Soft Skills for Leaders with Lisa Evans Lisa Evans

Welcome to "Soft Skills for Leaders," the podcast where we explore the critical skills needed for leadership.
In this episode, our host Lisa Evans sits down with resilience expert Michael Licenblat, author of "Pressure Proof," to delve into the importance of resilience in business.

Michael shares his journey of overcoming setbacks and rejection in building a successful natural therapy business, drawing from his background in psychology, shiatsu therapy, and martial arts.
Join us as Michael discusses the evolving challenges faced by leaders in a rapidly changing business landscape, emphasising the need for psychological safety, effective communication, and nurturing talent in teams.

We'll also explore the significance of self-care for resilient leaders, and Michael shares his recommendations for developing leadership skills, including resources for inspiration and personal growth.

Tune in as we uncover the key principles behind building resilient teams and discover valuable insights from Michael's experience. This episode is packed with practical tips and thought-provoking ideas to equip leaders with the skills needed to thrive in today's dynamic business environment.
Timestamps
00:00 Parents taught business, resilience; important in life.
06:42 Trust your gut: essential for success.
07:24 Stay resilient, trust yourself, and overcome challenges boldly.
10:28 Bounce back fast from setbacks and recover quickly.
14:59 Embed resilient practice in teams for success.
19:18 Leaders sustain energy and improve team effectiveness.
21:07 Loss of control during COVID-induced anxiety.
24:14 Work with high-performing teams under pressure.
27:17 Vocal, grounded entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk inspires listeners.
29:39 Comedy journey: resilience, rejection, perfecting material, persistence.
33:38 Visit bouncebackfast.com.au or pressureproofinstitute.com to start.
Why Listen?
In this episode, resilience expert Michael Licenblat offers practical tips for building resilient teams in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. Listeners will gain valuable insights on fostering psychological safety, sustaining talent, and developing critical leadership skills.
Talking Points
- Michael's journey of resilience in business, drawing on entrepreneurship, natural therapy, and martial arts.
- The evolving challenges in business, including AI, intellectual property theft, fake news, and influences.
- The importance of creating psychological safety in teams through honest feedback and coaching through change.
- The role of leaders in sustaining talent by managing individuals' energy and output.
- The crucial role of communication and emotional intelligence during times of major change.
- Resources for developing leadership skills, including podcasts and autobiographies.
- The relevance of stand-up comedians' resilience in their careers.
- Practical strategies for building resilient teams, such as repurposing pressure and fostering space for failure.


The Top 3 Takeaways 
1. The importance of resilience in business: Michael Licenblat shares insights into the critical role resilience plays in navigating the rapidly changing landscape of business, particularly in the face of challenges such as AI, intellectual property theft, and fake news.
2. Strategies for building resilient teams: Listeners can gain valuable knowledge on developing resilient teams by focusing on skills such as decision-making, tenacity, empowerment, and coaching through change. This is essential for sustaining talent and encouraging growth in the face of adversity.
3. Resources for personal and professional development: Michael recommends resources such as Gary Vaynerchuk's podcast and autobiographies of comedians as tools for cultivating resilience and inspiration. 
These takeaways provide actionable insights for leaders looking to enhance resilience and adaptability within their business or team.
Connect with Michael Licenblat
LinkedIn: http

Uncover the essential human skills that drive exceptional leadership and discover the empowering impact of coaching on team development and capability improvement.
My guest is Paul Skewes who is a seasoned leadership development coach, and he partners with mid to senior-level leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities.
He brings a wealth of experience from working across various industries, particularly within the resources sector.
Paul is here to share his insights on the importance of essential leadership skills, the challenges leaders face, and how coaching can empower both leaders and their teams. So, let's dive into this insightful discussion with Paul Skewes.
Timestamps
00:00 Paul's Journey into the realm of leadership and coaching
05:01 Organisations are crazy busy, causing burnout.
08:50 Refocusing team vision to focus on what matters
12:47 Regular discussions and clear development goals.
16:04 Effective leadership needs time, compassion, and empathy.
19:35 Paul shares top three tips
24:43 Leadership challenges, support lacking, conflicting information.
27:18 Work demands cause burnout risk in organisations.
30:40 Attitude, listening, questioning, communicating - key leadership traits.
35:28 Regular meetings maintain mutual understanding and clarity.
39:48 Connection is crucial for teamwork.
41:31 Listen to your team and avoid one-sided meetings.
Why Listen?
Discover the essential human skills and impactful coaching strategies that can transform your leadership approach in this episode with Paul Skewes and Lisa Evans.
Talking Points
- Importance of human connection within team leadership
- Need for leaders to schedule regular time with their teams
- Collaborative approach to meetings with team members
- Emphasis on listening more and talking less during interactions
- Challenges of performing tasks leaders don't enjoy
- Importance of engaging with and understanding team members on an individual level
- The social process of leadership and its impact on team communication and engagement
- The value of coaching and its increasing role within companies


The top three takeaways from this episode are:
The importance of scheduling regular time with your team for quick check-ins and adopting a collaborative approach to meetings, focusing on listening more and talking less. The value of caring, compassion, and empathy in approaching work and leading a team, and the significant impact it can have on team members. The critical "soft skills" for great leadership, include the genuine desire for leadership, the ability to listen intently, and effective communication. Connect with Paul Skewes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulskewes/
Connect with Lisa Evans 
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaevansspeaker/
Website  https://www.speakingsavvy.com.au
Ready to level up your speaking, presenting and business storytelling? Book a complimentary coaching session with Lisa here.
Your Host Lisa Evans is one of Australia’s leading Executive Public Speaking Coaches and Corporate Storytelling Trainers. If you would like help training your team in soft skills, public speaking and business storytelling, get in touch with Lisa. 
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram

I'm excited to bring this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders to you today. 
My guest is Ron Kaufman, a global leader in the service industry and the author of "Uplifting Service". Ron is one of the world's foremost authorities on customer service, and building strong service cultures.
His expertise has been honed through years of working with various organisations, from facilitating international events to advising governments on improving their service culture. 
Ron's insights are not to be missed, as he shares his wealth of knowledge on service excellence and leadership skills. It's a pleasure to have him here on Soft Skills for Leaders.
In this episode, Ron shares his insights on leadership, service excellence, and the power of caring for the future well-being of individuals and the environment.
From managing expectations and cultivating trust to the evolution of his brand moniker, "serve, care, love," Ron explores the emotional depth of empathetic care and the importance of creating value for both external and internal customers.
Join us as we delve into the essential soft skills leaders need, and discover how leaders can create oasis moments for their teams amidst overwhelming situations. 
Timestamps
00:00 How Ron got started in this journey.
03:11 Promoting Ultimate Frisbee globally and learning about the different customers.
07:06 Creating value through service, internally and externally.
12:41 Apple store and Genius Bar create an experience.
14:54 Apple store purchase experience feels like the first time.
18:39 Create exceptional first-day experience for employees.
21:55 "Valuing creativity, innovation, and personal connections."
25:02 Service creates value by contributing to well-being.
28:29 Employee trust matters more than transparency.
30:03 Trust in competence, capacity, and care.
33:18 Recognise others' emotional needs, and be compassionate.
37:03 Create oasis moments to shift moods effectively.
 
Why Listen?
Ron Kaufman provides valuable insights and ways of enhancing service excellence, building trust, and creating a positive work culture.
By tuning in, leaders can gain an understanding of the importance of caring for the well-being of individuals and the environment, and learn practical soft skills for creating value and fostering strong relationships within their teams and with customers. You will gain actionable strategies to improve customer experiences, motivate your teams, and ultimately elevate your organisation's service culture.
Talking Points
🌐 Building Trust and Relationships: The significance of care and empathy in building trust, citing competence, capacity, and care as crucial factors. It's all about creating authentic partnerships and valuing the emotional character of every individual.

📈 Creating Value Beyond Expectations: The importance of going beyond standard service agreements and KPIs to create value for both external and internal customers. The examples shared demonstrate how small, thoughtful gestures can make a significant impact on employee well-being and the overall customer experience.

🎈 Uplifting Service and Emotional Connection: Ron Kaufman's concept of "uplifting service" emphasises taking actions to ensure the future well-being of others, encompassing financial, physical, emotional, and relational care. The discussion delves into creating oasis moments for teams and the emotional aspects of caring for others.


The top three takeaways from this episode are:
The importance of caring for the future well-being of individuals and the environment, and how this mindset should be integrated into leadership and business practices. The concept of transparency in customer service, managing expectations, and the significance of creating a positive first impression for new employees. Recognising the emotional character of every human being, understanding their feelings or values, and taking actions to create value for their well-being t

Welcome back to another episode of Soft Skills for Leaders! I'm your host, Lisa Evans, and today we have a very important and timely topic to discuss: "Grey Area Behaviour" in the workplace. Joining me today is Yhana Lanwin, the founder and CEO of Sans Prejudice Solutions, who brings a wealth of expertise in diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
In this episode, we delve deep into the world of grey area behaviours, those actions that aren't clearly right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. These behaviours can create discomfort, ethical dilemmas, and even serious issues in the workplace. As legislative changes require employers to provide a psychologically safe workplace, it's crucial for leaders to navigate these grey areas with finesse.
Yhana shares her expertise on the subject, highlighting the three common grey area behaviours: silence, uncertainty, and micromanaging. We explore the impact of uncertainty in the workplace and how leaders can address it through effective communication. 
Timestamps
01:50 Concerned about a lack of change, a driving force for Yhana.

04:38 Defining black and gold behaviours to understand grey.

08:42 Acknowledge power, influence, and responsibility as leaders.

10:03 Consistency and listening are important for leaders.

16:34 Creating spaces for conversations, and training struggles to be effective.

19:06 Leaders need to prioritise psychological safety. Confidentiality, independent support, and trauma-informed responses are crucial. 

23:23 Leaders can use system controls to address bias, discrimination, and mental health impact. Affordable online tools are now available. 

25:35 Evaluation of biases through technology and self-awareness.

27:45 Emerging research database offers trends and they are free.
Why Listen?
Gain valuable insights on how grey area behavours can impact your team's morale, create ethical dilemmas, and even affect individual mental health. Discover practical strategies to navigate grey areas, foster psychological safety, and become a leader who thrives in the ever-changing landscape of modern leadership.
Talking Points
Grey area behaviours: Complex workplace actions with ambiguous consequences.
Leadership impact: Acknowledging influence and modelling positive behaviours.
Psychological safety: Creating a safe and supportive work environment.
Reporting processes: Clarity, confidentiality, and involving independent parties.
Seeking outside help: Mediation and expert advice for challenging situations.
Using technology: Tools to address bias and promote diversity.
Creating a thriving culture: Routines, structured spaces, and open conversations.
The top three takeaways from this episode are:
1.
In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders with host Lisa Evans and guest Yhana Lanwin, the top three takeaways are:
1. Grey area behaviours can create discomfort, ethical dilemmas, and issues in the workplace. Leaders need to be aware of these behaviours and address them to create a psychologically safe workplace.
2. Psychological safety: Leaders must prioritize psychological safety in the workplace. This means acknowledging their impact and influence, modelling appropriate behaviours, and creating a space where employees feel safe to speak up about any issues they may be facing. 
3. Using technology for bias and discrimination: Leaders can utilise tools and technology to address bias and discrimination within their teams. Apps and tools can help assess gender-balanced language in job ads and identify subconscious bias. Seeking support from databases like Sage publications can provide valuable insights. 
Quotes
Creating a Safe Space for Discussions: "It's around being able to create a space where if you can talk about small things, then you don't need to talk about big things."
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Connect with Yhana Lanwin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yhanaduffy/
Connect wi

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans chats with Kirryn Zerna, a former corporate communications professional in the financial services industry, who spent the first 20 years of her career developing campaigns for large-scale organizations aimed at capturing the hearts and minds of their employees.
Inspired by her passion for public speaking, she transitioned into becoming a speaker herself, focusing on helping individuals envision new possibilities and take the next step in their personal growth. 
Welcome back to Soft Skills for Leaders, the podcast where we delve into the human side of leadership to help you enhance your skills and create a culture of connection. I'm your host, Lisa Evans, and I'm thrilled to be bringing you another episode filled with curious conversations, tips, tools, and ideas to develop critical leadership skills.
Before we dive into today's topic, I want to address the gap in releasing episodes recently. Finding available interviewees during busy times has presented some challenges, but I'm back on track!
I'm considering incorporating more solo episodes based on a suggestion from one of our listeners. Speaking of which, I'd love to hear from you! What topics would you like to explore in upcoming episodes? Drop me a message and let me know.
Now, let's get into today's episode. 
Connection is the glue that holds organisations together, but building those connections can be challenging due to individual differences and remote work.
In this conversation, we will discuss how connected leaders understand and meet the needs of their teams and organisations. Through effective communication and small talk, they bridge gaps and cultivate high performance.
We'll also explore the impact of remote work and flexible schedules on connection, as well as the importance of maintaining boundaries while staying connected. Kirryn will provide practical advice on developing communication, understanding team members' preferred communication methods, and creating rhythms that foster engagement and productivity.
So, whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out on your leadership journey, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips to help you create a culture of connection. Stay tuned as we dive into the art of connection with Kirryn Zerna.
"We're living in a place where there's an attention scarcity, that there are so many channels, so many digital options competing for our attention and so we need to be intentional about communicating which ones we will use and then stick to that plan."
Timestamps
00:05:15 Connection is vital; a leader understands team, organisation, and relationships.
00:08:57 Flexible work hours, diverse communication methods, potential misunderstandings.

00:10:13 Increased expectation for quick response in flexible work.

00:13:48 Setting intentional boundaries in the work environment.

00:18:16 Remote work lacks social connection and trust.

00:22:37 Leaders should clearly communicate their preferences.

00:26:36 Building team rapport is important for productivity.

00:28:13 Curiosity, listening, and effective communication for leaders.
Why Listen?
Discover the transformative power of connection in leadership as we explore practical strategies to create a culture of connection and unleash the full potential of your team. Tune in to gain valuable insights and unlock the secrets of fostering meaningful relationships in the workplace.
Talking Points
Importance of connection in organisations and its role in team dynamics and performance. Impact of small talk on employee well-being and behaviour at work. Importance of understanding individual preferences for work and communication. Importance of social connection in the workplace and challenges in remote work. Challenges and opportunities in digital communication and maintaining boundaries. Importance of clear communication styles and setting expectations.

The top thr

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans chats with Carmel Luck, a communication specialist, to discuss the fascinating topic of Cracking the Email Code for Clear Communication.
Emails have become an integral part of our daily lives, and it's crucial for leaders to master the art of effective written communication. Carmel will be sharing valuable insights and practical tips on navigating the email landscape with clarity, conciseness, and impact. 
We'll explore the use of email helpers, such as voting buttons and file-sharing tools, to streamline communication and save precious time. Discover the power of email templates and auto-responses to enhance your efficiency and manage expectations. 
But it's not just about productivity. Carmel will delve into the importance of inclusive email communication, considering cultural differences and the needs of diverse recipients. We'll learn how to avoid common pitfalls, like excessive exclamation marks or passive-aggressive language, that can inadvertently cause misunderstandings or frustration. 
And let's not forget about email etiquette. Carmel will guide us through best practices, from crafting concise and informative subject lines to using bullet points and bold formatting to highlight key information. We'll also explore the impact of scheduling emails and the expectations of constant availability in our ever-connected world.
Timestamps
00:01:17 General discussion about how emails have become overwhelming. 

00:06:09 Keep emails concise and consider alternative methods. What needs to go into an email to get your point across? 

00:08:43 Email frustration and passive-aggressive behaviour that can come out in an email. 

00:12:44 Etiquette is important for effective email communication.

00:15:47 Professionalism is key; be approachable and cautious.

00:18:50 Increased email responsiveness prompts increased scheduling tool usage.

00:21:26 Use email tools appropriately: subject, language, compassion.

00:26:23 Email helpers save time by providing tools like voting buttons, file shares, templates, and auto-responses.

00:27:41 Customise email message for mobile efficiency.
Why Listen?
"Master the art of clear and effective communication in every email you send, taking your leadership skills to new heights!"
Talking Points
Importance of clear and effective email communication.
Using email helpers like voting buttons and file-sharing tools.
The impact of tone and language in emails.
Avoiding passive-aggressive language and excessive punctuation.
The need for thoughtful consideration of recipients.
Managing expectations and respecting personal time. Promoting inclusive and accessible email communication. Choosing the appropriate communication tool for complex or sensitive topics Implementing the "zero inbox" policy and reducing email clutter. Reflecting on the impact of constant email availability The top three takeaways from this episode are:
1. Using email helpers and tools such as voting buttons, file-sharing tools, and email templates to enhance productivity and save time. 
2. Be mindful of clarity and tone: The significance of clear and concise communication in emails. Excessive punctuation marks, sarcasm, and passive-aggressive language can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstandings. 
3. Prioritise professionalism and inclusivity: It is essential to be mindful of professionalism in email communication. It is important to avoid mixing personal opinions with professional perspectives and to always stick to stating facts. Inclusive communication must consider different cultures.
Quotes
"The Importance of Professionalism in Emails: "You can never get into hot water if your email is perfectly professional and just stating facts."
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Connect with Carmel Luck
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmel-luck-66b4aa32/
Connect with Lisa Evans 
LinkedIn h