Soft Skills Salon The Soft Skills Group

In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, host Diana Kawarsky sits down with David Chapman, a seasoned trainer and executive coach, to explore the fascinating world of purpose-driven teams. Through their engaging conversation, Diana and David delve into the roles of entrepreneurs, leaders, and managers, highlighting the importance of purpose in inspiring and securing results. They discuss David's visionary framework, the vision triangle, which offers a fresh perspective on creating a sense of purpose and aligning teams towards a common goal. The episode emphasizes the power of asking meaningful questions, embracing vulnerability, and developing the confidence to lead with purpose. Join Diana and David as they uncover the crucial role of soft skills and purpose in fostering effective teamwork.

Today's Selected Questions
What does success leading others look like to you?How have you created teamwork during your career so far?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Garima Gupta, the founder and CEO of Artha Learning - an award-winning, e-learning design firm providing custom and off-the shelf learning solutions. Diana and Garima begin by discussing how confidence really has two distinct forms namely an external perception that we present to the world, and a second, deeper form of confidence rooted in our values, self-worth, and sense of belonging. They conclude their conversation with the idea that an evolution of authenticity in leadership requires a willingness to be vulnerable and genuine with one's team, while also maintaining a level of professionalism and projecting confidence. By embracing growth and striving for authenticity, leaders can inspire their teams to do the same and achieve greater success.

Today's Selected Questions
What does success leading others look like to you?How do you define confidence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Lorelle Luciuk, a platoon staff sergeant with over 27 years of experience in Ontario's policing community. Diana and Lorelle discuss how the policing community has undergone a shift in culture towards empathy as a form of communication. The traditional military-based approach has given way to a more empathetic approach that allows officers to build better relationships with the people they serve. This shift towards empathy is not only important in communication but also in mental health promotion, as it fosters genuine caring and better self-awareness. They continue their discussion by examining how clear communication and a culture of assertiveness are crucial to effective policing. They conclude the discussion by stressing that asserting oneself on the job can be challenging and complicated, especially for female law enforcement officers who face gender biases. 

Today's Selected Questions
Where have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?What does success leading others look like to you?How do you effectively assert yourself on the job?
Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Marsha Shandur, a storytelling, communication and sales coach and trainer who founded Yes Yes Marsha, a company that has helped thousands of executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals gain storytelling skills for ethical influence. Diana and Marsha begin by emphasizing the significance of empathy in effective storytelling. Through well-crafted narratives, people can connect with and gain insights into experiences they may not have personally encountered. They conclude their discussion by stressing the importance of empathy and curiosity in communicating with someone who may have inaccurate information rather than solely focusing on proving oneself to be right. Now let's have a conversation.

Today's Selected Questions
What do you recommend others do to improve their soft skills based on your experience?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on your team?How do you provide feedback to others?How do you define confidence?
Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Audley Bell, a retired Chief Audit Executive, most recently with World Vision, a humanitarian aid organization helping children, families, and their communities overcome poverty and injustice. Diana and Audley begin by discussing the importance of taking an inventory of oneself to determine strengths and areas needing improvement as a way of improving their soft skills.  They continue their talk on conflict management and the need to avoid the "blame game" by setting the expectation up front that mistakes are going to be made, which fosters a non-judgmental and open environment.  They conclude their discussion by examining the merits of face-to-face feedback and its timely importance.

Today's Selected Questions
What do you recommend others do to improve their soft skills based on your experience?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on your team?How do you provide feedback to others?How do you define confidence?
Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn

In this episode, we are joined by Cian Donnelly, who, among many things, is the founder of Diamond Dog Coaching, a company that provides training, development, and coaching for artists. Diana and Cian begin their discussion by exploring the importance of empathy in conversations where just listening can offer people a safe space to analyze and make difficult decisions. They continue their talk by examining how the conversation is the relationship. They conclude their discussion by exploring how the concept of self-talk is linked to self-awareness and emphasize the importance of understanding the weight of our words and how we can effectively communicate with others.

Today's Selected Questions
Where have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?What is your understanding of the phrase "Conversation is the currency of communication"?
Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.

Social Media Links
The Soft Skills Group | LinkedInThe Soft Skills Group | TwitterThe Soft Skills Group | InstagramDiana Kawarsky | LinkedIn