The Hard Skills

Dr. Mira Brancu
  • 5.0 (13)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Hard Skills

Welcome to “The Hard Skills” podcast, a practical and research-driven show that explores the core leadership skills needed to fuel leadership to activate real change, such as creating inclusive and healthy workplaces. Through expert interviews and live coaching calls, we challenge the notion of "soft skills," question long-held but inaccurate leadership development beliefs, and offer real, practical solutions for complex leadership challenges. Hosted by Dr. Mira Brancu, a clinical and organizational development psychologist with extensive leadership experience, we’ll delve into topics of leadership identity, leading with uncertainty, navigating workplace politics, and creating critical organizational change. This podcast will especially appeal to high-achieving leaders in healthcare, tech, and academic, industries. Whether you're seeking personal growth, looking to enhance your leadership abilities, or interested in Dr. Brancu's coaching services and membership community, join us as we unravel the complexities of leadership and inspire you to embrace the hard skills.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    From Strategy to Impact: Catalyzing Change and Communication for Hybrid Organizations, with Katy Herr Hew

    When organizations undergo change and transformation, such as mergers, reorganization, executive transitions, crisis events, or even rebranding, leaders sometimes overlook how aligning leadership, engaging stakeholders, and communicating clearly can be the difference between superficial change and real impact. Why do traditional communication models fail to engage employees in today’s hybrid and distributed work environments? How can companies craft authentic, compelling messages that better resonate? We'll delve into that on this episode. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: As workplaces evolve, especially in hybrid or distributed environments, leaders are often trapped by outdated assumptions about communication and connection. Katy (Herr) Hew will explore why traditional leadership communication models fail to engage employees in today’s world and how to help companies craft authentic, compelling messages that resonate during transformations. If you’re questioning whether your change initiatives are actually making an impact, this episode will challenge you to think differently about communication and connection as the fuel for transformation. *** ABOUT OUR GUEST: Katy has spent her career helping organizations - large and small - that are taking bold steps to transform. She has successfully led teams through mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and spin-offs, reorganizations, executive transitions, crisis events, rebranding, and much more. She launched Audacia Strategies in 2015 to help organizations get more "bang for your buck" out of transformation - whether it is planned or unplanned. Having spent years as a client, she brings a practical, roll-up-her-sleeves approach to her engagements. She believes that relationships matter and credibility counts. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynherr Guest Website: www.audaciastrategies.com Our website: www.gotowerscope.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynherr/ ; www.audaciastrategies.com  #OrganizationalTransformation #ChangeCommunication #TheHardSkills Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1 hr

  2. DEC 10

    Frameworks to Improve Your Influencing and Communication Skills, with Zachary Ames

    ​​How do you balance influencing to make an impact with listening to make connection? In this episode, we'll talk with Zachary Ames about multiple frameworks from the Socratic method, current marketing approaches, and storytelling to his framework around giving and receiving feedback.  WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: We often talk about how important it is for leaders to communicate well, gain alignment through inspiration and influence, and listen well to gain insight and connection. But sometimes these are at odds with each other. For example, if you are trying to influence, you do not always listen. If you are in a position to give feedback, you may not be receiving equally critical feedback from others. Our guest today, Zachary Ames will help us gain some frameworks for how and when to use these skills effectively.  *** ABOUT OUR GUEST: Zachary Ames is an award-winning leadership and talent development expert focusing on bringing out the very best in leaders at all levels of an organization. With over 15 years of experience in start-ups, Fortune 500, and global private companies there are few leadership challenges he hasn’t faced. Combining his years living abroad in Singapore, a decade in New York, and his humble roots of Salt Lake City, Zachary brings a global approach alongside local sensibility. After his corporate career, Zachary started his own coaching and consulting firm XYZ Leadership, and recently launched Prysm Leadership aiming to accelerate and advance the careers of LGBTQ individuals. Zachary is also a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches and creator of Forefront, the premiere global accelerator for the next generation of coaches and talent development professionals. When Zach isn’t developing leaders or hosting his podcast Expand Your Zone, he can be found in the Utah Wasatch mountains skiing all winter or hiking in the summer with his 100-lb chocolate labrador, Cooper. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please share and leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned businesses. *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/zachames  Guest Website: www.xyzleadership.xyz ; www.prysmleadership.com Our website: www.gotowerscope.com #Communication #Influence #Feedback #Identity #The HardSkills Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1h 1m

  3. DEC 3

    Celebrating the Launch of the Millennials' Workbook for Navigating Workplace Politics!

    Have you ever wondered when it might be time to leave your job? Or how to keep repeating the same mistakes at work? Set yourself up for success? Make your voice heard? Create a healthy workplace for your team/employees? This episode is the virtual launch party for the "Millennials' Workbook for Navigating Workplace Politics" where we'll interview the co-authors, get a sneak peek into their framework and process, challenges for writing about these topics, and activities the audience can try right after listening.  Have you just graduated from school and are entering the workforce for the first time? Are you a millennial who has a tough time gelling with older generations of coworkers? Are you interested in leveling-up at work, having your voice heard, or moving into a leadership position? In this episode, Dr. Brancu, the host of the Hard Skills talks with her co-authors of the Millennials Workbook for Navigating Workplace Politics about how the workbook can help put into practice the principles outlined in their original guide published in 2021 (Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics).  The episode will also be their virtual launch party since the book comes out on this air date! We'll offer a sneak peek into talk what led to writing this workbook, how long it took, hiccups along the way, challenging decision points, and do a brief reading with several activities!  Sarah A. Rose is a project manager and consultant with 15 years of experience working for nonprofit organizations aiming to improve quality of life through education and science. Upon entering the workforce, Sarah struggled to reconcile her multiple identities in corporate America. During her tenure at the American Psychological Association, she was offered numerous personal and professional opportunities, one of which is co-authoring this book. Sarah executes her work through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This stems from her multicultural and bilingual upbringing as a German-American in a military family. She graduated with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and international studies. Sarah lives in Germany with her twin cats, Berlioz and Toulouse.  Dr. Jennifer Wisdom is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified organizational psychologist. She is principal of Wisdom Consulting, a Senior Organization Development Psychologist with the Veterans Health Administration’s National Center for Organization Development, and an Affiliated Professor at the Oregon Health and Science University. She has published and taught extensively on leadership and public health, including authoring the Millennials’ Guides series. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Master's of Public Health in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest sites:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarsonder https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferpeltwisdom/ https://www.leadwithwisdom.com/books Book series on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNRBP81H?binding=kindle_edition&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1732221877&sr=8-1 Our website: www.gotowerscope.com

    1h 2m

  4. NOV 26

    The Body Knows: Trauma-Informed Strategies to Shape a More Human-Centered World, with Laura Phoenix

    We often talk about boundary setting and leading with authenticity and integrity as ways to create healthier work cultures. But why? What is the deeper reason behind this and how can leaders, especially those holding marginalized identities, attend to their own inner experiences to ultimately shape a more human-centered world? That's what Laura Phoenix will be sharing this in episode and we explore the the intersection of trauma-informed practices, leadership, and organizational health. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: This episode explores the intersection of trauma-informed practices, leadership, and organizational health. Many leaders holding marginalized identities face multiple traumatic stressors in life that are often replicated in high-pressure work environments, and in a number of cases that can add up to invisible pressure that harms our wellbeing. We'll talk about how pressures to conform to dominant culture might show up unseen, how those might be felt, and how that feeling might lead us to lead more authentically or to leave organizational structures and leadership roles that perpetuate harm. We'll also discuss how boundary repair work and somatic healing methods can help leaders create healthier organizations or exist in less healthy organizations.  *** ABOUT OUR GUEST: Laura Phoenix (she/they) is passionate about helping people tap into the body’s role in how we feel and how we heal. As the founder of Warrior Pose Yoga & Healing, which is based in Durham, NC, Laura has guided thousands of people to discover new ways of feeling better, safer, and more able to grow alongside the trauma they carry.   As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), certified yoga teacher, and healing professional for more than 10 years, she emphatically welcomes humans of all shapes, races, and genders to her practice. In addition to her deep professional experience, Laura is also an abuse and trauma survivor who trusts in healing yoga and bodywork to guide herself forward. Personally, she comes to this work as a cis, queer, white, able-bodied, neurodivergent human – honored to hold space and learn from the diverse perspectives of the folks she serves.  Beyond healing work, Laura can also be found running in the first morning light, planting in her garden, and laughing with the people who fill her days with love and shared meals, game nights, and cozy chats by the fire. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** WEBSITES: Guest LinkedIn Profile: Guest Website: www.warriorposeyoga.com Our website: www.gotowerscope.com trauma, healing, neurodivergence, queer, intersectional, somatics, recovery, #TheHardSkills Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1h 1m

  5. NOV 19

    How to Navigate Tensions, Paradoxes, and Core Dilemmas of Inclusive Leadership, with Dr. Bernardo Ferdman

    What makes diversity and inclusion—seemingly so simple—also so complicated and difficult to achieve? Truly bringing inclusion to life can sometimes feel quite challenging, especially when there seem to be forces pulling in many directions, and various inherent dilemmas involved in working with and across differences. In this episode, we will explore how to bring inclusion to life and how to understand and manage some of the paradoxes and tensions of inclusion.  WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: Leading in a diverse organization can often feel very challenging, especially given some of the pulls and pushes these days related to DEI. What is involved in inclusive leadership geared toward helping oneself and others work well with our many differences and toward gaining the benefits of diversity? In this episode, we will discuss how to bring inclusion to life -- the essence of inclusive leadership, what makes it challenging, and how to manage the inevitable tensions involved in working with and across differences. Bringing inclusion to life involves being authentic and helping others do so, fostering more experiences of inclusion for more people, and behaving and leading inclusively. But inclusion is also difficult. We will discuss and unpack core dilemmas that are part and parcel of inclusion, including the tensions between fostering self-expression and requiring mutual adaption, between being flexible and open about boundaries and norms and keeping them stable and well-defined, and between increasing comfort and safety and leaving our comfort zones and taking more risks. Join us to learn more about the everyday work of inclusive leadership. *** ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Bernardo Ferdman is an internationally recognized expert and thought leader on inclusion, diversity, and inclusive leadership, with over 39 years of experience in the U.S. and around the world as an organization and leadership development consultant and executive coach. He is passionate about creating a more inclusive world where more people can be fully themselves and accomplish goals effectively, productively, and authentically, and he works with leaders and employees to develop and implement effective ways of using everyone’s talents and contributions and to build inclusive behavior and multicultural competencies. Bernardo is principal of Ferdman Consulting, which specializes in supporting leaders and organizations in bringing inclusion to life in leadership practices and in organizational cultures and systems, and he is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the California School of Professional Psychology, where he taught for almost 25 years. Bernardo has written extensively on inclusion and inclusive leadership; his most recent book is Inclusive Leadership: Transforming Diverse Lives, Workplaces, and Societies. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Yale University in 1987. He is a fellow of various professional organizations and was the recipient of the Society of Consulting Psychology’s 2019 Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Consulting. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest LinkedIn Profile: https://linkedin.com/in/ferdman ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/ferdmanconsulting Guest Website: https://ferdmanconsulting.com (firm); https://inclusiveleader.com (book) Our website: www.gotowerscope.com https://linkedin.com/in/ferdman; https://www.linkedin.com/company/ferdmanconsulting; https://x.com/bferdman; https://www.instagram.com/bferdman; https://ferdmanconsulting.com (firm's website); https://inclusiveleader.com (book website) #Inclusive:lead

    1h 1m

  6. NOV 12

    When Should Leaders Increase Visibility Using Thought Leadership?, with Emily Crookston

    What is a thought leader? And why is is important even when you are happy in your job and have no interest in becoming a social media influencer or starting your own businesses? Do you ever get frustrated by how some people gain visibility and others do not in an organization? In this episode, you will learn 3 reasons why it's a smart idea to promote yourself and share your big ideas, even if you're happy in your position and never want to apply for another job. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: Whatever your professional goals, it's likely that sharing your big ideas will help you attain them. No matter what stage of your career you're in, learning how to share ideas, even those that feel "half-baked," signals that you are thinking about the future, looking to collaborate with others to make progress, and seeking buy-in and alignment to advocate for resources. We'll discuss how to gain visibility to reach our career goals using the concept of thought leadership. *** ABOUT OUR GUEST: Emily Crookston is a best-selling business book ghostwriter, author, and developmental editor. She specializes in helping leaders, experts, and business owners find and share their big ideas. As the Owner of the Pocket PhD, she builds thought leadership ecosystems to support her clients’ professional goals. For leaders and experts, that means writing white papers, keynote speeches, and other high stakes content. For business owners, it means writing a book that sells.  Emily’s first book, "Unwritten: The Thought Leader’s Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book," is out now. She is also a speaker and former philosophy professor. When she’s not writing intensely, she’s most likely practicing yoga intensely. She lives for desserts topped with *real* whipped cream. *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycrookston Guest Website: https://www.thepocketphd.com  Guest Find Your Big Idea Mini Course: https://the-pocket-phd.kit.com/c2d1b21976 Our website: www.gotowerscope.com #thoughtleadership #unwritten #bigideaexpert #The HardSkills Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1h 2m

  7. OCT 29

    Client Q&A: "How Can I Better Regulate My emotions When I Get Triggered at Work?"

    If you are generally a high performing leader who is generally calm but find yourself struggling to hold back with specific people or triggers, this is the episode for you. In this episode Dr. Brancu responds to a client question, offering us multiple nuanced ways to think about the problem while also offering simle, straightforward solutions. "Emotion regulation" can mean different things to different people. In this episode, a client asks, "How do I improve my emotion regulation?" Dr. Brancu breaks down what is an is not emotion regulation, what it requires, 3 types of emotion-laden responses we engage in, and 4 simple steps to intervene.  Mira Brancu is the host of The Hard Skills. She is also a leadership consulting and coaching psychologist, founder of the Towerscope Leadership Academy, Associate Professor, Psychology Today columnist, author of the Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics, and had a leadership career before transitioning to helping teams and high-achieving women navigate their leadership complexities.  Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1h 1m

  8. OCT 22

    Empowering Economic Development in Underserved Areas, with Dionne McGee

    What does it take to raise up an unserved community and build its economic infrastructure? That's what we will learn in this episode with Dionne McGee.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dionne McGee is the Cohort Director of the Eastern North Carolina Entrepreneurial Promise (ENCEP), where she and her team bring diversity and stimulation to the eastern NC economy through a virtual regional incubator for companies owned by minorities and women in underserved counties of North Carolina. In the past, Dionne held executive leadership roles in corporate America leading sales organizations. She is a professional speaker, author, and entrepreneur who has a special heart for women in the workplace and entrepreneurship. Dionne has a passion to provide professional development and help individuals and organizations find their road to success. She is a certified Project Manager and Ice House Facilitator. Dionne earned her B.A from North Carolina Wesleyan accompanied by a host of certifications.  *** IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR? We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you! *** LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Guest LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionnegmcgee/ Guest Website: https://encep.org/ , https://dgmcgee.com/ Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

    1h 1m
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to “The Hard Skills” podcast, a practical and research-driven show that explores the core leadership skills needed to fuel leadership to activate real change, such as creating inclusive and healthy workplaces. Through expert interviews and live coaching calls, we challenge the notion of "soft skills," question long-held but inaccurate leadership development beliefs, and offer real, practical solutions for complex leadership challenges. Hosted by Dr. Mira Brancu, a clinical and organizational development psychologist with extensive leadership experience, we’ll delve into topics of leadership identity, leading with uncertainty, navigating workplace politics, and creating critical organizational change. This podcast will especially appeal to high-achieving leaders in healthcare, tech, and academic, industries. Whether you're seeking personal growth, looking to enhance your leadership abilities, or interested in Dr. Brancu's coaching services and membership community, join us as we unravel the complexities of leadership and inspire you to embrace the hard skills.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Mira Brancu
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Hard Skills

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