shared conversations of the year. Whether you missed it the first time or need a refresher, enjoy this "Hall of Fame" replay! Original Episode Description: While your colleagues are mentally checking out for summer vacation, you could be quietly building the foundation for your next promotion. Discover the strategic approach that makes career advancement inevitable, not accidental. Host Kele Belton reveals the RISE Method – a four-step strategic framework specifically designed for women in leadership positions who want to position themselves for Q4 promotions. This isn't about working harder; it's about working smarter with a systematic approach that transforms you from someone hoping for recognition into someone who's impossible to overlook. What you can expect from this episode By the end of this 20-minute episode, you'll have: A clear 5-month roadmap (July through November) for career advancementThe complete RISE Method framework: Research, Initiate, Showcase, and EvaluateSpecific weekly action steps you can implement immediately in JulyReal client success stories showing the method in actionCommon pitfalls to avoid that derail most women's promotion effortsThe mindset shift that transforms how you approach career developmentBook your complimentary Leadership Strategy Call https://calendly.com/kele-thetailoredapproach/leadership-strategy-call About the Host Kele Belton is a communication and leadership speaker, facilitator, and coach who helps ambitious women turn their expertise into executive presence and their ideas into impact through her podcast "Communicate to Lead." Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:  Ready to implement the RISE Method in your own career? Connect with Kele on social media and share your progress – she's rooting for your success! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/ Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    20 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    [Hall of Fame] How to Ask for What You Want at Work Without Feeling Selfish

    Send us a text 🎉 CELEBRATING 10K DOWNLOADS:  To celebrate hitting 10,000 downloads this month, we are unlocking the vault and re-releasing the top 3 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. This episode on navigating a disengaged manager was one of our most shared conversations of the year. Whether you missed it the first time or need a refresher, enjoy this "Hall of Fame" replay! Original Episode Description: Are you struggling to ask for a promotion, raise, or new opportunities without feeling selfish or demanding? In this episode, leadership communication expert Kele Belton reveals why 60% of women now negotiate their salaries but still face career advancement challenges—and how to change that with strategic advocacy. What you'll learn in the episode: The CLEAR Communication Framework for strategic workplace requestsWhy asking strategically matters more than just asking more oftenHow to position requests for maximum success and organizational buy-inProven techniques for handling pushback and negotiating effectivelyReal success stories from women who transformed their careers through strategic advocacyYour call to action: Identify one request you've been putting offPractice the CLEAR framework in your next advocacy conversation______________________________________________________________________ Join the waitlist for the spring cohort of Ignite Your Leadership Power Accelerator https://thetailoredapproach.com/incubator-waitlist/______________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways for Women in Leadership: ✅ Strategic advocacy isn't selfish—it's leadership. When you advocate effectively, you set a positive example for other women and contribute to organizational value. ✅ Focus on value creation, not just qualifications. Position requests around problems you solve and results you deliver. ✅ Timing matters as much as content. Align requests with organizational cycles and priorities for maximum impact. ✅ Pushback provides valuable information. Use resistance to refine your approach and identify alternative solutions. ✅ Practice builds confidence. Start with lower-stakes requests to develop your strategic advocacy skills. ______________________________________________________________________ About the host: Kele Belton is a communication and leadership speaker, facilitator, and coach who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through better communication skills. Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/ Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    28 min

  3. 12/11/2025

    [Hall of Fame] 4 Strategies to Advance Your Career When Your Manager Has Checked Out

    Send us a text 🎉 CELEBRATING 10K DOWNLOADS:  To celebrate hitting 10,000 downloads this month, we are unlocking the vault and re-releasing the top 3 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. This episode on navigating a disengaged manager was one of our most shared conversations of the year. Whether you missed it the first time or need a refresher, enjoy this "Hall of Fame" replay! Original Episode Description: Ever feel like you're trying to advance your career while your manager has mentally checked out? You're asking for feedback, but you're getting generic responses. You're bringing up development goals and hearing "we should talk about that" with no follow-through. If your once-engaged manager now seems to be just going through the motions, you're not alone, and more importantly, you're not stuck. In this episode of Communicate to Lead, host Kele Belton tackles one of the most common yet frustrating workplace challenges: how to navigate your career growth when your manager is disengaged, overwhelmed, or quietly coasting. Whether they're experiencing burnout, lacking management training, or quietly looking for their next opportunity, a checked-out boss doesn't have to derail your career trajectory. What you'll learn  By the end of this 30-minute episode, you'll have a complete roadmap for not just surviving but thriving with a disengaged manager, including: The Leadership Vacuum Strategy: How to strategically step up and fill gaps that showcase your leadership potential without overstepping boundariesSkip-Level Relationship Building: Proven techniques to create visibility and advocacy with senior leadership without undermining your direct managerSelf-Directed Career Development: How to create your own development plan and find mentors when your manager isn't investing in your growthCareer Protection Tactics: Essential strategies to ensure your accomplishments stay visible and your trajectory stays on trackImmediate Action Steps: Specific weekly tactics you can implement right away to start seeing resultsKey Takeaways Why a disengaged manager can actually accelerate your leadership development when handled strategicallyThe four-step approach to becoming the communication bridge your organization needsHow to approach skip-level managers without appearing to bypass your direct supervisorWarning signs that your career is becoming invisible and how to fix it immediatelyReal client success stories of professionals who turned management challenges into career advancement opportunitiesPerfect for women in leadership roles and aspiring leaders who refuse to let management challenges limit their potential. About the Host: Kele Belton is a communication and leadership speaker, facilitator, and coach who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through better communication skills. Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproachWebsite: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    25 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    134. Holiday Networking Strategy: 3 Ways to Make Work Parties Worth Your Time

    Send us a text You just got the calendar invite. Company holiday party. Tuesday night. 6 PM. Your immediate reaction isn't excitement—it’s a mental calculation. You are weighing the cost of a babysitter and dry cleaning against the sheer exhaustion of making small talk with people you already see on Zoom 40 hours a week. Your brain is screaming, "I would rather be anywhere else," but your professional guilt says, "I have to go." If your current plan is to stand in the corner, eat a stale canapé, and leave as soon as possible, you are paying an energy tax with zero return. Your time is your most valuable asset—so if you’re going to spend it, let’s make sure you get a return on that investment. What This Episode is About  In this episode of Communicate to Lead, host Kele Belton dismantles the "obligation" of the corporate holiday party and rebuilds it as a strategic opportunity. We are moving beyond "survival mode." Kele explains why holiday parties are distinct communication environments where the hierarchy is flatter, the guards are down, and business gets done in the gray areas. Whether you are aiming for a promotion, trying to bond with a new team, or looking for "skunkworks" projects that haven't been announced yet, this episode gives you the permission and the playbook to work the room on your own terms. And for the introverts? Kele shares her personal strategy for conserving energy, skipping the small talk, and executing the perfect "exit strategy" without guilt. What You Can Expect to Learn: The "ROI" Framework: How to choose one of three specific missions for the night: Deepening Alliances, Strategic Visibility, or Intel Gathering.The Introvert’s Advantage: Why introverts are actually better at strategic networking than extroverts (if they have a plan).Conversation Starters that Work: Specific questions to ask senior leaders and cross-functional peers that move past "How about this weather?" and demonstrate intellectual curiosity.The "Skunkworks" Strategy: How to use informal chatter to discover career opportunities and projects that haven't hit the company newsletter yet.The 48-Hour Golden Thread: The exact email template to send after the party to turn a casual chat into a formal business connection in January.Resources Mentioned: Book a Call: Ready to enter 2026 with a clear communication strategy? Book your complimentary Leadership Clarity Call with Kele here.About Your Host: Kele Belton is a communication and leadership facilitator, coach, and consultant who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through strategic communication and practical leadership frameworks. Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    11 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    133. Why You Keep Starting and Stopping Leadership Goals | The Quick Recovery Method

    Send us a text You committed to speaking up more in meetings. You lasted three days. Now it's been three weeks, and your inner critic is convinced you don't have what it takes to lead at the next level. Sound familiar? Here is the truth that changes everything: You do not have a capability problem. You have a recovery problem. Most leaders think the key to success is discipline—never falling off the wagon. But the reality is that executives fall off just as often as middle managers. The difference is speed. A middle manager takes three months to recover; an executive recovers in three hours. In this episode, I am breaking down exactly why you keep starting and stopping your professional development initiatives, and I’m introducing The Quick Recovery Method—a 4-step framework specifically designed to help you stop the shame spiral and build real momentum. In this episode, you will learn: The "Discipline Myth": Why relying on willpower to stay consistent is a guaranteed strategy for failure.The 4-Step Framework: How to use the "Recognize, Reframe, Replace, Restart" method to get back on track in minutes, not months.The "Bridge Thought" Strategy: How to bypass toxic positivity and find the specific thoughts that actually move you into action right now.The Black Friday Trap: Why buying another planner or leadership course won't fix your follow-through problem (and what actually will).If you have a graveyard of half-finished goals and are ready to stop beating yourself up for being human, this episode is your reset button. Resources & Links: Book a Complimentary Leadership Clarity Call with Kele About Your Host: Kele Belton is a communication and leadership facilitator, coach, and speaker who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through strategic communication and practical leadership frameworks. Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    23 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    132. How to Build Influence Fast: The Strategic Appreciation Framework

    Send us a text There is a massive difference between being polite and being strategic. Most women leaders are courteous. They say "thank you" and acknowledge hard work. But most miss the specific leadership opportunity that separates middle management from executive leadership: Strategic Appreciation. Real influence isn’t just about delivering results; it’s about building a network of professional goodwill that becomes currency when you need it most. When you shift from generic gratitude to specific, impact-focused recognition, you stop being just "nice" and start positioning yourself as a leader who understands outcomes and elevates the people around you. In this episode of Communicate to Lead, Kele breaks down exactly how to use strategic appreciation to strengthen relationships and build your leadership brand. With Thanksgiving week approaching, there is no better time to implement this low-stakes, high-impact strategy. In this episode, you will learn: The "Polite vs. Strategic" Trap: Why generic "thanks for all you do" emails are noise, not leadership, and how to shift your approach.The 5 Categories of Influence: The specific people you need to appreciate this week (including the one category most women overlook).The 3-Part Framework: A simple formula for writing recognition messages that land with impact and make you memorable.Career Positioning: How this 10-minute practice signals executive presence and gets you advocated for in rooms you aren't in.Next Steps: This Week’s Assignment: Identify 3-5 people from the categories discussed in the episode and send them a message using the 3-Part Framework before the holiday break.About Your Host: Kele Belton is a communication and leadership facilitator, coach, and consultant who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through strategic communication and practical leadership frameworks. Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com

    19 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    131. Mentor vs. Sponsor: Why Women Leaders Need Strategic Advocates (Not Just Career Advice)

    Send us a text Schedule your complimentary Leadership Strategy Call.  Your mentor gave you excellent career advice. So why do you still feel vulnerable when organizational changes happen? Here's the truth most women leaders don't realize: mentorship gets you guidance, but sponsorship gets you protection, access, and advocacy when decisions are made behind closed doors. If you've ever been blindsided by budget cuts, left out of high-visibility opportunities, or found out about critical changes after everyone else—this episode will show you exactly what's missing from your leadership strategy. In this episode, you will learn: The Critical Mentor vs. Sponsor Gap: Why mentors provide advice but can't give you the advocacy, access, and protection you need during organizational changes, budget discussions, and navigating organizational politics.How to Identify Potential Sponsors: The 3 specific criteria for identifying who can actually advocate for you in decision-making rooms (Hint: it's not just about finding senior leaders who like you).5 Authentic Cultivation Strategies: Practical, non-transactional approaches to building sponsor relationships—including how to create strategic visibility, make it easy for sponsors to advocate for you, and ask for advocacy without feeling uncomfortable.The Year-End Conversation Framework: 3 critical conversations to have before December 31st that will position you strategically for 2026, including exact scripts for talking with your manager, potential sponsors, and mentors.Your 'Minimum Viable' Action Plan: 3 high-impact actions you can complete in the next six weeks (even during the busiest time of year) that will build your career resilience for 2026.Why This Matters Right Now (Your Final 2025 Opportunity) The strategic conversations happening in your company right now will shape what 2026 looks like for your career. Budget allocations are being finalized, strategic initiatives are being planned, and leadership is deciding who they need in which roles. If you don't have sponsors advocating for your interests in these conversations, you are being left out. This is not work to put off until January. It's work to do today. In exactly 7 days, the doors close for our final Ignite Your Leadership Power Accelerator cohort of 2025. We kick off on November 20th to implement this exact work together, in real-time, during the most critical 6-week window of the year. If you are ready to stop feeling vulnerable and start building the strategic relationships that give you real career resilience, this is your moment. Schedule a call to see if the Accelerator is a fit for you (Doors close on November 19) Featured Resources: Join the Accelerator: This is your last chance in 2025. [Click here to schedule your call and apply]Related Episode: Episode 112: "Why Hard Work Isn't Getting You Promoted"Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/

    32 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    130. Why You're Praised But Not Promoted: The Truth About Recognition vs. Reward for Women Leaders

    Send us a text Book your Leadership Strategy Call You're praised in every performance review. Your manager can't stop saying how "invaluable" you are. But somehow, the promotion never comes. The raise never materializes. And you're left wondering if you're ungrateful for feeling frustrated by all that "appreciation." Here's what nobody's telling you: Gratitude is being weaponized to keep you stuck. This episode exposes exactly how it happens—and gives you the framework to stop it. What This Episode Is About In this episode, we tackle the single most frustrating paradox for women in leadership: being praised but not promoted. You're "invaluable" but not invaluable enough for a new title. You're "appreciated" but not appreciated enough to be paid what you're worth. This is the Recognition-Reward Gap, and it's a systemic pattern that keeps talented women stuck. We'll explore why women receive subjective praise ("great team player!") while men get objective, results-focused feedback that leads to promotions. This isn't just a bad performance review; it's a form of "gratitude fatigue"—the exhaustion that comes from being thanked instead of being advanced. We'll break down the real costs of accepting "thank you" as currency and give you the framework to stop it. Resources Mentioned [COACHING PROGRAM] The Ignite Your Leadership Power Accelerator: Ready to turn this pattern around? My 12-week small group coaching program starts November 20th. Book a call to learn more: https://calendly.com/kele-thetailoredapproach/leadership-strategy-call[1:1 CALL] Book a Leadership Clarity Call: Get a complimentary diagnostic session to assess your specific situation and build a plan. Schedule your call with Kele: https://calendly.com/kele-thetailoredapproach/leadership-strategy-call.What You'll Learn By the end of this 30-minute episode, you'll walk away with: The Recognition-Reward Realignment Framework – A four-part system to document patterns, reframe conversations, set boundaries, and create your own success metricsExact Scripts – Word-for-word language to use when someone praises your work, including how to redirect that recognition toward career advancement and how to handle the inevitable deflectionThe Real Costs – Understanding the financial, opportunity, credibility, and energy costs of accepting recognition as compensation (spoiler: it's hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career)The Emotional Labor Tax – Why being "grateful and gracious" while underpaid actually gets you praised for accepting less—and how to break that cyclePattern Recognition – How to identify if you're experiencing recognition without resources, appreciation without advancement, or gratitude without governanceAction Steps – Specific, implementable actions you can take this week to start closing your recognition-reward gapWho This Episode Is For Women in leadership positions feeling undervalued despite consistent praiseAspiring leaders who keep hearing they're "not quite ready" while already doing next-level workProfessional women managing impossible workloads with recognition but no resourcesLeaders who want to ensure they're backing appreciation with actual investment in their teamConnect with Kele for more leadership insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/

    17 min
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About

Ready to step into your full potential as a leader? Join communication expert and leadership coach Kele Belton for conversations that go beyond traditional leadership advice. Each week on Communicate to Lead, discover practical strategies to strengthen both your leadership presence and communication impact. Through solo episodes and inspiring guest interviews, Kele tackles the real challenges women face in management - from mastering high-stakes conversations and building executive presence to overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Whether you're an experienced manager or an aspiring leader, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help you navigate workplace dynamics, amplify your voice, and lead with authentic confidence. Tune in to transform challenges into opportunities and build the leadership career you envision.

Information

  • Creator
    Kele Belton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Communicate to Lead
  • Show Website
    Communicate to Lead