IntHERrupt - SoundSage

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I’m sad to say that the Int-HER-rupt Podcast is coming to an end. I know, I know—it’s been a good run, and I’ve learned a lot from being the host of this podcast.

In this episode, I’m going to share the biggest lessons I’ve learned from hosting Int-HER-rupt. Also, if you’d still like to hear my lovely voice, head on over to the Nourify and Beautify Podcast.

It’s a new show where I co-host with Nour Abochama, diving into the secrets behind your favorite beauty products. Learn more about it in the resource section.

Sunsetting the Int-HER-rupt Podcast

After four years and 200 episodes, you’d think I’d keep going with the podcast. Of course, I’d love to, but I’m experiencing an "IntHERruption" in my own career.
Even though we’re saying goodbye to the podcast, that doesn’t mean it won’t still be available. You can always go back and listen to the episodes whenever you like.

The Value of Interruptions

You may feel like interruptions are the worst things that can happen, but it’s better to see them as something positive.
View the interruptions in your life as opportunities for growth and learning.
Those random bad moments can also be unexpected blessings in disguise.

Life Lessons from Leading Women

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from this podcast is that you must always know how to speak up for yourself.
You are your strongest advocate. No one will take care of you better than you. Use your voice to empower yourself and become an effective leader.

Shoutout to TSE Studios

I have to thank the TSE Studios team for their wonderful help in creating and producing this podcast.
A special shoutout goes to Donald Kelly for his mentorship, and I’d like to acknowledge Shana, Nancy, and Priya for their contributions.
If you’d like to learn more about TSE Studios, click the link in the resources section.

“Sometimes, interruptions are the best blessings just around the corner. It all depends on our perspective, how we view them, and how we move forward.” - Linda Yates.

Resources

Nourify and Beautify Podcast

TSE Studios

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you ever feel like you're being overly nice to your co-workers? While this may make them see you more as a friend than a leader, it can also lead to workplace conflicts.

On the flip side, coming off too harsh can create its own set of challenges. So how do you find the right balance between authenticity and authority to guide your team to success?

In this episode, I sit down with Jaime Russ, founder of Lynn, to discuss her valuable leadership insights and strategies. Discover how to find the right balance and drive your team toward success.

Meet Jamie Russ

Jamie Russ comes with over 20 years of experience in the field of data analytics and system integrations.
Her expertise lies in converting complex data into actionable insights, helping businesses make informed decisions that lead to sustainable growth.
She started her professional journey in data analytics, eventually transitioning into roles like project management and Six Sigma within corporate America.
Jamie now focuses entirely on assisting small and mid-sized enterprises, applying corporate structures to augment growth and enhance efficiency.

Authenticity and Authority in Leadership

Jamie shares how leaders can act for the greater good, emphasizing that authenticity includes thorough research and honest communication.
She also discusses how leaders can build trust through authentic actions.

Empathy and Communication in Leadership

Jamie highlights the significance of empathy and compassion in professional settings, explaining how leaders can be both direct and caring.
According to Jamie, the misconception that leaders cannot be vulnerable needs to be challenged.
She emphasizes that leaders must own their mistakes and communicate clearly to foster a healthy work environment.

"Trying to really understand what you're about, but not just what you're about and what you're here for, but also how you're perceived is a huge thing." - Jaime Russ.

Resources

Jaime Russ on LinkedIn

Jaime Russ on Instagram

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Having a well-defined plan is essential for achieving your goals. However, in today’s complex workplace, setting realistic long-term goals can be challenging.

In this episode, I sit down with human resource expert Susan Chaplin to discuss how to develop strategic leadership skills. Tune in to gain valuable insights from her expertise!

Susan Chaplin’s Background

Susan is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of experience in retail, healthcare, and customer service.
Starting from her initial work with Best Buy, Susan has navigated through various roles and industries, each shaping her strategic acumen.
Her transition from retail to the healthcare sector highlights her commitment to continuous learning and growth.

Defining Strategic Leadership

Susan believes strategic leadership involves understanding your environment and team.
She advocates for thorough analysis, such as SWOT assessments, to gain a nuanced perspective of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
This analytical approach ensures that leaders are proactive and sustainable business growth.

Building a Strategic Mindset

Susan shares how new leaders can create a strategic mindset:
Learn from Mistakes: Use errors as learning opportunities.
Understand Your Team: Know what drives your team to maintain balance and productivity.
Engage in Continuous Learning: Stay updated with external factors like AI developments, economic shifts, and generational dynamics.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

Susan believes in bringing one's whole self to work, fostering a genuine and authentic work environment.
By recognizing and adapting to the emotional needs of the team, leaders can create a supportive and motivating atmosphere.

"And then these generational gaps where you've got what are considered boomers versus millennials, Gen Xers, truly understanding how all of those things play together and have an impact on your business." - Susan Chaplin.

Resources

Susan Chaplin on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As a leader, you have the opportunity to support individuals from various backgrounds. Flexibility and understanding are key to guiding your team through their challenges.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Morgan Bell, Assistant Professor of Marketing at BYU’s Marriott School of Business, to discuss why flexibility is essential for effective leadership.

Tune in to learn how being adaptable can help you foster a supportive environment, empower your team, and enhance both personal and professional growth.

Dr. Morgan Bale’s Background

Dr. Bale is an assistant professor of marketing at BYU's Marriott School of Business with a PhD in marketing from Drexel University.
Her research specializes in causal inference techniques and Bayesian statistics, focusing on brand equity, retail, media, and customer loyalty.
A mother of two, she balances her academic career with family life and enjoys time at the beach.

Importance of Flexibility in Leadership

Dr. Bale explains how flexible leadership provides opportunities for success.
Strict and inflexible rules can often limit success, affecting individuals who balance multiple responsibilities.
She highlights how her own academic journey would have been nearly impossible without the flexible support of her advisor.

Leadership Tips on Building Flexibility

Dr. Bale shares valuable advice on how leaders can cultivate flexibility:
Meditation: She discusses how calming the mind prepares you to handle unexpected situations without being overwhelmed.
Proactive Planning: Building flexibility into your schedule allows you to accept life’s unpredictability better.
Clear Communication: Discuss your policies with your team members so they can understand your expectations.

Drawbacks on Being Too Flexible

Being too flexible can lead to inconsistencies in the application of rules and policies. This can create a perception of unfairness and favoritism among team members.
Also, too much flexibility can hinder progress by allowing deadlines to become fluid. Team members may take projects less seriously and undermine the urgency to meet commitments.
Balancing flexibility allows leaders to enforce necessary boundaries that create efficiency and effectiveness for the team.

“The flexibility in leadership allows more people to succeed. When you have strict rules and people from different backgrounds, only a select few are going to succeed.” - Dr. Morgan Bale.

Resources

Dr. Bale’s email: morgan.bale@drexel.edu

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode, I dive deep into a conversation with Charlotte Leonard. With over 35 years of experience in healthcare, Charlotte discusses her journey from a leadership role to becoming a franchise owner. Tune in to hear her insights and lessons learned along the way.

Charlotte's Career Journey

Started as an admission assistant in a nursing home in 1986.
Rose to the position of Regional Director, overseeing multiple locations.
Transitioned to semi-retirement and new challenges as a franchise owner of a vitamin therapy spot opening in October.

Leadership Lessons

Within the episode, Charlotte shares several leadership lessons she learned from her journey. Here's two of them:
Trusting Your Team: Emphasizes the importance of trusting team members to do what they’ve been hired for. Allowing room for mistakes while providing support is key to growth and success.
Adding Value as a Leader: As a Regional Director, Charlotte focused on supporting administrators to ensure their success, which in turn reflected her own success.

Developing Self-Awareness as a Leader

She shares different ways leaders can develop self-awareness:
Listen to Feedback: Understanding what others need from you is crucial.
Have a Mentor or Board of Advisors: Regularly seek feedback on how you show up as a leader.
Continuous Learning: Constantly be a student of leadership, taking courses, reading, and self-assessing to improve.

"Change happens sometimes to you instead of you making the change." - Charlotte Leonard.

Resources

Charlotte Leonard on LinkedIn

The DRIPBar Royal Palm Beach

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Steering a company during economic downturns or simply adapting to everyday workplace challenges, resilience often makes the difference between thriving and merely surviving. This is why it is one of the most crucial traits a leader can possess.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Rosina Racioppi, President and CEO of Women Unlimited, Inc., on fostering resilience as a leader. Join us as we explore Rosina's compelling journey of leadership, her invaluable tips on building resilience, and how you can harness this vital trait to propel your career and organization to new heights.

Introduction to Rosina Racioppi

Rosina Racioppi heads Women Unlimited, Inc., where she spearheads initiatives to help organizations across various industries develop high-potential women leaders.
Her efforts have been instrumental in building a diverse and talented leadership pipeline that contributes to the growth and profitability of Fortune 1000 companies.
With a professional background in HR spanning across sectors like insurance, manufacturing, and chemicals, Rosina brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion.

What is Resiliency?

According to Rosina, resiliency involves maintaining your footing during times of great change or upheaval.
Using COVID-19 as a reference point, she highlights how both companies and individuals demonstrated resilience through prolonged ambiguity.
Key to resilience is not letting failures stop us but rather letting them inform and strengthen us.

Tips on Building Resiliency

Rosina offers invaluable advice on fostering resiliency:
Use Failure as a Learning Tool: Reflect on what went wrong, without placing blame, to foster a culture of learning.
Reflection and Feedback: Regular reflection on projects and seeking feedback from managers and peers can build the muscle of introspection and improvement.
Building Relationships: Maintain a network of colleagues who can offer perspectives and support. These relationships can be vital in managing through challenging times.

Creating a Culture of Resilience

As a leader, instilling resilience within your team requires creating an environment where failure is used as a learning opportunity and ongoing reflection is encouraged.
Leaders should nurture a collaborative culture that values diverse ideas and supports team members in both successful and challenging times.

"You don't want to pursue a job just because you can do it. You want to pursue something because at the end of the day, you're excited about the kind of work that you do when you're using those skills." - Rosina Racioppi.

Resources

Women Unlimited

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As a leader you want your team to be filled with go getters who are ready to accomplish all tasks by the end of the day. But you also want a team of people who enjoy their work, strive to do their best, and actually care about helping others.

In this episode I chat with the dynamic and energetic Claudine Pohl, the CEO of LemonEight. She joins us to share her incredible journey and insights on how to build a team of passionate people.

Claudine Pohl: A Journey of Resilience and Passion

Claudine Pohl, founder and CEO of LemonEight, has a compelling background that combines business acumen with a passion for tourism.
Raised in El Salvador during political turmoil, she faced significant personal challenges, including the assassination of her politician father and surviving a bomb attack meant for her mother.
Claudine immigrated to Canada at nine, where she was raised by her mother and stepfather.
Her love for tourism led her to study international business, starting her career in sales and training with companies like IBM.
In 2020, after losing her job due to the pandemic, Claudine founded LemonEight, a training center for the cruise industry.

Finding and Nurturing Passionate Team Members

Claudine shares her insights on how to attract and build a team of passionate individuals.
She emphasizes the importance of listening to potential team members and tapping into their interests and motivations.
Claudine explains how asking the right questions and providing opportunities for exploration can help leaders identify and nurture passion within their teams.

Giving Back: A Core Value

One of the standout aspects of Claudine's leadership is her commitment to giving back.
From working pro bono with organizations like the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation to leaving a financial impact in the destinations they work with, Lemonade is about more than just business.
Claudine's focus on creating personal and financial impacts in the communities they touch is a core part of her company's values.

“But through that, you realize what is important. You realize you could have all the money in the world, but it won't mean anything if you're not here." - Claudine Pohl.

Resources

Claudine Pohl on LinkedIn

Claudine Pohl on Instagram

LemonEight

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you a leader who multitasks at different levels within the company? Letting others do their tasks can be hard when you know how things should be done.

This is called micromanagement, and even though you might mean well, you're really doing a disservice to your employees when you take over their tasks. Listen to this episode with my guest, Dana Mullins, on how to stop micromanaging as a leader and what to do instead to help your employees grow.

Dana's Leadership Journey

Dana has always been drawn to leadership roles, starting from high school.
She found her passion in human resources and had mentors who helped her grow.
Over 25 years, Dana has grown with PenAir Credit Union from a department manager to a C-suite executive.

Defining Micromanagement

Micromanaging is the inability to let go of tasks and responsibilities delegated to others.
It often stems from a leader's comfort zone and desire to ensure things are done their way.
Micromanaging frustrates employees, stifles growth, and ultimately harms the leader's own performance.

Advice for Those Being Micromanaged

Take a step back and ask why it's happening; is it a trust issue or something you're doing?
Have an honest, direct conversation with your leader about what you can do to build trust and show your capabilities.
Correct any mistakes or shortcomings on your end to demonstrate your worthiness of trust.

Tips for Leaders to Avoid Micromanaging

Look inside yourself and identify the reasons behind your micromanaging behavior.
Get out of your comfort zone and focus on your own responsibilities at your current level.
Trust that you have the right people around you to handle the tasks you've delegated.

Staying Motivated as a Leader

Find something you're passionate about, whether it's your profession, hobbies, or volunteer work.
Create a routine around the things you enjoy and stick to it.
When life throws curveballs, allow yourself to grieve, then find a way to incorporate changes into your routine and maintain a forward focus.

“I relate this to whenever someone gets their first supervisor or their first leadership role, usually, they have come from a doer. They're comfortable with it and enjoy it, but now they've taken on different responsibilities. But because maybe that's uncomfortable, you're learning how to navigate that. You want to return to your comfort zone and keep your hand in that, even though you've now turned that over to someone else.” - Dana Mullins.

Resources

Dana Mullins on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Leaders who actively recognize and embrace gender diversity can foster innovation, enhance decision-making, and boost financial performance within their organizations. However, this factor is often overlooked in leadership positions.

In this insightful episode, I engage in a delightful conversation with Kate Suslava, an associate professor of accounting at Bucknell University, to delve into the intricate dynamics of leadership through the lens of gender differences. Tune in to discover how you can be part of the solution and help create a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Meet Kate Suslava

Kate Suslava has a unique background that blends linguistics and accounting. Originally from Belarus, she initially studied linguistics at Minsk State Linguistic University, where she learned English, Italian, and Polish, with aspirations of becoming a translator.
After moving to the United States, she shifted her focus to accounting, earning an MBA and later a PhD from Rutgers University.
Her diverse educational and professional experiences now inform her research on executives' verbal patterns in corporate disclosures and communications with investors.

The Gender Gap in Leadership Roles

Kate highlights the stark contrast between the number of women hired at entry-level positions in accounting firms and the lack of gender parity in upper echelons of leadership.
She notes that despite the benefits of gender diversity in decision-making and company performance, women only make up around 11-12% of CFO positions and an even smaller percentage of CEO roles in publicly traded companies.

Gender Differences in Communication

One key difference Kate has observed is how men and women communicate in the workplace.
Her research shows that men speak more than women in business meetings.
She emphasizes the importance of leaders creating an inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard, regardless of gender or communication style.

Acknowledging Biases and Promoting Inclusivity

To address gender differences, Kate suggests that leaders first acknowledge the existence of biases.
She recommends investing in training to make people aware of these biases, especially regarding hiring and promotions.
Additionally, leaders should strive to create diverse teams and consider the needs of all employees when planning team-building activities.

The Benefits of Gender Diversity

Kate emphasizes the importance of being open to the opposite gender, as diversity brings numerous benefits to the workplace.
She provides an example from her research on financial analysts: Women excel at writing clear and readable reports, while men tend to include more quantitative information.
By working together, they can produce better work products than teams consisting of only one gender.

“No matter what gender or who you are, everybody's voices should be heard. Unfortunately, in meetings, the voices that are heard are often heard by loud and aggressive people.” - Kate Suslava.

Resources

Bucknell University

Kate Suslava on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today's rapidly evolving workplace, employees crave more than just a paycheck. They seek purpose, growth opportunities, and recognition for their unique contributions. How do you ensure that each individual's efforts are acknowledged in a way that resonates with them personally?

In this episode, I discuss this topic with Marty Bryson, an experienced HR professional and Benefits Manager at Chapters Healthcare. Learn how she creates tailored reward systems that recognize employee achievements and foster an environment of continuous learning and personal development.

Marty's Career Journey

Marty Bryson has built an extensive career as an HR practitioner with over 25 years of experience, primarily focusing on helping employees navigate their benefits.
Currently, she serves as the Benefits Manager for Chapters Health and is the President of the HR Florida State Council, continuing her mission of improving employee welfare and education opportunities.

When to Reward Employees

Many leaders wonder how often they should reward their employees.
Marty explains that recognizing small achievements can have a significant impact.
This recognition shows employees that their efforts are noticed, which can be motivating, especially during challenging times.

The Importance of Individualized Rewards

Marty highlights the significance of personalized rewards. She states emerging professionals often seek mentors and education opportunities, while seasoned employees might want bigger projects and continuous learning opportunities.
Lifelong learning is a substantial intrinsic reward that companies can offer their employees.

Types of Reward Systems

There are both tangible and intangible reward systems.
While fair pay and robust benefits are fundamental expectations, intangible rewards like thank-you notes and public recognition can be more impactful.
Marty suggests options ranging from using a dedicated module in an HR system to simple bulletin boards for kudos.

Personal Reward Stories

Marty shares a touching story about receiving handwritten notes from conference attendees and team members, recognizing her impact.
I follow with my own story of a treasured plaque from a historic hotel, emphasizing that rewards don't need to be expensive but should reflect genuine appreciation.

“Someone who is maybe more seasoned in their career journey wants bigger projects. They also want education opportunities. Most adults these days are lifelong learners, and given the opportunity to learn something new, they will grasp it. So, one of the biggest intrinsic rewards that a company or organization can give an employee these days is the opportunity to learn.” -Marty Bryson.

Resources

Marty Bryson on LinkedIn

HR Flordia State Council

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Don’t you just want to pull every last strand of hair out after work? If so, you may be experiencing burnout and need to listen to this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast.

I chat with my guest, Victoria Baylor, a certified leadership coach, about coping with work-related stress. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just beginning your journey, this episode is packed with insights and actionable advice on overcoming burnout and maintaining productivity.

Meet Victoria Baylor

Victoria Baylor is a seasoned professional with a rich background in leadership and development.
She is a certified leadership mindset coach, organizational development consultant, and TEDx speaker with a profound passion for unlocking the brilliance in others.
Her holistic, human-centric approach to leadership fosters mindset growth and enhances leader well-being, team effectiveness, and organizational cohesion.

Understanding Burnout and Its Impact

Victoria emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's limits.
She highlights that high-performing individuals often overlook signs of stress and push themselves harder, which can lead to severe burnout.
Using her personal experience, Victoria elaborates on how burnout affected her confidence and decision-making abilities, and why it's crucial to pause and reflect rather than speeding up to overcome challenges.

Recognizing Burnout: Key Indicators

One of the critical aspects of managing burnout is recognizing it early.
Victoria outlines several indicators, such as a lack of motivation, diminished productivity, increased self-doubt, and changes in behavior.
She stresses the importance of leaders cultivating strong relationships with their team members to detect these signs early.

Strategies for Overcoming Burnout

Victoria provides practical recommendations for overcoming burnout, emphasizing a holistic approach.
She advises stepping back and accepting one's current state without self-judgment.
It's essential to align actions with personal values and prioritize activities that rejuvenate and recharge.
For leaders, she suggests creating an environment where team members feel safe to express their challenges and stresses.

Maintaining Motivation and Energy

Victoria shares her personal strategies for staying motivated and managing energy.
As an introvert, she finds solace in spending time alone, engaging in hobbies, and nurturing personal relationships.
She also stresses the importance of having quick recharge methods for energy management, which can be as brief as 1-3 minutes.

“Stress is not a bad thing. It is actually kind of good in the right dosage. But what happens when it becomes excessive?” - Victoria Baylor.

Resources

Victoria Baylor

Victoria Baylor on Instagram

Victoria Baylor on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How can companies create inclusive and dynamic work environments? In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, I chat with Lee Caraher, a renowned expert in building dynamic work environments and author of "Millennials and Management."

Lee details the importance of adaptive leadership, effective communication, and diverse, inclusive environments in today's world. Listen to her stories and practical tips to equip yourself to drive positive change in your own organization.

Meet Lee Caraher

● Lee Caraher is a seasoned public relations and communications expert with a rich professional journey spanning over two decades.

● She started her career in public relations and steadily climbed the ranks into significant leadership roles.

● Her extensive experience culminated in the founding of Double Forte, a well-regarded public relations and marketing firm dedicated to fostering dynamic and inclusive work environments.

Maintaining Company Culture and Values

● Lee explains the importance of maintaining company values and behaviors amidst an ever-changing work environment.

● She emphasizes that a positive and inclusive culture is crucial for the long-term success of any organization.

Challenges and Strategies in Inclusivity

● Lee shares her experiences, including her efforts in creating an inclusive language guide and the challenges faced in adapting to a male-dominated culture.

● She recounts a personal story of inadvertently excluding a gay employee, which served as a humbling lesson on the impact of language. This experience sharpened her focus on fostering a truly inclusive environment.

Practical Tips for Inclusivity

● Lee provides three practical tips for individuals and leaders striving to create an inclusive environment:

○ 1. Conduct an annual blind audit to identify and address biases.

○ 2. Actively check in with employees to understand their needs and experiences.

○ 3. Implement unbiased recruiting practices to attract a diverse pool of talent.

● She also discusses the advantages of blind recruitment in improving workplace diversity and draws parallels to the unbiased selection of musicians behind a screen.

Evolving as Leaders

● Lee stresses the necessity for leaders to continuously evolve and understand their place in the world, particularly about their company and its employees.

● This evolution is crucial to avoid failure and ensure the company adapts to changing conditions without losing its core values.

“Being a dynamic company means understanding how you maintain your values and the behaviors your values dictate. You will dictate your behaviors, and that is what values are. Values are the behaviors that you will encourage and/or allow, and then how do those stay the same? So your culture is that way—positive, inclusive, whatever, but recognizing how conditions change.” - Lee Caraher.

Resources

Lee Caraher

Lee Caraher on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If you're curious about your leadership purpose, this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast is a must-listen. Join me as I delve into this topic with my guest, Victoria Hajjar, the founder of Ugli Ventures. Click play to learn more about finding your leadership purpose.

Meet Victoria Hajjar

Victoria is the founder of Ugli Ventures, which specializes in assisting startups in scaling from 6 to 7 figures.
She focuses on aiding female entrepreneurs in optimizing sales and marketing strategies, team building, and leadership development to establish sustainable and profitable 7-figure enterprises.
She enjoys taking the leadership qualities she learned from other male leaders and sharing them with women leaders to help them become successful in their journeys.
After leaving the corporate world and working with investors, she was able to experience a wider style of leadership.
One of her favorites was a leader who took on a mentorship role and shared his growth journey with the team. Noticing the leader's humility, she saw how it helped foster an excitement of growth within the organization.

Leadership Purpose: What Is It?

Victoria shares that regardless of your leadership style, the most important thing is to show up constantly in everything you do.
Remember, your team members are watching you and do what they see others do. If you’re not showing up consistently, your team won’t either.
The purpose of leadership is to ensure that everyone in the company follows through on what’s expected of them

How Does Having a Purpose Help You as a Leader?

Knowing your purpose helps you learn your leadership style. Before you can find your purpose, understand what type of leader you want to be.
Would you prefer to have a coaching leadership style? Or do you want to have a more Laissez-Faire leadership style?
Victoria shares an exercise she does with her clients to help them understand the leadership styles better and how to find the right one for them.
Understanding different leadership styles and discovering which brings you excitement allows you to find the right one that fits your personality.

Creating Your Leadership Purpose

Victoria suggests thinking about your larger "why" as a human. Consider how you want to show up in life and translate that into your work.
Do you want to be the person who teaches others? Do you want to put a smile on someone's face every day? Do you want to give tough love to others?
You can show up authentically as a leader when you connect to your deeper why and how you want to help others.

“How you show up as a leader and conduct yourself is also attached to your larger why as a human. We spend so much of our lives at work. We often want to separate how we show up at work from how we do at home. We believe we are creating this balance. However, successful leaders bring the things they have passion for and the person they want to become, and they translate that into their style.” - Victoria Hajjar.

Resources

Ugli Ventures

Victoria Hajjar on LinkedIn

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Can a disability impact your leadership abilities negatively or positively? Find out in this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast.

Host Linda Yates chats with guest Monica Dreger, a distinguished guest with a rich background in overseeing research initiatives at companies like Airbnb and as a volunteer advisor for the Bereavement Center. Monica delves into topics surrounding human decision-making, her career evolution, and hearing loss's impact on her personal and professional life.

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Professional Journey in UX Research

Monica Dreger shares her role in user experience (UX) research, explaining her goal to understand human decision-making.
Her background in advertising and psychology has been instrumental in creating successful ad campaigns by tapping into fundamental human truths.
This interdisciplinary expertise has provided a robust framework for her subsequent industry roles.

Navigating Hearing Loss

Monica shares her journey with hearing loss that started when she was a young child.
She recounts how it affected her ability to moderate focus groups, leading her to seek professional help and eventually pivot her career.
Monica's experience underscores the importance of awareness and advocacy in managing hearing impairment.
Despite the hurdles, she views her hearing loss as a part of her identity and a source of resilience.

Importance of Kindness and Empathy

A crucial part of Monica’s philosophy is responding to incorrect answers with kindness and empathy.
She emphasizes these values as essential for effective communication and fostering a supportive environment, particularly when dealing with communication challenges arising from her hearing impairment.

Advocacy and Self-Advocacy in Business

Monica's discussion on self-advocacy sheds light on the difficulties soft-spoken individuals face in the business industry, often rewarding louder voices.
She articulates how overcoming societal expectations and advocating for oneself is essential, especially for female empowerment.
Monica frames her advocacy for herself as a way to pave the path for the younger generation, particularly young women, in the corporate world.

Leadership and Community Building

In her leadership style, Monica leads with genuine curiosity and prioritizes building a strong community among her team members.
She believes in surrounding herself with skilled and collaborative individuals, which she considers a crucial leadership lesson.

Communication Challenges and Personal Strength

Monica reflects on her communication challenges, often having to piece together sentences due to mishearing words.
This experience has reinforced the importance of empathy in communication and recognizing the personal strength required to navigate such challenges daily.

To understand decision-making, I have to listen to people, which is ironic in itself but kind of, you know, in a beautiful bow of irony. - Monica Dreger.

Resources

Monica Dreger on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Curious about the role of small talk in career transformation? In this episode of "Int-Her-rupt," Linda Yates engages in a conversation with Amy Buchan Siegfried, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience in audience engagement and the art of building confidence, connections, and collaborations.

They also explore the intricacies of social media, advocating for a communication style that is both casual and approachable. Tune in to discover how to maintain professionalism while adopting a casual speaking style on social media.

Amy's Leadership Journey

As the CEO of Last Night's Game, Amy brings a fresh perspective to casual conversations.
She serves as a corporate executive chair of Irish Angels and is an adjunct professor.
Amy has navigated diverse leadership styles throughout her career, learning to unlearn toxic behaviors while advocating for supportive and inclusive team dynamics.

Supporting and Encouraging Team Members

Amy highlights the critical role of supporting and encouraging team members, irrespective of gender.
She reflects on her encounters with female leaders who, unfortunately, operated under the "I got here, you need to hustle as hard as I did" mentality.
Contrary to this, Amy advocates for bringing people along on the career journey, emphasizing that aiding team growth only enhances individual success.

The Casual Speaking Style

Amy shares her distaste for the overly formal and often insincere tone prevalent in platforms like LinkedIn.
Amy prefers enthusiastic expressions and a personalized, conversational approach that makes content more approachable and engaging. This method enhances social media engagement by making communication relatable and human.

Content Approachability and Audience Adaptation

Amy provides practical examples to illustrate how replacing formal language with casual, enthusiastic expressions can foster relatability.
She points out that while there is a time and place for both casual and formal communication styles, infusing personality into content is always beneficial.

Consistency and Professionalism in Communication

Despite the casual approach, Amy stresses the importance of maintaining communication consistency, correct grammar, and spelling to ensure a polished presentation.
This balance between informality and professionalism is crucial for effective business branding and creating a positive professional image.

Social Media Context and Personalization

Illustrating the significance of context in social media, Amy advises that content should be crafted to stand on its own, even when taken out of context.
Linda's practical experience with "Motivation Mondays" is a prime example, where she posts casual, unprepared content, highlighting the value of authenticity and self-reflection in engaging with the audience.

"Everyone has something to offer, and so go in and be confident in that skill of being able to make a brand approachable, knowing what that looks like, knowing how to make that personable." - Amy Buchan Siegfried.

Resources

Last Night’s Game

Amy Buchan Siegfried on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Your friend recently told you that nothing is going right and there’s only one way to solve it. Could a simple conversation change their mind from ending it all?

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates has a deep, meaningful chat with special guest Nicole Ferry on mental health and resilience.

Listen to Nicole share her powerful journey from battling trauma in her career to finding healing and psychological safety. Before you click play, here’s a warning! This conversation is tough, and if sensitive topics trigger you, this episode may not be for you.

Guest Introduction: Nicole Ferry

Nicole Ferry is a distinguished veteran with a unique military and law enforcement background.
Her career spans from the Massachusetts Army National Guard and private policing for a railroad to various roles within law enforcement.
Despite a learning disability and discouragement from educators, Nicole's tenacity led her down a path filled with both proud accomplishments and profound challenges.

A Traumatic Journey

Nicole opens up about her time at a trauma treatment facility tailored for first responders, where she stayed for an extensive 142 days.
Initially, she sought treatment for the benefit of her team but soon found herself overwhelmed by worsening symptoms. This prompted her to leave work to focus on her mental health.

A Moment of Crisis and Hope

In a moment of sheer despair, Nicole shares her story of contemplating suicide.
Miraculously, her husband's sudden arrival transformed this potentially tragic scenario into a turning point.
Tune in and listen to the life-saving power of intervention and the significance of having a support system.

The Importance of Open Conversations

Nicole highlights the necessity of having open, honest conversations with trusted individuals.
She draws a parallel between difficult parenting discussions and conversations needed for mental health support and suicide prevention, stressing that such dialogues can make the difference between life and death.

Leadership and Vulnerability

Nicole encourages leaders to cultivate an environment of vulnerability and trust within their teams.
Leaders can foster psychological safety and facilitate tough but necessary conversations by working on themselves and knowing their employees personally.

In this insightful episode, Nicole Ferry's story serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health support, open conversations, and personal resilience. Whether you're a leader, a parent, or someone facing your own mental health struggles, Nicole's journey offers valuable lessons and inspiration.

“I feel alone. Even though I have a husband, kids, and all these people, I feel so utterly alone. My vision has gone dark on the outside, so physically, I feel like my world is dark.” - Nicole Ferry.

Resources

Nicole Ferry

Nicole Ferry on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In 2024, we still see a lack of advancement opportunities for women in the workplace. How can you overcome these obstacles and climb the corporate ladder?

Start by tuning into this episode of the “Int-HER-rupt Podcast” with your host, Linda Yates. In this episode, Linda chats with Rochelle Marie, a passionate advocate for women in leadership.

Rochelle's expertise in helping women overcome career challenges and step into leadership roles is illuminated through her compelling personal journey and professional experiences. Hear her advice on leadership advancement and actionable tips to address a lack of opportunities in male-dominated fields.

Rochelle's Leadership Journey

Rochelle shares her unique path into leadership, starting soon after university and stepping away from a burgeoning career due to organizational culture conflicts and personal priorities.
After a 12-year hiatus, she returned to corporate at an entry-level position and worked her way up, driven by determination and self-confidence.
Her story highlights the complexities of career growth and the importance of personal development in professional success.

Recognizing and Addressing Lack of Opportunities

Rochelle offers insights on how women can identify when their career growth is stifled due to organizational structure or personal barriers.
She discusses the concept of the "frozen middle," where mid-level management positions become stagnant, limiting advancement opportunities.
Women in leadership roles or aspiring to such positions often face these hidden obstacles, making it crucial to distinguish between organizational constraints and personal growth barriers.

Strategies for Career Development

Self-Assessment and Authentic Leadership: Rochelle emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself—understanding one’s values, strengths, and passions. She suggests reflective practices to connect with moments when women felt empowered and effective.
Networking and Building Relationships: Professional networking is crucial for discovering new career opportunities. Rochelle encourages personalized networking strategies that align with one's comfort levels, whether through large events or one-on-one coffee meetings.
Courage and Visibility: Rochelle advocates developing courage instead of just building confidence. Taking on visible projects, applying for new roles, and seeking mentorship opportunities can demonstrate leadership potential and open doors.

The Importance of Women in Corporate

Rochelle’s motivation stems from the need to retain women in corporate environments to ensure workplace diversity and gender equality.
Women empowerment in corporate settings ensures that product development, workplace policies, and research consider women’s perspectives, preventing a corporate culture designed predominantly for men.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Career Frustration

Rochelle addresses common workplace challenges such as impostor syndrome and career frustration.
She highlights methods for breaking stereotypes and instilling self-confidence to navigate professional hurdles effectively.
Women can transcend career limitations and achieve authentic leadership by working on self-improvement and professional skills.

“I'm passionate about helping women stay in corporate, build their careers, step into leadership, and make a difference in our organizations so that women everywhere benefit.” - Rochelle Marie.

Resources

Her Leadership Way

Her Leadership Way Facebook

Rochelle Marie on LinkedIn

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Have you ever found yourself tangled in the intricate web of workplace politics, unsure how to navigate and thrive? If so, you're not alone.

Many seasoned professionals occasionally struggle to manage the complex socio-dynamics within their organizations. In this episode of the “Int-HER-rupt Podcast,” host Linda Yates welcomes Vicki Bradley, a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the retail industry.

Vicki shares her invaluable insights on navigating workplace politics, fostering workplace trust, and the importance of conscious leadership. Click play to discover how you can turn workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership.

Early Career and Executive Experience in Retail

Vicki’s extensive executive experience in the retail industry spans across North America.
She has held significant roles, including President of the Bombay Furniture Company in Canada, VP of Sales and Operations for Bombay USA, Senior VP of Sales and Operations with Marks and Spencers, and VP of Sales and Operations with Holt Renfrew.
Vicki shares how these roles shaped her understanding of workplace dynamics and political dynamics in organizations.

Navigating Workplace Politics and Office Dynamics

Vicki delves into what office politics entails and confirms that political dynamics are a reality in every organization.
She shares practical advice on building trust in organizations and how executives can effectively handle workplace resistance.
Vicki also emphasizes the importance of slowing down to accelerate progress and the need for understanding and adapting to the existing corporate culture before attempting a significant organizational transformation.

Building Trust and Employee Engagement

Vicki discusses the necessity of workplace trust and its role in successful leadership.
She highlights the importance of transparency, active listening, and walking the talk to foster trust.
Vicki also explores how employee engagement is crucial for achieving organizational objectives and the need to address issues such as employee attrition and productivity.

Practical Tips for New Executives

Vicki offers practical tips for those new to an organization navigating the initial stages of their role.
She advises newcomers to ask questions in the workplace, build a support system, and understand the organizational mission and values.
By doing so, new executives can better align with their company’s culture and contribute more effectively to its goals.

“I highly recommend during the interview process that you try to get a sense of who they are and how they operate as an organization."- Vicki Bradley.

Resources

WIL Empowered

Vicki Bradley on LinkedIn

WIL Empowered Instagram

WIL Empowered Facebook

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If you can’t advocate for yourself as a leader, how do you expect to advocate for others in the workplace? In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates chats with Abbe Large, a distinguished financial planner, about advocating for oneself and navigating the leadership journey.

In this insightful conversation, Linda and Abbe delve into key aspects such as developing essential leadership skills, empowering women, and the significance of self-reflection and authenticity in professional growth. This episode is packed with practical insights to empower you to become a successful leader. Don't miss out on this enriching conversation!

Abbe Large’s Background

Abbe Large brings a wealth of experience to the table. With a background in financial planning spanning over 30 years, she has been recognized as a Forbes top advisor for multiple years.
But her dedication doesn't stop there! Abbe is committed to fostering meaningful relationships, providing exceptional customer service, and empowering women to take control of their finances.
Her journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to advocating for oneself in the workplace.

Overcoming Challenges and Building Client Relationships

Abbe candidly discusses workplace challenges, the impact of self-advocacy, and effective communication strategies for overcoming interruptions.
Click play to hear her valuable insights on building client relationships, emphasizing kindness, and effective communication for successful interactions.

Empowering Women and Financial Literacy

Abbe is passionate about empowering women through financial literacy.
Listen to her touching story of supporting a widow after a client's passing and why financial empowerment is essential.

Motivation and Self-Empowerment

Abbe enlightens viewers on her sources of motivation, emphasizing the significance of self-care, healthy relationships, and the drive to empower others.
Her dedication to financial literacy and empowering women reflects her commitment to self-motivation and making a positive impact.

Join host Linda Yates as she delves deep into advocating for oneself in the workplace with the remarkable Abbe Large. She shares invaluable insights on leadership, authenticity, and navigating challenges with grace and assertiveness in this enlightening episode.

Tune in and let Abbe's empowering words guide you toward self-discovery and success. Don't miss out on this enlightening episode filled with wisdom that will reshape your approach to leadership and self-advocacy.

"If you're not making mistakes, how can you grow?" - Abbe Large.

Resources

Abbe Large on LinkedIn

LenoxAdvisors

Email: Abbe@alargenicsadvisors.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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You have recently been promoted to a new position within the company. After years of being a part of the underdogs, it's exciting to start receiving more money and benefits.

However, the initial thrill starts to fade as the weight of your new role becomes apparent. The question then becomes, how can you ensure you make the right decisions that will drive positive changes in your new leadership position?

Tune into this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast; host Linda Yates shares some exceptional tips for new leaders stepping into higher-level positions. Whether you're newly promoted, pivoting to a new organization, or looking to refine your leadership skills, this episode covers essential aspects of leadership that will help you thrive and effectively interrupt the status quo.

Understanding Your Mindset

If you struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, it's a good idea for you to start working on your confidence ASAP.
To be a successful leader within the workplace, one must combat negative thinking.
Linda shares several ways new leaders can combat imposter syndrome and grow into strong leaders. Listen to her advice in this episode.

Building and Understanding Your Team

To build trust with your new team members, take the time to understand team dynamics and develop strong interpersonal skills.
Linda recommends using personality assessments like DISC, Myers-Briggs, or Compass to view individual team member's strengths and communication styles comprehensively.
Understanding these dynamics helps in building team trust and effective communication skills.

Communicating Your Vision and Mission

You can only be an effective leader if you communicate with your team members.
Linda shares that new leaders must define and communicate their personal vision, mission, and purpose to their team members.
Understanding and sharing these elements with your team fosters deeper engagement and alignment.

Leading by Example: Servant Leadership

Leading by example means you're approachable and actively participating in your team's projects.
When you work alongside your team, you demonstrate your commitment and build stronger professional relationships.
Click play to discover how leading by example empowers your team members to present challenges and potential solutions in this episode.

Professional Development and Legacy Building

Just because you’re in a new position doesn’t mean you should stop reinventing yourself.
Leaders who focus on building themselves can encourage their team members to do the same.
Linda shares how leaders can create a positive environment to help team members develop their skills and prepare them for future leadership roles, building a lasting legacy.

Starting a new leadership role can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time. You’re helping others to strive to do their very best, and you can’t do this without the proper guidance.

Luckily, Linda is here to be a guiding light for new leaders. Tune into this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast to make a meaningful impact in your new leadership role.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the TSE Studios YouTube channel!

Resources

Linda Yates on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you often find yourself second-guessing the decisions you make as a leader?

How do you overcome the fear of making a mistake for the company?

In this episode of the "Int-HER-rupt" podcast, host Linda Yates chats with Eisha Armstrong, a multifaceted leader, executive, and author. They delve into overcoming the fear associated with decision-making in leadership and entrepreneurship.

If you're a leader or aspiring to make impactful decisions without succumbing to the paralysis of fear and insecurity, this episode is custom-crafted for your aspirations. Click play to forge your path to fearless leadership!

Eisha Armstrong's Background

Eisha is the co-founder and executive chairman of Vecturis and a successful author.
She is passionate about transforming service-oriented businesses by productizing their offerings, which she explores in her best-selling books, particularly "Productize" and "Fearless."
Living in Cincinnati with her family and being a yoga teacher, she brings a unique leadership and fear management perspective.

Overcoming Fear in Decision-Making

Eisha explains how fear plays a substantial role in business decision-making, especially when significant investments and technological advancements are involved.
She elaborates on how fear often impedes corporate and personal growth by causing an overemphasis on risk aversion.

Strategies for Risk Mitigation and Fear

Eisha describes practical strategies for mitigating risk and managing fear in business settings.
She emphasizes the "test and learn" approach and creating a portfolio of bets to distribute risk effectively.
Eisha also covers the personal aspects of fear, like fear of failure, judgment, and irrelevance, underlining the importance of open conversations about these issues.

Practical Takeaways: The LEAP Framework

Eisha introduces the "LEAP" framework designed to help leaders navigate through fears:
L: Listen - Attuning to one’s intuition
E: Expect less than perfect - Embracing imperfections in outcomes
A: Ask for help - Leveraging collective strength and advice
P: Practice gratitude - Maintaining a positive focus and celebrating small wins

Real-World Applications and Examples

Bringing theory into real-world application, Eisha uses the example of a large accounting firm incorporating generative AI into their processes.
She outlines the initial resistance due to fears around job security and traditional revenue models, illustrating how leadership can pivot focus from efficiency to growth to overcome these barriers.

In this enriching episode with Eisha Armstrong, you’ll journey through the realms of leadership, overcoming fears, and embracing innovation in professional services. Whether you're a leader in your field, an entrepreneur gearing up for your next big venture, or a professional curious about pushing the boundaries of traditional services, this episode promises valuable takeaways.

Tune into this episode and empower yourself to step up, face your fears, and lead confidently and creatively in today’s dynamic business environment.

"Our brains are wired for fear because thousands of years ago, we needed that fear to keep us alive. But now it can be kind of overreactive, and we look more at the risks rather than the upsides of taking action." - Eisha Armstrong.

Resources

Digital copy of “Productize,” by Eisha Armstrong

Eisha Armstrong

Eisha Armstrong on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Sadly, there is no sense of community in today's society. If you're finding yourself lost in your professional life, this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast is a must-listen.

Host Linda Yates chats with Amy Pocsik, co-founder and CEO of the Women's Business League, to explore the vital topic of community in leadership. Tune in and hear why having a professional community is essential for success.

Ready to explore the leadership insights that could redefine your path? Press play now!

The Meaning of Community in Leadership

Amy delves into the essence of community, articulating its many forms, including peer groups, support teams, and extended networks.
She describes the community as a critical foundation supporting leaders in achieving their goals.

Empowerment Through Asking

Amy emphasizes the power of boldly communicating one's goals and needs.
She shares strategies for making specific, goal-aligned requests in networking scenarios, highlighting the power of reciprocation within one's community.

Investing Time in Your Network

Amy advises setting aside regular time to build relationships and a network.
She points out the importance of nurturing these connections long before they're needed, ensuring a supportive network when opportunities arise.

Tips for Nurturing Your Own Community

Amy offers three practical tips for building a community: start with warm connections and small steps, prepare thoughtfully for meetings, show respect for others' time, and focus on creating value for others by prioritizing their interests.

Staying Motivated and Energized

Amy shares her 1412 strategy—a system to ensure regular personal and professional highlights throughout the year to recharge and stay motivated.
She stresses the significance of maintaining high energy as a personal responsibility for every leader.

If you're a leader—or see yourself becoming one—you can't afford to miss the insights and strategies Amy shared. Tune in to witness how the synergy of ambition and community ties can redefine success in leadership. Don't leave your potential untapped—join in and let Amy Pocsik's energy and Linda Yates's probing questions energize your leadership journey!

“If you have a dream you can achieve on your own, you have to dream bigger because a dream worth pursuing will need a community. If you're going to have a big impact and pursue a mission, you will need to bring in other people along with you to help. And so I think networking can make that happen for you.” - Amy Pocsik.

Resources

Amy Pocsik on LinkedIn

Amy Pocsik on Instagram

Women Business League

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you ready to take control of your financial story and transform how you interact with money?

In this eye-opening episode of the “Int-HER-rupt podcast,” host Linda Yates chats with Tania Vasallo, a renowned money mindset expert and leadership coach, on how women can create a path to financial freedom.

Explore the pivotal moments of Tania’s life, from corporate challenges to entrepreneurial triumphs, and learn how embracing curiosity about finances and investing can rewrite the script of your own success story. You’ll uncover the secrets to cultivating a healthier relationship with money through her knowledge. Click play now!

The Importance of Financial Education

Tania Vasallo discusses the underlying patriarchal influences that significantly affect women's approach to money.
She delves into her personal awakening to the world of finances and how it transformed her life.
Tania sheds light on women's need to develop a positive and proactive relationship with money.

Investment Journeys: Stocks and Cryptocurrency

Exploring her personal experiences, Tania discusses how venturing into stock and cryptocurrency investments altered her perspective on monetary matters.
She advocates for the importance of women actively participating in the financial discourse to foster self-empowerment.

A Shift from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

Tania's transition from the corporate sector to entrepreneurship is a riveting tale of transformation.
It highlights the significance of understanding money's role as a neutral tool that can amplify one's character and the power of positive cultural shifts.

Demystifying Taboos

Tania tackles the societal taboo surrounding women discussing their finances.
She emphasizes learning about money management proactively, rather than waiting for a crisis to strike, and approaching financial decisions with a balanced emotional mindset.

Building Financial Confidence

Tania offers actionable advice on how women can build confidence in negotiating better remuneration.
She urges listeners to address limiting beliefs, embrace education about wealth generation, and surround themselves with financially positive individuals.

Tania Vasallo's powerful message is not just a call to action; it's a beacon of empowerment for women worldwide. Her candid sharing of her financial journey offers a heartfelt roadmap to financial liberation.

Tune into the shared wisdom and embark on your journey to financial empowerment. Don't forget to connect with Tania's podcast for more enriching content and grab the free guide to managing money — because when women thrive, societies flourish. Listen now, and take the first step towards a richer, more empowered you!

“Learn to love people and use money versus love money and use people.” - Tania Vasallo.

Resources

Women’s Top Money Mistakes

Tania Vasallo on LinkedIn

Tania Vasallo on Instagram

The Courage To Be Happy

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Your family knows you as a supermom who gets everything done without complaining. You go to work, come home, and ensure everything is done before bedtime.

You have so much to do in a day with little time to complete. How can you balance your career and home life without going bald?

Prepare to be inspired by Casey as she shares the concept of balance from an abstract idea to a tangible reality, all while setting a remarkable example for her children and supporting a vibrant vision for her life.

Listen to this episode of the “Int-HER-rupt podcast,” host Linda Yates speaks with Casey Chesser, a mother, wife, and high-flying HR professional, on creating a healthy work and home life balance. Tune in now!

Meet Casey Chesser

Casey Chesser has almost two decades of human resources experience. As an HR business partner manager, she leads a team that supports 2000 employees.
She's not only a businesswoman but also a devoted wife and mother, whose life took a positive turn when she became a mother at 19. She considers becoming a mother as the best interruption that paved the way for her personal and professional growth.

Three Keys to Balance

Casey outlines three essential strategies to achieve balance, which she elucidates with personal anecdotes and professional wisdom:
Setting Priorities Based on Personal Values: Casey champions identifying what truly matters in your life and adjusting your expectations accordingly. She stresses the importance of being present and prioritizing your roles, whether as a parent, spouse, or professional, to maintain a healthy balance.
Finding Your Satisfaction 'Sweet Spot': Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. Casey describes herself as a perfectionist and discusses how she navigates this trait by giving herself grace and establishing boundaries. She advises finding satisfaction in accomplishments without succumbing to the unrealistic demands of perfection.
Leveraging Support and Delegation: According to Casey, a crucial element of balance is not being afraid to ask for help. Building a reliable support system is imperative as it allows you to achieve your self-set benchmarks in both personal and professional spheres.

Casey's Motivation

Casey's striving for balance is deeply rooted in her desire to set an example for her children and her evolving vision of herself, bolstered by a strong marriage.
She and her husband have navigated life's challenges through open communication, goal setting, and the support of empathetic employers.

Turning Down Opportunities When Necessary

An advocate for aligning career moves with personal priorities, Casey reveals that she has declined job opportunities when they interfered with her commitment to her family.
This conscious decision-making has been a cornerstone of her philosophy on balance.

Personal Experiences and Learning

Casey opens up about moments of imbalance, such as overextending herself after her stepfather's passing and deciding to shut down her side business to focus more on family time.
These experiences have taught her lessons in prioritizing and the art of saying 'no' when necessary.

Casey Chesser's insights are a treasure trove for anyone striving to find balance amid life's ceaseless demands. From revealing the power of setting clear priorities to exemplifying the grace of asking for help, Casey's journey is both inspiring and instructive.

Embrace the chance to benefit from her wisdom on resilience and self-compassion, and leverage these insights to cultivate your own path to satisfaction and success. Tune in now to embark on a transformative journey towards harmonizing your aspirations with your reality.

“I set goals for where I wanted to be in my life, and I took very deliberate and intentional steps to ensure I was heading in that direction.” - Casey Chesser.

Resources

Casey Chesser on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know.

This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show.

Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Consider your organization and ask yourself, "How many women are in leadership roles?"

Many companies may have fewer than five women in senior positions. But what's the reason behind this?

Could it be that we're still navigating a male-dominated society? Or perhaps some women feel reluctant to step into these roles?

The reality behind the second query might astonish you.

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates engages in an insightful discussion with executive coach Loree Philip on the disparity of women in senior leadership positions.

Linda and Loree share inspiring anecdotes from their own journeys and offer valuable strategies for navigating the complexities of leadership in male-dominated industries.

Embark on a journey of empowerment and enlightenment in this episode!

Loree Philip's Background

Loree Philip is a former Boeing professional turned entrepreneur, executive coach, and the host of the top 5% global podcast "Daring to Leap."
She is also the founder of weSpark, a coaching and training firm dedicated to empowering women to overcome self-doubt and fears to advance in their careers.

Breaking Down the Barriers to Women's Leadership

Linda and Loree elaborate on the disparities in senior leadership positions between men and women, citing research and statistics to set the stage for their discussion.
They pinpoint the decline in the percentage of female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and discuss the need to address why women shied away from leadership roles.

Loree's Leadership Journey at Boeing

Loree shares her experience working in a heavily male-dominated setting within the engineering and defense sectors.
Her career progression and the observations on the challenges women face in leadership roles provide a powerful context for the discussion.

Why Women Shy Away from Leadership

Linda and Loree delve into the factors contributing to women self-selecting out of leadership positions.
Loree emphasizes the lack of relatable female role models, the pressure to sacrifice family time, and the internal and external barriers hindering women from thriving in leadership roles.

Advice for Women Considering Leadership Roles

Loree offers empowering advice to women who may feel uncertain about stepping into leadership positions. She underscores the significance of recognizing their qualifications and being open to stretch assignments as opportunities for growth.
Also, Loree emphasizes the significance of authentic leadership as a key trait for women leaders. She encourages women to embrace their unique leadership styles and bring authenticity to their roles.

Loree's insights offer a compelling narrative of growth and empowerment. The episode delves into women's barriers and how to navigate them with clarity, support networks, and resiliency.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and empower your own leadership journey. Tune in now to join the conversation and take your own daring leap!

“One of the things that I've noticed is that for women looking towards those roles or testing them out is that we don't have a lot of good female role models to look at these leadership positions, see ourselves in them, and see ourselves doing them successfully from an authentic way." - Loree Philip.

Resources

weSpark

Daring To Leap Podcast

Loree Philip on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How does one find joy in the storm of life's uncertainties?

This intriguing question sets the stage for an insightful conversation between Linda Yates, the esteemed “Int-HER-rupt” host, and the charismatic Michelle Phillips, a renowned corporate training and coaching expert and the author of “Happiness is a Habit.”

Michelle delves into the transformative experiences that led her toward an unshakeable pursuit of happiness—even when faced with life's inevitable interruptions. Together, they unravel the compelling concept of energy transference and the role of positive psychology in shaping one’s happiness, offering listeners an empowering toolkit for cultivating a fulfilling life.

Join us in exploring the profound realizations and actionable strategies unveiled in this unmissable conversation on finding and fostering happiness during the most challenging times.

Michele Phillips’ Background

Michele Phillips is a corporate training and coaching expert, and the author of “Happiness is a Habit.”
She shares her vibrant leadership journey, emphasizing the crucial roles of energy, optimism, and positive psychology.

Energy Transference: The Power of Positive Action

Linda and Michele discuss energy transference, analyzing how our behavior can significantly affect circumstances around us.
They emphasize the significance of conscious effort in maintaining a positive energy flow, seeking new experiences, and continuously growing.

The Ephemeral Nature of Event-Driven Happiness

Research indicates that happiness derived from major life events such as promotions or personal milestones is transient, offering a boost for around three months.
Linda and Michele explore sustainability in happiness beyond these short-lived high points.

The Poker Analogy: Building Happiness Daily

Comparing happiness to a poker game, Michele discusses accumulating 'chips' of satisfaction through daily positive actions.
She also shares how these contribute to a resilient state of contentment in the long term.

Harnessing Moments of Joy for Forward Movement

Michele talks about her strategy for transforming negative circumstances by recognizing and focusing on the happiness and luck that exist even in dark times. This shift not only changes the narrative but pushes forward momentum.

Embracing What Can Be Controlled

Linda and Michele discuss the power of letting go of the uncontrollable and directing focus on what's within one's influence to find happiness.
Techniques such as the 'easy button' and the use of a clicker are highlighted as tools to acknowledge and celebrate positive moments.

Discovering the Five Levels of Happiness

Finally, the five happiness levels are discussed, with Michele sharing how happiness flourishes when contributing to someone else's joy.
She ends the episode by relaying a story that serves as a testament to the lasting influence of positive interactions.

In this episode, Linda and Michele guide you through the ebbs and flows of life's unpredictable river. Learn from Michele's strategic approach to building a life 'poker chip' at a time with positive actions and shifts in perspective.

Discover the five levels of happiness and how contributing to someone else's joy amplifies your own. Listen to the full episode, connect with Michele's enriching content, and start forging your happiness habit today. Your next moment of joy could be just one play away!

"You can't get to the bottom of a hole you're digging. So stop digging the dark hole. And put down the shovel." - Michele Phillips.

Resources

Michele Phillips on LinkedIn

Michele Phillips on Instagram

Key2unlock.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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You and your friend are in the middle of having a great conversation. Out of nowhere, someone asks you a million questions right when your friend is about to respond to you.

What’s the best way for you to handle this interruption?

Listen to this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast. Host Linda Yates shares her story of a situation similar to this. Through this real-life scenario, she offers valuable insights and practical tips on handling interruptions in various settings.

Tune into this episode and unlock the potential to transform difficult conversations into opportunities for growth and empowerment.

Real-Life Experience

Linda recounts an incident at a conference where she and her friend were conversing, only to be interrupted twice by a gentleman. Feeling irritated, Linda boldly confronted the interrupter, expressing her displeasure at his behavior.
Her decision to speak up stemmed from her strong awareness of the impact of interruptions, a topic she regularly engages with on the show.

Apology and Reflection

After the incident, Linda experienced conflicting emotions and decided to extend an apology to the interrupter to ensure the relationship was not adversely affected.
This segment explores the complexities of navigating social interactions, highlighting the importance of considering one's intentions, impact, and the desired outcome in such situations.

Tips for Handling Interruptions

From her extensive experience, Linda shares practical tips for effectively managing interruptions professionally and personally.
Emphasizing the significance of maintaining composure and striving for collaboration rather than combativeness, she offers guidance on using assertive communication strategies and body language to address interruptions confidently.

The Power of Assertion

Linda highlights the key strategies that individuals can employ when faced with interruptions, including making eye contact, using "I" statements, and pausing and gathering composure.
She stresses the value of using assertive language and tone while avoiding apologetic or submissive expressions.

Assertive Communication Techniques

Linda delves into specific communication techniques, such as adjusting speaking volume and utilizing authoritative vocal tones to address interruptions effectively.
She also presents a valuable perspective on the significance of replacing adversarial language patterns with more inclusive and affirming phrasing for impactful communication.

Through Linda’s real-life experience, you’ll learn practical tips for navigating interruptions in the workplace and life. Her advice will equip you with the tools to maintain composure, assert yourself effectively, and uphold collaborative communication in the face of interruptions. Tune in now and embark on a journey of growth, empowerment, and insightful conversations.

Also, subscribe to the YouTube channel and join the Facebook group page for more enriching content that brings together diverse perspectives worldwide.

"I just want to remind you, because I know this, that you have strengths waiting to uncover possibilities, to realize so that you can accomplish your goals and dreams." - Linda Yates.

Resources

Linda Yates Coaching & Consulting Facebook Group

YouTube Channel

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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You walk into the office, thinking everything will be smooth sailing for the day. It's Friday, and you're ready for some fun over the weekend!

During the meeting, your boss announced that a recent disrespectful incident is making the company make changes. Everyone will implement these changes today to start improving the toxic culture within the company.

Now you wonder, "How can I improve company culture as the CEO?"

Great, now your simple day is ruined! You also need to learn how to lead through culture change.

Listen to this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast to discover leadership tips on organizational culture changes. Learn how to create a positive team culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and motivated to embrace change with host Linda Yates and lovely guest Chellie Phillips.

Hit play, and let's unlock the door to nurturing a thriving, harmonious work community where everyone can spread their wings and fly.

Chellie Phillips’ Background

Originally from the South, Chellie Phillips has transitioned from a successful career in broadcast journalism to leaving a significant mark in PR and marketing.
As a corporate trainer and coach, she uses her vast experience to spearhead organizational cultural change, showcasing the profound impact of leadership evolution on company culture.

Embrace Leadership in Action - Beyond Just Titles

Phillips emphasizes that true leadership transcends titles, advocating for you to embody action-oriented leadership.
She encourages you to become a catalyst for change, positively influencing your company's culture, regardless of your position.

Shift Towards Coaching Leadership

Phillips sheds light on the transition to coaching leadership styles.
She discusses the importance of recognizing and valuing the unique contributions of your employees and engaging them in a way that drives positive change across your organization.

Manage Resistance to Change

Phillips offers essential leadership tips for facilitating smooth transitions by tackling the natural human resistance to change.
These examples include involving stakeholders in the communication process and rewarding those participating in change efforts.

Create a Positive Organizational Culture

Phillips shares the foundational elements of building a positive company culture through leadership, communication, and recognition.
She highlights the transformative effect of valuing your employees both professionally and personally.

Discover Chellie Phillips's insights on leadership and organizational culture in this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast. Her knowledge provides you with strategies for building a positive team culture that can thrive amid change.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to transform your work culture and inspire those around you! Listen to the episode and take the first step towards fostering a thriving, supportive, and engaged work environment.

“When you have that conversation, and you're getting that feedback from the people involved, they feel they're part of that change from the ground up.” - Chellie Phillips.

Resources

Chellie Phillips on LinkedIn

www.chelliephillips.com

Culture Secrets: Secrets Leaders Use to Build a V.A.L.U.E.

When In Doubt, Delete It! and Get Noticed

Get Noticed, Get Hired

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In the world of business leadership, confidence is vital to being successful. However, many women struggle to assert authority in a domain traditionally dominated by men.

How can you overcome this all-too-common challenge and battle self-doubt within the corporate landscape?

Listen to this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast. Host Linda Yates chats with Irene Sim, an Executive Leadership Coach, on different strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and the importance of fostering an environment where women leaders can thrive without reservation.

Join us as we explore the crucial steps toward empowering female CEOs to wield their authority confidently and break free from the chains of imposter syndrome.

Irene Sim’s Background

Irene Sim is an industry-accredited executive leadership coach with extensive senior organizational leadership experience.
Irene understands that deeply ingrained and often invisible systemic gender bias holds women back and makes the situation even worse when mixed with other biases like racial bias.
As a coach, she has successfully worked with countless women at all stages of their journey to overcome these societal biases, establish their own terms, and thrive as influential and authentic leaders.
Within the episode, Irene shares her robust background more and discusses how being a minority in two different countries has affected her leadership abilities.

Exercising Authority: Why Is It Foreign to Women?

Irene discusses how women get told the same stories over and over throughout their careers. “You’re not good enough to be in that position,” or “A man would never make that mistake.” These statements often cause women to self-doubt, even when the comments are not directly told to them. Society has taught women to feel this way, and it can lead some to have imposter syndrome.
Irene shares her story of how her inner critic has made her struggle with exercising authority within her leadership roles.

ABCD Process to Combating the Inner Critic

Irene shares the ABCD process to help other women combat their inner critic and start thriving in their leadership positions.
Step A: Acknowledge and accept your emotions. If you’re feeling fear, anxiety, or insecurity, take them, and don’t judge yourself for feeling this way.
Step B: Be Brief. Don’t rush to react to opportunities; instead, take the time to decide on your choices and how you will show up.
Step C: Choose your thoughts. Decide how to make a difference and focus on those thoughts and feelings.
Step D: Act accordingly. Lean in and do what you need to do to be of service. And if it means to lead to give clarity to exercise authority, do that.
Irene also discusses how important it is to practice authority and the ABCD process if you want to see positive changes within yourself.

For many women in positions of authority, the struggle against the internalized voice of imposter syndrome can seem like a relentless battle. However, the journey of empowerment and self-discovery holds the key to overcoming these challenges and mastering the art of confident leadership.

Are you ready to embrace your unique leadership style and leave imposter syndrome behind? Listen to this enlightening podcast episode, where we explore powerful strategies for women leaders to thrive.

“We women have been marinating in societal expectations and limitations. And that's where we've got that constant murmuring in our inner critic that tells us we're not good enough.” - Irene Sim.

Resources

Irene Sim on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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You’re sitting in a meeting listening to your co-workers review business plans. But while you’re listening to them, the little voice in your head keeps telling you you’re not good enough.

Your inner voice is saying it so much you start going down a self-doubt spiral. How can you quiet this voice in your head and build your self-confidence back up to tackle your projects?

Listen to this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast. In this episode, host Linda Yates chats with Tiffany Houser, leadership coach & founder of Evolve, on shifting the negative talk into positives. Tune in to hear Tiffany’s insight and advice to help stop you in your tracks when the little voice becomes too much!

Tiffany Houser's Background

Tiffany is the CEO and founder of Evolve, where she helps senior leaders and founders transform their self-worth through an authentic leadership style, vision, and purpose.
She is also the creator of Self-Worth Advantage, which provides leaders and their people partners with strategies and a framework to leave the imposter's feelings behind for good.
Tiffany believes in cultivating compassionate, responsible, inclusive, and empowered leaders at all organizational levels.

Why Is It Hard To Tap Into Your Authentic Self?

For those struggling to find their authentic self, Tiffany believes it’s essential to focus on the one question or choice you’re facing. You know what you want, but fear gets in the way of making the right choice.
Sometimes, people let their fears get in the way of their options, and their hopes stay as dreams. When this happens, self-destruction suffers in different ways, such as overeating or insufficient sleep.

How Do You Determine What You Want?

Tiffany believes grace is the first step to determining what you want in your career or life.
When you have grace, it allows you to tap into your desires and push you to reach your goals. If you let fear or your ego get in the way, it puts more pressure on the choices you’re trying to make.

Three Ways To Quiet the Inner Voice

Tiffany shares three tips to help you quiet your inner voice when making difficult choices.
The first advice is to ask yourself what you are afraid of when deciding on something and can’t make a choice. Once you figure out what you’re scared of, ask yourself why. You’ll discover it hasn’t happened to you and likely won’t.
The second tip is to ask yourself if you have what you want. This will help you stop overprotecting yourself and clarify what you want.
The last piece of advice is to ask others for support. Family and friends know what you want too, because they listen to you talk. If you’re unsure about something, ask for their advice to help you decide.
Tiffany shares that this was how she overcame her negative thinking patterns and finally clarified what she wanted in her career and life.

Making decisions in life is never easy, especially when your inner voice says you can't do it. However, when you combat the negative thinking, you'll discover that you can do it and deserve the best in life.

Tune in to hear actionable tips on how to quiet the little voice in your head. Tiffany Houser shares wonderful advice to help you reach your goals and become successful.

"When you are graceful with yourself, you can tap into that thing, idea, or experience you want. But if you're caught up in the ego, you're beating yourself up or pressuring yourself into what you really want." - Tiffany Houser.

Resources

Tiffany Houser on LinkedIn

Evolve

Self-Worth Advantage

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you tired of feeling undervalued in your career?

You figure since it is 2024, women would have higher salaries and more respect in the workplace. However, this is far from the truth!

How on earth can you command the respect and compensation you deserve in such a masculine world?

Join Linda Yates as she dives into a fascinating conversation with Kristen Knepper Bahbahani, an experienced career and executive coach. They discuss the pressing issue of the wage gap, Kristen's leadership journey, and strategies for closing the gender wage gap. Additionally, Kristen provides valuable tips for empowering women in the workplace and navigating the complex dynamics of corporate loyalty.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to elevate their leadership or reclaim their confidence and value. Tune in to make meaningful strides in your professional journey and earn what you deserve!

Kristen Knepper Bahbahhani’s Leadership Journey

Kristen shares her journey, from working as a legislative assistant for Senator Edward M. Kennedy to transitioning into the legal field and eventually making her way into tech and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Her experiences highlight the challenges women and marginalized communities face in corporate America, shedding light on the importance of understanding and addressing unconscious biases.

Understanding the Wage Gap

Kristen provides valuable insights into the persisting wage gap, emphasizing that it is not solely a women's issue.
She explains that resolving the wage gap requires government intervention with penalties for unequal pay.
She highlights how gender stereotypes and societal expectations contribute to undervaluing traditionally female-dominated roles and penalizing women for taking maternity leave.
Kristen also emphasizes the importance of data-driven approaches to identify and address wage disparities.

Strategies for Closing the Wage Gap

Kristen suggests practical strategies for both leaders and individuals to address the wage gap.
She encourages leaders to seek data on wage disparities within their teams, advocate for fair compensation, and eliminate arbitrary salary raise limitations.
For individuals, she advises researching salary norms, valuing personal qualities, and negotiating confidently when seeking new roles.
Furthermore, she emphasizes the significance of working toward leadership positions to pave the way for future generations.

Building Confidence and Recognizing Value

Kristen shares an exercise to help individuals recognize their value by making a list of people who appreciate them and the qualities they bring.
She emphasizes the importance of understanding how each quality adds value to a team or organization, encouraging confidence and self-advocacy in salary negotiations and career advancement.
Kristen advocates for a holistic approach to work, where individuals bring their whole selves to the workplace, leveraging emotional intelligence and soft skills.

Navigating Corporate Loyalty

The discussion delves into the evolving concept of corporate loyalty, challenging the traditional notion of long-term employment with a single company.
Kristen emphasizes the need for mutual loyalty, where organizations value their employees' contributions and institutional knowledge.
She addresses the impact of layoffs on employee well-being and the importance of thoughtful discussions that prioritize long-term investments over short-term gains.

From the significance of understanding subconscious bias to recognizing and valuing one's contribution, Kristen's expertise sheds light on practical strategies for leaders and individuals navigating the wage gap. Join host Linda Yates and Kristen Knepper Bahbahani as they engage in an eye-opening discussion, sharing success stories, valuable insights, and actionable tips.

Don't miss out on this thought-provoking episode that will transform your perspective on career progression and gender equality.

“Make people feel valued. Because if they don't feel valued, they will go somewhere else. Several studies show that people who move around or leave a job every two years, versus people who are loyal to a company, make considerably more money in the long term.” - Kristen Knepper Bahbahani.

Resources

Work Like A Girl

Kristen Knepper Bahbahani on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How do you maintain motivation and drive in the face of setbacks in your professional journey? What strategies or personal beliefs keep you focused and inspired to pursue your goals, even during challenging times?

In this episode of the "Int-HER-rupt Podcast," host Linda Yates speaks with Sharon Restrepo on the topic of "standing in your success." Sharon, a veteran real estate investor and broker with over 25 years of experience, shares her remarkable journey and the strategies she has applied to excel in the real estate industry.

From triumph to tragedy and overcoming major interruptions in her life, Sharon offers valuable insights and leadership traits essential in today's world. Get ready to be inspired by Sharon's story and empowered by her experience. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

The Journey to Leadership

Sharon discusses her transformation from an introverted individual with low-risk perspectives to a successful real estate entrepreneur and industry leader.
She shares her experience of abruptly becoming a young widow and how she decided to invest in real estate.
Despite initial challenges and doubts, Sharon's determination and fearlessness led her to thrive in the real estate industry and become influential.

Standing in Your Success

Sharon emphasizes the importance of mindset in achieving success, particularly for women.
She discusses the prevalent issue of imposter syndrome and the false beliefs that hinder women from recognizing their true value and potential.
Through her mastermind program, she focuses on cultivating confidence and empowering women to overcome these barriers, emphasizing the significance of mindset and self-talk rooted in faith.

Balancing Humility and Self-Promotion

Sharon reflects on the challenge of promoting oneself while staying humble, especially for women.
She shares insights on finding a balance, emphasizing the need to use accomplishments and experiences as credibility without compromising humility.
Sharon encourages women to embrace their achievements and expertise, recognizing that it enables them to offer valuable insights to others without succumbing to pride.

Overcoming Interruptions

Drawing from personal experiences, Sharon candidly shares how she faced interruptions in her life, including the tragic loss of her mother.
She emphasizes the vital role of support and the significance of surrounding oneself with a reliable network of individuals who provide strength, companionship, and encouragement during challenging times.
Through her experiences, Sharon highlights the importance of resilience and the positive impact of a supportive community.

Essential Leadership Traits

Sharon reflects on the primary trait leaders need today, emphasizing the significance of genuinely loving and connecting with the people they serve.
She stresses the importance of embracing and empathizing with individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds and circumstances, as an essential aspect of effective leadership in any domain.

Sharon's inspiring journey and insights exemplify empowerment and resilience, offering valuable lessons for individuals striving to overcome obstacles. This episode encapsulates the essence of perseverance, faith, and the transformative power of mindset in achieving success and influencing others positively.

Tune in to this impactful episode to gain valuable insights from Sharon Restrepo and take the first step towards unlocking your own success story!

"I think it's a false belief that so many women, I would imagine men, too, but I deal with women. But it's the false belief of that whole thing you teach so well, imposter syndrome, that they're not valuable enough. That kind of money, they don't attract, they don't deserve it. There's some major disconnect between who they're called to be and believing it." - Sharon Restrepo.

Resources

Newwinemastermind.com

Sharon Restrepo on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Have you ever felt held back by a nagging sense of fear or unworthiness?

In the vast landscape of the human mind, words form the terrain where battles are won or lost; they shape our experiences and define our reality. But what if the challenging paths of trauma and doubt could be navigated with a different set of linguistic tools?

In this episode of the "Int-HER-rupt Podcast," host Linda Yates and guest Amber Ontiveros explore the intricate relationship between linguistics and neuroscience to offer a strategic roadmap for personal and professional transformation.

Amber will guide you in reshaping your internal dialogue and embracing a growth mindset that turns obstacles into stepping stones. Tune in and unleash the leader within — because how you speak to yourself matters, and it's time your words reflect your true potential!

A Journey Through Words and Beliefs

Amber shares her gripping story of a near-death experience that revolutionized her understanding of internal narratives and biases.
As an expert in discrimination with roots in traumatic personal experiences, Amber discusses how these form the basis of negative belief systems anchored in feelings of unworthiness and fear.
She emphasizes breaking these cycles through self-work and developing empowering self-talk.

The Neuroscience of Bias and Empowerment

With her coalition-building and policy development expertise, Amber sheds light on the neuroscience behind the reticular activation system and self-serving bias.
She advocates for a growth mindset, suggesting that individuals reframe their perspective on mistakes as opportunities for learning and transcendence.

Healing from the Inside Out

Amber's approach to healing personal wounds involves mindfulness, breathwork, and self-compassion.
She suggests practices like visualization techniques and journaling to rewrite the negative scripts that play in our minds, transforming our life experiences.

Shifting Towards Positive Self-Perception

Uplifting phrases, Amber asserts, can alter one's self-perception. Suggesting empowering words like “I am worthy” and “I am enough,” she highlights the importance of positive affirmations in one’s journey toward healing and growth.

Addressing Negative Emotions and Fears

In tackling non-empowering words and fears, Amber advises confronting these negative emotions by focusing on the physical sensations they evoke rather than the thoughts themselves.
Doing so enables individuals to process and release emotional burdens.

Leadership, Bias, and Decision-Making

Amber shares her perspective on how leaders can combat biases by incorporating mindfulness and meditation into their practices, allowing for better self-regulation and improved decision-making.
She stresses the necessity of compassion, non-judgment, and lovingkindness to nurture positivity within teams.

Amber's story of resilience and her commitment to a growth mindset will guide you to a place of healing and strength. Equip yourself with the knowledge and techniques to foster a healthier mind and an enriched, purposeful life. For a deeper dive into Amber Ontiveros's empowering techniques and insights on change management and self-growth, visit her website in the resources section.

Turn the page on self-doubt and attune to the empowering narrative that awaits you in this must-listen episode of “Int-HER-rupt.” Transform your internal dialogue and embrace the power of your words to lead a more harmonious and impactful life.

"Words create your experience in your life. And so the way it works is there's this part of your brain. It's in the back of your brain. It's called the reticular activation system. So, if you believe in your mind that you are not worthy, the reticular activation system is literally like a filter." - Amber Ontiveros.

Resources

Healthefourwoundings.com

Amber Ontiveros on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In a world where the global pandemic has forever transformed the traditional office environment, how do we strike the right balance between productivity and flexibility? Is it still possible for businesses to foster an environment ripe for innovation?

Join Linda Yates in this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast while she explores the evolution of the workplace working with Claire Chandler, a former corporate leader turned entrepreneur. Together, they discussed the trials and triumphs of remote working in our modern-day society.

From the impact of COVID-19 on strategic planning to the quest for harmony within virtual teams, they’ll unearth the potent blend of leadership, communication, and human connection shaping the future of work.

Claire Chandler's Journey

Claire’s background is deeply rooted in corporate leadership, with over 25 years of experience.
She transitioned from her role as a vice president of human resources in a large company to entrepreneurship, founding Talent Boost. This move allowed her to focus on aligning HR and business leaders to achieve strategic outcomes, fostering more effective teamwork, and facilitating rapid business growth.
Her journey reflects a commitment to leadership development and an understanding of the dynamics between structure and the ability of leaders to inspire and guide their teams, a mission she has been dedicated to for over a decade.

Introduction to Flexible Work Structures

As Covid-19 swept across the globe, companies were abruptly pushed into rethinking their workplace strategies.
Claire discusses the pre-pandemic times when organizations grappled with the concept of flexible work arrangements and found themselves ill-prepared for the sudden necessity of remote working.
She sheds light on how businesses had to rapidly pivot and innovate during the initial lockdowns, forever altering the traditional work environment.

The Hybrid Work Environment Challenge

The transition to a hybrid work model was not without its hiccups. Some businesses fell into the trap of attempting to revert to old practices, demanding employees to return to the office full-time, a move that didn't sit well with the emerging preference for flexible work setups.
Claire discusses the challenge leaders face in creating a work environment that aligns with contemporary lifestyles, balances personal and professional demands, and propels strategic business objectives.

Purpose and Communication in Leadership

Leadership clarity and effective communication are key to navigating the new work landscape.
Linda and Claire explore the critical task of engaging employees while aligning with the business's strategic goals.
Claire believes that human connection is the cornerstone in resolving conflict, aligning goals, and celebrating triumphs within a hybrid workforce.

Nonverbal Communication in Remote Settings

Remote work has cast a spotlight on the importance of nonverbal communication.
Leaders are called upon to fine-tune their strategies to counter the shortcomings of virtual interactions. Claire uncovers the nuances of nonverbal cues often missed in remote settings and the need for active listening to overcome these challenges.

The lessons Claire shares in this episode offer invaluable insights into the shifting tides of today's professional landscape. This episode is a must-listen if you're seeking guidance on navigating the complexities of managing a remote team or finding harmony within a flexible work structure.

Don't miss this compelling narrative to help reshape your approach to work and leadership—listen to the full episode for a treasure trove of strategic insights and personal revelations.

"Just because they can come back into a physical site and be together five days a week, is it really going to make a difference, enough of a difference to your value proposition as a business and what you're trying to achieve, that you're going to ask them to do that?" - Claire Chandler.

Resources

Claire Chandler on LinkedIn

TalentBoost.net

Clairechandler.net

Growthonpurpose.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you ready to confidently navigate the corporate world, build meaningful internal networks, and position yourself as a leader who shines?

Join us as we dive into the inspiring conversation between Linda Yates and Dr. Carol Parker Walsh on "Int-HER-rupt," where they explore the powerful dynamics of women's leadership, self-advocacy, and career transformation.

One issue that many women leaders face is overcoming the lack of support from others. But thanks to Dr. Walsh's insights and advice, you'll discover different strategies to help you overcome this challenge.

Listen to this empowering episode and harness your leadership potential to gain the career you desire and deserve.

Empowering Women to Shine

Dr. Walsh is passionate about empowering other women to realize their potential, gain confidence, and learn critical leadership skills.
Her inspiration stems from her profound impact on women's careers, validated by the powerful feedback from those she's coached.
Motivated by her desire to set a leadership example for her children, she embodies perseverance and confidence — a testament to her personal journey as a female leader and mentor.

Self-Advocacy and Organizational Navigation

Dr. Walsh recounts how she navigated a reorganization within her workplace by networking with pivotal leaders, ensuring her position stayed intact after her boss's departure.
She stresses the importance of internal networking and fostering relationships, underscoring that relying solely on one's manager for support and advocacy is insufficient.
She continues to inspire by advocating for individuals, especially women, to self-promote and acknowledge their own contributions to avoid being overshadowed.

Leading with Empathy and Inclusivity

The discussion transitions to strategies for leaders to support their teams without fear of being outshone.
Dr. Walsh advocates for celebrating team member successes, promoting a collaborative work environment, and conducting micro-conversations to pinpoint team needs.
This nurturing approach aligns with her message that women possess innate qualities like empathy and inclusive leadership, which are in high demand in the current business landscape.

Creating Your Career Path

Linda and Dr. Walsh emphasized the necessity of envisioning and proactively crafting one's ideal career trajectory. They offer guidance on effectively advocating for this vision within an organization.
Recognizing the challenges posed by toxic managers, they provide practical advice on seeking alternative opportunities within one's company, expanding networks, and preventing adverse managerial behavior from impacting performance.

Women in Leadership — The Way Forward

Dr. Walsh expressed the potential advantages organizations could reap from women in leadership positions.
She illustrates how employing women's unique leadership traits can increase revenue and enhance overall engagement, propelling the conversation toward the crucial role of women in revolutionizing today's leadership dynamics.

Developing a Strong Voice

Despite interruptions in her career, Dr. Walsh overcame these obstacles by asserting her importance and refusing to be silenced.
Her resilience is an inspiring reminder for listeners to uphold their confidence and the significance of their voice in any situation.

This episode of “Int-HER-rupt” provides invaluable insights on handling difficult situations as a woman leader. Dr. Carol Parker Walsh's expertise and personal narratives chart a pragmatic map for women to self-advocate, self-promote, and seamlessly integrate their intrinsic leadership qualities into the ever-evolving tapestry of modern organizations.

Your journey to becoming the CEO of your career begins with this enlightening discussion. Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine your professional narrative; listen to the episode now!

“Women-led organizations tend to do better from a revenue standpoint than organizations led by men by almost 30%. That's a powerful statistic. They are better at housing, inclusive leadership, having greater insights into diversity, and having a more engaged workforce when women are at the helm. So that's telling you that there's something embedded in how we show up that's been minimized that we need to bring to the forefront. And once we could start doing that, we really can really shine as leaders.” - Dr. Carol Parker Walsh.

Resources

Carolparkerwalsh.com

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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One unique challenge women face in the workplace is asking for more money. Some are afraid to ask because they believe they will not receive it, while others build the courage to ask and still get told no.

How can you ask your employer for a higher salary and receive a yes?

Listen to this episode of the "Int-HER-rupt" podcast to discover how women leaders can confidently ask the question. Linda Yates speaks with Linkage's CEO, Jennifer McCollum, about asking for more time, money, and opportunities.

Jennifer's insights are interwoven with personal experiences and practical advice, making this a must-listen for aspiring and established women leaders. Join us as we delve into the nuances of negotiating, relationship-building, and setting clear career goals in a male-dominated business environment.

Mastering the Art of Asking for More

Jennifer starts with a crucial piece of advice for women in the workforce: practice asking for more.
Starting with low-risk requests can condition leaders to expect these negotiations as a norm.
By sharing her own journey of making repeated asks on a male-dominated board, Jennifer illustrates how preparing with concrete data and a robust business case underpins successful outcomes.

Activating Your Network

When internal company data is scarce, Jennifer emphasizes the significance of reaching out to your network and leveraging external data to frame your negotiations.
This action fortifies your position and underscores the value of nurturing professional relationships and their power in paving the way for progress.

Flexibility and Pivot Points

Negotiations require adaptability, and Jennifer discusses the importance of being open to changing courses when an organization's values or compensation offerings do not meet one's needs.
This encompasses the broader strategy of aligning one's career trajectory with the right corporate culture and remuneration package.

Challenging Gender Biases

Linda and Jennifer recount instances where they've confronted stereotypes and biases in the workplace.
They shed light on the "double bind'' women often face and how to navigate perceptions around assertiveness and ambition in professional settings.

Negotiating Titles and Future Paths

Jennifer shares her tactical approach to negotiation when her company was acquired, highlighting the importance of having clear-cut career goals.
She also discusses how she advocated for her book, "In Her Own Voice," and laid the groundwork for her future within the newly structured company.
Linda complements this with her own experiences, reinforcing the significance of proving one's value and the power of saying "no."

Dealing with Interruptions Gracefully

Climbing the corporate ladder can be fraught with interruptions and "talk-overs," particularly for women.
Jennifer shares how she handles such situations with poise, seeing them as moments of lack of awareness rather than intentional disrespect.
Her strategy for responses restores the floor and educates on respectful communication practices.

In this insightful episode with Jennifer McCollum, you'll learn crucial steps to help navigate leadership challenges. From mastering the art of negotiation to having the courage to ask for more, Jennifer's guidance is invaluable for any woman aiming to break through barriers in the workplace.

Don't miss the full podcast for a deep dive into achieving your career goals gracefully and determinedly. Tune in to hear Linda Yates and Jennifer as they explore these empowering strategies.

“So there's a real bias against women specifically asking for money, but there's also a perceived bias. We have been conditioned to ask for only what we think would be acceptable or a watered-down version of what we can get. And it is a huge issue because it created the gender pay gap. By the time women in similar roles to men are 30 plus years into their careers, white women will have lost about $750,000, black women a little over a million, and Latin women closer to a million five. So it's a significant issue.” - Jennifer McCollum.

Resources

Jennifer McCollum on LinkedIn

“In Her Own Voice,” by Jennifer McCollum

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As a leader, you may believe there’s no need to network. However, you never know when you need to have the right relationship with the right person.

What if you decide to make a career change out of the blue? Who can you have in your corner to back you up and let others know you’re perfect for a job in another industry?

In this empowering session, host Linda Yates speaks with Sabine Gedeon, a transformative leader for emerging women leaders, on the importance of networking. Sabine shares the intricacies of networking, demystifies traditional networking approaches, and valuable tips for leaders.

Prepare to be inspired as these lovely leaders explore the paths to owning your voice and maximizing your impact through strategic network-building. Listen to this week’s Int-HER-rupt podcast episode to learn why leaders must network.

A Powerhouse in Leadership Development

Linda opens by celebrating Sabine's networking and personal growth achievements, setting the tone for a session filled with inspirational anecdotes and actionable advice.
Sabine's journey from corporate HR to entrepreneurial triumph showcases the indispensable role of networking in career advancement.
Recounting her recent transformative experience, Sabine sheds light on her self-assessment, releasing limiting beliefs, and redefining her aspirations. Her motivation to empower women is fueled by finding one's voice, embracing authority, and making a meaningful impact.

Navigating Networking Dynamics

Sabine brings a fresh perspective to traditional networking by reflecting on her initial approach of emulating her older white male colleagues - an act that felt insincere to her true self.
Recognizing the struggle many face in large group settings, Sabine prefers intimate one-on-one conversations at events to create genuine connections.

The Virtual Handshake: Networking on LinkedIn

Sabine highlights LinkedIn's burgeoning role in modern networking. The platform redefines connections, allowing more personalized interactions and providing the convenience leaders crave for scouting talent and marketing themselves.
She shares a story about building relationships through LinkedIn when she first moved to a new city.
Be sure to listen, as it's a powerful story to give you hope in your networking abilities.

From Mentorship to Sponsorship

Sabine boldly advises women to pivot from seeking mentors to finding sponsors. This shift underlines the significance of relationships, encouraging women to exhibit their worth and secure sponsorship opportunities.
Linda resonates with this view through her stories of how sponsors significantly influenced her career progression.

Consistency Breeds Networking Success

Sabine attributes her networking accomplishments to diligent practice, establishing consistency, and strategically expanding her network when she transitioned into entrepreneurship.
Her LinkedIn presence is not just about seeking clients but also embodies the spirit of reciprocity and giving back to the community.

Practical Strategies for Effective Networking

Sabine shares several strategies for effective networking within the episode. These strategies include:
Practicing and maintaining consistency in networking efforts.
Expanding networking reach on social media such as LinkedIn.
Focusing on one-on-one interactions at networking events.
She emphasizes the power of reciprocity in networking, suggesting that giving to others can pave the way for mutual benefits.
Additionally, she highlights the importance of mindset, recognizing the value of relationships for business success, and advises identifying people within one's network and creating a plan to build and maintain those relationships.

Networking is never easy, but it offers abundance in your career and personal goals. Sabine’s expertise allows listeners to trust their strengths to build professional relationships.

Join us for this transformational session and equip yourself with the tools to navigate your networking journey with confidence and purpose!

"Practice. We're not taught networking in school, so it does not come naturally. Also, it's one of those unwritten rules in corporate where no one sits you down during your onboarding and says, hey, you need to network. The other thing, too, is the consistency, because once you start to see the results, it makes you want to do it more." - Sabine Gedeon.

Resources

Sabine Gedeon

Sabine Gedeon on LinkedIn

Sabine Gedeon on Instagram

Freebies from Sabine Gedeon

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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What are the top five leadership traits you need to inspire others?

Discover those five traits in this week’s Int-HER-rupt podcast episode. Linda Yates discusses the importance of effective leadership traits with her guest, Cherolyne Fogarty.

Together, they explore the significance of servant leadership, open-mindedness, and innovation in the context of leadership. Cherolyne, with her extensive experience in real estate education and consulting, brings invaluable insights into the topic.

The Significance of Servant Leadership

Linda and Cherolyne start the conversation by delving into the concept of servant leadership.
Cherolyne emphasizes how serving others fosters trust and mutual respect, cultivating a collaborative environment. She shares how a leader's genuine concern for the well-being and goals of their team members can lead to active participation and shared success.
Furthermore, the conversation touches upon the notion that while some individuals naturally embody servant leadership, others can learn and develop the necessary characteristics through conscious effort.

The Role of Open-Mindedness in Leadership

Cherolyne reflects on her experiences with innovative leaders who embraced open-mindedness, emphasizing the willingness to take risks and explore new ideas.
She shares a compelling story about the challenges and triumphs associated with introducing online education in real estate.
Through this narrative, you can understand how open-mindedness and humility can drive organizational transformative initiatives.

Fostering Innovation in Leadership

Cherolyne shares how forward-thinking leaders at the Florida Realtors Association advocated for integrating online education.
Their perseverance and commitment to innovation not only revolutionized the education sector but also highlighted the pivotal role of leaders in driving organizational progress.
Aspiring and established leaders can create positive change through innovative thinking.

Embracing Leadership Characteristics

Cherolyne believes that her leadership journey was characterized by attentive observation and assimilation of leadership traits.
Sharing insights from her experience, she demystifies the distinction between innate leadership attributes and those that can be acquired.
Cherolyne stresses that without effective leadership, accomplishing tasks becomes a daunting challenge.
She sheds light on the necessity of specific leadership traits for making impactful changes, emphasizing that these traits are crucial for driving progress in different industries.

Inspirational Leadership and Lessons from Failures

Cherolyne reflects on inspirational leadership, sharing how an instructor, Stephen David, has inspired her with his open-mindedness, dedication, and professionalism.
Additionally, she touches upon experiences of leadership failures. Although Cherolyne refrains from sharing specific instances, she hints at the impact of decisions driven by prioritizing stakeholders and the valuable lessons from such experiences.

Achieving Balanced Leadership

Linda and Cherolyne discuss the dynamics of leading upwards, downwards, and sideways. This entails managing relationships with superiors, subordinates, and peers.
Although it's an area Cherolyne finds challenging to discuss, it raises thought-provoking questions about achieving balance in leadership responsibilities.

Motivation and Pursuit of Personal Goals

Cherolyne delves into what keeps her motivated. She shares how the satisfaction derived from making others' lives easier and aiding their businesses is a driving force.
Her passion for her work and the ability to thrive in an organized, detail-oriented environment is evident, providing insights into her commitment and satisfaction with her career.

The engaging discussion between Linda and Cherolyne serves as a treasure trove of wisdom, touching upon diverse aspects of leadership, personal growth, and resilience. Listen to this week’s Int-HER-rupt episode for valuable leadership insights and reflections. You’ll learn to navigate your leadership journey and seek meaningful pursuits amidst life's interruptions.

"When you get to that point where you're saying, how much was me and how much was the other person, and if you can at least accept any responsibility, then you know you've made some progress as a human." -Cherolyne Fogarty.

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Uncover the power of effective leadership communication skills in this exciting Int-HER-rupt podcast episode. Host Linda Yates presents the third and final part of a leadership series aimed at helping individuals effectively lead in the upcoming year.

Linda shares essential strategies to elevate leadership impact through understanding and adapting to different work styles. Discover how understanding different personality styles can significantly enhance your leadership skills and ability to inspire others.

Get ready to unlock the potential within yourself and your team through the art of communication and leadership.

Understanding Leadership and Personality Styles

Linda emphasizes the significance of understanding one's leadership and personality style.
She encourages listeners to determine their preferred communication methods and work styles.
Using the concept of the personality compass, Linda describes the four main personality types—north, south, east, and west.
By recognizing one's dominant style, individuals can gain valuable insights into their goals, strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and work preferences.

Adapting Communication to Different Styles

Linda delves into how different personality styles reflect their attitudes, priorities, strengths, and weaknesses. She sheds light on the importance of adapting communication based on these styles.
She discusses the significance of understanding how individuals perceive and process information and suggests tailoring communication to align with their preferences.
Additionally, she parallels the concept of "love languages," highlighting the importance of adapting communication styles to best resonate with team members.

Navigating Introvert and Extrovert Communication

Linda highlights the impact of introvert and extrovert work styles on communication.
She discusses how introverts and extroverts have contrasting communication preferences and how understanding these differences can enhance interpersonal communication within a team.
With a focus on adaptability and empathy, Linda explores strategies to communicate with introverts and extroverts effectively, thus fostering a harmonious work environment.

Effective Communication Strategies

Linda discusses practical communication strategies, including the significance of understanding one's emotional responses and using "I" statements to express personal feelings.
She emphasizes the importance of asking open-ended questions like "Is there something I'm missing?
Tell me more," to encourage open and honest communication.
Leaders can enhance team collaboration and understanding by promoting a culture of open dialogue and active listening.

The Impact of Work Styles on Communication

Linda discusses how individual work styles, influenced by life experiences and core values, can impact communication.
By acknowledging these differences, leaders can proactively adapt their communication strategies to be more inclusive and effective.
Linda shares insights on avoiding internal biases and preconceptions and encourages a mindset focused on understanding and empathy, which can lead to smoother communication and improved relationships within the team.

Understanding your team members' communication styles allows you to navigate potential conflicts more effectively and foster a harmonious work environment. Discover knowledgeable tools to help you navigate communication challenges in this week’s episode. Linda provides invaluable guidance on how individuals can enhance their leadership skills through tailored communication strategies.

“Perception is what we think about something, and then perception can seem very true for you based on your preferences. But other's perceptions can be very different.” - Linda Yates.

Resources

The Five Love Languages

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

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You know about doing a SWOT analysis professionally, but have you ever considered doing one for personal goals?

In this episode of "Int-HER-rupt," host Linda Yates delves into the second part of the three-part series on how to lead in the new year. She emphasizes the importance of creating a personal SWOT analysis as a leader and outlines the key steps to carry out this analysis effectively.

Discover why it's essential to create a personal SWOT analysis and how it help with your leadership goals in 2024.

Understanding SWOT Analysis

Linda details the significance of a SWOT analysis, which involves identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
She explains that this analysis is a crucial tool for leaders to prepare for the new year, a new project, or leading a team.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Linda encourages leaders to list their strengths and, if necessary, seek input from trusted sources.
Emphasizing the importance of being realistic and celebrating one's strengths, she also highlights the significance of acknowledging and addressing personal or team weaknesses.

Uncovering Opportunities and Addressing Threats

Linda discusses how leaders can recognize opportunities and positive conditions through planning.
She also explains that through strategic planning, one can identify and mitigate threats, which are external negative conditions.

Creating a Growth Plan

In the context of leadership, Linda stresses the need for leaders to develop a growth plan for themselves and their team members.
She highlights the value of specific goals, continuous learning, and the impact of growth on personal and organizational development.

Celebrating Milestones

Linda emphasizes the importance of celebrating milestones, sharing personal experiences of goal achievement, and the impact of celebratory experiences.
She shares how celebrating along the way keeps motivation high and contributes to overall happiness and satisfaction.

With a focus on self-awareness, strategic planning, and continuous improvement, Linda's insights offer a valuable blueprint for leaders looking to navigate and lead effectively in the coming year. She underscores how applying these strategies can enhance leadership acumen, build trust within a team, and infuse passion and energy into goal pursuit.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt podcast for empowerment and leadership advice. Also, tune in for the third part of the series on how to lead in the new year!

"Threats are out of your control, but through planning, you can navigate against them or through them to reduce the impact they may have." - Linda Yates.

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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What are your goals for the New Year? Is it to improve your finances, change careers, or start a new hobby? Maybe it’s the classical resolution of joining the gym.

Whatever your New Year’s goal is, you must take the time to plan it out. Why is this so important?

Listen to this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast to find out. Join Linda Yates in this three-part series as she shares powerful leadership strategies to supercharge your success in the new year. In this premier episode, Linda dives into the importance of planning and setting yourself up for a successful year as a leader.

Planning for Success

Linda emphasizes the crucial role of planning in one’s journey as a leader and a successful professional. Planning principles remain equally applicable, whether it's the start of a new fiscal year, a new project, or any point in one's professional journey.
She highlights the significance of purpose and encourages listeners to contemplate their purpose, plans, and aspirations for the year.

Prioritizing Self-Care

Linda stresses the importance of self-care for leaders, emphasizing prioritizing activities that rejuvenate and empower individuals.
She shares personal examples, such as scheduling monthly beach visits, to illustrate the significance of self-care in maintaining personal well-being.

Value of Vacations

Encouraging leaders to plan vacations well in advance, Linda emphasizes that personal well-being is the foundation for effective leadership.
By setting an example and prioritizing vacations, leaders can cultivate a culture of balance and rejuvenation within their teams.

Setting Personal Goals

Linda highlights the multifaceted nature of personal goals and advocates for a holistic approach that extends beyond professional targets.
She urges leaders to identify and prioritize various goals, encompassing professional, self-care, social, financial, and health aspects.

The Power of Knowledge

Linda underscores the instrumental role of books in enriching knowledge.
Encouraging leaders to read or listen to books that align with their goals, Linda emphasizes the transformative impact of continuous learning on professional and personal development.

Personal Insights and Experience

Drawing from personal experiences as a mother and a business professional, Linda discusses her family's annual goal-setting rituals and their impact on creating a purposeful and successful year.
She parallels this approach with organizational retreats, highlighting the effectiveness of planning and prioritization.

As Linda signs off, she leaves listeners with a compelling message, reminding them of their hidden strengths and the boundless possibilities awaiting realization. With the unwavering belief that nothing is impossible, Linda instills confidence and determination in her listeners as they gear up to conquer 2024 as strong, purposeful leaders.

Tune in to part two next week as Linda delves deeper into actionable strategies for leading effectively in the new year.

“What is your purpose for today? What is your purpose for your experiences? What is your purpose for the clothes that you put on? Many of you know that I work with individuals on their personal image, so it really comes down to your purpose or why.” - Linda Yates

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this energizing episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, our host Linda Yates connects with Radhika Shukla. Shukla has 21 years of experience in sales across many different industries leading high-performing teams. She doesn’t just talk the talk – she is the living embodiment of a growth mindset. Listen in for tons of great tips on how to cultivate resilience, passion, and determination!

What Is a Growth Mindset?

The belief that your abilities and skills can be developed over time.
Failure is viewed as an opportunity for self-development and growth.
All things are possible, 100% accountability, and the time for action is now!
If you believe you can’t change, you have what’s called a “fixed mindset.”

Tips for Creating a Growth Mindset

Embrace challenges with an open mind. Focus on learning all you can in new situations and don’t dwell on self-doubt.
Be open to feedback. Even brutal feedback can be a gift, as it gives you a chance to develop self-awareness.
View failure as a learning opportunity. Failure is a moment in time, and teaches resilience. It’s okay to feel your feelings, but then bounce back!
Cultivate a passion for learning. Find interesting ways to continue to improve yourself, even if it’s not “required”.
Persevere. When things are difficult, keep trying. Progress takes time and patience.

How to Help Yourself on Tough Days

Gratitude practice: Shukla journals about things she is grateful for.
Physical activity to work it out. Shukla dances and does yoga!
Give yourself space. It’s okay to not be okay.
Surround yourself with good people.
Mindfulness practice.

“Rejection means redirection… to something bigger and better.” – Radhika Shukla

Resources

Radhika Shukla on LinkedIn

Radhika Shukla on Instagram

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of "Int-HER-rupt," host Linda Yates speaks with Susan Bigsby, a Florida-based image consultant and personal stylist, to discuss the importance of personal image in leadership. With over 30 years of experience, Susan has worked with high-profile individuals, including Florida governors and top-level professionals.

Discover insightful advice on how to stand out as a leader in this week’s episode. You’ll even hear some stylish fashion tips from Susan, so tune in now.

Susan's Journey

Susan shares her lifelong fascination with fashion and style, tracing her journey from being an expert seamstress to winning an international sewing contest.
Her passion for music and fashion ultimately led her to become a corporate image consultant for Estée Lauder executives in the early '90s, offering a unique perspective on personal image and confidence.

The Impact of Making Yourself Stand Out

Susan emphasizes the importance of presenting oneself in a polished and professional manner, particularly for women.
She stresses the significance of grooming and personal presentation, underscoring the role of appearance in leaving impactful impressions and building self-respect.

The Shift in Personal Style

Discussing contemporary trends and the post-COVID era, Susan addresses the challenges individuals face in maintaining a professional image.
With the rise of virtual platforms like Zoom, she emphasizes the need to create a well-groomed and professional appearance, highlighting the importance of first impressions in a digital world.

Tips for Standing Out

Susan offers valuable tips, including preparing dress rehearsals for important events and creating lookbooks for effortless outfit selection.
She advocates for making intentional wardrobe choices and understanding individual body types to curate impactful and authentic personal styles.

Authenticity in Personal Style

Contrary to changing someone's style, Susan emphasizes enhancing individual styles to align with their lifestyle and confidence.
She urges individuals to keep up with fashion trends, make conscious new wardrobe additions, and recognize the cultural influence in dressing.

Susan's Personal Journey

Susan opens up about personal interruptions, including overcoming alopecia, conveying a message of resilience and positivity in adapting to life-altering changes.
Her experience is a testament to the power of personal image in fostering confidence and adaptability.

Leadership Tips

Drawing from her extensive work with leaders and CEOs, Susan underscores the importance of being prepared, respecting one's peers, and doing the right thing as key leadership principles.
She emphasizes the significance of acknowledging and preparing for diversity of perspectives in leadership roles.

This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of personal image in leadership, featuring practical tips and personal anecdotes from Susan Bigsby's illustrious career. Listen to gain valuable insights into enhancing personal styles and how it develops you into a confident leader.

"Being prepared and respect your audience, respect those that you're addressing." - Susan Bigsby

Resources

Susanbigsby

Susan Bigsby on Facebook

Susan Bigsby on Instagram

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In a world filled with constant disruptions, the power of example has never been more important.

In this episode of Int-Her-rupt, host Linda Yates welcomes Denise Jones to discuss the powerful impact of leading by example in personal and professional settings. The conversation delves into Denise's personal experiences, professional insights, and the valuable lessons learned from her journey.

Discover inspiring leadership skills within this insightful episode!

Denise's Journey

Denise shares her journey as a transformation expert with over 20 years of experience in the IT and software service industry.
As a working parent, Denise emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and embracing discomfort as a means of personal and professional growth.

Leading by Example - Influential Figures

Denise draws inspiration from her mother, who exemplified resilience and a can-do attitude as a single parent.
She credits her mother for instilling the values of learning, leading, and graciously seeking help when necessary.
Professionally, Denise holds Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, in high regard as a phenomenal leader whose approach to problem-solving and inclusivity has left a lasting impression.

Effective Leadership Traits

The discussion reveals the significance of curiosity, transparency, and integrity as pivotal traits necessary for effective leadership.
Denise emphasizes the value of maintaining an open mind and a transparent approach while upholding the highest standards of integrity.

The Impact of Positive Interruptions

Denise shares personal experiences of positive interruptions, such as her children's academic accomplishments and professional achievements.
She highlights the importance of balancing personal and professional milestones while maintaining a positive and proactive approach to interruptions in life and work.

The Power of Positive Leadership

Denise provides three concrete tips for positively leading by example:
Leave a place, situation, or team better than you found it.
Embrace curiosity and openly seek new ideas and perspectives.
Foster transparency and integrity as foundational values in leadership.

Navigating Challenges and Poor Leadership Traits

Denise reflects on encounters with poor leadership traits involving fear-based leadership and intimidation in the professional sphere.
She elaborates on the significance of effectively navigating through challenges, fortifying resilience, and sustaining a productive and growth-oriented approach.

Lessons from Interruptions

Denise candidly discusses her journey through a significant interruption in her career, addressing the experience of being laid off and the subsequent resilience and positivity exhibited in approaching the unexpected change.
She emphasizes the value of embracing interruptions as opportunities for personal and professional growth, ultimately shaping a new path forward.

Denise shares her valuable insights and experiences, underscoring the transformative impact of leading by example and the enduring influence of positive leadership in personal and professional realms.

Join Linda Yates and Denise Jones in this enriching conversation as they explore the profound impact of leading by example, navigating interruptions, and fostering positive leadership traits in both personal and professional spheres.

“I've always been taught, and took me a little while to learn it's not what you say. It's how you say it. And it's literally coming to the table with new, not necessarily better all the time, but with new ideas, new thoughts again, even if it's close to what they were sharing prior, which is my own little Denise isms or twist on it that stems from my experience in the industry that we're in. Like I said, I don't claim to know it all. I'm open to learning, but I will share my knowledge, my historical background, and what has and hasn't worked.” - Denise Jones.

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Re-entering the paid workforce is a terrifying experience. The idea of having to prepare yourself for the job hunt makes your heart pound nonstop.

You search Indeed and LinkedIn for the perfect gig with an excellent salary and benefits. As you do your research, you feel discouraged, believing you are too inexperienced to succeed.

To help you find the courage to re-enter the workforce, listen to this week's episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast. Host, Linda Yates, speaks with career coach, Cassie Spencer, on tips to help you find the perfect job. It's time to dust off your resume and tune in to discover insightful job-hunting tips.

Cassie Spencer’s Background

Cassie is a career coach passionate about helping others find their ideal job. She has helped over 700 clients in different industries build their confidence in job hunting and gaining effective application skills.
She believes that too many women spend time working in a career that they dislike. So, she built a career out of doing it to help others find employment that they loved.
Cassie is the owner and founder of Career Coach Cassie. Check her out if you need help finding a job you love and want to spend years in.

Tips For Re-entering the Workforce

Cassie’s biggest tip for re-entering the workforce is to start with a plan. If you’re unsure of what you want when job-seeking, finding a job that fulfills you will be hard.
Her next tip is preparing documents, such as resumes and cover letters. She also discusses the importance of internal reflection and defining your job goals.
Cassie’s last tip is to be open to networking. You may be afraid to speak to people, but conversations with past employers or co-workers can lead to open doors for your next career.

Advice on Feeling Overwhelmed With Job-Seeking

Cassie continues to discuss the importance of a tailored plan focusing on your job-hunting goals. This will ensure you find employment that meets your needs.
The plan can also help you spend the amount of time you need for job-seeking. Everyone is not able to spend hours searching for employment. If you only have fifteen minutes a day for job-seeking, set that amount of time aside.
She also discusses the importance of showing an impact on your resume. This is where you show numbers or metrics of a change you made that positively impacted a previous company you worked for.

How to Know It’s Time to Re-enter the Workforce

Cassie shares that it’s based on a person’s needs and goals when it’s time to re-enter the workforce. Do you have to re-enter the workforce now, or is it a want?
Knowing why it’s time for you to re-enter the workforce will help you feel more confident during your job search.
During interviews, employers may ask why you are re-entering the workforce and why you have been out of it for so long. So, it would help to consider your wants and needs of re-entering beforehand.

In this insightful episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, guest speaker Cassie Spencer shares tips on your job search. She discusses using LinkedIn, advice on filling in employment gaps, and interviewing tips. Tune in and listen to empowering tips to help you gain confidence for re-entering the workforce.

“The number one tip is always to negotiate. That is my number one tip no matter what, even if it feels uncomfortable and that type of thing. Everyone should always be negotiating. My second tip would be to remember that you can negotiate more than or in addition to the salary. So I often work with people who that's that's the one and only thing that they're negotiating. But we are in a time and in a world in our workforce where there are so many other benefits and aspects that you can negotiate into a contract. So salary is always a good one to negotiate. But there are other things like potentially a flexible work schedule.” - Cassie Spencer.

Resources

Career Coach Cassie

Happenstance The Podcast

Cassie Spencer on Instagram

Cassie Spencer on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Listening to your inner voice is like having a guide through life's journeys. However, sometimes you don’t listen to yourself and make the wrong decisions.

How can you trust yourself to make the right choices and live a fulfilling life?

In this absorbing episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Jane Stein, a former successful wealth manager, on trusting one’s inner voice. Jane shares her unique journey and experiences, shedding light on the importance of listening to our inner voice and making career changes.

Following Your Inner Voice

Jane began her career as a stockbroker due to her mother's insistence, but it wasn't fulfilling.
She shares her dissatisfaction with having the same business conversations over and over, prompting her to retire and move to the tranquil city of Boulder, Colorado.
Here, Jane delves into the significance of self-awareness, the need for change, and the value of variety in business.

Authentic Decision-Making: Stories from Jane Stein's Life

Jane gives an engaging account of how she considered buying a franchise but realized she'd be back to the monotony of recurring conversations, serving as an example of effective decision-making.
She emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and aligning daily choices with our authentic selves.
Jane's stories from her personal life, including trusting her instincts when dealing with her son's autism, provide valuable lessons in following our authentic instincts.

The Art of Tuning Into Your Inner Voice

Linda and Jane explore and share practical tips to tune into one's inner voice effectively, such as acting with certainty and seeking alternative perspectives.
Jane discusses her three key factors for listening to our inner voice: periods of solitude, doing the right thing regardless of difficulty, and the feeling of knowing over logical reasoning.

The Consequences of Ignoring Our Inner Voice

Jane shares a personal anecdote about her major misstep of ignoring her instincts in the stock market, leading to missed opportunities.
Linda and Jane examine the fear and setbacks that can stop us from trusting our own inner voice, including a deeply personal account of Jane's seven-year interruption in her life by a cult.

Overcoming Interruptions and Turning Pain into Learning

This heartrending segment explores the aftermath of Jane's life-altering interruption.
Both Jane and Linda highlight the healing process and the importance of learning from negative experiences.

The conversation with Jane Stein is an inspiring testament to the power of trusting our inner voice, embracing change, and finding resilience in the face of adversity. Her journey from wealth management to "unretirement" and all the unique challenges and victories along the way are proof of how fulfilling and transformative it can be to follow your authentic path.

Don't miss this episode packed with wisdom on tuning into and trusting your own voice. Listen in and join the journey towards self-awareness and authenticity.

“It is the small minute choices we make every day, whether or not we're even aware we're making them. The trick to a successful, joyful, and satisfied life is aligning those daily choices as best you can. We're in the midst of life, running around with small children; you're just getting by. However, if you can, at the end of the day or at the beginning of the day, set an intention to align those daily choices with honesty.” - Jane Stein.

Resources

Your Franchise is Waiting

Jane Stein on LinkedIn

Jane Stein on Facebook

Jane Stein on Twitter

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the power of risk?

In this exciting and insightful interview, Linda Yates, the host of Int-HER-rupt, sits down with Shannon Seeberan, a successful entrepreneur and leader in the medical aesthetics industry. They dive deep into the topic of risk, exploring its benefits, challenges, and how it can empower women to take control of their careers.

Shannon shares her own experiences, tips for goal setting, and the importance of collaboration and humility in leadership. This interview is a must-listen if you're looking for inspiration to overcome fear and seize opportunities.

The Power of Taking Risks

● Shannon, a women's studies major in college, shares how she learned early on that taking risks can lead to personal empowerment and growth.

● She believes pushing past fear and embracing the unknown can be rewarding and set individuals on a path to success.

Overcoming Nervousness and Building Confidence

● As Shannon ventured into advertising and media sales, she encountered vulnerability and self-doubt.

● However, she learned to overcome these feelings by recognizing her own expertise and knowledge about the products she was selling. This newfound confidence allowed her to comfortably lead and speak about what she represented.

Embracing Change and Pivoting Careers

● Later in her life, Shannon made a bold career change, transitioning into a completely unfamiliar field.

● Despite the initial perceived risks, her husband encouraged her to take on the challenge.

● She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own capabilities and not underestimating oneself, especially as women tend to have more self-doubt.

● Shannon learned that success can be achieved by being open to learning and having a clear strategy and goals.

Risk in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

● Shannon believes that women are undervalued in various industries, so they often doubt their abilities to succeed as leaders and entrepreneurs.

● She strives to disrupt these norms by championing women in the medical aesthetic space and encouraging them to take control and recognize their value.

● Shannon also points out that the perception of risk has evolved, and with shared resources, networking, and tapping into opportunities, risks can be minimized in today's entrepreneurial landscape.

Determining Risks: Knowing When to Step Back

● While taking risks can be beneficial, Shannon acknowledges that not everyone is cut out for it.

● Some individuals may have a mindset that consistently focuses on the negatives and doubts their own capabilities. In such cases, she believes that diving into risks may not be the best option and encourages a realistic assessment of pros and cons before committing.

Lessons Learned from Interruptions

● Shannon highlights that becoming a parent has been one of the most interruptive experiences in her life.

● She emphasizes the humbling nature of parenting, realizing that one cannot fully control their children's paths and outcomes.

● It has taught her resilience, the importance of adaptability, and the recognition that no one is an expert in parenting.

Essential Tips for Risk-Taking

● Through her work with clients, Shannon shares three key tips for risk-taking:

○ Setting realistic and strategic goals: Crafting an achievable and implementable roadmap over time.

○ Building a supportive network: Surrounding oneself with people who uplift and champion individual success.

○ Resilience and accepting ups and downs: Recognizing that the journey of entrepreneurship and risk-taking is not always smooth, but staying committed to the strategy and focusing on long-term goals.

The Role of Humility in Leadership

● Shannon emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership.

● She believes that openness, listening, and acknowledging the value others bring to the table foster stronger relationships and collaborative success.

● Taking a humble approach to meetings and partnerships can increase opportunities for growth and development.

In this enlightening and empowering episode, Shannon Seeberan shares her expertise in risk-taking and leadership. She encourages women to overcome self-doubt, embrace change, and recognize the value they bring. By setting strategic goals, building supportive networks, and remaining resilient, individuals can overcome obstacles and thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

“So I've heard years ago that life begins outside your comfort zone. And the analogy was given that even when we're being carried in the womb, life has not fully started. Experiences have not fully started for us until we come out of that comfort zone, of that womb.” - Linda Yates.

Resources

Shannon Seeberan’s email: shannon@cloudmedspas.com

Cloudmedspas

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you often struggle with negative thoughts? You find it hard to get outside of your own head while holding a career and being a mother.

You are supposed to be a strong leader, and others look up to you. These thoughts shouldn’t be inside of your head. But it is, and it’s okay because it’s nothing you should be ashamed of.

In this episode of Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates welcomes Ama Hooks, a talented senior-level consultant with extensive experience in strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, and cultural change management. Ama shares her journey of personal growth and transformation, particularly in dealing with negative thoughts.

Linda is fascinated by the concept that our thoughts shape our reality and is eager to explore Ama's insights and experiences. Listen to this week’s episode to help you overcome negative thinking.

Ama's Personal Journey and the Power of Reprogramming the Subconscious

Ama opens up about her five-year journey of self-reflection and reprogramming her own subconscious.
She emphasizes that our unconscious biases influence 80% to 85% of our decisions and thought patterns. Initially focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,
Ama realized the need to confront her own negative thoughts and redefine her self-image as a mother, wife, and business owner.
She started with writing and journaling, gradually expanding her knowledge through courses, and continues to embrace this journey of self-discovery.

Negative Thoughts and Doubt

Linda asks Ama to define negative thoughts, and Ama describes them as thoughts that doubt oneself, others, or a situation.
She explains the importance of differentiating between intuition and fear-based doubts. Ama believes that negative thoughts often stem from fear and insecurities.
Drawing from her upbringing in a single-parent household, Ama reflects on her experiences with financial insecurity and how it has influenced her decision-making process. The fear of scarcity and economic instability has consistently plagued her, causing her to doubt herself and limit her possibilities.

Managing Negative Thoughts

Ama shares three strategies that have helped her manage and overcome negative thoughts. Firstly, she practices journaling and reflecting on the best and worst possible outcomes of a decision. This exercise has helped her realize that the worst-case scenarios are often unrealistic and that fear should not dictate her choices.
Secondly, Ama's faith is vital in providing her with strength and guidance in navigating negative thoughts. Her morning routine of prayer and Bible reading centers and empowers her.
Lastly, Ama mentions her study of John Kehoe's work on manifestation and the science behind it. Being data-driven, she finds it helpful to understand how the brain and quantum reality can be harnessed to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Ama's Professional Journey in HR

As an HR professional, Ama shares her experiences in building internship programs, implementing cultural change initiatives, and promoting diversity in the workplace.
However, her decision to leave corporate America after starting a family led her to consulting.
Ama expresses her passion for helping organizations overcome negative thoughts related to biases and diversity, fostering inclusive environments that prioritize psychological safety and belonging for all individuals.

In this enlightening episode, Ama Hooks emphasizes recognizing and addressing negative thoughts that hinder personal growth and decision-making. Through her own journey of self-discovery and reprogramming her subconscious, she has found strategies such as journaling, faith, and studying the science of manifestation to be effective in managing negative thoughts. Ama's experiences and insights serve as an inspiration to listeners, encouraging them to confront their own doubts and embrace a more positive mindset.

“Know your superpower and double down on it. That would be number one. Right. So know what you're really good at. Like Shonda Rhimes says, don't be afraid to brag. Most women don't brag. Right? Like, know what it is and speak to it and put yourself in situations to showcase it and talk to it and know how to leverage it and know how you can become a resource.” -Ama Hooks

Resources

Ama Hooks on LinkedIn

Ama Hooks on Instagram

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you connected with your inner self?

No.

If you do not know yourself, how do you expect to be a good leader? One of the biggest assets you can give to others is being true to yourself and knowing who you are as a person.

Why is this so important?

In this episode of the INT podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Olivia Smith, founder of Healing House, on the importance of women leaders knowing themselves. Discover how to become a better leader by developing this skill in this week’s episode.

Olivia Smith’s Background

For twelve years, she worked in the nursing field and left after having children. After becoming a stay-at-mother, Olivia struggled with her inner self.
She enjoyed being at home with her children, but she was lost within herself.
After finding a hobby, she discovered how to make money with it and soon turned it into a six-figure business.

Self-Awareness and Personal Growth

When starting her nonprofit business, Olivia learned to recognize and acknowledge her strengths and weaknesses. This allowed her to transition the leadership position of her nonprofit to someone else.
She also shares it’s essential for leaders to recognize when they are not in their wheelhouse and to take action to remove themselves from a situation in which they don’t fit in.
Olivia further compares this skill with other experiences to help highlight the importance of self-reflection.

Leadership Styles and Communication in the Workplace

Olivia believes that understanding one's own communication style and how to adapt to others is crucial for effective leadership, leading to improved employee retention and a more productive work environment.
She recognizes that leaders often unknowingly create a toxic culture by using language that can be intimidating or frightening to their team members.
She suggests that leaders should be aware of their own personality styles and how they may impact their communication with team members. In addition, leaders should try to create a safe and trustworthy environment for everyone.

Leadership Development, Self-Awareness, and Personal Growth

Olivia provides coaching and consulting services to help individuals overcome self-doubt and impostor syndrome, which can stem from past experiences and be deeper than just work-related issues.
She works with individuals to identify the root causes of their struggles and provides a process of work over time to help them overcome these challenges.
Olivia emphasizes the importance of finding something outside of mothering to help cope with the emotional demands of staying at home and how this enabled her to work through her struggles.

In this episode of the INT podcast, you’ll hear an empowering story about Olivia Smith and how she became a better leader by developing one essential skill that most leaders lack. Tune in and discover the importance of investing in self-awareness to help you develop better leadership skills.

“Investing in knowing more about yourself is like the advice they give you on the plane when they say put your own oxygen mask on first before you can help anyone else. Know who you are first. Before you try to lead others, you'll be a better leader, you'll be a better parent, there'll be a better spouse. If you become much more clear on who you are and how you're coming across to other people, and being honest about that, and seeing that as a growth opportunity.” -Olivia Smith

Resources

www.writeanewstory.com

Olivia Smith on Facebook

Olivia Smith on Instagram

Olivia Smith on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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It’s no secret that everyone makes mistakes, and of course, this includes you. Many try to hide their mistakes and pretend they never happened.

You may also feel ashamed and embarrassed that you made the mistake, and someone will judge you. However, instead of hiding your mistakes, try to learn from them.

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Jessica McClain on how leaders can learn from their mistakes and the importance of doing it. Tune into this week’s episode to discover actionable tips on dealing with mistakes.

Jessica McClain’s Background

● McClain is the CFO for the Girl Scouts Nation Capitol and oversees the finance and business operations of the company. In addition to this, she is a certified public accountant in Virginia.

● She has an impressive background in the accounting profession and recently won AICPA and CPA awards. Also, she is known as one of the most powerful women in the accounting profession.

● Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Towson University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

Learning From Mistakes

● Despite McClain's outstanding background, she is human and has made many mistakes. However, she always saw her mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.

● She follows her motto, “Great things don’t come from growth zones.” Whenever a situation or problem makes her uncomfortable, it’s an opportunity for her to learn.

● McClain also shares you should be the storyteller of your personal brand instead of someone else and the importance of understanding real networking.

Why Is Everyone Afraid of Failing?

● McClain takes a social media viewpoint on how everyone wants to show how perfect their life is. No one wants to show the ugly parts of their lives, but people need to be aware of the whole truth of their lives.

● When you know the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life, you can grow from your mistakes.

Resilient and Leadership

● McClain discusses that one of the key traits for a leader is resilience. She believes it helps create a positive work environment for the employees when a leader has this trait.

● When employees see a leader who can handle difficulties, it comforts them. They know they’re being guided by someone who can handle any situation effectively and efficiently.

● To help prove her point, she shares a story on how resilience has helped her as a leader.

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, you’ll learn that you should never be ashamed of your mistakes. It’s okay to show the world that you’re imperfect and human; you can sometimes make mistakes in your professional and personal life.

But when it happens, learn from them instead of hiding them. Subscribe to the podcast to hear Jessica McClain's advice on how leaders can learn from their mistakes.

“When you look at social media, it gives a narrative that your life or career is perfect, and everything is always great. It doesn't show the mistakes, the failures, or the setbacks that people encounter, which we all do. People must be okay with living in reality and the truth of their journeys. And the full truth, not just the good part, not just the happy part, but the good, the bad and ugly, they got to show all of it.” - Jessica McClain

Resources

Jessica McClain on LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you ever feel lonely as a leader? One consequence of being a leader in any profession is overcoming the difficulty of handling many responsibilities yourself.

In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, host Linda Yates welcomes special guest Shatanese Reese, a leadership development coach, to discuss combating loneliness as a leader. While it may seem surprising that leaders can experience feelings of loneliness, Shatanese emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue and finding ways to overcome it. She shares her journey and provides insights into why leaders may feel lonely and how they can navigate this challenge.

Shatanese’s Background

Shatanese begins by sharing her background as an HR professional with over 25 years of experience.
She describes her career progression, including talent acquisition, HR generalist, and diversity consultant roles. However, a life-altering event prompted her to reassess her calling and pursue an executive coach and facilitator career.
With her expertise in emotional intelligence and personality assessment, Shatanese provides valuable support to leaders who navigate the complexities of their roles.

The Difference Between Being Alone and Feeling Lonely

Shatanese clarifies the difference between being alone and feeling lonely.
Being alone is a choice, a deliberate act of setting oneself apart for a period of time to recalibrate. On the other hand, feeling lonely is a longing for connection and support.
Leaders often experience loneliness due to the weighty responsibilities they carry and their awareness of the organization's challenges. Finding trusted individuals with whom to share their feelings and burdens becomes difficult.
Factors such as unique identity and lack of representation can further intensify the feeling of loneliness.

Understanding the Loneliness of Leadership

Shatanese explores the reasons why leaders may feel lonely. Their level of responsibility and fear of vulnerability can hinder their ability to express their true emotions.
Leaders may feel lonely when they lack a coach, internal champion, or sponsor who can guide them and offer support.
The loneliness of leadership is not confined to personal isolation but also a lack of clarity on the path forward.
Shatanese encourages leaders to identify their specific feelings associated with loneliness to address their unique challenges.

Tips for Combatting Loneliness

To combat loneliness, Shatanese suggests several strategies for leaders.
First, she emphasizes the importance of finding a trusted confidant or mentor who can provide guidance and support. This person should be someone with whom leaders can be vulnerable and share their struggles openly.
Secondly, Shatanese highlights the value of building a network of fellow leaders who can relate to their experiences. This network can offer understanding, empathy, and a sense of camaraderie.
Lastly, she recommends participating in leadership development programs or coaching sessions that provide a safe space for leaders to discuss their experiences and gain insights from others.

In this episode of Int-HER-rupt podcast, Linda Yates and Shatanese Reese shed light on the often overlooked aspect of loneliness among leaders. Through their discussion, it becomes evident that leaders are not immune to feelings of isolation and longing for connection.

Leaders can take proactive steps to combat loneliness by acknowledging and addressing these feelings. Whether it's finding a trusted confidant, building a network of like-minded individuals, or seeking professional support, leaders can navigate the challenges of their role more effectively. Shatanese's insights and experiences provide valuable guidance for leaders seeking to overcome this common yet rarely discussed issue.

"Whenever a leader expresses this is really, truly lonely work, I often like to unpack, what does that mean for you? What is it that you're actually feeling?" - Shatanese Reese

Resources

Shatanese Reese on LinkedIn

Shatanese Reese on Facebook

Shatanese Reese on Instagram

www.shatanesereese.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt Podcast, host Linda Yates and guest speaker Kristen Brabble delve into the crucial aspects of effective communication. Kristen, a talented and experienced banking industry professional, shares her struggles and valuable insights into the art of communication.

Join us as we explore the importance of clear, concise, and consistent communication, the challenges of virtual meetings, and the power of effective messaging in various scenarios.

The Personal Journey of Kristen Brabble

Kristen shares her passion in her current role within the banking sector, where they have a strategy development mindset and a drive to grow the bank and its franchise.
She is a mother of two little ones and expresses her excitement about becoming a new parent.
Additionally, she highlights her commitment to giving back to the community and the positive impact she strives to make with her organization.

The Impact of Effective Communication

Clear communication is paramount to a successful organization, and Kristen emphasizes the importance of being clear, concise, and consistent in messaging.
She stresses the need to repeat important messages throughout a conversation, avoiding fluff or unnecessary details.
Keeping messages focused and to the point ensures our audience understands and retains the information we share.

The Pitfalls of Virtual Communication

The pandemic has brought about both positive and negative impacts on technology and connecting people.
While virtual meetings have become the norm, Kristen expresses concerns about their detrimental effect on the business world.
Without in-person interaction, gauging emotions and gathering participant input becomes more challenging.
She emphasizes the significance of in-person meetings, which allow for a better understanding of body language and immediate verbal communication.

Kristen's Experience with Overcoming Communication Challenges

She shares her personal struggles with communication and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Kristen highlights the tendency for leaders and teams to make assumptions and stresses the importance of not assuming that people know the direction or plan.
Communicating directly and without sugarcoating minimizes breakdowns in communication and allows for a more direct and productive exchange.

Communication Strategies

Kristen details various strategies employed in their professional life to improve communication within the organization.
These include sending personalized, motivational handwritten notes to all employees, conducting employee stay surveys, and implementing employee conference calls.
One of the key takeaways is the need for executive management to actively listen and understand employees' perspectives, leading to more effective communication and growth.

Listen to this week’s guest speaker, Kristen, as she shares valuable insights into the world of communication. From personal struggles to professional triumphs, our speaker provides invaluable advice on navigating communication challenges in various scenarios. Tune in to Int-HER-rupt and discover the secrets to delivering impactful messages and fostering strong connections within your professional and personal life.

"I have struggled with my tone, rushing through explanations and not taking the time to properly explain ideas. But I understand that tone is crucial when delivering a message, even if the message itself is strong. It's important to be pumped up and explain things in detail to my team. Everyone should watch their tone when delivering any type of message." - Kristen Brabble.

Resources

Kristen Brabble LinkedIn

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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During the shutdown, you may have embraced your introverted nature and enjoyed not having to go to the office daily. It was nice not having to deal with people anymore during those two years.

But have you noticed that your people skills have suffered? Did you forget how to hold conversations with others? Do you even remember why it's important to have manners?

In this episode of Int-HER-rupt Podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Jacqueline Whitmore, an international etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach. With 25 years of experience in the field, Jacqueline shares her insights on the significance of manners and etiquette in today's workplace. From listening and embracing differences to making meaningful connections, Jacqueline provides valuable tips for leaders both remotely and in person.

The Value of Manners and Etiquette

● Jacqueline explains that manners and etiquette are not just about formalities like using the proper cutlery or having a firm handshake.

● Manners represent how we treat others, while etiquette encompasses our knowledge and mindfulness.

● These qualities go beyond technical skills and play a crucial role in helping individuals build their personal brand and character.

● Jacqueline asserts that manners and etiquette are essential for getting hired and promoted in the workplace.

Etiquette in Remote Work

● When it comes to remote work, Jacqueline emphasizes the importance of active listening.

● It is a skill that helps leaders connect with their team members, whether in person or online.

● Additionally, embracing differences and maintaining an open mind is crucial to fostering a positive work environment.

● To enhance remote connections, Jacqueline suggests interacting with others on LinkedIn by commenting on their posts, adding value to their lives, and sending articles of interest.

● She emphasizes the need to go beyond superficial engagements and focus on building meaningful relationships.

Etiquette in In-person Meetings

● In face-to-face interactions, Jacqueline reiterates the significance of active listening.

● Leaders who are great listeners outshine others and make a positive impact on their teams.

● Humility and compassion are also vital traits for successful leaders, as they signal respect and care for employees and clients.

● Jacqueline believes that true manners lie beneath the surface and go beyond simple gestures like eye contact and a firm handshake.

Jacqueline's expertise sheds light on the timeless principles of manners and etiquette in the workplace. She emphasizes that being mindful of how we treat others can significantly impact both personal and professional success.

Whether in remote or in-person interactions, active listening, embracing differences, and making meaningful connections are key to fostering positive relationships. Incorporating these principles into our daily lives can enhance our personal brand, build character, and create a harmonious work environment.

"I believe that manners and etiquette are extremely important in the workplace because they not only help you get hired, they also can help you get promoted. And you and I both know that technical skills, just technical skills, account for a very small percentage of why you get a job and keep a job. However, your life skills or soft skills will get you promoted. Those soft skills are tied to your character." -Jacqueline Whitmore

Resources

Etiquettexpert.com

Jacqueline Whitmore Facebook

Jacqueline Whitmore Instagram

Jacqueline Whitmore LinkedIn

Jacqueline Whitmore Twitter

Jacqueline Whitmore Youtube

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As a leader and business owner, you may feel overwhelmed by inflation's effects. You have no clue how to cut costs to stay afloat due to higher living costs. This makes it harder for you to run a business effectively and ensure everyone on your team is well cared for.

In this episode of "Int-HER-rupt Podcast," host Linda Yates welcomes Dr. April Murdaugh, the CEO and founder of Woman to Woman Financial. Today, they discuss the effects of inflation and the cost of living crisis on businesses.

Dr. April Murdaugh Background

Dr. Murdaugh started as a college administrator and professor before becoming the CEO of her own firm.
She speaks about her experiences with financial struggles, which sparked her interest in the financial services industry.
Now, Dr. Murdaugh is the founder and CEO of Woman to Woman Financial, a virtual fee-based wealth management firm based in Jacksonville, Florida.
She helps women executives, business owners, medical professionals, and their families create and grow generational wealth.

Effects of Inflation on Leaders

Dr. Murdaugh explains that inflation affects the cost of living, salaries, and the ability to save for retirement.
She mentions that inflation rates have exceeded the expected 3% and have reached as high as 6% and 7%. Housing costs have also significantly increased.
Business owners face the challenge of cutting back on expenses and finding ways to cope with the rising costs, which can be stressful.

Impact of Inflation on Morale in Organizations

Linda raises a question about how these economic changes affect morale within organizations. Dr. Murdaugh believes that inflation has led to women negotiating for higher pay as they realize the impact of inflation on their finances.
People are becoming more intentional in handling their finances and cutting back on unnecessary expenses. However, the overall morale within organizations is low, with employees questioning their salaries and the ability of the company to offer competitive compensation.

Tips to Stay Focused and Positive on Business Outcomes

To overcome these challenges, Dr. Murdaugh provides three tips for leaders to stay focused and positive on business outcomes.
First, she advises not to get too caught up in monitoring the constant changes and fluctuations caused by inflation. Instead, focus on what can be done to scale the business and explore additional revenue streams.
Second, leaders should assess and minimize expenses to allocate money efficiently.
Lastly, Dr. Murdaugh emphasizes the importance of setting aside savings to prepare for lean times and combat the impact of high inflation rates.

In this insightful episode, Linda Yates and Dr. April Murdaugh shed light on the effects of inflation and the cost of living crisis on businesses. They discuss leaders' challenges, such as increased expenses, salary negotiations, and adapting to the changing economic landscape.

Listen to the powerful tips Dr. Murdaugh offers to help you stay focused, positive, and proactive in navigating these challenges from inflation.

"I see more women now negotiating for higher pay rates because they realize that inflation is really costing them money." -Dr. April Murdaugh

Resources

Woman to Woman Financial

info@womantowomanfinancial.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Gaining one’s trust is a challenging thing to do, especially when you’re leading a team. Some people don’t quickly warm up to others, and it can be difficult to get them to follow through when you need them to.

As a leader, you need everyone on your team to open up and trust you. But how can you do this?

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Heather Dominick, the owner of Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur. Listen to her advice to discover techniques to get your team to trust you as a leader.

Who Is Heather Dominick?

She is the founder and leader of Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur.
Heather also created Business Miracles, a 21-day course to help highly sensitive people run successful businesses.
In addition to her business, she holds a Master's degree and worked as a public high school drama teacher for eight years.

What Is a Highly Sensitive Person?

Numerous research studies show that some people are more sensitive nervous system to the environment than others.
According to research, 20% of people are born with a nervous system that takes more stimulation.
Many highly sensitive people tend to do better from being self-employed.

Building Trust With Students

Creating trust among students can be challenging for a teacher; one wrong move can easily break the trust.
Heather learned the coaching in education (CIE) technique while studying at New York University.
Instead of teaching as a teacher, she taught as a coach and found this technique was highly influential in gaining students' trust.

Three Tips for Leaders Building Trust

Honor the individuals in the room: Heather created systems focused on each member's strength.
Don't expect everyone to be like you: Everyone is different, and you want to draw their differences out. Also, you don't want your team members to be like you.
Establish the same expectations for your team members as you do for them: Share tips one and two with your team so they can understand that everyone is bringing something to the table.

Breaking the Wrong Mindset

For those who believe no one will ever trust them, Heather discusses the importance of creating a collaborative culture to help break this mindset.
When it is established from the hiring process, it’s easier to get team members to trust each other and the leader.
As the leader, you must set the tone to make your team members follow. If you want them to trust you, you must also trust them.
Lastly, you must have empathy as a leader and put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Do you need help with getting your team members to trust you? Then listen to this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast to learn actionable tips on getting your team to trust.

“Trust is the bonding element that allows a group of people or any connection between even two people to really be able to be on the same page. And from that place, there's a greater sense of ease for creating, for producing, for being of service, and just being able to get from an A to Z when it comes to any type of goal or project you're looking to bring across the line.” - Heather Dominick

Resources

Business Miracles

Heather Dominick Instagram

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of "Int-HER-rupt," host Linda Yates welcomes Jennifer Smith, an expert in talent recruitment and leadership. Jennifer shares her journey and experiences in the field of human resources, discussing her transition from working in operations to her successful career as a recruiter. She also provides valuable insights into defining one's goals and finding the right fit in the hiring process.

Jennifer Smith's Professional Journey

After college, Jennifer found herself working in an unbelievable position. She never saw herself working in a potato factory, but it was her first leadership position.
Despite it not being her dream job, she enjoyed the position. It helped her develop the essential leadership skills she has today.
During her 15 years working with Frito Lay, she spent 15 years in HR. Within this role, she gained experience in running a business and leading a team.
She worked for a biotech company within the talent management department. While working in this role, she found that many college students struggled with finding their ideal job.
Now, Jennifer runs Flourish Careers company. She helps others find the ideal career for them.

What Led to Her Success?

Jennifer shares that her success comes from defining what she wants within her roles.
She also discusses why recruiting managers need to start with a foundation when looking for an employee to fill a specific role.
A company or an employee may not check each box of your wants, but they may have the key requirements you’re looking for.

How to Find the Right Candidate?

Jennifer shares how companies can find the ideal candidate for a position. First, managers should look beyond the resume. Does the candidate have transferable skills or experiences? Can you start an internship program to help you find the ideal candidate?
For job seekers, Jennifer discusses the importance of networking within the organization you want to work for. It will help you bypass the over-saturated online system of job seeking.
Once you figure out your ideal candidate, go where they like to hang out. For example, Are there specific online communities where you can find talent?

Advice on Employee Engagement

To help deepen engagement with new talent, Jennifer discusses the importance of optimizing your onboarding process. Have someone mentor new hires for the first 60 to 90 days.
Provide feedback that encourages celebrations and mistakes during the onboarding process. You don’t want to just point out the bad, but you want to point out the wins too.
Develop a learning program to allow employees to gain new skills. The world is changing, and you want your employees to stay up-to-date on new tec

"The first thing I think about with that question is just knowing what you want. So really defining what you want in the role that you're looking for is first and foremost." - Jennifer Smith.

Jennifer shares her inspiring journey from operations to HR to becoming a successful recruiter. Through her experiences, she demonstrates the value of defining goals, embracing learning opportunities, and finding the right fit in the hiring process.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own career aspirations and gain valuable insights into navigating the ever-changing job market. To hear more about Jennifer's journey and gain further insights into talent recruitment and personal growth, tune into the full episode of "Int-HER-rupt" with Linda Yates.

Resources

Flourish Careers

Flourish Careers LinkedIn

Flourish Careers Instagram

Flourish Careers Podcast

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You'll hear many myths far from the truth as a leader. For example, most believe CEOs get to sip mimosas all day while other employees do the hard work.

Of course, you know this isn’t true. But what are the other myths leaders have to deal with?

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates explores leadership myths with guest speaker Teresa Rand. Discover what these myths are and how leaders can combat the untruths of their position.

Who Is Teresa Rand?

Teresa has 30 years of experience working with the YMCA and worked her way up to becoming the CEO of the organization.
After leaving her CEO position, she started her own consulting company.
She helps others improve their work-life balance, how to maneuver through life changes, and develop good leadership skills.
Teresa is also a certified yoga and disc instructor.

Leadership Myths

Leaders never make mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes, and there will be times you make them. However, it’s best to admit your wrongs before someone else does. This way, you can correct them and move on without looking like the bad guy.
Leaders never need help: Just because you’re the leader doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help. You don’t know everything, and it’s okay to admit this. Always remember, it doesn’t have to be lonely at the time.
Leaders are responsible for other's careers: It’s common for employees to think they are not in a certain position because the boss doesn’t want them there. However, it’s not technically the CEO’s responsibility to place employees in their desired position.
Leaders need an MBA: The letters behind your name aren’t as important as you may think it is. Teresa discovered she was wasting her time going to school for an MBA. She found out that her experience and qualities helped her more in receiving her leadership position.

How Can Leaders Combat These Myths?

Always use your voice no matter what position you’re in. Even if you’re at the very bottom of the organization, it’s important for you to allow yourself to be seen and heard.
Teresa received advice from a former colleague to always arrive early to meetings and conferences. It's another way for your voice to be heard.
Lastly, learn how to communicate with others effectively. This includes listening to people’s needs and discussing issues without becoming defensive.

Teresa's insights challenge the myths surrounding leadership. She highlights the power of vulnerability, the importance of seeking support, and the need for personal accountability in career advancement. Whether you're a CEO or an entry-level employee, these lessons are applicable to all leaders at every stage of their journey.

Don't miss out on this empowering episode as Linda Yates and Teresa Rand debunk the myths of leadership and provide invaluable advice for personal and professional growth.

"We don't have to do it alone. Ultimately, we have to make the call if we're in a leadership position. But to take advice and get advice and surround yourself with what I've always called my personal board of directors, people that are not necessarily in my industry, but people that I admire and respect." - Teresa Rand

Resources

www.teresarandconsulting.com

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Being a leader often comes with a ton of stress. There’s so much pressure for you to do your very best, and many people come to you for guidance. One wrong decision will cost you, the people under your leadership, and the company.

With all of this pressure and stress, how can you combat it all?

In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates speaks with Nicole Trick Steinbach on dealing with stress. Listen to these insightful tips on how to handle stress as a leader.

Nicole’s Successful Journey in Escaping Poverty

Nicole grew up in a single-mother household and experienced poverty during her childhood. She became the first in her family to attend college. Her educational background and drive helped her escape the poverty she faced during her youth.
After spending 20 years in tech and becoming a global senior Director, she now runs a business where she teaches other women about bravery in leadership roles.
However, she did face challenges while climbing the ladder. One of these challenges is overcoming imposter syndrome. What helped her was accepting hard feedback and allowing herself to move away from things that no longer served her.

Shifting Bravery to Accountability

To help you move out of a hard place, get serious about what you want. For example, do you want a life of financial freedom?
Don’t be afraid of hard work. Everyone wants the easy way out, but some steps may require you to put in more time and effort.
Remember, accountability has nothing to do with control. Instead, it’s taking responsibility for your perspective, impression, experience, and action.

Biggest Stressors for Leaders Today

Following someone else's ghost: Following a past leader's actions is okay, but remember to be yourself. Nicole provides details on how you can be yourself as a leader and not follow someone's ghost
Having a team that's just like you: It's essential to have team members who will push back on you and are nothing like you. You need others with different experiences, races, ages, and religions to gather different ideas.
Forgetting about their careers: Continue to build your career while you help others. While building your team and helping them become successful, you may fail to focus on your career. Find growth in your career, and don't put it on pause.

Dealing With Stress in Your Work

Define your goals: Take the time to determine what you want out of your career. Set deadlines to help you reach your goals and celebrate success.
Rest your body to bring creativity: In today's society, we're too focused on the hustle and tend to forget how important it is to rest our bodies. There's a reason why certain people are more successful than others, and it's because they take the time to sleep to bring creativity.
Nicole lives by sun, social, and sleep to help her manage stress. Be sure to get vitamin D, connect with others, and rest when your body is tired.
Her last tip is never to stay somewhere when you're not thriving. Yes, you need the paycheck, but if you know a company is not right for you, move on to help you afford stress and burn.

“When you're building cortisol and dumping dopamine throughout it, you have all kinds of issues, such as cardiovascular and relationship issues. That's when people start drinking too much, smoking too much, partying too much, whatever it is, and not sleeping enough, like cortisol is there. It's such an important part. Dopamine is there. It's such an important part. But you know, what else was really important? Equilibrium!” - Nicole Trick Steinback

Nicole Trick Steinback shares terrific tips on combatting stress as a leader. As always, your host, Linda Yates, has guest speakers who share powerful advice on helping you become a better leader. Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt podcast for more leadership tips!

Resources

Celebrate Brave with Nicole Trick Steinbach's podcast

www.tricksteinbach.com

Nicole Trick Steinbach LinkedIn

Nicole Trick Steinbach Instagram

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Are you struggling to trust others?

There are times in life when someone hurts you and makes it difficult for you to trust them again. Broken trust is hard to repair when emotions are high, including in co-worker relationships.

Returning to episode 113 of Int-HER-rupt, host Linda Yates revisits her conversation with Cheryl Nye. They discuss the importance of trust and how to respond when it is broken - whether in the workplace or in life.

Cheryl’s Background

After dabbling as an entrepreneur, Cheryl found her niche in corporate America. She is a data consultant who has worked with the same company for 17 years.
As a Toastmasters Club Sensor Toast member, she gained confidence in communication and leadership. This experience created the foundation for the work she does today.

The Importance of Trust

Nye calls trust the “foundation of all relationships” - whether at home or in the workplace.
Without trust, communication falls apart. If someone doesn’t trust their team leader to respect them, they won’t come forward if something goes wrong. Similarly, if a leader can’t trust their team members to follow through on projects, the work will fall on a few individuals or the leader themselves.
Once trust is lost, it can be hard to regain it, regardless of whether the person losing it is in a leadership position or not.

How to Recover From Broken Trust

Communication: If you have lost trust in someone in the workplace, communicate this with them as clearly and compassionately as possible. As Nye says in the episode, “Speak with love.” Understand your problem, and be upfront about it without condescension or negativity.
Accountability: If you have broken someone’s trust, take responsibility. Take the time to listen and understand how the other person is feeling. Apologize and plan how to improve - then follow through on that plan.
Nye and our host Linda Yates greatly emphasize leading with the heart. When time is taken to truly listen, understand, and change, trust can be rebuilt, even when it takes a long time.

Learning to Trust YOURSELF Again

If you’ve been the one to make a mistake or mess up, it can be hard to believe in yourself and can cause more stress than is helpful.
Nye’s advice is to use the “5 Why’s” to assess the root cause of the problem. She gives the following example: If you’re chronically late to work, ask yourself why you’re late. If it’s because the meeting wasn’t on your calendar, ask why it wasn’t on the calendar. Why? Maybe the calendar is not set up in a way that is easy to use. Knowing this, you can seek out a new calendar to try. Once you reach the root cause, you can turn it into action.
Practice trusting your instincts. Listen to your gut - it is often right. Ask yourself how you feel about a stressful situation, and really listen to yourself.
Finally, take a step back. Zoom out. Listen to others as well, and see how they’re responding to you. Self-reflection is a huge part of self-improvement, and Nye attributes this skill to help her grow and develop her interpersonal communication skills to where they are today.

Trust in the workplace helps create a strong bond among the team. Without healthy communication and the knowledge that fellow teammates will follow through, a team will always suffer and lose its ability to work cohesively. If that trust is broken, accountability and active listening can create a safe environment to rebuild trust.

“Trust is the foundation of any relationship you may have. If you don’t have trust in your relationship, then you don’t have anything” - Cheryl Nye

Resource

Toastmaster

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When you watched someone else take charge, did you ever wish you had their leadership skills?

Maybe you questioned yourself why you can't be a more assertive leader like them or why you can't get your team to work together like they did.

Don't feel bad if you ever had these thoughts, as everyone has unique leadership styles. However, only some people are comfortable displaying their leadership style to others.

Today's episode of Int-HER-rupt is a rerun of episode 109. Our host Linda revisits her discussion with Jordan LaSalle to help you become comfortable with your leadership style.

Meet Your Team Member Instead of Forcing Them to Come to You

Jordan has a background in teaching, and one vital thing she kept in mind throughout her career is: Meet the student instead of forcing the student to meet her.
People learn and work differently, so if you want to teach or lead effectively, you must go to whoever you’re in charge of.
Emotional intelligence is vital to this. Be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your team and play to their strengths. Optimize things for your team so you can effectively work.

Take the Time to Build Authentic Relationships

After she worked in teaching, Jordan transitioned to being the vice president of education at her school. Just like she had done with her students, she focused on building genuine connections with the people under her.
Jordan did an exercise where she had everyone she worked with create a user manual. The manual asked a few questions:
What brings out the best in me.
What brings out the worst in me.
How to work most effectively with me.
Team exercises build a relationship between you and your workers. It also gives you an idea of effectively leading and working with them.

Understand Every Team Member's Role

Understand your role in the team, as well as the role of everyone else.
Jordan got her position while the pandemic was just beginning. She and her team members were all worried about the future and the board's direction.
Remember, the job of your teammates is not to bear your weight. As a leader, you are supposed to be your team's pillar and source of strength.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t rely on them. But focus on supporting your team instead of having your team support you.

Recognize Other People’s Expertise

Yes, you may be the leader of a group or business, but you’re not omnipotent.
In Jordan’s career, she works with a board of experts and meets with them frequently. Although she is in a higher position than the other board members, she also recognizes and respects their insight.
Jordan isn’t directly involved in everything, so listening to the other board members and considering their insights helps her run things smoothly.

Don’t Be Afraid of Vulnerability

There’s a common misconception that leaders must always be strong and never show weakness or vulnerabilities. The problem with this is that it shows you’re not genuine.
Nobody is perfect. There is no perfect leader or team member. Instead of constantly chasing after perfection, chase after progress. Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerabilities!
One tool Jordan uses is language cues. Saying things like “I’m going out on a limb” shows you’re not completely certain about what you’ll say, but it also makes you more human and genuine.

The Three Golden Nuggets of Leadership

Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
Embrace who you truly are.
Be able to find humor in yourself and in situations.

Are you ready for more leadership advice? If so, then be sure to subscribe to the IntHERrupt podcast for more women's leadership skills.

Resources

Jordan LaSalle LinkedIN

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you want to leave a legacy?

Of course, you do! But how can you get others to remember you when you leave a company? Your host Linda Yates is here to tell you how to leave a legacy as a leader in today’s episode of the In-HER-rupt podcast.

Why Should You Want to Leave a Legacy?

Leaving a legacy is more than going to work and doing your job. It’s the ever-lasting impact you leave on employees and others around you.
You gain knowledge and skills throughout life from mentors, parents, bosses, and friends. What you learn from them can help others develop strong leadership skills.
Your legacy involves your positive impact on others and how you encouraged them to do their best.

How Do You Leave a Legacy?

Develop a clear vision of your mission and vision of every aspect of your life. This includes your employee, parent, friend, and mentor roles.
Lead by example on the qualities and traits you want others to see. If you want others to be motivated, be inspired to be motivated in everything you do.
Strive to empower and develop others by investing in their growth and development. For example, you can create employee opportunities to enhance their skills and talents.
Always have multiple lines of communication for your employees. Share your vision of a leader with your team, lay out goals, and create strategies to help them stay consistent in their work.
You should also engage in active listening. Positively provide feedback on how someone can do better.
Don’t forget to celebrate when a team member reaches their goals! This will encourage them to keep trying to do their best.
Cultivate strong relationships with your team and stakeholders. Let them know that they’re doing a great job.
Encourage your team to “think outside the box” when taking risks.

How Can You Make an Impact Now?

Think about your choices and actions and how they will impact others for years. Be sure to focus on the long-term impact of others and not the short-term impact.
Know that you can create a positive impact despite your negative circumstances.
Seek out collaboration and diversity. Everyone’s experience is different, and you can use this to change the workplace environment.
Journal everything that you do at work. This will help you share your current experiences and future insight to help others become strong leaders.
Network and give back to the community by engaging in activities that brings positive change to others.
Be active in succession planning to help those who take on your role become strong and efficient leaders.

“Remember, leaving a legacy as a leader is not about seeking personal recognition but rather about positive in-flow. It requires dedication, consistency, and a commitment to the well-being of the people and the organizations you lead.” -Linda Yates

Let’s Connect!

Do you know an impactful leader and would like them to be guest speakers on the show? Are there any topics you would like for the host to discuss?

Connect with Linda Yates on social media or send an email to share your thoughts on leadership within the workplace.

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Foster trust within your team through clear communication! In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, our host Linda Yates meets with Jen Colton, Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. Jen’s experience in marketing and PR and love of storytelling has helped her lead with openness and courage and build teams who would follow her into battle.

Jen’s Journey

She graduated from university into difficult economic times, so rather than jump head-first into the job market, she continued her education.
While she worked on getting her Master’s, she started working for WIRED Magazine in a marketing role.
She brought her love of storytelling and knowledge of emerging tech into her own PR firm!

What Makes Communication Challenging?

You have to think deeply about context – where your audience is coming from and how they’re going to receive your message.
You also need to ask yourself what your intent is and be really clear internally about what you want people to understand about your message.
If you’re not sure whether you’re coming across, ask! Jen’s example is, “How did that land with you?”

3 Questions to Ask Yourself to Develop Communication Skills

What does your audience need to know?
What does your audience need to feel? – Jen says this is the most important thing!
What does that look like to you? – Ask your audience to reflect your talking points back to you.

“Getting [communication] right is hard. Part of what is hard is that you have to think about context and intent. The way I think of that is, context is ‘who am I communicating with?’ … ‘who is it that needs to hear and understand the message and what is their worldview?’ … And then, I think it’s really about looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, ‘what is my intent?’ and then ensuring that your intent in whatever it is you’re communicating is pure and transparent. And that’s not always easy to do.” – Jen Colton

Resources

For more tips, check out As We Speak: How to Make Your Point and Have it Stick by Peter Meyes and Shann Nix

Connect with Jen Colton on LinkedIn!

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If there’s something new you’ve been wanting to learn, this is your sign to go for it! In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, our host Linda Yates meets with Dr. Susan Mangiero to discuss learning-led leadership. To be a great leader, you have to be passionate about learning from the people around you and sharing your knowledge. Enjoy this inspiring interview!

Susan’s Journey

Susan’s career began in banking, and though she carried many job titles over the years, her entrepreneurial spirit was what guided her.
She left banking to pursue her Ph.D. in Finance. She began teaching and eventually was awarded tenure after finishing her dissertation.
While she loved teaching, she returned to the industry in litigation support. She specializes in investment fiduciary best practices.

Learning-Led Leadership

Susan managed a team that helped her create a knowledge-sharing platform. She worked with many experts in different fields and learned from each of them.
Good leaders are forthcoming about not knowing everything and learning from others – their focus is on solving problems, not their own ego.
Leaders have a responsibility to try to understand when team members aren’t on the same page and find ways to communicate more clearly.

3 Tips for Implementing Learning-Led Leadership

Be transparent. It’s important to be vulnerable and acknowledge that you are not perfect and still learning as well.
Be supportive of other people’s learning. Reward their dedication as they expand their skillset, and give them time to master their new skills without expecting them to be fully capable right off the bat.
Be the change you want to see. Lead by example. Show that you are always learning and expanding your skills.

“I think a good leader is somebody who is very upfront about saying, ‘I don’t know everything and I want to listen to what you have to say. I want to learn from you, just as I hope you all learn from me.’ It’s very focused on solving problems and not having an ego that prevents that from happening.” – Susan Mangiero

Resources

Connect with Susan on LinkedIn!

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If you’ve ever experienced a toxic workplace culture, you know how soul-crushing it can be! Successful cultures take leadership and work. In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, our host Linda Yates has a great conversation with Ashlee Jankovich and Tiffany Klusacek, two real estate agents with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Tennessee’s Elite. They share insights into how they are intentionally creating a culture of accountability and achievement on their team.

How Ashlee and Tiffany Define Workplace Culture

It is the work environment that agents come to every day, both physically and interpersonally. The “culture” is the feeling of building relationships with co-workers.
The other aspect of culture Tiffany and Ashlee identify is the company’s image. A lot of emphasis is also placed on how consumers view their team.

How The Culture Has Developed

Accountability is an important step – they meet with other teammates to make sure milestones are being met.
Communication has also played a role. Sending out group texts to set up times when they can work together is helpful (and also helps with accountability).
They are also increasingly practicing goal-setting and creating action plans based on those goals.

3 Tips for Creating a Successful Culture

Quality over quantity! Hire the right people, not just anyone who can fill the spot.
Think about what’s best for the team. When you hire new people on, choose someone that will mesh well with the group.
Set up clear expectations. As leaders, it’s important to set your team up for success with accountability, goal-setting, and leading by example.

“[Culture] is the work environment that we’re bringing agents to every day, and when I say, ‘bringing them to,’ I don’t necessarily mean a physical place. It’s a collaboration of what they’re doing to pour in and out of a group… I also feel like culture plays, even moreso, especially in our industry, on how the public and our consumer perceives our message.” – Tiffany Klusacek

Resources

Check out Ashlee and Tiffany’s podcast, Realestatable, for raw, real, relevant content for today’s real estate agents.

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re a leader at a small startup or a CEO in an enterprise, a working knowledge of cyber security can protect your organization’s money and reputation. In this episode of Int-HER-Rupt, our host Linda Yates meets with Deepa Kuppuswamy, the Director of Security at Zoho. She shares tips for staying educated and maintaining a security-conscious culture in your business.

What is Cyber Security?

Businesses of all sizes are undergoing a digital transformation. Our world increasingly revolves around digital data.
Cyber security is the protection of data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitation.
Part of understanding cyber security is understanding the ramifications of data breaches. Regulatory fines and negative PR are typical consequences.

3 Cyber Security Tips for Leaders

Know your enemy. Cyber-criminal organizations are no longer just trying to steal data to sell for financial gain.
Create a security-conscious culture. Teach people about cyber security and set up processes so they know what to do if something suspicious happens.
Fail fast. Assume your company will be attacked. Have knowledgeable people take a look at your organization to find any weak points.

Staying Educated

Never let a crisis go to waste. Learn from the mistakes of others and don’t make the same errors.
If your organization does get breached, take the necessary steps to make sure it won’t happen again.
Tabletop exercises can simulate data breaches. In a controlled environment, you can test your team and your processes to see whether they’re prepared to handle a breach.

“Whenever we talk about security, it’s a combination of people, process, and technology. Leaders should look at cultivating a ‘security-conscious culture’ in their organizations. Train people so they are aware of what to do, and if they find an anomaly, they report it.” – Deepa Kuppuswamy

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re building trust with your team or leading in times of crisis, your logical mind and your intuitive heart should work together. In today’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, our host Linda Yates meets with Teresa Vozza to talk about how to incorporate heart-centered centered elements, such as deep listening and empathy, into your leadership style.

Vozza’s Background

She was a leader in HR and corporate spaces and always had a deep interest in neuroscience.
During the pandemic, she was inspired to examine what she wanted to do. She took coaching from being her side hustle to a full-time passion!
Her expertise is in uniting heart-centered leadership and head-centered leadership, finding the connection between logic/reason and intuition/empathy.

What is Heart-Centered Leadership?

Focus is placed outside of the self. Heart-centered leaders examine the needs of others, the project, stakeholders, etc.
Integrity is prioritized. Leaders always tell the truth, and in situations when they can not divulge certain information, they try to explain why.
Heart-centered leaders seek to understand and ask questions rather than rush to judgment.

3 Tips for Exploring Heart-Centered Leadership

You can’t change what you don’t know, so take the time to develop self-awareness and ask trusted colleagues for honest, direct feedback.
Repetition breeds mastery. Practice behaviors that can help you embody the heart-centered behaviors you learn. Try it in a low-stakes environment.
Notice your own feelings, and ask colleagues, mentors, and team members what changes they notice in you.

“Throughout my own leadership career, I wish I had known the difference between leading from my head vs. leading from my heart as a manager, as a director, at all levels of the organization. I would have been a much happier woman and a much better leader if I understood how to merge both head and heart vs. be so focused on having the head-knowledge.” – Teresa Vozza

Resources

Follow Teresa Vozza on LinkedIn!

http://teresavozza.com

HeartMath

The Huberman Lab podcast

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The abundance of new tech out there can be overwhelming. It’s only natural for leaders to feel pressured to keep up, and with new products and services coming out all the time, it can get exhausting! In this episode of Int-HER-Rupt, your host Linda Yates meets with Julie Alig, the “Data Diva”. She shares the journey of how she went from being a voracious reader to a tech-savvy leader and offers tips to help inspire you to stay curious.

Becoming the Data Diva

Growing up, Alig was a voracious reader who enjoyed reading in multiple languages. She wasn’t a “math person” until she started graduate school.
She trusted her instincts and moved off the academic track into the administrative side of higher education, using her skills in forecasting and market research to support students.
Her passion is working directly with clients and helping them use data to find solutions to problems.

How Do Tech Skills Move Your Career Forward?

Whether it’s your first career or your third, when you think about what job you want, you have to think about what kind of technology you’ll be using.
If you struggle with the kinds of tech available in your industry, you might be at a disadvantage. Learn what is useful and what is commonly used and work on upping your game in those.

Stepping Up Your Tech Skills to Show Leadership Skills

It shows a willingness to try new things and models learning at all stages of your career.
It also models a willingness to fail, think critically in new situations, and bounce back – and shows others it’s okay!
Technology is always changing and we need to work on keeping up. We might need to take breaks from learning new tech but try to come back rejuvenated.

“Our economy, our world today is built on technology more and more… If you don’t have those technical skills, at least some level of them, you don’t need to be an expert… But there’s a certain level of expertise that you do need to have, a facility with those, to be able to really function. If you want to thrive, if you want to build your business, grow your business, get past that next plateau – you need to be using technology in some way.” – Julie Alig

Resources

Connect with Julie Alig on LinkedIn

Visit Julie’s Website: JLA Analytics: Turning Data Into Action (http://www.jlaanalytics.com/)

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If you’ve ever been in a difficult conversation that wasn’t well-managed, you know how unpleasant it can be. Getting it right takes skill, and luckily, today’s guest has tips that can help you prepare! In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, your host Linda Yates sits down with Ann McKitrick to discuss how to set up delicate conversations so that your goals can be met without sacrificing relationships.

Background

She has always loved kids. She really enjoys helping people (especially parents) understand children.
When people have a deeper understanding of communication with kids, they are able to be a little bit kinder with each other.

3 Tips for Leading a Delicate Conversation

Observe and understand who you’re talking to. You’ll be able to communicate better if you know where they’re coming from.
Identify the problem in a clear way. Then, invite them to respond and truly listen. Think through how you are being affected and potential solutions beforehand and share them.
Keep it concise. Make your problem statement and describe the effect in 60 seconds or less, then move on to listening and building solutions.

How Do You Have Delicate Conversations With Kids?

Make sure your approach is age-appropriate.
Approach the conversation at a time of day when your kids are well-fed, not too tired, and not stressed about school or activities.
Simplify things so that they understand fully. Don’t expect them to be little adults!

“The power of the pause is critically important in many areas, especially at work – to not respond immediately to things, but to take a pause and think about what’s been said and all of the different angles. There’s a myriad of interpretations of just about anything. To always go to the negative or always go to the critical side of things is certainly not helpful.” – Ann McKitrick

Resources

Ann McKitrick on LinkedIn

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When work gears up in intensity, it’s important to get perspective. We all have responsibilities outside our jobs and it’s okay to take a step back when needed. In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, your host Linda Yates meets with Stacy Hess to discuss navigating our challenges outside of work. Listen in to hear how you can prioritize your loved ones AND yourself!

Responsibilities Outside of Work

Hess’s family has become a priority for her. Helping and spending time with aging parents is a common responsibility that comes to many of us.
Creating space to care for children, grandchildren, and pets can also be challenging but rewarding.

3 Tips for Balancing Our Out-of-Work Responsibilities

Pause. Find moments in your day when you can take a breath. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the things we have to do.
Prioritize. Be selective about what things you let derail your workday.
Give yourself grace. Nobody is perfect. Be kind to yourself, and remember you’re doing the best you can!

Taking Care of Yourself

Try visual cues! Set up reminders for yourself to prioritize your own wellness.
Daily practices. Find something that feels right to you - reading, journaling, meditation - and make space to do it every day.
Schedule time every workday to take a wellness break. Make it non-negotiable!

“If your environment is taking away from you who you know you are and it’s that out of alignment with what you need in your life, you really have to think about maybe it’s time to make a change. And I know that’s hard, but we have to put ourselves first.” – Stacy Hess

Resources

Stacy Hess on LinkedIn

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this energizing episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, our host Linda Yates connects with Radhika Shukla. Shukla has 21 years of experience in sales across many different industries leading high-performing teams. She doesn’t just talk the talk – she is the living embodiment of a growth mindset. Listen in for tons of great tips on how to cultivate resilience, passion, and determination!

What Is a Growth Mindset?

The belief that your abilities and skills can be developed over time.
Failure is viewed as an opportunity for self-development and growth.
All things are possible, 100% accountability, and the time for action is now!
If you believe you can’t change, you have what’s called a “fixed mindset.”

Tips for Creating a Growth Mindset

Embrace challenges with an open mind. Focus on learning all you can in new situations and don’t dwell on self-doubt.
Be open to feedback. Even brutal feedback can be a gift, as it gives you a chance to develop self-awareness.
View failure as a learning opportunity. Failure is a moment in time, and teaches resilience. It’s okay to feel your feelings, but then bounce back!
Cultivate a passion for learning. Find interesting ways to continue to improve yourself, even if it’s not “required”.
Persevere. When things are difficult, keep trying. Progress takes time and patience.

How to Help Yourself on Tough Days

Gratitude practice: Shukla journals about things she is grateful for.
Physical activity to work it out. Shukla dances and does yoga!
Give yourself space. It’s okay to not be okay.
Surround yourself with good people.
Mindfulness practice.

“Rejection means redirection… to something bigger and better.” – Radhika Shukla

Resources

Radhika Shukla on LinkedIn

Radhika Shukla on Instagram

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates has a conversation with Sabine Gedeon, the founder of She Leads Network and host of the podcast She Leads Now. Gedeon’s career journey and her years of experience helping others grow and develop have taught her what it takes to break through mental limits, find confidence, and orient your life around becoming who you want to be.

If You’ve Just Been Let Go

“This is not your company.” Remember that you don’t own the organization. You own your career and you get to strategize about it.
Choose your next role based on goals you have, not just matching your skillset and finding something “good enough”.
When you orient yourself around your goals, you no longer need the organization to be a part of your identity. The organization gets the gift of you.

How to Turn Things Around

Create a Brag Book. Think about your various accomplishments over the years. As you’re remembering the projects you’ve worked on and the impacts you have had, you transition yourself out of a victim mentality and into knowing who you are and what gifts you have to offer.
Look at your Brag Book and look for the running themes. Are there items or motivations that seem to be recurring? Identify the passions and goals that show up for you and go into the market looking for jobs that bring your skills together with your goals.

When Should You Pivot?

If you hear a little voice inside telling you it’s time to go, it’s time to go. A role might check a lot of boxes for you, but that doesn’t make it right.
When you hold onto your role even after it is not serving you, you run the risk of losing touch with parts of yourself.
Gedeon asks herself “Who am I?” at pivotal moments to assess whether the person she wants to be has the space to flourish in her life.

“The things that helped me push past the fear and tap into my ‘well of courage’ is I had to ask myself the question, ‘Who am I?’ I’ve had to ask this question many times in many different situations, and I challenge clients to do it as well. When you can sit back and you can really assess and ask yourself that question, and be honest and vulnerable with yourself, it forces you to say: ‘If this is who I am, let me look at my external. Let me look at the work that I’m doing, the relationships, the activity. Do they reflect back to me who it is I believe that I am at this stage in my life?’” – Sabine Gedeon

Resources

Sabine Gedeon on LinkedIn

SabineGedeon.com

https://sheleadsnetwork.com

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Feeling exhausted or burned out? You might be suffering from decision fatigue. In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, your host Linda Yates sheds some light on this topic so that we can recognize our decision fatigue and make adjustments to the aspects of our lives that caused it. This leaves us happier, healthier, and more free to achieve our goals!

What Is Decision Fatigue?

Feeling drained after having to make too many decisions, diverting your mental resources away from creativity and innovation
Some common symptoms: procrastination, impulsivity, avoidance, indecisiveness

How to Avoid Decision Fatigue

Streamline your choices by creating lists/writing them down
Set yourself up for success by preparing things in advance
Cut things out, trimming activities that drain you out of your schedule
Delegate any workplace decisions you can, which shows your team how much you trust them
Make big decisions in the morning when you’re fresh and have lots of energy
Once you’ve made your decision, don’t second-guess yourself
Work positive habits into your daily routine

If Your Staff Ask You to Make a Decision, Ask Yourself…

Does this decision need to be made by me?
Does it need to be decided right now?
If I don’t need to make this decision, who should?

“These three words are really helpful in decision fatigue, especially as a leader: delete, delay, delegate.” – Linda Yates

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re a senior member of your business looking for ways to offer support or an emerging leader yourself, you’ve probably recognized the importance of empowerment in leadership. In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, your host Linda Yates and guest Susan Owen Lauwers discuss some do’s and don’ts to help you on your journey to becoming a stronger, more balanced leader.

Recognizing an Emerging Leader

Lauwers got to know her own leadership style. She is beginning to identify personality traits that have helped her as a leader and can sometimes recognize them in others.
The people who have the most skills and knowledge are not necessarily the best managers – it comes down to interpersonal skills or natural qualities.

Why Nurture Emerging Leaders?

It’s a business investment: if your leaders succeed, your business succeeds.
Paying it forward is a life strategy. If you are a leader, someone has probably mentored you along the way, and supporting others helps you bring it full circle.

3 Tips for Empowering Leaders

Seek to understand. When offering support, showing that you hear and understand can help you motivate others and problem-solve.
It’s okay to not have all the answers. Even if you’re in a position of leadership, you aren’t going to always know everything. Part of good leadership is identifying your strengths and getting support for your weaknesses.
Be willing to grow. It’s great to support others but be willing to look at yourself and continue on an internal journey of reflection and growth.

“It’s a balancing act. You want to give folks an opportunity to challenge themselves and try new things, but you also don’t want to give folks too much too fast so that they feel like they’re drowning or they’re out of their league… Take a step back, let go of some things, give some things away, but stay nearby.” – Susan Owen Lauwers

Resources

Susan Owen Lauwers on LinkedIn

Millenia3.com

@millenia3 on Twitter and Instagram

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you experience “chronic, unmanaged stress”? Then you might be suffering from burnout. In this episode of the Int-HER-Rupt podcast, your host Linda Yates and Ebony Joyce (the Career Clarity Coach) talk about how to recognize burnout, how to heal when you’re past the point of exhaustion, and even how to prevent burnout from occurring in the first place!

Signs You May Be Burned Out

Your productivity is decreasing
You feel stressed when you think about going in to work
You’re disconnecting from other people at work

3 Tips for Getting Ahead of Burnout

Set boundaries. Know what burns YOU out – for Ebony, decision fatigue is a big challenge. Meal prepping and wardrobe downsizing have limited the decisions she has to make while she’s at home recharging.
Learn to say “no.” This can be challenging if you’re used to putting others before yourself, but if you develop a strong sense of self, it will get easier!
Manage your time. Prioritize what you need to do and set aside time to relax when everything is done.

How to Heal Your Burnout

Exercise, unplugging from your phone/computer, spending time in nature, and spending time with loved ones can all heal burnout.
Get to the source of why the burnout is happening and figure out what kind of support you need. This may mean speaking to leadership at your work, and if they are not willing to work with you, it may be time to start looking for a new job.

“We live in a culture where being overworked and burned out has been glorified, to some extent. You don’t get a gold medal because you worked hard and overextended yourself.” – Ebony Joyce

Resources

Ebony Joyce on LinkedIn

Next Level Career Services

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Strengths and weaknesses aren’t just the subjects of job interview questions! Each one of us has a wide range of things to offer the world, but we tend to want to hide or downplay our weaknesses and only display our strengths. In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, your host Linda Yates and guest Esther Powers get into a beautifully vulnerable conversation about how to overcome difficult moments, recognize who you really are, and cultivate true strength.

Why Should We Embrace Our Weaknesses?

When you overcome denial, you have the opportunity to learn about who you are and “sharpen your sword” in those areas where you struggle.
Accepting yourself and giving yourself grace teaches you how to give grace to others.
Learning vulnerability and humility is the source of true strength.

3 Tips on Not Being Overcome By Weakness

Stay grounded in reality. Are you weak, or did you experience a moment of weakness? Don’t let a difficult time become your whole reality.
Find something to believe in. You can find strength and integrity in having faith – whether it’s faith in a higher power or faith in yourself and your vision.
Fake it till you make it. If you’re feeling insecure in a work situation, try to go along for the ride. You are where you’re supposed to be, and if you don’t have all the tools, you’ll pick them up along the way.

Resources

Esther Powers on LinkedIn

epowers@zizzl.com

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Do you get excited about on-the-job training? If so, you’re not alone! Learning new things can help you revolutionize the way you work, improving your performance at your job and in life. So why do so many people feel that the training they receive is boring, ineffective, or unhelpful? To answer this question, we are joined by Mirah Young. Young learned first-hand that effective training makes or breaks the learning process. Listen in to discover how she recognizes a great training program when she sees it!

Mirah’s Background

Graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in Mass Media Communication
During college, she was an apprentice in grant administration, and found joy in learning new things and helping others understand those things

Why is Training So Important?

Your employees are your best asset, and training shows them how invested their leadership is in them.
Continuously supporting education and learning “keeps the knife sharp” and keeps you up to date with the constantly changing world.
Even for team members who are familiar with their job, training can offer them new ways of doing things, which can lead to better efficiency and performance.
Really great training can be invigorating and exciting for employees, as long as the training is highly engaging.

What to Look For In a Training Program

Know who the trainer is. Find out their qualifications, skills, and whether they gel with your company culture.
Identify the key takeaways you want from the training and find out how the trainer approaches those topics.
Look into the methods used in the training you’re interested in to determine whether they’re going to be immersive, engaging, and well thought out.

“Innovation is, in a sense, transformation… Innovation is job enhancement in performance.” – Mirah Young

Resources

Mirah Young on LinkedIn

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re experiencing a major crisis or things just aren’t going your way, how you react to those situations is what defines you. Everyone wants to learn to show grace and poise under pressure, but we all know it’s not easy! In this episode, your host Linda Yates brings her expertise as an image coach to offer tips on how you can exude more poise as a leader.

3 Tips for Feeling More Poised in a Challenging Moment

Take a deep breath. Often, when we’re stressed, we stop breathing deeply and normally. Taking a deep breath is like hitting a reset button.
Smile. This can change how others perceive you, but also how you perceive the current moment.
Get curious. Start asking yourself - what situation have I found myself in? What are my emotions about it? How can I move forward?

Cultivating Inner Strength as a Leader

Respect yourself, first and foremost. As Linda says, “You are the CEO of your life!” Respect your own time and set boundaries with others in a calm, diplomatic way to ensure you have the respect you deserve - because you DO deserve it!
Show respect to those around you. It’s okay to be direct, but you must also show that you have the strength to control how you treat others. Ask yourself - is this how you would want to be treated?
Define success for that moment. If you’re struggling to find a way through a crisis, take the time to stop and ask yourself what a successful resolution to this situation would be.

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Tech companies recruit men and women into their workforce equally. So why do we still see relatively few women in positions of leadership? Trends seemed to be heading in a more equal direction until the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. That’s where the work of Kelley O’Keeffe seeks to change everything. In this episode, our host Linda Yates has a conversation with O’Keeffe about her work as an advocate for women’s empowerment.

O’Keeffe’s Background

Starting at a very young age, O’Keeffe was a very ambitious student. After finishing her MBA, she began working with many companies, from Fortune 100 to smaller startups
At the beginning of the pandemic, she was balancing a challenging work schedule and starting her family
O’Keeffe made the leap into being self-employed to serve as an advocate for women’s economic empowerment

3 Tips: How to Become a Successful Woman in Leadership

Dealing with Microaggressions: Don’t allow yourself to be derailed when dealing with microaggressions. If you can’t find a way to ignore them, it’s okay to move laterally to step away from working with people who have a pattern of this kind of behavior.
Find your Mega Champion: More than a mentor - find someone you report to and build a strong relationship with them. This should be someone who is familiar with how hard you work and how much effort you’re willing to put in. They will be your ally and keep your name in the running for leadership decisions.
Get Recognized: Put yourself in a situation where your skillset can really shine. Look for places in your company where you’ll stand out.

“Think of those insecure thoughts as thought-trash, and just put them in the trash, and keep going. We’re wasting too much time.” – Kelley O’Keeffe

Resources

Kelley O’Keeffe on LinkedIn

McKinsey “Women in the Workplace 2022” Report

Empower Your Engagement - Kelley O’Keeffe’s website

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When it’s time to take a leap of faith, what holds you back? Think of how much more you could accomplish if you weren’t afraid to leave your comfort zone. In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, your host Linda Yates sits down with Marianne Lentini, a private investigator with over 25 years of experience investigating white-collar crimes, and the CEO of Evidence PI. Lentini has taken big, calculated risks, and those bold moves have brought her to where she is today.

Lentini’s Background

Went to school to be a lawyer and began working in that field
When the opportunity to try being a private investigator arose, she decided to take the risk from a safe, stable field into one that is more dangerous
Later, she also took another risk and started a company (Evidence PI)

How Do You Decide Whether to Take a Big Risk?

Go with your gut. Use your intuition to guide you – when you have a feeling like, “I should definitely do that,” trust your instincts
If the risk you take has repercussions that could cause harm to someone else, avoid those risks
Think about what the impacts on you will be if things don’t go well, and take precautions to reduce negative outcomes

3 Tips for Safety from a PI

Don’t put yourself in situations you can’t get yourself out of.
Stay aware of your surroundings – don’t stare at your phone, know where exits are.
Don’t let yourself get too paranoid.

“So much of it is knowing not just what you know, but knowing what you don’t know and just finding those people to fill those roles. You CAN run a business. You CAN take on the world… You just have to find the right people and they will lift you up and make you successful.” – Marianne Lentini

Resources

https://www.evidencepi.com

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Working with a team that makes you feel heard, seen, and valued is one of the best feelings in the world. On the other hand, having your ideas squashed and feeling afraid to make mistakes can make the workday feel like it never ends. On this episode of the Int-HER-rupt Podcast, our host Linda Yates has a conversation with Paige Garrido, the Assistant Director of Executive Education at FAU’s College of Business and leader of the FAU Women in Executive Leadership Program. Garrido works with mid- to senior-level professionals, helping them to enter the C-suite. Even successful people experience feeling silenced, or like they don’t belong. Listen in to hear about why an inclusive workplace generates more success, and get some tips on improving your company culture.

Why Should Workplaces Be Inclusive?

Garrido refers to Dr. Rob Bogosian’s idea of “The Culture of Voice”: when employees feel like they belong and can speak up. Bogosian
Open, engaged employees feel safe to bring up concerns, and have more creative ideas
Teamwork boosts engagement and innovation
Employees don’t want to work hard for people who aren’t inclusive, even though they may seem to due to fear of reprimand

Tips for Creating an Inclusive Workplace

Start with you. Leaders who want to create an inclusive workplace need to start by doing some self-reflection and evaluating their strengths and challenges. Listening and connecting with others are huge responsibilities and they start with vulnerability.
The stories we tell ourselves dictate our success. If you don’t see yourself in a good light, you can exclude yourself because you’re cutting yourself down. Be aware of any negative self-talk.
If there are things you need, ask. Come up with a strategic plan or a list of things you need to help yourself be more successful, and try to ask for what you need.

“We always look at inclusion from the company’s perspective – “How do we make people feel more included?’ But I would say, it’s the message that we’re telling ourselves about our roles in our organizations.” - Paige Garrido

Check out the Int-HER-rupt Website at www.intherrupt.com! You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt Podcast, your host Linda Yates meets with Shawna Williams. Williams had an unconventional journey, but ended up finding herself at a crossroads that many people inevitably face; should she take on a managerial role? We hope you enjoy Williams’s positive spirit and direct approach as she takes us through how she made her decision and how she knows it was right for her.

What to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Career Path

Continue doing what you’re doing until you’re ready to take on the hard work that goes into making a big shift. Regardless of what you choose, you have to have the desire and bandwidth to put more on your plate.
Some aspects of what you choose might not be natural to you - you might need to do some self-study or professional development.
Look at the whole picture of the company you’re looking to work with. Figure out how you fit in - you might need to make some adjustments to your plan, or find a new place to work.

The Pros and Cons of a Managerial vs. a Technical Path

Management pro: You get to work in a support role for a lot of different people. If helping others gives you a sense of accomplishment, management might be right for you.
Management con: Balancing the needs of a lot of people can get pretty complicated. There are a lot of moving parts to any team, and you should be committed to understanding all of them.
Technical pro: Regardless of where you work, your job will be fairly similar. Once you learn how to do it, you can relocate and change companies fairly easily.
Technical con: At some point, you will plateau. Once you learn everything you can about your job, you can either decide to stay there, or you have to make a big shift to change your career path.

Do These 3 Things Before You Make the Leap

Consider your personal life. Will this change impact your family life or how often you get to see friends? Make a choice that fits into the lifestyle you want to have.
Do you buy into the company vision? If you don’t feel aligned with your company’s values, it will be a lot harder to put in all the extra work it takes to make a big shift.
Be ready to listen. Reach out to others who have more experience than you, and ask questions and really listen to their perspectives.

“Don’t let any change in your day be a speed bump in your map. That speed bump might be an opportunity for something you’d never dreamed of that has such a positive impact on your life. You just never know who’s going to walk into your office and change your life for the good.” - Shawna Williams

Resources

“Getting Things Done” by David Allen on Amazon

Shawna Williams on Linkedin

You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, host Linda Yates and her guest Misha Ford are here to inspire, and light a fire! Ford describes how she went from working a regular corporate job to becoming the founder and CEO of 3TG Staffing Solutions. Hers is a journey of determination, ambition, and fearlessness. Listen in as she offers tips on overcoming the “glass ceilings” we all face, both in the workplace and inside ourselves.

Misha Ford’s Background

Ford worked a corporate job and, in 2010, started 3TG as a Virtual Assistant company doing back-office work for big companies
Working two jobs meant not having enough time for her family, so she had to make a change - she left her corporate job in 2017

To Break Glass Ceilings, Overcome Fear

Know who you are. You have to do internal work to progress. This means digging deep to understand what motivates you, what you care about, and what your fears are.
Surround yourself with supporters. Break the glass ceiling by avoiding the “sticky floor” - people who would hold you down by telling you you aren’t good enough. Find mentors and coaches who believe in you.
Only YOU can hold you back. Understand that you are the person who will slow you down the most, and actively choose not to do that. Find an internal sense of encouragement.

If You’re Stuck In a Job, Ask These Questions to Get You Moving Again

You’re replaceable to the job, is the job replaceable to you?
Are you staying out of loyalty? What are you actually loyal to (family, prosperity, stability, etc.)?
Are you worried you won’t find a better job? (Spoiler alert: you will!)
Why are you still there? What are they giving you to stay?

“Everybody’s not nice. Everybody’s not going to be nice to you. But you are NOT going to be scared, and they WILL respect you.” - Misha Ford

You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, Linda Yates brings you an amazing, moving conversation with Ruth Rathblott. Rathblott is a best-selling author, a TEDx and expert keynote speaker, and an award-winning leader in the nonprofit sector. Together, they delve into what it is like to hide the differences that make you who you are, and how to escape a cycle of perfectionism and shame in your personal and professional life.

Ruth Rathblott’s Background

Ruth was born with a limb difference, and wanting to fit in caused her to hide
Hiding became a pattern in her life, but it was exhausting and lonely
As a leader in business, a pattern of hiding and perfectionism caused her team to reflect that – her staff felt like they had to be perfect, and didn’t always feel comfortable enough to be themselves

3 Tips for Coming Out of Hiding

Understand the part of yourself that feels “different.” Ask yourself questions: what part of yourself are you trying to hide? What are the social and cultural ideas about it? How are they impacting you?
Find a place to share your difference. This can be a friend, partner, therapist, or even a journal - start to create space in your life for the part of yourself you’re hiding.
Connect with other people. Once you start sharing, you may find a community that you relate can relate to, and who share some of your experiences and challenges. A community can offer you support, and you can also become a role model for others.

Unhiding in Leadership

Vulnerability starts with leadership - if leaders are willing to share some things about themselves, they model this behavior for others
Empathy in the workplace can create a better, more informed work environment
This is different from “spilling”, or oversharing - unhiding is sharing when you are in need of support

“It starts with leadership. Leaders need to be the ones that model vulnerability. They need to be the ones that come with an understanding of their own differences and where they have felt different, that they need to share some parts of themselves that are vulnerable that they think may, in some ways, make them look weak, but it actually makes them look strong.” - Ruth Rathblott

Resources

Simple Abundance by Sarah Branbreathnach

Ruth Rathblott on LinkedIn

Ruth Rathblott on TEDx

Singlehandedly book

Ruthrathblott.com

You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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This week, the Int-HER-rupt podcast brings you a conversation between our host Linda Yates and women’s leadership expert Helen Appleby. They discuss some of the issues that face women in business, and how to find a role model or mentor who can guide you along your personal journey. Appleby has worked in six different countries, led a billion-dollar company, and is now an executive coach, author, and podcaster, sharing her journey with women all over the world.. Take a listen, and check our resources to connect with her - she just might be the role model you’re looking for.

Appleby’s Background

She has worked for and been in leadership roles in several major businesses, including GlaxoSmithKline, where she led the $1 billion Respiratory Health business in Consumer Healthcare.
She was performing well and attending courses to improve her skills, and began to notice that the challenges that women face in the industry are often different from the ones men face.
Her book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership, helps women to navigate their careers and meet their own definitions for success. She also now has a podcast, which continues the discussion.
She is now an Executive Coach and Womens’ Leadership Trainer, helping women step into their power.

Superhero, Role Model, or Mentor?

A role model is someone who can be quite distant from you, but who has achieved some of the same goals you have. You can learn from them by reading their work, listening to interviews, etc.
A mentor is someone who is two steps ahead of you in your goals. Ideally, you can speak to them personally and ask them questions. This is someone you learn from, who is helping you grow.
Yates and Appleby differentiate this from a superhero - this is someone who is so far ahead of you, the goals seem unattainable. It’s not helpful if the person you look up to is on a pedestal - role models and mentors should be relatable.

How do you find a role model or mentor?

Get clear about what you want in your career. Choose 3 ways you want to grow and develop.
Figure out who is two steps ahead of you on the journey. Find people who have done what you want to do, and try reaching out to them and asking them questions. Whether it’s a goal or a skill - find someone who has been there, and reach out to see if they’d be willing to meet with you.
It doesn’t need to be someone who has accomplished it all. Sometimes people who are much further along the journey can have a tough time mentoring because they forget what it’s like to be in your position. Talk to someone who can relate to you.

Quote: “On our own, we can figure stuff out… but if you do it by yourself, you can tend to stumble through. Having mentors, which are a bit closer than role models, can be a career accelerator.” - Helen Appleby

Check out the episode, where Yates and Appleby go into more depth about why role models are so important, what to do if your role model disappoints you, and what to do if you get interrupted!

Helen’s book, The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership, is available on Amazon. Check out her podcast of the same name and so much more at her website, HelenApplebyCoaching.com. You can also reach out to her on LinkedIn. You can reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to you. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this week’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, our host Linda Yates spent some time in a conversation with Monique Jenkins. Jenkins is an HR leader who has worked for the state of Georgia for a decade. Her infectious energy and leadership skills come through in this podcast as she discusses how she has recovered from various setbacks over her life and career, and what gave her the strength to stay motivated to achieve her goals.

Background

Jenkins enlisted in the army at 18 and planned to stay for four years, but ended up coming back to Mississippi and attending university. Leaving the army was an early setback that she overcame
She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Mississippi University for Women (the first public school for women!)
In 2009, Jenkins moved to Georgia and began working for the state supporting HR professionals

How Jenkins Recovered After a Major Professional Setback

After planning a major event, due to a hurricane, the conference had to be stopped. The entire team that had planned it had to quickly change focus, pivoting to ensuring the safety of all of the guests, and recovering from the loss of a fundraising opportunity
Jenkins had a strong team. They were all involved in decision-making, developing plans, and changing those plans.
After the event, Jenkins took some time to process and recover and encouraged her staff to do so as needed.
She also thought back through all the decisions that were made, and gave credit to her and her team for doing the best they could given the information they had at the time.

3 Tips for Motivating a Team After a Setback

Acknowledge their concerns. Then help them see the big picture, and have perspective on the larger goals you are all looking to achieve.
It’s okay to be vulnerable. Demonstrate to your team that it’s okay to take a step back and recover if that’s what they need to do. Create a safe environment where it’s “okay to not be okay.”
Remember that we are all human. Things are not always going to go our way - as Jenkins says in the episode, “the path is not always straight.” If the leader can remember that, they can remind the team of it as well.

Jenkins acknowledges that it’s not always easy to see the bigger picture right after a setback happens. She encourages people to process and feel the emotions of disappointment and sadness that may come with crises, large and small. But once those emotions have been processed, staying focused on the goal and carrying on is the next, and most important, step.

If you connected with this message and you’d like to reach out to Monique Jenkins, you can find her on LinkedIn. You can also reach out to Linda and let her know how this episode relates to the challenged you’ve faced. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In this episode of Int-HER-rupt, our host Linda Yates has a conversation with Cheryl Nye. They discuss the importance of trust and how to respond when trust is broken - whether in the workplace or in life.

Cheryl’s Background:

After dabbling in being an entrepreneur, Cheryl found her niche in corporate America. She is a data consultant and has been working with the same company for 17 years.
As a member of the Toastmasters Club Sensor Toast, she gained confidence in communication and leadership. This experience created the foundation for the work she does today.

The Importance of Trust

Nye calls trust the “foundation of all relationships” - whether at home or in the workplace.
Without trust, communication falls apart. If someone doesn’t trust their team leader to respect them, they won’t come forward if something is going wrong. Similarly, if a leader can’t trust members of their team to follow through on projects, the work will fall on a few individuals or on the leader themselves.
Once trust is lost, it can be hard to regain it, regardless of whether the person losing it is in a leadership position or not.

How to Recover From Broken Trust

Communication: If you have lost trust in someone in the workplace, communicate this with them as clearly and compassionately as possible. As Nye says in the episode, “Speak with love.” Understand the problem you’re having, and be up front about it without condescension or negativity.
Accountability: If you have broken someone’s trust, take responsibility. Take the time to listen and understand how the other person is feeling. Apologize and make a plan for how to improve - then follow through on that plan.
Nye and our host Linda Yates both place a lot of importance on leading with the heart. When time is taken to truly listen, understand and change, trust can be rebuilt, even when it takes a long time.

Learning to Trust YOURSELF Again

If you’ve been the one to make a mistake or mess up, it can be hard to believe in yourself and can cause more stress than is actually helpful.
Nye’s advice is to use the “5 Why’s” to assess the root cause of the problem. She gives the following example: If you’re chronically late to work, ask yourself why you’re late. If it’s because the meeting wasn’t in your calendar, ask why it wasn’t in the calendar. Why? Maybe the calendar is not set up in a way that is easy to use. Knowing this, you can seek out a new calendar to try. Once you reach the root cause, you can turn it into action.
Practice trusting your instincts. Listen to your gut - it is often right. Ask yourself how you feel about a stressful situation, and really listen to yourself.
Finally, take a step back. Zoom out. Listen to others as well, and see how they’re responding to you. Self-reflection is a huge part of self-improvement, and Nye attributes this skill to helping her grow and develop her interpersonal communication skills to where they are today.

Trust in the workplace is what helps create the bonds that makes a team strong. Without healthy communication and the knowledge that fellow teammates will follow through, a team will always suffer and lose their ability to work cohesively. If that trust is broken, accountability and actively listening can create a safe environment where trust can be rebuilt.

If this episode connected with you, reach out to Linda and let her know. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today’s episode of the IntHERrupt podcast, our host Linda Yates meets with LaTrelle Porter to discuss ageism in the workplace, and how to effectively combat it.

Porter’s Background

Porter was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia and has a LONG background in education. She has several degrees, ranging from bachelor’s degrees in management and HR, to her PhD in management.
She currently works for the local government in Savannah. Porter owns a bakery business and also is involved in several different organizations.
You can read more about her here: https://www.savannahga.gov/directory.aspx?EID=161

Ageism in the Workplace

Porter defines ageism as discrimination usually, but not always, against older people in the workplace. Sometimes it’s subtle and other times it’s blatant. Specifically, Porter finds that people over 40 are the targets of ageism, and expects ageism to grow in the next few years.
The first step to combating ageism is: Understanding different perspectives and biases. Everyone carries biases, whether we realize it or not. Understanding these biases is the first step in overcoming them. Everyone brings something to the table, regardless of their age.
The second step is: Genuine conversation. Talk to others and TRULY listen to them. Learn their differences so you can better understand their point of view. This will help you avoid discriminating against them.
Older people can learn the ins and outs of technology and social media from younger generations and coworkers.
Younger people, meanwhile, can learn things like institutional knowledge and processes from older coworkers.

Leading Multigenerational Teams

When you’re leading a team made up of multiple age groups, there are some KEY points that Porter suggests.
Understand your leadership style and the leadership style of your team. Everyone has a different leadership style. Understanding how your team members follow is KEY in actually being able to lead them.
Be genuine. Understand your team members and offer them ALL the same opportunities. Don’t view your team members as that, team members. Instead, view and understand them as individuals.

Ageism is a HUGE potential detriment in the workplace. Understanding it is the first step in combating it. Take these tips and use them to prevent ageism in your team. That way, you’ll ENSURE you’re all working at maximum efficiency.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, our host Linda Yates goes over values and their importance for leaders as the new year begins.

What are your values?
All a value refers to are things that are IMPORTANT to you. It could be your health, your family, your career. Anything that holds significance to you and carries a lot of weight is one of your values. The first step in utilizing them as a leader is identifying them.
Identify between 3 and 5 of your values and WRITE THEM DOWN. Now that they’re written down, think, are there ANY of them that you could live without? If there are, then that’s not a high value.
After that, rank your values. Which one is the MOST important to you? How about the LEAST important?
Why are values important?
Your values determine what goals you reach, and how you reach them. If your values do NOT align with your goals, then you won’t hit that goal! Your goals and values HAVE to align for you to reach the outcome you’re wanting.
Values also help teams work together and make decisions together. If you’re faced with a difficult situation or dilemma, you can ALWAYS fall back onto your values to help you move forwards.
As a leader, values help you lead your team as well. With a strong, good, set of core values in place your team either WILL or WILL NOT align with those values. For the team members that don’t align with your values, you can either help them realign or find a new team member who does align.
Changing values
Your CORE VALUES are designed to help you reach your goals. If your values don’t help you reach those goals, then you CAN change them.
A tip that Linda learned was having a personal mission statement. Having a personal mission statement helps to create unity between you and your team members. Everyone knows WHAT the goal is and can together WORK towards that goal.

Identify your values and utilize them. Values are CRITICAL for leaders to not only help themselves, but their ENTIRE TEAM work together towards their goals.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, our host Linda talks with Jordan LaSalle on how you can be comfortable with your particular leadership style.

Meet your team member instead of forcing them to come to you

Jordan has a background with teaching, and one VITAL thing she kept in mind throughout her career is: Meet the STUDENT instead of forcing the student to meet her. People learn and work differently, so if you want to effectively teach, or lead, you have to go to whoever you’re in charge of.
Emotional intelligence is key to this. Be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your team, or in Jordan’s case students, and play to their strengths. Optimize things FOR your team so you can effectively work.

Be authentic and build a genuine relationship with the people you’re leading

After she worked in teaching, Jordan transitioned to being the vice president of education at her school. Just like she had done with her students, she focused on being GENUINE with the people under her.
Jordan did an exercise where she had everyone she worked with create a “user manual.”. The manual asked a few questions: What brings out the best in me, what brings out the worst in me, and here’s how to work most effectively with me. Not only does this build a relationship between you and your workers, but it also gives you an idea of HOW to effectively lead and work with them.

Understand your role in the team, as well as the role of everyone else

Jordan got her position while the pandemic was just beginning. Her, along with her team members, were all worried about the future and what direction the team would be heading in.
You have to remember: The job of your teammates is not to bear your weight. You, as a leader, are supposed to be a pillar and source of STRENGTH for your team. Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t rely on them. But focus on supporting your TEAM instead of having your team support you.

Recognize other people’s expertise

You may be the leader of a group or business, yes, but you’re not omnipotent.
In Jordan’s career, she works with a board of experts and meets with them frequently. Although she is in a HIGHER position than the other board members, she also recognizes and respects their insight. Jordan isn’t directly involved in EVERYTHING, so listening to the other board members and taking their insights into account helps her run things smoothly.

Don’t be afraid of vulnerability

There’s a common, and unfortunate, misconception that leaders have to ALWAYS be strong and NEVER show weakness or vulnerabilities. The issue with this, again, is not being genuine.
Nobody is perfect. There is no perfect leader or team member. Instead of CONSTANTLY chasing after perfection, chase after progress. Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerabilities! One tool Jordan uses are language cues. Saying things like “I’m going out on a limb” shows you’re not completely certain about what you’re going to say, but also makes you more human and genuine.

The final three points

Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
Embrace who you truly are.
Be able to find humor in yourself and in situations.

Take all of these considerations in mind to become a better leader, and connect more with your team.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In your work and life dealing with different personalities can be a challenge. How you are able to relate and deepen the relationship will be a leadership trait that will always serve you. In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Amie Migirova owner and lead stylist of Emma Justine Color & Extension Lounge discussing to relate and communicate with a variety of personalities.

Building rapport

Starting out can be difficult.
Being an introverted can be overcome in building rapport.
Ask questions.
Quiet appointments are trending in salons right now to reduce stress.
Variety of ways to build rapport with different personalites.
Sometimes you have to dig deeper and step out of your comfort zone.

Tips on relating to others

Keeping the conversation “light” when the conversation is stalled.
Staying positive when someone is negative.
Bring your best table to the interaction.
Get the other person to talk about themselves.

Leading a team

Get training to develop your and your team’s communication skills.
Strive to grow constantly.
Asking yourself how you can serve your team.
Lead by example.
Balance between being the leader and friend.
Look for a peer group in your industry or common role.
Caring for your team.

“A negative person doesn’t always love negative people.” – Amie Migirova

For more content and information from Amie, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website at https://emmajustinesalon.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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It can be easy to forget the potential you have. Self-doubt, adversity, and outside opinions can all take a toll. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Ashley Winston, international speaker, author and business advisor to explore how to realize your potential.

Life happens

Often, we are headed one direction then we feel called to pivot.
Don’t buy into other people’s perspective of you – follow your heart.
Pursuing God opened the doors for Ashley to realize her true potential and calling.

Overcoming doubts

Root of doubt is fear.
Be cautious of the stories you are telling yourself.
Whatever you feed will lead.
Faith is rooted in love.

Changing your story

We have a tendency to relive what happened in our childhood if we don’t take steps to acknowledge and heal.
You can decide to empower yourself.
Removing the mask, you put on to the world will allow you to be authentic and reach your potential.
Create an environment for yourself that is conducive to growth.
Make sure you have the right people in your tribe that you can trust.

“Fear holds us back from realizing our potential” – Ashley Winston

For more content and information from Ashley, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website at www.TheAshleyWinston.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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It can be easy to forget the potential you have. Self-doubt, adversity, and outside opinions can all take a toll. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Ashley Winston, international speaker, author and business advisor to explore how to realize your potential.

Life happens

Often, we are headed one direction then we feel called to pivot.
Don’t buy into other people’s perspective of you – follow your heart.
Pursuing God opened the doors for Ashley to realize her true potential and calling.

Overcoming doubts

Root of doubt is fear.
Be cautious of the stories you are telling yourself.
Whatever you feed will lead.
Faith is rooted in love.

Changing your story

We have a tendency to relive what happened in our childhood if we don’t take steps to acknowledge and heal.
You can decide to empower yourself.
Removing the mask, you put on to the world will allow you to be authentic and reach your potential.
Create an environment for yourself that is conducive to growth.
Make sure you have the right people in your tribe that you can trust.

“Fear holds us back from realizing our potential” – Ashley Winston

For more content and information from Ashley, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website at www.TheAshleyWinston.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda speaks with author, speaker, and consultant, Rita Ernst. They discuss the best ways to deal with micromanagers, how to deal with your own micromanager tendencies and positive leadership traits.

What is a micromanager?

Management on a continuum. A micromanager dictates and controls at an obsessive level.
3 things that you need to feel fulfilled in the workplace are mastery, autonomy, and belonging. Micromanagers take away your autonomy and challenge your competence.
You can better deal with a micromanager by understanding their psychological driver, asking them for what you need, and being persistently patient.

How do you deal with your own micromanager tendencies?

Be vulnerable with yourself and find your own psychological driver.
Give your team permission to name when you are falling into micromanager tendencies.
Ask for more of what you need from your team.

Best leadership traits

Rita believes that the best leadership traits are listening, questioning/curiosity, and empathy.

Has Rita ever been interrupted?

Rita was interrupted when she took time off of work to stay at home and take care of her daughter. It was difficult for her to take time away from her career.
When Rita is being interrupted she remembers her core values and what is personally important to her.

Episode Resources

If you want to hear more from Rita check out her website.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Youtube, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda speaks with author, speaker, and consultant, Rita Ernst. They discuss the best ways to deal with micromanagers, how to deal with your own micromanager tendencies and positive leadership traits.

What is a micromanager?

Management on a continuum. A micromanager dictates and controls at an obsessive level.
3 things that you need to feel fulfilled in the workplace are mastery, autonomy, and belonging. Micromanagers take away your autonomy and challenge your competence.
You can better deal with a micromanager by understanding their psychological driver, asking them for what you need, and being persistently patient.

How do you deal with your own micromanager tendencies?

Be vulnerable with yourself and find your own psychological driver.
Give your team permission to name when you are falling into micromanager tendencies.
Ask for more of what you need from your team.

Best leadership traits

Rita believes that the best leadership traits are listening, questioning/curiosity, and empathy.

Has Rita ever been interrupted?

Rita was interrupted when she took time off of work to stay at home and take care of her daughter. It was difficult for her to take time away from her career.
When Rita is being interrupted she remembers her core values and what is personally important to her.

Episode Resources

If you want to hear more from Rita check out her website.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Youtube, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt our host, Linda Yates talks about showing gratitude as a leader. She recounts experiences from her childhood, career, and personal life when others have shown her gratitude. Linda also gives you her three “P’s” of gratitude.

Personal, Present, and Positive

As you are showing gratitude, make it personal by using an individual's name. Try to show gratitude for things that are presently happening and always keep it positive. Remember that light breeds light! We can cancel out the negativity and harshness around us by showing gratitude.

Linda challenges you to write down what you are grateful for when you are having discouraging moments in your life. There is power in putting something in writing.

Lastly, Linda wants to thank you, the listener!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Youtube, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, our host, Linda Yates, talks with marketing expert, Cynthia Beckles, about how to balance your time as a leader in a volunteer organization.

Why is volunteering important?

Cynthia has found volunteering as a healthy outlet away from her job to find fulfillment and make a real difference.
She has learned how to inspire a shared vision and treat everyone involved with respect.

How can you motivate volunteers that aren’t measuring up?

Take the time to meet with them, without singling them out, and find out if their current position isn’t a good fit. Move them to a different position that will help them to find their ‘why’.
Cynthia still remembers the advice of a mentor from 21 years ago, a good mentor can motivate someone to stay and grow.

How do you manage your job, life, and volunteer work?

Cynthia finds common ground within the different aspects of her life and is able to compartmentalize them.
Have a plan and do an evaluation afterward.

What does Cynthia wish she’d known?

Make sure that everyone knows what is going on and make sure that people realize this is not their job, it's a volunteer effort.
The minute volunteering feels like a job, that’s when you start losing people. Acknowledge your volunteers and give them special recognition.
Make sure the volunteers are getting what they need.

Has Cynthia been interrupted?

The pandemic interrupted Cynthia’s life and forced her to learn more about digital marketing.
Cynthia views interruptions as an opportunity to learn new skills and make new connections.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Youtube, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Sometimes, we get stuck in a cycle where we burn out quickly. In this episode, Jenessa Fillipi talks about the value of finding meaningful work even if you don’t get paid.

Getting to know Jenessa Fillipi * Jenessa Fillipi has been a mother of four and an elementary counselor for the last 15 years. Aside from that, Jenessa is the executive director of Down Home Nonprofit in Fargo, North Dakota. * Jennesa and her husband have very different talents. Her husband is a very skilled handyman. He has his own business and he can take about anything apart and put it back together. * Despite the different careers, both Jenessa and her husband love connecting with people. Over the years, they’ve talked about how they can utilize his gift in handiwork and construction and her love for design and transforming a space into something that people could love. * Three years ago, Jenessa felt the stir to do something else. She felt that there was still something missing in her life. Along with her husband, they dug deeper and asked for the input of their kids on what makes a house a home. They realized then that they could use their talents for bigger purposes. There are thousands of men, women, and children in the Fargo community that are sleeping on the floor. This was how Down Home came to life.

The Work-Life Harmony * Jenessa figured that for her to feel harmonized, she needed to draw close to one who is greater than herself. * In both her life and her work, she gives 110% of her effort. She learned to take deep breaths and she learned to let go of other tasks to focus her mind on the things that she wanted and needed to be good at. * As an elementary school counselor, she doesn't have to grade papers. There is still paperwork but that doesn't include grading the children’s work. * In Renata Bower’s book, Free to B., Jenessa’s biggest take is that we all have unique gifts and talents that we’re good at. * It’s important to recognize the things you’re good at instead of focusing on the things that you’re not good at. * Another lesson that Jennesa learned is that mistakes have their purpose, too. It’s critical that you give yourself grace when you make mistakes, especially when you’re not getting paid or you’re not paid well. You can’t lose your way because that would keep you from moving forward. * Make sure that you provide time for yourself. Sometimes, when we’re too passionate about something, we get caught up and it affects other relationships. * Take the time to invest in the people around you: your family, spouse, and children.

Challenges today * Jenessa is now looking at a transition this year. It’s difficult to let go of a career she has invested in for the last 15 years and focus her time on Down Home. * To overcome the challenge, she’s putting more effort into helping fill the gap within the community. They invite more people into the Down Home family and maximize their resources to help more needy people. * Jenessa’s mother has been a huge help to them and to Down Home. There have been several people behind the scene who are helping Jenessa in creating Down Home. * Life is full of interruptions but when these things happen, she makes sure that she puts up a plan as best as she can. * She’s also trying to prioritize the interruptions, whether it’s the kids when she’s trying to do something or talking to people over video calls.

“The Value of Finding Meaningful Work (Even if You Don’t Get Paid for it)” episode resources Check out and follow Jenessa Fillipi on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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A mentor can guide you and help you learn from the mistakes that they have already made. On today’s episode of Interrupt, Linda talks with Dethra Giles, the CEO of Execuprep, about how to find a mentor that is right for you. They discuss what mentors are, how they have impacted Dethra's career, how to find the right mentor and more.

What is a mentor?

Dethra defines a mentor as a person that can allow their hindsight to be your foresight with their mental, spiritual, and even financial support.
Mentors need to understand their commitment and mentees need to understand what they are asking of their mentor.
Before you ask someone to be your mentor, ask yourself “Am I loan-worthy?”
The mentor and the mentee need to make sure that it is a good fit.

How have mentors impacted Dethra and her career?

Mentors have opened doors for her, given her direction, and stopped her from going in the wrong direction.
She believes that her mistakes have decreased significantly because of her mentors.

How can you find the right mentor?

It’s trial and error. We are often afraid to mess up or pick the wrong person. In the presence of fear, we default to inactivity.
Be very clear about the criteria that you want and don’t want.
You should always be on the lookout for a mentor so that you decrease the number of mistakes that you will make in your career.

When should you change mentors?

Sometimes the mentor relationship needs to change and you can’t ignore that.
The shifting of a mentor relationship happens quite often. Dethra has had many mentors who shifted into colleagues.
A mentorship can become toxic if the information starts to become detrimental to your career, intentionally or unintentionally.
A mentor is no longer needed if the gap they were filling has now been filled. Start with the end in mind. Define what success looks like, how you know when to end your relationship, and what the end will look like.

How can you be a better mentor?

Identify what you have to offer. Before Dethra took on her first mentee she made a checklist of what she had to offer.
Be honest about the amount of time you have to commit to a mentee.

When has Dethra been interrupted?

Dethra believes that all interruptions are not created equal, they are not all bad.
Throughout her career, Dethra had children, a huge but great interruption.
She also had unplanned interruptions, including when she came to the realization that her work did not speak for her. It took her a minute to accept that and change her belief system.

Dethra’s biggest piece of advice?

Fail. If failure is not an option, you will only try things that you are 100% certain will be successful at. Everything you want is outside of where you are comfortable.
Fail often, fail fast, and recover.

For more content from Dethra, check out her podcast and website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Today is the 100th episode of IntHERrupt! Doing this podcast has been a great gift to Linda, she has learned and been impacted by all the guests she has had on the show. On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda shares a few of her own interruptions including, losing her job, moving across the county multiple times, and the loss of her parents. Linda strongly encourages you to find joy in your interruptions and to look back on your life and celebrate the things that you have accomplished.

Thank you for listening to the show and allowing us to create 100 episodes!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt Linda talks with Sindy Warren about overcoming perfectionism and how to let go and find freedom. Sindy is a lawyer turned life and business coach. She empowers women to become leaders in their own lives, both personally and professionally. In addition, she is an expert in helping women start and grow side hustles so they can experience the freedom that comes from being their own boss.

What is perfectionism?

Perfectionism is the illusion that if you do things well enough, then you will be good enough. It’s a thought-error that makes us believe if we could only be better in some way then we would be a more valuable person.
It comes from a disbelief in our own value.

How does perfectionism get in people's way?

It results in procrastination. When individuals believe something is not good enough or perfect enough they avoid moving forward.
For Sindy, it creates internal stress and is overwhelming.
Sometimes perfectionism can positively serve up until a point, but ultimately it won’t serve you.

Why do we associate perfectionism with not being good enough?

For many of us it was how we were raised. We also see in current marketing trends companies that advertise you’ll be happy when blank happens.
Sindy tells many of her clients that “Done is better than perfect”.

How can you overcome perfectionism?

Recognize it and then ask yourself if your perfectionist tendencies are positively serving you.
Start to question your perfectionist thoughts and realize that you are worthy and valuable the way you are, failures included.

Is failure bad?

Failure is not bad but feels bad in the moment. Failure is inevitable.
Success without failure doesn’t exist.

What would Sindy say to those aspiring for leadership?

It begins in your mind.
Write out your strengths and make the case that you should be awarded this leadership role.
Sindy has noticed that when her clients see their strengths written out, they believe it and their confidence increases.

What happens if you get rejected?

Rejection is really hard to deal with, but similar to failure, it is inevitable.
Sindy suggests that you hold a safe space for yourself to sit in the feeling of rejection. Then go back and discern why this happened and what to do about it.

How does Sindy let go?

She sits with her rejection and failure and allows herself time to process it.
Zoom the camera lens out and remember what is really important and why. Sometimes the things that really hurt in the moment, at the end of the day, don’t matter that much.
Practice thought-work. What do we believe to be true about ourselves? Practice believing positive things about yourself.

How has Sindy found freedom in letting go?

When she stepped off the path of traditional law firm life, she found freedom in creating her own path and defining for herself what success would look like.

Has Sindy been interrupted?

Sindy recently made the decision to leave her stable job and go all-in on creating a coaching business.
It was a less secure option, but it is her passion and she is happy with the decision she made.

For more content and information from Sindy, visit her website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda chats with Sabrena Jay-Songowa. Since founding SJI in 2016, Consultant and Coach Sabrena Jay-Songowa has helped individuals break free from defeated mindsets in order to allow true purpose and fulfillment to shine through.

Why do women in particular struggle with promoting themselves?

Women have many roles such as mother, wife, and employee
When it comes to promoting yourself, a lot of women don’t know who they are personally.

What advice does Sabrena have for those trying to figure out who they are?

We are ever-changing, so reassess who you are and your strengths and weaknesses.
Think about how you can best maximize who you are.

What has Sabrena done in her career to self-promote?

Network. Sabrena holds free marketing and coaching workshops.
She hosts events in her community
She utilizes social media and provides value to those around her.

What does Sabrena suggest to individuals who are looking for that next promotion?

Take initiative.
Go the extra mile so that you are recognized for what you are good at.

How can you feel confident when you aren’t feeling confident?

Sabrena has struggled with confidence a lot throughout her career.
Before meetings, she held ‘power poses’ and reminded herself that she deserved to be there.
She educates herself on what she is working on.

Tips to build confidence

Reading - knowledge is power
Remind yourself of your past successes.
Make sure you are passionate about what you are working on.

How should you ask for a raise?

Keep a record of all your successes.
If you know that you are going above and beyond, you deserve to be paid for it.

Has Sabrena ever been interrupted?

Sabrena was the only woman in a leadership position in her company.
When she was interrupted during meetings she would acknowledge their input but would always stand her ground.
Sabrena simply suggests “Be bold”.

Three leadership tips from Sabrena

Let yourself off the hook. Don’t hold yourself to an unrealistic standard.
Be open-minded.
Always be learning.

For more content and information from Sabrena, visit her website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Office politics can oftentimes be difficult to navigate. On today’s episode of IntHERrupt Linda talks with Sally Creel Roberts, the CHRO for NavCare, about how to navigate office politics. Sally has been in the field of HR for over 25 years. She is passionate about people, processes, and conflict resolution. She believes true leaders serve their team and succeed only when their team does.

What is politics in the workplace?

From Sally's perspective, she thinks about influence, power, perspective, alliances, and even backstabbing.
Generally, most of us think negatively about office politics.

Are office politics ever positive?

Often people who have commonalities group together, and that can be important for them to have their voices heard.
If you listen and observe, office politics can sometimes be positive

How should we listen and observe?

From Sally's HR perspective, it is important to be relatable.
Be among your team and listen to things they are not formally telling you.

Can you avoid office politics?

You can navigate politics, but you can’t avoid it.
People have a tendency to have their own tribe, it’s human nature.

How has negative office politics affected Sally?

Being a woman in a leadership role, she has experienced times where she has been excluded from going to lunch or making a decision.
She has felt sabotaged and not appreciated.
She learned to not get mad, and instead say “I’m not sure I was part of that discussion, can you catch me up on it?”

How has positive office politics affected Sally?

Office politics has made Sally aware that she needs to communicate and be transparent.
Sally suggests that when you are making decisions, always include people who are going to be impacted.
Sally has learned that it is important to listen to concerns because people appreciate being heard.

How does Sally navigate office politics?

Keep a level head, and try to understand someone’s perspective because their perspective is their truth.
Know your culture without being judgemental.
If you are willing to compromise for the best outcome, people are going to listen.

How do you deal with office cliques?

Sally likes to get to know all the employees. She recognizes that she might not be a part of the clique but expresses interest and isn’t scared to interact with them.
She shows interest in everyone.

What would Sally say to women who want to be in a leadership role?

Know your industry. Read articles, look things up, and come to meetings prepared to provide valuable input.
Be willing to learn, listen, and invest the time.
Communicate that you would like to do something more. Take on projects and volunteer.

Has Sally ever been interrupted?

Yes! There have been points in her career where she thought she was doing well but didn’t get noticed or appreciated.
She has responded by graciously accepting feedback, respecting authority, and learning from the situation.

For more content and information from Sally, connect with her on Linkedin. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today's special episode of IntHERrupt, Linda reflects on the incredible life of Queen Elizabeth. Linda shares with us five valuable leadership lessons that we can learn from The Queen and her 70-year reign.

Lead by example
The Queen chose to work a 40-hour week up until the end of her life.
She kept engaged and consistently contributed.
Linda saw the same example in her grandfather who worked up until his death at age 87.
Put the team before yourself
Being the boss isn’t the person who shouts the loudest or demands the most.
Queen Elizabeth was subtle and mindful in her leadership.
She demonstrated quiet strength.
Be personal as well as professional
Queen Elizabeth had a reputation for reaching out to people personally.
She personally visited 52 of the 54 commonwealth states.
Balance your interventions
Oftentimes if a leader speaks first, their team will follow along no matter what.
A great leader takes in everyone's ideas before moving forward.
Accepting and taking the lead on change
The Queen accepted major global changes such as decolonization and a smaller British role in the world. She accepted these changes with dignity.
Queen Elizabeth televised her coronation in 1953 despite the objection of Winston Churchill.

These five powerful lessons that Linda has learned from the life of Queen Elizabeth will hopefully inspire you. Linda invites us to think of the people in our lives who have similar leadership qualities. We each have strengths waiting for us to uncover.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When you don't get your way, how do you move on? On today’s Episode of IntHERrupt Leslie talks with Theresa Green Davis, a strategic HR project manager with over 30 years of work experience, about what to do when things don’t go your way.

When has Theresa not gotten her way?

Theresa has been a part of many groups that have decided to go about things differently than she would have liked.
She tells us that it’s not always about having it your way - it's about being collaborative and inspiring others in the pursuit of a particular goal.
She advises us to be open to change and work towards having open communication with your team.
Know the people you are working with, but don’t define them by their personalities.

How do you move on when you don’t get your way?

Know yourself. Be clear about what your goals and expectations are in your career and in your personal life.
Make an action plan and base your decisions off of that.
Don’t make impulsive decisions based on emotion and don’t point fingers.

When should you stand your ground?

Again, know yourself.
Identify what you are flexible on and what you can’t be flexible on.
Theresa will not jeopardize her integrity for anyone or anything.

How can you let go and move on?

Allow yourself to grieve but set a time limit for yourself. Once you’ve grieved, create a plan for how to move forward.
Call on family and friends for support.
Lift up others around you.

What tips does Theresa have to help people feel empowered?

Theresa encourages everyone to have a strong relationship with the Lord. Her relationship with the Lord has brought her peace in difficult moments.
While you are in a good place, create a wellness plan. Identify your go-to people and specific activities that help you feel empowered and write them down.

How does Theresa deal with being interrupted?

Theresa relies on her go-to people.
She knows herself and tries to learn from the experience.
Theresa says “There is nothing you can’t get past. There is always something on the other side.”

For more content and information from Theresa, connect with her on Linkedin. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Having a difference of opinion is not a matter of if but a matter of when. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda talks with a long-time consultant, Tammy J. Bond, to learn how to deal with conflict and transform dysfunctional teams into high-performing teams.

What makes a high-performing team?

The leader and their ability to communicate effectively have a large influence on the ability of the team to be high performing. Tammy often hears from organizations that a lack of communication is the number one issue they are facing.
The most effective teams know how to communicate and they have a leader who rolls up their sleeves and does the work with them. They display a collaborative style of leadership.
A good leader has taken the time to understand their team members' motivations and leads around that. They create a shared vision with their teams.

What should you do when a difference of opinion arises?

We have an opportunity, when going into conflict, to hold people in the highest regard. Tammy suggests entering conflict believing the best in the other individuals.
When destructive conflict happens we should pause the conversation and figure out the real purpose of what we are trying to accomplish.
Leave personal matters aside.

How do you move forward in a dysfunctional team?

It starts with the leader.
Determine a shared goal and make sure everyone understands their part in how to get there.
When conflict comes up, it's not about I'm right and you're wrong - it's about finding a consensus.
Agree to commit to not throwing anyone under the bus - the agreed-upon plan is everyone's plan.
Keep the goal in mind. Everyone needs to be rowing in the same direction.

How can differences of opinion make an individual more successful?

Oftentimes when an individual has a difference of opinion they are creative and looking for opportunities to do things differently.
They have bold curiosity and they ask what else can we do?
Give yourself a time limit to be curious.

What is the best team that Tammy has worked on?

The best was also the worst at the same time.
The team was aligned to making changes but the CEO was conflict avoidant. The team then had to figure out how to creatively solve the problem.
They were collaborative but clear on what the goal was.

Tammy's advice to people who feel stuck

Identify your core values. This is where our decision-making comes from.
Tammy’s core values are family, integrity, and self-respect.
Tammy recognized that she was in an environment where her core values were not being met and so she changed course.

How has Tammy overcome interruption?

When her daughter was diagnosed with a severe mental illness, Tammy put her business on pause to take care of her family.
It was difficult, but it aligned with her core values and her family needed her.

For more content and information from Tammy, connect with her on Linkedin, visit her company website at tammyjbond.com, and check out her book Playing In The Sandbox. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Why can it be hard for people to accept praise and be proud of our work? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda shares her thoughts on how women, and really anyone, can accept praise with grace and poise.

Mitigating compliments from those around you is a common mistake.

In Linda’s past career, she distanced herself from compliments her coworkers, friends, and listeners shared.
However, she learned you need to be proud of your work and accept the acknowledgment you deserve.
Be mindful of your critical mentality because it can prevent you from being proud of your work.

Do you find it easy to accept praise, or do you struggle?

Perhaps you have difficulty believing what others say and project that lack of confidence onto others.
Give yourself space to acknowledge yourself, your work, and the effort you’ve put into your life.
If you were taught to minimalize your thoughts as a child, you need an interruption in thinking; you have the power to impact your life, inspire others, and reach your goals.
Track how you feel after listening to the people and media around you. Which ones fill you with inspiration, hope, and power? Conversely, which ones cause anxiety and angst?

Being thankful for yourself and your life is an increasingly difficult task, but remember to reward and congratulate yourself for the work, dedication, and passion you bring to your work and relationships.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Collaborating with the C-suite can be a challenging and frustrating task. So how can you handle those interactions in a positive and healthy way? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the Founder of Schulz Business SELLutions, Greta Schulz, to learn to communicate, collaborate, and interact with C-suite executives (and really anyone in leadership.)

Let’s face it; the C-suite can be intimidating:

Remember, they’re the same people we are. Yes, they’re intimidating, but (just like anyone else) they like to talk about themselves.
When dealing with decision-makers, know enough about them to interact positively and in a well-informed way.
Ask them questions, learn about them, and be willing to understand their insights about their position and company to show intelligence and empathy.

Overcoming fear and intimidation:

The more information you have, the better you’ll feel.
Come prepared to a conversation, read everything you can, and give yourself time to find ‘neutral’ questions and comments that are insightful but not too personal.
If you can use knowledge and research to ask good questions, the decision-maker will feel elevated and have greater respect for you.

Overcoming societal mannerisms:

When Greta meets other women, they sometimes put themselves at a disadvantage with mannerisms and body language.
Look people in the eyes, smile, and have a firm handshake. That’s perfectly acceptable for a woman to do.
Don’t ‘be male,’ but ensure you are seen as confident.

Asking for feedback from leadership:

If you’re unsure why someone was given a promotion over you, set up an appointment with the decision-maker to ask for feedback.
Don’t work in a position expecting someone to give you a raise if you work hard. Be prepared to advocate for yourself and get what you deserve.
When asking for feedback, don’t focus on what you’ve done. Instead, focus on where you want to go and what you need to improve on to get there.

For more information and content from Greta, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her website www.schulzbusiness.com/. Greta is also launching a new podcast! Tune into Pivot, available on her website soon!

For more content and information from Jaime, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re a full-time in-person professional or a fully remote employee working exclusively from the comfort of your couch, you still might encounter that chatty coworker who prevents you from getting everything you need done. So how do you interact with those people, maintain relationships, and create healthy boundaries? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, guest Jaime Russ discusses how she handles chatty coworkers and sets those limits.

Stopping a chatty coworker can be awkward and frustrating. How do you deal with it?

Remember, we’re dealing with humans, and everyone is slightly different.
There are neurodivergent people, people dealing with external or internal issues, and other factors that might influence the best response.
In general, set a healthy boundary and enforce it.
Have a sense of self-awareness and compassion for the people you work alongside.
Allow space for everyone while protecting your own.

Boundaries depend on the work environment (both physical and political.)

Team rules might dictate the best action - respect blocked-off schedules, avoid those wearing headphones, or whatever it is for your company.
If you don’t want to break someone’s boundary, ask them out for coffee or for a later meeting to discuss the matter with them.
If you work virtually, explain exactly when you need the privacy and isolation necessary for your work.
Visual cues can be difficult to determine through virtual meetings, so rely on verbal cues.
Use the tools available on your platform of choice, whether Zoom, Meet, or Slack, to show when you’re available for interruptions and meetings.

Why do people get overly chatty at the workplace?

Going from working full-time in an office to remote, Jaime realizes she has extra social capital when she stays at home.
We are social creatures; even introverts like Jaime enjoy interacting with others.
Having time to connect with others is something everyone enjoys (though at varying levels.)
Sometimes we can’t see a solution until we have a coworker or another person listen to the ideas and the conversation.
When in team meetings, Jaime prefaces that she likes to talk and is welcome to say they don’t have time. It gives people space to feel comfortable.

Discouraging the chatter:

Pay attention to the mannerisms of those around you.
Be direct if you’ve communicated and reminded someone of your boundaries and they ignore them. Explain that you’re under time pressure and set a time in the future exclusively for you and that person to engage.
Escalate the firmness if needed to carve space for yourself. When you start dictating those spaces, people pick up on those cues.

For more content and information from Jaime, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Virtual teams are everywhere in the post-pandemic professional world. While creating a virtual team is easy, managing and maintaining the relationships within those teams can be challenging. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Amy Hanlon, president and founder of BlueMeta Design, to learn how she leads her virtual teams successfully.

When working from home, find a workspace that works for you.

Amy works best in a standard office setting. However, other members of her team prefer their living room couch or a coffee shop. It all depends on personal preference.
Everyone works differently, and remote leaders need to encourage that.

Challenges to virtual teams:

The lack of personal connections within the workplace can make it difficult for many people.
Amy’s team conducts standup meetings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to discuss company updates, staff workload, or if there are any issues.
Encouraging a team (as a leader) will set the environment and precedent for a collaborative atmosphere that helps people accomplish their virtual work.
To make the virtual workplace more interesting, add elements of fun. For example, each Friday, a different member of her team gets to ask random icebreaker questions to encourage people to relax.

Conducting virtual performance evaluations:

Communication is paramount, whether through slack, zoom call, or scheduled meetings down the line.
Maintaining communication will keep everyone informed, motivated, and on-task to accomplish company goals.
Amy’s team utilizes different softwares for HR and other departments to track timesheets, PTO, annual reviews and preestablished KPIs.

Helping underperforming employees:

Amy’s company uses carefully logged timesheets to show clients where their money is going.
Because her team is composed of contractors, she makes sure they include detailed logs explaining how they allocated their time.
The great thing about working remotely is the flexibility of hours. People can work wherever and at whatever time. As long as projects get done, Amy is happy.

For more content and information from Amy, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website at bluemetadesign.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As we kick off season seven of IntHerrupt, Linda uses the premiere episode to share her leadership strategies, insights, and tips for leaders to implement. Today’s topic focuses on the importance of asking powerful questions to ourselves and others.

Questions have power:

In many business settings, the person asking questions is the person considered confident. However, this is only when you listen to the answer.
When Linda was in a prior leadership position, part of her process was to meet within the firm and deeply understand everyone in their roles. In that position, Linda learned just how powerful questions could be.
Using different indexes and questionnaires is a great metric to gauge new understandings and new perspectives.

Don’t just ask questions; ask questions the right way:

Closed-ended questions have a definite, (typically) simple answer. (The only closed-ended question asked on this show is “have you ever been interrupted?”)
Asking closed-ended questions will not give you an extended dialogue. However, for a direct commitment, closed-ended questions can be helpful.
Open-ended questions allow us to foster more profound insights and stronger relationships.
“What” and “how” are some of the most impactful questions you can ask.
Write your questions on paper (or your notes app) to keep them at the forefront of your mind.

Determining the answer:

Give thoughtful questions thoughtful answers. If you need more time to think of a response to a given question, allow yourself to think first.
Ask clarifying questions to refine your answer; you’ll come across as interested, competent, and thoughtful.
This podcast is all about asking questions to women leaders. What is important to you? How can you achieve what’s important to you?
By asking questions, processing answers, and hearing yourself say those answers out loud, you’ll be more focused on moving forward with your goals.

Today’s final takeaway? You’re ultimately in control of your actions, choices, and decisions. If there is something you want to change in your life, altering your reaction is critical to being the leader you’re capable of being.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How we dress is a big part of how we are perceived and treated in the workplace, especially as you climb the corporate ladder. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Sharon Kornstein to discuss dressing for success, explaining how anyone can dress to impress, from the entry-level analyst to a C-Suite executive.

Everyone should dress to impress:

First impressions are essential in the business world; our visual appearance is often the first thing people will see.
The best way to step up your look is to dress in simple, classic pieces with a flattering fit.
Wearing nice clothing doesn’t have to be over-the-top or expensive pieces.

Dressing nice doesn’t mean dressing boring.

Your business clothing should never be the initial statement - you want people to notice what you have to say before what you’re wearing.
Wear just two or three colors at a time, and avoid overly loud pieces.
Knits and tailored blazers are great pieces for women because they go with multiple outfits and styles.

Establishing creativity in your dress:

Your ability to be creative depends on many factors like your geography, industry, and office environment. However, you can almost always bring personality through accessories.
A necklace, earrings, or even glasses can be statement pieces that make the look personal and unique.

Sharon’s three tips for finding the right clothes:

Think about colors. It’s what makes you memorable. Learn which colors flatter you, and implement them into your wardrobe.
Focus on fit. As women, we don’t think about the way our clothes fit. Make sure dresses and skirts are long enough, knowing they will ride up about two inches when you’re seated.
Wear what makes you feel good. Put yourself in the position to feel confident so that you can express yourself without concern.

Overcoming fashion mishaps:

Styling tape and safety pins are great supplies to keep in your purse or desk to make simple repairs if needed.
Keep a neutral sweater or blazer in your car or office to cover up a stain or mark if the situation happens.

For more content and to learn more from Sharon, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her Facebook page. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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We work and grow alongside our coworkers for much of our lives. But how can we maximize that growth by inspiring a sense of community, inclusivity, and belonging in the workplace? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by FirstLantic Healthcare’s Director of Marketing, Karen Gross, to learn how we can foster a better work environment.

Everyone feels like they don’t “belong” in their workplace at some point.

Karen faced low pay, long hours, and high expectations during her time at an advertising agency. While she enjoyed the industry, she knew she wanted more.
If you don’t feel that necessary sense of belonging, it likely isn’t because of you; it’s because of the environment.
A workplace culture that embraces people is essential to having employees stay, thrive, and grow.

Belonging inspires passion for work:

If someone is struggling to find passion for their work, it’s likely due to these negative feelings.
If you are struggling, consult with management or leadership; leadership is there to listen.

Creating a sense of belonging:

Her company has ‘21 fundamentals’ that embrace their values, and new hires are exposed to them from the beginning.
Those values are implemented through training sessions. However, belonging can also be as easy as talking to your staff and coworkers as people to inspire a feeling of belonging.

A key thing leaders can do is communication.

To communicate how their role impacts the organization’s vision and how it is valued in their everyday work.

Everyone matters. There is not one person in her organization that isn’t important to their fundamental work. Everyone is important.

A sense of belonging is feeling valued and accepted

Part of your group and feeling like you have a voice and feeling like you belong. When that’s not present, passion can be difficult to manifest.

DEI is an opportunity to revive a workplace culture.

Someone listen is likely thinking ‘we don’t have the culture.’ What can they do for themselves to impact their workplace culture.

Even if the culture isn’t there, you still have a voice. You should feel confident expressing those emotions and feelings. If you can’t express those, you’re just kinda doomed. You’ll feel miserable!

You might think noone wants to hear from you. But you can be shocked what will happen when you speak up and share ideas.

A Gallup study found that Engagement is one of the largest indicators of passion. Many people are actively disengaged from their work.

How do you keep you and your team engaged in the work?

It comes down to being curious. When she’s looking to do something different, she’s given the mandate to determine something new. Curiosity and tapping into other people and engaging in conversations with people and sharing ideas is critical.

If it’s a good idea, it’s a good idea. Don’t be afraid to find new ways to do things.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn for more great content and information. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Experiencing an interruption can cause unfortunate situations and crises to arise, and dealing with those with confidence and understanding is a necessary part of leadership. Today on IntHerrupt, our host Linda is joined by Eliza Gomez, a seasoned professional at navigating crises as they come up with experience in government, private, non-profit, and higher education sectors.

Crises come up in all sorts of fashions.

As a leader, it's essential we know how to identify and navigate them.
Growing up in South Florida, Eliza was familiar with storms, lightning, and hurricanes. Living in preparedness was simply everyday life.
Eliza was a college literature major, so she took to journalism and public relations. She later transitioned to events management, corporate sales, and other communications special projects before joining local government.
There, she worked in the health and human services, dealing with populations with special needs like the homeless, HIV+, and youth groups.

Handling her largest crisis:

Dealing with a terminal illness and the loss of life and family members, accessing services you don’t necessarily think or prepare for like Hospice.
When team members deal with death or personal crises, it impacts the entire team.

How can leaders prepare for these circumstances?

Be sensitive and aware of what’s happening around you.
We bring our stressors with us to work, and other people are influenced by that environmental factor you introduce.
Have open lines of communication (formal and informal) to make sure everyone is okay.
Reach out to people, and don’t assume you know how they’re feeling.
Have leadership reinforce topics of preparedness and personal responsibility.
The silver lining of the pandemic was the transformation of remote work. We can manage our time independently, which reduces costs and adds value through flexibility.
Be mindful and aware. Have the conversation sooner rather than later.

Helping others in crisis:

When someone is affected by a situation, they don’t perceive someone normally; it’s through a filter or lens.
Communicate with them - check the baseline. What are the quickest steps to get them in a reframed mindset to process what’s happening?
As you identify those unmet needs, work with them and your leadership team to see what solutions are available.
Making an effort to help can go a long way to helping another person through a tough time.

For more information and content from Eliza, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In honor of Memorial, today’s episode of IntHerrupt is a special one. In today’s episode, Linda reflects on her life to discuss some prominent people who have influenced her success. We should all take the time to show some appreciation to those who have done the same.

When Linda was looking for work, she landed a role with John’s company.

John’s firm saw Linda’s potential and strengths, allowing her to grow in her leadership abilities.
When he began experiencing severe back issues, Linda stepped up and helped John accomplish the things he could no longer do, and he helped her grow dramatically faster.

Carolee, Patricia, and Scott were coworkers and supervisors who helped Linda thrive in her career.

When Linda went to her supervisor Patricia to see if she could take another step in her career by doing new responsibilities, it almost doubled her salary.
However, after being bedridden while pregnant, Linda didn’t want to lose her opportunity. But her entire department was supportive, transferring the phone calls for the department to her home so she could work from bed.
Carolee and Scott were the co-chairs who trusted her and believed in her.

Her mother and father are the most significant leaders in Linda’s life.

They taught her authentic leadership and were very involved in the community.
Her parents taught her that people are essential by spending time at events at church and in their community.
Her mother found the fun in life by keeping her passions alive while leading a family of seven children. She learned the violin in her 50s and played piano for different events.
She kept an organized house, and Linda is grateful for the experiences they shared with her.

At least three of the leaders have passed on, and Linda wants to dedicate this episode to those who’ve passed. Talk this episode as a sign to reach out to the leaders in your life and share with them how they’ve influenced you.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Empowering a team starts with empowering yourself. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by sales coach and Chief Growth Officer of Consult Speak Coach Cheryl Parks. Cheryl got into sales to make a nice life for herself, and she mentally walked her mind into a new way of thinking to do her best in the business.

Breaking out of the mindset dichotomy:

It starts with one decision. Cheryl realized she wouldn’t reach her goals if she didn’t change something about her life.
At first, she never wanted to be seen and instead wanted to hide in the background.
To be someone new, she pretends to be someone else. She started mindset shifting, preparing herself to be confident and outgoing in her work.
Keep affirmations on your phone, listen to motivational music; there are many things you can do to trick your brain into a new way of thinking.

The benefit of empowering your team:

Buyers are significantly savvier than they were before. 70% of decision-making is completed by the time a salesperson starts a conversation.
A huge proponent of diverse experiences is diverse connections.
You are only as strong as the weakest person in your team. If someone isn’t interested in what’s happening, the team will only get that far.
To improve team empowerment, prepare everyone and meet people where they are.
Talk through the situation, practice, and if you see it a few more times, you’ll feel more comfortable.
If the person can’t get past themselves, there may be a conversation about whether or not they should be a part of the discussion.

Empowering other stakeholders impacted by decisions:

Communication. Simon Sinek’s Start with Why explains that people are more focused and supportive of an idea or methodology when they understand its why.
If you can explain why you’re doing what you’re doing to other stakeholders, it can be helpful.
Communicate with people impacted by a decision. The time and energy that goes into supporting an opportunity is an investment, and everyone will bring their best energy if they know what’s happening.

Other empowerment methods:

Spend time with high-action people who keep you accountable.
Be around people who have a similar thought process.
Manages your energy - give yourself time to take a walk, get some sunshine, or do whatever you need to maintain energy.

Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn for more content and to stay up-to-date on her work. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

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In many industries and professionals, women are still vastly underrepresented in leadership positions. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Juana Watkins, General Counsel and Vice President of Law and Policy at Florida Realtors, to discuss her experiences and methods to stay empowered in a man’s world.

Women are empowered to do well in real estate.

From a basic perspective, 61% of real estate brokers in America are women, up from just 21% in 1978. Sales associates haven’t changed as dramatically, but women overall represent a substantial percentage of real estate decision-makers.
The industry is designed to be conscious of equal opportunity for everyone. So while the industry isn’t perfect, there’s consciousness.
The law side is not as advanced: Half of law graduates are women, but only 19% of managing partners are women.
There is a tremendous amount of progress in law schools, but the actual profession itself doesn’t seem as influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sexual harassment in real estate and law:

Juana sees it much more frequently on the law side because of the equal opportunity in the real estate industry, it’s less common.
However, it still happens. For example, there are documented incidents where male landlords accept sexual favors for rent. As lawyers for realtors, we must train members to look for that type of abuse and know how to report it.

Juana has been impacted by other female leaders:

Particularly, women who taught the importance of quiet power. The same stereotypical mindset that contributes to holding women back is what we have to overcome, even when faced with discrimination or harassment.
While unfair to the recipient, we have to consider how our actions and mindset can be interpreted by others around us.
Give people what they’re looking for - you can send a message without saying a word.

What can you do to feel empowered when faced with a setback?

Juana comes from humble beginnings, and she didn’t share that story with others until a real estate conference. When you reach a place of success after overcoming obstacles, you feel accomplished.
Even when doing everything right, you can experience negativity that prevents you from reaching your goals. Because of her personal experiences with this, Juana experienced self-doubt in her work and her profession.
She decided not to let that feeling define her professional work, and she encourages other people to do the same.

Juana’s parting thoughts? Persevere and stay focused, because there is nothing we can’t overcome. For more great content from Juana, connect with her on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on her work.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Inspiration, whether for yourself or the people around you, can be the key to unlocking the success you deserve. On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by a certified coach and founder of the Mind Rebel™ Academy, Taryn Watts, to see how she brings out the best in her team to help them perform their best.

What is “performing at your best?”

It’s feeling connected with what you do and empowered to do what you do.
A part of us always knows the way forward - when we can connect to that, we’re operating at our best.

Overcoming a loss of passion:

Taryn came from a corporate job she wasn’t passionate about - and spent ten years there. But, once she left that job, she connected to her why.
Even though she’s created her coaching job, there are still moments she dips in motivation and inspiration, and that’s completely normal.
Remain in view of your vision and anchor in your why to maintain your passions.

Getting the best productivity out of those around you:

Taryn’s one-on-ones with team members aren’t always about strict directives; most of them are coaching meetings.
Coaching isn’t always about professional development - it’s overcoming limiting beliefs, personal issues, and anything else that might come up in life.
When you coach others, you help them realize their best versions of themselves.
The goal is to pull people into their zone of genius, which generates the most impactful type of inspiration. Because it isn’t coming from a feeling of need but a feeling of want.

Three tips to tap into your zone of genius:

Find the thing you or your team love to do. What could you do or talk about all day long?
If you’re struggling to find your way, ask your peers. Sometimes your zone of genius is so profoundly ingrained that you need the reflection of others to identify it.
Play around with different things. Then, as you develop yourself and those around you, you’ll work towards your goals more quickly.

To learn more about Taryn’s academy, visit themindrebel.com and follow the Mind Rebel™ Academy on Instagram for more inspiring and educational content. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Overcoming adversity, while seemingly impossible in the moment, is what motivates us to pursue our dreams. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by entrepreneur and business owner Monica Smith to discuss how she worked to reach her dreams and overcome the obstacles that got in her way.

As a child, Monica’s family life wasn’t perfect:

While her family was close-knit, her father’s alcoholism fostered familiar dysfunction.
Monica began to daydream to escape her family life, and she lost focus in school. Her mom knew something was wrong, so she sent Monica away to her aunt.
Monica started to do better in school. But life took a turn, and she fell into the wrong crowd. She was in a gang, experienced drug abuse, and her life spiraled.
Her dreams fell by the wayside, and he had a baby at 17. She graduated high school and earned her diploma, but life was challenging.
She lost custody of her kids, but life is all about overcoming adversity. And those obstacles brought her to where she is today.

Sometimes things come up, and you have no control over them.

Some of her dreams were to become a fashion designer, create a unique product, and just be successful.
While she didn’t become a fashion designer, Monica found a job with a purpose (helping women affected by homelessness and substance abuse), and she worked with women for nine years.
She went back to school for a degree in health and human services, and then she created a hair care product after going through chemotherapy.
Losing her hair made her lose confidence in herself. So, she crafted a product to help grow back hair with an alcohol-free formula. This took her on a new journey of entrepreneurship and helping people.

What are three things or steps or tips to encourage someone to help make their dreams come true:

Don’t give up, and don’t get discouraged. You will fail more times than you succeed, so trust the process and stay strong.
Have a strong understanding of your beliefs. Know what you want out of your vision because it’s easy to go astray.
Enjoy the ride because you’ll meet people along the way who didn’t push through their adversity.

Who has impacted Monica’s life?

Her mentor. Monica’s mentor pulled her out of the negative situation, gave her a job, and taught her how to productively work towards her dreams.
Her mentor taught Monica the value of daily maintenance - meditating, reading spirituals and books, and allowing herself quiet time.

Overcome feelings of anxiety:

Listen to your body. Don’t be afraid to lay back rather than push forward if your body needs the rest.
When she’s well-rested, Monica still daydreams. That’s when her mind works best.

Monica’s final piece of advice? Look at the lessons you can learn through the journey. To see Monica’s hair care business, visit soberroots.com.

For more great content from Coni, visit her profile on LinkedIn and view her books available on Amazon. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s special 75th episode of IntHerrupt, our host Linda Yates shares some of the current leadership trends in the business world and how we can start implementing these practices into our work as we look to the future.

Collaboration is king:

A dictatorial leadership style is no longer effective. Positive workforce engagement is vital to the organization, the industry, and the world.
A Gallup poll showed employee engagement rose from 13% to 19% since the pandemic.
While a significant increase, it reveals there are still many barriers affecting engagement in the workplace, and leadership style is a vital contributor.
Clearly communicate expectations, desires, and objectives to help foster that mentality.

Prioritize and value your employees:

When you think of all the information we digest each day, do we sit and read everything? Never. We do a quick scroll for major points, and that behavior holds true for meetings.
Keeping meetings short prioritizes employees’ time and promotes a healthier work-life balance.
Many employees and teams face burnout; shorter calls that focus on what matters will help alleviate that feeling.

Develop your people to retain team members.

The Great Resignation is still happening, so focusing on making the workplace a good place to work will pay dividends later down the line.
Get to know and connect with your employees to build relationships. This is crucial, especially for fully remote teams that don’t see one another face-to-face.
See the value in your employees and what they’re capable of, and communicate that to them.

Inclusivity in the workplace:

As a leader, strategic inclusivity campaigns and practices will be integral to organizational growth.
Remember, you are a part of inclusivity as well. So make sure inclusivity practices are there to benefit everyone, even yourself!
In making a healthier workplace environment, don’t be afraid to include laughter and positivity to make it a more mentally productive environment.

The final takeaway from today’s episode? Find the potential in life’s interruptions to become a better leader. You learn many lessons through overcoming obstacles, and using those experiences to fuel your leadership make you a more effective leader.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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There are many types of leaders, yet one group that often goes unrecognized is our military families. Whether supporting their enlisted spouse or serving themselves, women in military families make sacrifices and withstand many obstacles to accomplish their goals. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by a former military spouse Tammy Hollis to discuss her experiences and how we can better support military families.

Tammy married her high school sweetheart, and he served in the Air Force for 30 years.

When he first joined, the frequent moves made it a daunting experience. However, the support of the other military family members at the bases made it a better experience for Tammy.
With her spouse gone, Tammy made sure to provide for her kids. She wanted them to feel the love and support they deserved, even if her husband wasn’t always available.

Managing the frequent moves:

Tammy’s kids typically didn’t mind the constant moving, especially when they were younger. However, as they grew older, it became more impactful.
In her son’s senior year, he wasn’t allowed to try out for sports teams because it was his senior year. Another time, they moved shortly after a different move because of her husband’s special assignment, which was difficult.
While challenging, her kids are adaptable and more resilient because of these moves.

What makes a good leader?

A true leader makes decisions about a situation and hopes that it’s the right one. Then, they carry through with it and hold themselves accountable for the outcome.
Tammy watched her husband be a great leader. She knew what she wanted to do to stay healthy, happy, and motivated when he wasn't around.

What three tips would you give to anyone listening about how they can support military families or be a great leader?

Recognize there are sacrifices made by both the family and the person serving.
Most families don’t expect grand gestures. But understand the base supports the local community’s industry and jobs.
Make the most of life?

Tammy’s experience with interruptions:

Interruptions should be a prerequisite for a military wife, because new things happen constantly.
To overcome an interruption, get accustomed to having a Plan B (or several Plan Bs.)
If something is important enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. Otherwise, you can let go and move on to prioritize the things you need.

Now that her husband is retired, Tammy joined a skincare company to keep her mind sharp and learn new skills. Visit her business page on Facebook or check out her Instagram account at @tammydhollis1.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Having a corner of people supporting you is integral for anyone in the workplace. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by author and course creator Coni Meyers to discuss the power of building alliances in the workplace (without jeopardizing existing relationships.)

What is an alliance?

An alliance is a collaborative effort between people who bring out your or your organization’s strengths.
It takes a village to do anything. Building alliances help you shape your leadership skills and be your best self.
Coni was once in a business partnership with a guy who got very involved with drugs. When she left, Coni discovered she wasn’t on the major contracts she thought they were partners in, and he took her for a quarter of a million dollars.

Three ways we can build an alliance:

Listen to your gut. If it’s an individual or a business, you must have complete faith that they’re authentic.
Identify if it’s a short-term or long-term relationship. If it’s short-term, what is your exit strategy?
As you move into an alliance, have an open conversation about what you can offer the other person to support them (and vice versa.)

Honoring past relationships while moving forward:

Don’t negate past experiences, but accept that you’ve grown beyond the old relationship because everything happens for a reason.
There’s a silver lining in every situation. For example, people began to see the gifts of humanity because of COVID.
Don’t project past negative relationships onto new relationships. Use caution to approach alliances responsibly. While it can probably be taken too far, naively entering a relationship is just as, if not more, dangerous.

Relationships are a garden.

Relationships are not all in bloom the entire year. Understand that alliances with different people and businesses will grow and take precedence at certain times over others.
Be mindful when burning bridges. While there are certainly times it can happen, moving with integrity is the best way to move forward.

For more great content from Coni, visit her profile on LinkedIn and view her books available on Amazon. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In 65 years, there have been 1800 CEOs in Fortune 500 companies. However, only one was an African American woman (Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox.) She inspired Cherilynn to teach other women about the power of sales so that regardless of what table they sit at, they’re too good to be ignored. Cherilynn has since used her knowledge to help women be too good to be ignored, and in this episode of IntHerrupt, she discusses the impacts of “The Great Resignation.”

What is “The Great Resignation”?

From upper management to the most recent hire, the pandemic has changed everyone.
In sales, clients have changed. But as leaders and managers, our employees have changed as well.
Leaders need to step back and evaluate their culture. People are burnt out and resigning to look for new opportunities.
Cherilynn challenges management to shift perspective and think of it as “the great retention” rather than accept the current circumstances.

It was a perfect storm situation.

The pandemic helped people determine their values and realize their goals in life.
When everybody started working from home, the line between work and home got incredibly grey.
Reduced travel opportunities led management to increase check-ins on employees, making them feel micromanaged or overwhelmed.
Now that offices are reopening, many companies are asking workers to return at the drop of a hat, not considering the challenges that might prevent that from being an easy process.

The Great Resignation will impact every company.

In the short term, companies slow to hire will lose out on top talent. As a result, the hiring practices will get quicker.
In the long term, management must put more effort into building relationships with their employees.
Understanding empathy in the workplace will help management bridge that gap with their employees.

Overcoming the resignation:

First, listen to your employees. If you haven’t changed your culture since the pandemic began, it is long overdue.
Some companies use an ongoing engagement tool to address problems before the issues become systemic.
Learn empathy because it is one of the best ways to listen and be present for others.
Ask “the four Fs”: First, finest, failure, and future. Pick something that addresses a first, a finest, a failure, and a future topic for someone, and you’ll demonstrate the engagement and empathy people want.

How to work without passion in a career:

First, think about where you are and your vision.
Cherilynn asks her clients what their wish is one year from now. Then, what’s their wildest career dream? Finally, what is their realistic fantasy?
Determine what it is about those things that are important to you, and ask that three or four times to discover the root of your passions.
If you have a “go-up” goal, be careful who you tell. Instead, find someone who shares your passion and will align with you.
If you have a “give-up” goal, tell everyone to help you stay accountable.

Cherilynn’s final tip? When your life is interrupted, pick a vision and focus on it. For more content and resources from Cherilynn, visit her websites www.postpandemicselling.com and www.masterfulselling.com, and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Many people encounter the feeling of stagnation. So how can we push past those feelings and be the change that leads to change? On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the co-founder and CEO of Pav*r, Jessica Bledsoe, to discuss her thoughts on the issue.

Any kind of leader can face stagnation.

Jessica has seen it play out in a few ways because we all get comfortable where we’re at. When we get comfortable, we might take our foot off the gas.
It can be for any length of time, but you’ll realize you’ve stopped progressing in your goals and future.
To avoid stagnation, Jessica has three tips. Always be intentional with your actions, listen to the feedback you receive, and constantly evaluate your current activities.

Create time to be innovative:

Jessica, like many people, relies on her calendar. If you schedule your time, look at what takes up your time and determine if those activities are worthwhile.
People, especially women, get in the habit of saying yes to things we probably shouldn’t (like filling our calendar with back-to-back meetings.)
Only say yes to the things in alignment with your vision for success.

How can stagnant leadership impact an organization?

If that’s the energy you bring to the table, it will trickle down to everyone else around you.
The more it continues to happen, the more difficult it gets to move forward.
Encourage yourself and others on the team to be excited about things happening in the organization.

Be the change that leads to change (even if you aren’t the “leader.”

Be confident and comfortable expressing your ideas. If you’re technically not the “leader,” understand how to best communicate your idea or suggestion to them.
Come with a plan of action (especially one backed with data) because it’s difficult to ignore that request or action.

Starting change to get out of your rut:

Evaluate where you’re at. If you feel stuck, what’s keeping you stuck (and can you change it?)
Break it down into the smallest chunks possible to make it more actionable.
Accept that you probably didn’t fall into the rut overnight, so it will probably take more than one night to get out.
The biggest time-wasters are the things we think don’t take a lot of time (that do.)
Consider checking your email throughout the day rather than keeping it constantly open. Establish specific time blocks when you’re available for meetings. Do what you need to to create a healthy and productive environment for yourself.

For more great content from Jessica, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Can you apply the techniques and practices of professional singing to be a better workplace professional? (The short answer? Yes!) In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by board-certified musical therapist and vocal coach Lisa Townsend to teach us how to combat worry in the workplace.

Feeling confident in the face of worry:

First, check with yourself. If you know how you feel, you can find the flow of conversation.
Know your audience and read the room. If you’re aware of how to present and act, you can help overcome feelings of uneasiness.
Authenticity and vulnerability are everything. People can tell when you're saying what they want to hear versus what you believe.
Maintain a steady speech rhythm, take intentional pauses, and show you’re actively listening to a conversation.
In every line of text or singing or speech, practice is the opportunity to be again. Pausing allows time for processing and vulnerability that people should take to display confidence.

Confidence combats negativity:

When we have the confidence to speak up about something when it happens, that opens us up to mending problems sooner. If we catch the problem quickly, there’s less time to fall into a negative mindset.
Negative communication is (in part) due to people letting behaviors slide and developing negative feelings towards another.
Direct communication doesn’t have to be negative. For example, directly expressing your likes and dislikes to another lets them avoid including it in conversation.

Lisa’s tips to combat negativity and find confidence:

Ask yourself, “Is this an appropriate time?” You’ll feel more confident in the conversation when giving full attention to it. Make sure the time is right, and your presence is right.
Take intentional pauses and respond only once you’ve thought through the conversation.
Permit yourself to table a conversation to process it. Ask if something can be revisited in the future or if the audience needs a decision at that moment.

How do you use music?

She works with entrepreneurs who are becoming bolder with their voices but have hangups. (For example, they might be self-conscious about their volume or pitch.)
She does creative voice work that isn’t about learning lyrics but rather about lyrical phrasing, full-body support, breathwork, and learning to anchor.
Applying these vocal techniques to a speaking voice increases confidence and our ability to express empathy towards another.

A final takeaway from today’s episode? Many things are happening in the world, but the only thing that we can control is our own reactions. Connect with Lisa by visiting her website (lisatownsendmusic.com) to see more of her work!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Leadership combines many elements to create someone capable of leading with confidence. One of those elements, while often forgotten, is etiquette. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by etiquette expert, author, and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, Jacqueline Whitmore, to discuss how any business leader can integrate etiquette into their practice.

What is business etiquette?

It’s a consideration for others. (Yes, that’s a broad statement.)
While specific actions like thank-you notes and moving the knife and fork correctly at dinner are nuances of etiquette, consideration for others guides those actions.
It’s the art of knowing how to treat other people, whether you're in an elevator at a conference, a cocktail party, or in the boardroom.

Learning and exemplifying etiquette helps in leadership:

Etiquette is not innate - it’s an acquired skill.
The important etiquette for a corporate professional depends entirely on the events and communications they need. Based on those, polish manners based on your lifestyle.
The purpose isn’t to change someone; it’s to enhance what they already bring to the table.

What do you see as the challenge to etiquette?

Technology has completely changed the way we do business, and the pandemic resulted in a necessary understanding of zoom and virtual etiquette.
It always starts with the individual to overcome these changes - are you open to the change and opportunity etiquette offers?
Rather than learning everything about etiquette all at once, focus on learning the most applicable information first.

Jacqueline’s top three etiquette tips:

School is never out; because learners are earners. So always learn something new each day.
Surround yourself with talented, positive people.
Keep an open mind. Whether doing business in the US or abroad, people act based on their background. Minds are like parachutes - they only function when they’re open.

Above all, Jacqueline urges you to be humble (because nobody likes arrogance.) Connect with her on LinkedIn and check out her website etiquetteexpert.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The future of our society rests with the younger generation, and preparing them for that time is critical. But what measures can we take to raise the leaders of tomorrow? In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Tapestry Academy founder Candace Lehenbauer to discuss how she approaches education to educate kids on academics and prepare them to lead the future with confidence.

Candace is the ultimate “edupreneur.”

First and foremost, a mom to six kids, she also found a way to mix education with entrepreneurship by creating a micro-school.
Micro-schools are small schools, anywhere from 5-150 students, focusing on project-based, student-led programming that allows students to give input into what they learn.

What opportunities do you see for the youth?

There are a ton of opportunities, especially for young girls.
As long as we support children and encourage them to build their interests and passions, we’ll see the results of that mentality.
Teaching leadership is a crucial feature for young children to learn.

Kids today face different challenges than we did.

From a mom and teacher perspective, Candace sees many kids too dependent on technology.
Kids need an opportunity to think, use their imagination, and play dangerously.
The challenge is allowing creative play without over restriction. When parents (or any adult) solve all their kids’ problems, they never learn how to deal with those interactions themselves.

Teaching tomorrow’s leaders:

Reinforce the importance of looking at others with love, respect and appreciation.
Building a relationship of trust with kids is the best way to convey meaningful lessons that they’ll be more likely to accept.
Forcing kids to behave or think a certain way is not conducive to long-term success.

How you can build trust with the youth:

Bringing food is a simple and easy strategy. It might be cheesy, but it works.
If you need to have a difficult conversation with your child or teenager, don’t do it face-to-face. Instead, sit next to one another, share a snack, and just talk.

For those living in the Florida area, visit microschoolflorida.com to find micro-school opportunities near you. Visit Tapestry Academy’s website at tapestryacademy.com.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The phrase “what goes around, comes around” is applicable in many situations. And leadership is one of them. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by professional communicator Monique Russell to discuss how unlocking your best self is best accomplished through helping others be their own best self.

What defines someone’s best self?

Your best self is when you can be honest with yourself, considering how you get along with others and how you experience and show compassion.
It’s also embracing all parts of who we are - the good and the bad.
Monique found her best self after years of coaching and therapy. No matter how many accolades we have, internal development fosters deeper connections with others.
You don’t know what you don’t know. And opening up and letting vulnerability embrace you can help with the process.

Helping others see their best self:

Think about parents - you can teach and talk all day long, but kids ultimately mirror the actions and behaviors rather than listen to words.
Leaders who struggle to realign with their team find it challenging to advocate for someone else when both parties are overworked and burning the candle on both ends.
The best way to help others is by setting the example to take care of yourself.

What can you do when you slip back into unhealthy behaviors?

We are not robots, meaning we’ll never get to a place devoid of obstacles.
When faced with a crisis, give yourself grace. Look at past times you’ve faltered and determine what you did to overcome those challenges.
Don’t look at the big mountain; just look at the next small step.
We are empowered by sharing. Share to story to find additional empowerment.

Three steps to be your best self:

Have a vision - without vision, you’re operating on a default idea.
Get connected with a community (and community can mean just one or two people) who can help you be accountable to yourself.
Think about your health. No matter what you do or strive towards, it’s far more difficult when you aren’t in a great place of health.

Follow Monique on LinkedIn and check out her podcast, Bridge to U, for discussions on diversity, inclusion, and understanding for black cultures. Also, you can find her book, Intentional Motherhood: Who Said It Would Be Easy?, on Amazon.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Intentional Motherhood: Who Said It Would Be Easy

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When we talk about women in leadership, there are a ton of important concepts to discuss. However, one of the most important is how women must show up for other women. To talk about this, Linda is joined by trainer, motivator, and coach Maria Brown. As a Sr. National Sales Corporate Trainer for GBS, Maria is a knowledgeable speaker capable of generating win/win results for others.

There’s always more space for encouragement and positivity.

Women encouraging other women starts with the strength and confidence we have within ourselves.
Her past boss is a great friend of hers and was a genuinely supportive woman. She hired Maria, gave her the tools to succeed, and encouraged her to go beyond her comfort zone.

Life is a journey, and life support isn’t reserved exclusively for the emergency room.

The people we surround ourselves with need support on a daily basis. That daily nurturing of one another is what keeps us going.
When she didn’t feel supported, Maria wondered what happened in their lives that led to judgemental or critical behavior.
It’s important to pause and shift energy to focus on the good of the person.

Why is it important for women to support women?

Women are innately nurturing, and we have strength in our vulnerability.
Brene Brown talks about this extensively. And, deep down, we all want to talk about this conversation.
Women should be comfortable in their skin, and we can drive this by showing up for one another.
Do you think of something positive about someone you see? Bring it to life! What’s stopping you from speaking?
Girls compete with one another, but women empower one another. And that speaks to maturity.
We need to open the conversation, but we have so far to go. Unfortunately, that feeling and mentality still exist in many workplaces.
It doesn’t matter where you are on the corporate ladder. You can lead by example in all areas of life.

How to be more supportive and uplifting:

We’ve been competing with one another to earn that seat at the table.
We can’t lose our femininity. (Meaning our instincts and intuition.) Our vulnerability is our strength, so don’t compromise yourself to be that seat at the table.
If you notice someone has a negative mentality, ask yourself how you can shift their minds back to a supportive mindset.
Don’t react defensively; begin with empathy. Find common ground and initiate the shift.

Maria’s parting thoughts? Never give another human the impression that what they’re saying doesn’t matter. When we interrupt each other, we’re saying what you have to say is more important than someone else. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn for more great content.

To end in a quote, “Women who understand how powerful they are do not give into envy over meaningless things. Instead, they fight or maintain the beautiful bond of sisterhood. These are the real women who know that we need each other’s love and support to survive in this world. Love is the essence of being a woman. We must be that light of love that seals the bond and unique beauty of our sisterhood.”

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Across the world, people are living in vulnerable situations. And unfortunately, some people take advantage of others’ misfortune. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Dawn Manske, founder of Made for Freedom, to learn more about what types of situations lead to vulnerability and exploitation.

Dawn first encountered this problem when she lived in China.

While she lived there for ten years, Dawn learned about the excessive number of young girls abandoned by their families. (The problem has abated over time, but it’s still an issue today.)
Dawn also met people who worked specifically with street children because of the exploitation and labor vulnerable children were subjected to at the hands of others.
The exploitation she saw made Dawn think, “how can I fight this?”

She then realized the power of clothes.

Dawn’s husband gifted her a pair of sandals, and they were made by vulnerable women who were paid fairly for their work. Similarly, she received pants from Thailand.
Dawn thought about starting an import business but didn’t think it aligned with her life goals.
But when she thought about it, she realized she could accomplish her mission of helping others through this business model.
She started down the road of understanding sex trafficking. She found several other businesses that sold products to raise money to benefit the women working, and Dawn began selling their products to people in the United States.

What does vulnerable mean?

It looks different to everyone. We’re all vulnerable, to some extent. And issues like poverty lead to more vulnerability.
Anytime someone is exposed to a negative situation, there is vulnerability. And then you have people ready to take advantage of that vulnerability.
She visited Nepal to meet with a partner center, and she saw poverty she had never seen before. A month after she left, there was a massive earthquake.
She and her husband are foster parents, and the foster system is a breeding ground for trauma and vulnerability because their trust is broken.

How can you regain confidence after being exploited and begin to heal?

It’s a long road. It’s not something that happens quickly, Because that trauma is never gone.
Working with your hands is therapeutic. That’s why these work centers are great because women have a safe place to work with women who understand what they’re going through.

For more great content from Dawn, follow her on LinkedIn and visit her company website Made for Freedom. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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We are our own worst critics. People tend to focus on their flaws rather than embrace the beauty seen by everyone else, and young girls growing up aren’t encouraged to look in the mirror and say, “I’m beautiful.” Today on IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by cosmetologist and professional makeup artist Ariane Poole to discuss beauty and how to love what you see in the mirror.

Many people struggle to look in the mirror.

And, unsurprisingly, this is true across women of all ages. In particular, for Ariane, she notices this thought in her clients 45 and older.
In reality, everyone has good parts and bad parts. Every person has beauty.
To Ariane, being centered and confident makes a person beautiful, not necessarily the physical qualities someone possesses.

The goal of makeup is to reflect the inner beauty on the outside.

Beauty can be found in anything uplifting. When Ariane works with clients, she listens to their way of being, lifestyle, and what they like or dislike about their face.
To love yourself, accept what you are right now. However, understand that things can change.
When finding beauty, it’s about seeing the possibilities.

To the women who don’t like makeup:

What do you hate about it? Certainly, it can feel heavy or uncomfortable, and it can be a time commitment.
In Ariane’s experience, the person who hates makeup has experienced trying to look like someone else. But makeup is meant to enhance you as you are, not make you someone else.
If you are concerned about using makeup, you can apply small amounts yet still get transformational results.

It’s cliche, but it’s true: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. People have different preferences for face shape, eyes, hair, style, virtually everything. But feeling beautiful is good for your being. Taking small steps to focus on yourself can be all it takes to revitalize your energy, confidence, and ability to love what you see in the mirror.

For more great content from Ariane, follow her on Instagram or visit her website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Every experiences stagnation at some point in their lives. What’s important, however, is to overcome that obstacle to live your best life. In today's episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the VP of Partnerships and Alliances at Rivery, Kyra Purvis, to discuss her path of losing and eventually finding her way in her life again.

Kyra has always been an ambitious person.

As a collegiate soccer player, she used her energy from sports to forge a strong career path worked at startup companies in the tech space.
While she has worked primarily in sales the majority of her career, she’s dabbled in product marketing and managing partners as well.

When did Kyra lose direction?

While the feeling ebbs and flows, losing direction starts with either a sudden change or a lack of change. For Kyra, that was the birth of her second child because it was difficult to juggle her ambition with parental responsibilities.
She had to decide if she wanted to pursue her career at full speed or if she needed to reprioritize.
She ultimately took a step back in her career and found a new job which allowed her to scale back responsibility while staying closer to home.
The problem? She didn’t feel like herself. She lost the ability to set goals and determine what she wanted in life.

Covid encouraged Kyra to pick up an old habit.

Running allowed her to reflect and find peace in her head - something she hadn’t had for a while.
She realized she hadn’t been performing her best in anything; she wanted to be a better wife, mom, and employee.
She started taking bolder steps to change her trajectory. You find every excuse not to do it, but she pushed past them.

How can you avoid feeling lost in life?

There’s never a clear answer because everyone’s situation is different.
For Kyra, creating moments for internal reflection and unplugging, like exercise or meditation, gives her the space to check in with herself and have that real conversation.
Once you realize you’re lost or unhappy, talk to those around you. For Kyra, that meant having a conversation with her husband.
Make sure your surroundings, like kids, family, or work, understand and support what’s happening.

By setting goals again, Kyra was able to run her first marathon and be more present in the lives of those she cares about. In addition, setting goals for herself encouraged her family to be more active and ultimately made Kyra feel reconnected in life again.

Connect with Shauna on Facebook for more content from her. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Finding passion in life is difficult enough, let alone a second (or third) time. So how can we find that passion later in life? On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda discusses the secret to finding passion in the second act with Shauna Hostetler, who has continued to find that passion in several chapters of her life.

Shauna has had multiple careers and experiences in life that invoked passion:

Her five children led to her getting highly involved in community and church projects.
She also had a ten-year journey to obtain her real estate license, started real estate investing, and even ran for political office at one point!

Shauna’s political journey:

She had supporters and a platform; she knew she could make a difference
The campaign was heated and led to division within her community - people were forced to pick one side or the other.
At the end of the passionate back-and-forth, Shauna won. However, the contention along the way made her unhappy. She knew she would be spending more time mending fences rather than helping her community.
The Monday after the election, she had to go into the county office for a recount. At the end of the recount, she lost. And she was relieved. She congratulated her opponent and was excited not to be involved.
She learned a lot and met many people. But, most importantly, she realized she didn’t have to hold a political office to make an impact.

How does Shauna find passion in different seasons of life?

She finds passion in making a positive impact on others, whether that’s creating a fundraiser, collecting holiday gifts for those who need them, or finding ways to meet needs in the community.
A second act isn’t necessarily the final act. There can be a third, fourth, or fifth. Don’t feel obligated to tie yourself down in a path for the rest of your life. You can change.

How can someone overcome the feelings of “is this all there is”?

She encourages people to find new experiences and opportunities in life to prevent stagnation.
Listen to different podcasts, read different books, and meet new people. Those will inspire you to turn left instead of right the next time you face a fork in the road.
Shauna embraces a focus on depth. Use your time to go one inch wide but one-mile deep. Rather than slightly focus on many things, focus on the one thing you want to focus on.

How has she found fulfillment at different points in life?

Sometimes life is just mundane; not everything is fulfilling. We have to accept that.
However, she finds fulfillment whenever she’s making a difference for other people.
Currently, she finds it very fulfilling to help people in their real estate work, walking and comforting people through a substantial financial investment.

Connect with Shauna on Facebook for more content from her. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Biases are everywhere, whether between people to even ones within yourself. While you can’t completely avoid bias in life, you can equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to deal with them. In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by transformation coach and strategist Dilcia Morales to discuss how we can identify and overcome biases in the workplace and life.

Transformation can be complex, especially for individuals.

Dilcia was confident and comfortable in the corporate work environment as a working mom.
However, she also wanted to volunteer and participate in the local PTA, which many working moms can’t make time to do. As a result, many PTA members were stay-at-home moms.
She participated in meetings and realized the stay-at-home moms’ view of working moms (and vice versa) was interesting.
Their “the grass is always greener” attitude showed they didn’t fully understand the effort and work that went into both groups. This is a poignant example of bias.

We talk a lot about bias in society, but everyone has biases.

Dilcia was asked to lead the fundraising efforts for a nonprofit. However, she experienced an internal bias: that she didn’t have time and couldn’t do it.
But she faced her fears and ignorance, and by the end of her second term, she obtained a new playground for the school and increased participation among volunteers.
This made her realize that she probably can do a lot more than she thinks.

A bias is a preconceived notion. Things you think you know.

Dilcia had that about her ability to participate in her nonprofit. But she pushed past those feelings to take it on.
From a leadership perspective, we have a bias that time and duration in a previous role is necessary before starting a new job.
We also have a serious societal bias from a corporate perspective, and acknowledging those biases is critical for Dilcia in her work.
When she encounters these situations, she learns the team and individual dynamics to make them receptive to change, which helps her find success.

Combating biases you encounter:

Specifically for hiring bias, panel interviews featuring a wide array of different interviewers is a great solution.
Whenever Dilcia makes a big decision, she consults multiple people, even just two or three, to help make that decision.
She avoids stagnation. Bias is born from ignorance, so continuing your learning to expose yourself to new beliefs and information helps combat internal bias.

Dilcia’s experience with interruption:

Dilcia’s field features a lot of collaboration. But when everyone went virtual, that became a challenge.
Her biggest interruption was managing her virtual team and providing the proper support despite not collaborating in person.
She solved this by being open and transparent. She asked questions and found a balance.

Dilcia’s main takeaway? Whenever you make a decision, separate the facts from the emotions. Are you making the decision based solely on facts? If not, ask if you’re being open-minded and if it’s justifiable to have that emotional input.

Connect with Dilcia on LinkedIn for more great thoughts and content. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today’s episode of the IntHerrupt podcast, Linda is joined by business strategist Kim Woods to discuss building alignment in your team.

Alignment is critical in reaching professional and personal goals.

Kim’s previous work in the corporate world contributed to her well-rounded perspective working with entrepreneurs and business leaders.
People work with people they know, like, and trust. But before you do that, you need to know, like and trust yourself.
When you don’t like yourself, you’re less apt to ask for support, delegate tasks, or enter difficult conversations.
And while you don’t need to “like” everyone in the workplace, you should respect them.

Be self-aware to be confident.

When you’re self-aware and confident, instead of searching to be well-liked, you have more productive conversations and a stronger team.
Alignment with yourself helps you recognize what you’re looking to do. Because if you don’t know that, how can you help others, lead clients, or grow your personal life?

Great ideas don’t materialize on their own - you need to take action.

Know your strengths (and, more importantly, weaknesses) and what makes you unique.
How do you figure out what makes you unique? Every person is, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution or discovery process.
Kim’s 12-week discovery program helps you determine your goals, what brings you joy in life, and what you want to do with your life.

What are the challenges in building alignment?

Everybody is online, resulting in difficulty in social connections.
The digital marketplace is not your friend (even if we really want it to be.)
Our fast-paced world has rapid information turnover.
To overcome these challenges, trust your gut and give yourself time to step back and process a situation.
Kim takes deep breaths, meditates, and gets away from her desk. She also doesn’t have notifications on at all times, providing a time to reflect, process, and relax.

Kim’s challenges as a leader, and how she overcame them:

Many people weren’t thrilled about a 30-year-old woman leading a team and selling multi-million dollar deals.
In her interruptions or times of conflict, she exits the conversation if necessary, or she analyzes how best to step back and get what she needs out of the conversation.

In the new year, Kim is looking to align her 2022 goals with a book deal! Connect with Kim on LinkedIn and visit her website to stay up-to-date on those exciting prospects.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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If you don’t design your life, someone else will. In the IntHerrupt season five kickoff, Linda shares her eight-step process to set and accomplish your goals for the new year that will help you achieve every goal you ever set.

Step One: Look at where you spend your time.

Throughout the last year, look at what you spent time on, the projects you accomplished, and the responsibilities you had.

Step Two: What was the outcome of how you spent your time?

Debrief what went well, what could’ve gone better, and where you should spend more time.
Reflect on what is going on in your life or business and differentiate what you can and can’t control.

Step Three: Ask what you would do in your career, business, or life if you could do anything?

If there were no limits on your life, where would you want to be?
Playing make-believe, daydreaming, envisioning- whatever you want to call it, allow yourself to dream beyond where you are now.
Don’t self-regulate those dreams based on where you are now.

Step Four: Go back and spend more time on Step Three.

Let’s face it; you probably didn’t spend enough time there.

Step Five: Put the pen to the paper.

There is tons of research that has shown writing something down sends mental triggers to your brain.
Write down six objectives or goals you want to accomplish, and prioritize them in order of importance.

Step Six: Cross off the bottom five objectives.

Remember that list? Yeah, cross everything off that isn’t number one.
Focusing on the one goal you decided was most important will help you fully commit to that one single goal.

Step Seven: Make an action plan.

How are you going to make that goal happen?

Make a list of quick wins that you can have by the end of the month - this helps you stay motivated and on track to achieve a large-scale goal that might be difficult to visualize.

Step Eight: Decide when to say no.

It’s okay to say no (check out this great IntHerrupt episode all about it.)
Make a list of the good things that will keep you from achieving your one great objective.
Think about whether to delete, defer, or delete these good things that might prevent you from achieving the goal.

If you utilize this eight-step process, you’ll find goal-setting far easier and position yourself in a way to best achieve those goals!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Today’s special holiday episode of IntHerrupt is a recap and reflection of Linda’s favorite season four highlights. If you haven’t tuned in to the full episodes, click through the show notes for links to each episode.

Awesome guests make for excellent content.

Gina Stracuzzi’s episode discusses the different personalities in the workplace and how we can interact and work alongside them in productive ways.
Near and dear from Linda’s heart, her daughter Summer Yates’s episode encourages listens to reject mediocrity and work for success.
The episode featuring Sarah Poynton-Ryan explains that it’s never too late to start planning for your financial future.
Debra Roberts taught listeners how to deal with difficult personalities in the workplace, and Shanna Missett Nelson helped listeners recharge during the holidays. (An episode we hope you’ve taken to heart throughout the holiday season.)
Judy Joffe explained how and when to ask for help, a skill we all can use to our benefit. And LaDawn Townsend explained how we could communicate our value to stakeholders.
There were many other important and informative episodes throughout the season, and Linda hopes you’ve learned and grown from hearing these stories from these influential women leaders.

Episode 051 with Kendra Perry: Regaining Confidence to Move Forward

Kendra was a renowned skier who reinvented herself after a horrible crash.
She became an entrepreneur and ultimately reinvented herself several times, spending thousands of dollars for her business to fail three times before it saw success.

Episode 052 with Cathy Klein: Communicating with the Opposite Sex in a Positive Manner

Many women are more apologetic and beat around the bush in communication.
Cathy has worked in a male-dominated space for years.
She began to ask herself, “what is it my audience is hearing versus what am I intending for them to hear?” If those aren’t the same thing, she changes her speaking.
She encouraged listeners to stand up and take space. You’ll show presence, which builds confidence and gets you noticed.
Finally, just choose to be confident. It will work wonders in your professional life.
Think about something you’re proud of. And, whatever it is, stay in those feelings and emotions and tap into those to speak out and speak up with authority.

Episode 042 with Debby Montgomery: Celebrating your Accomplishments

While the episode detailed Debby’s horrible story in which she was defrauded a lot of money, the conversation moved to a celebration of accomplishments to keep you moving forward.
At the end of each year, quarter, or season, look back and create a list of your accomplishments during that time.
While there are a lot of tough days, pouring motivation into others is far easier when you see the great accomplishments you’ve already accomplished.

Season Four was a fun season, which included a few replays of fan-favorites from earlier seasons. We believe in interrupting the status quo, and listening to these insights from powerful female leaders motivates us to go out and accomplish great things.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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In today’s episode, Kanika Tolver talks about what every woman should know about her personal brand and why a personal brand is important.

Kanika is a career coach and the owner of Career Rehab, a career coach practice in the Washington , DC area. She’s focused on helping people transform their careers. Kanika is also in the government tech space for more than 15 years.

Personal brand and leadership

As a person that leads a technology team and with career coaching clients, it helped her become more of an active listener.
It also helps her hone her skills in understanding what people really need.
Leadership means having the skills to help people and support them with whatever they need. Leaders should learn how to listen and to encourage.
For Kanika, personal branding is not about being heard, putting her brand out there, and becoming successful. It’s more of helping others attain success.
As a career coach, it’s about Kanika helping others transform their personal branding to land their dream jobs.
It’s important to be an active listener to help equip them with the information that they need to be successful.

Ways to step up your personal brand

Understand your why.
Journaling is helpful to help you map out your why. You need to figure out what you want to do and write down your goals.
When you know what you want, you can start aligning your goals into actionable steps.
After that, you need to lay the foundation of your brand. This includes revamping your resume, redoing your LinkedIn profile, re-evaluating your website, and more.
The next thing is to figure out the people you are marketing to. Create a marketing strategy around reaching your target market, identifying where they are, and how you’re going to connect with them.
Lean in to what you are passionate about and where your strength lies.
When you've hurt your personal brand, what you can do is to be honest and apologize. Be genuine about your intent.

Rise against the challenges

It’s important to take ownership of our lives and our choices.
We can turn our anxieties into accomplishments when we start voting for us.
You need to set up a team of people who can help you win.
Kanika’s book was a fruit of her choice of putting herself first . Her previous career wasn’t making her happy and upn evaluation, she decided to drop it and start her own private practice.

“What Every Woman Should Know About Her Personal Brand” episode resources

Connect with Kanika Tover on LinkedIn. You can also check out here book Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink The Way You Work here.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Dealing with painful family events is different for everyone. While some might dive into their work to forget their problems, others might need time to process and work through their emotions. Today’s episode of IntHerrupt is a solo episode discussing Linda’s experience dealing with those family events and her takeaways from them as a business owner.

There was a period in Linda’s life where she constantly asked for time off to deal with family issues.

While pregnant with her second child, she was put on bed rest after just receiving a big promotion.
She wanted to continue to work. So her company transferred her phone to her home phone, allowing her to rest and work while supporting her child.
If you’re leading a team, show similar support to your employees.

Linda’s mother-in-law recently passed.

A 93-year-old woman, she was a fantastic leader and woman who struggled with immense pain from various surgeries and arthritis.
A couple of months ago, Linda and her husband got word that she likely wouldn’t live past Christmas.
Because her in-laws lived in Alaska (and Linda and her husband live in Georgia), it would be a trip to be there for them.
But when Linda’s mom passed away five years ago, all she wanted was to be by her side. And Doug (Linda’s husband) wanted the same experience.

They flew to Alaska to support Doug’s parents.

At first, they thought she was dying. But her mother-in-law rallied and became much stronger.
Doug’s sister supported her parents all by herself by working two jobs, and she was exhausted. Linda and Doug’s trip allowed her to rest and recover from the immense stress and workload she was under.
Upon returning home from their trip, Linda and her husband realized they got COVID.
Her mother-in-law also got COVID, and unfortunately, she never recovered.

Part of being a leader is showing emotional intelligence.

Showing up for your team in whatever support they need.
Have integrity, show up, do the work, and be the type of leader that offers support. Find joy in the journey.
Before her mom passed, Linda was an extremely goal-driven person. It was a wonderful gift that Linda was there for her last moments, but those moments changed her and her drive.
She gained a deeper perspective on what life was about - living, laughing, loving, and leaving a legacy.

Find joy in the journey, exercise integrity, be a trusting leader, but above all, live each day fully. Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios, including The Sales Evangelist and more. This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. IntHerrupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the IntHerrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The holiday season is a highlight for many people, but it also comes with stress! Regardless of which holidays you celebrate, it can be difficult to feel on top of both your personal and professional endeavors when the end of the year arrives. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda discusses five of her holiday hacks that can decode holiday stress and make the season as enjoyable as possible.

#1 Keep expectations realistic:

Don’t stress about having a perfectly decorated house, apartment, or yard.
Ask yourself what one thing will make the holiday great, and focus on that one element. Don’t worry about the rest.

#2 Create lists:

It’s an opportunity to clear out your memory and dump out your thoughts, relieving the burden you might feel trying to remember all of your obligations.
You’ll be able to look back and check what you did, whether that’s holiday shopping or finishing a work project.
And, of course, there’s nothing more satisfying than scratching a task off of a to-do list!

#3 Simplify gift-giving:

If you’re worried about financially affording gifts for the family, consider switching to a drawing instead of buying for every person.
Focusing on just one family member reduces shopping stress and allows you to invest time into a meaningful and personal present.

#4 Reduce workplace stress:

Reflect, meditate, do yoga; whatever works for you to destress, prioritize time for yourself to refresh and recharge.
Review your accomplishments of the past year and give yourself time to appreciate the things you’ve done over the year before moving on to the next.

#5 Plan out vacation time in advance:

The stress of the holiday season prevents many from using those vacation days you have saved.
Make sure you use the time you’re given, you’ve earned it!

Ask yourself what non-negotiable experiences are for a fun and memorable holiday season, and make those happen. If you just focus on those elements (as well as yourself), you’ll be sure to have a wonderful season full of the memories and magic that make it so enjoyable.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios, including The Sales Evangelist and more. This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. IntHerrupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the IntHerrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Today’s episode of IntHerrupt is an episode from the vault of the IntHerrupt archives featuring Le Bergin. A fan-favorite on the show (and the head trainer for FASTer Way to Fat Loss), Le Bergin started out as a high school teacher before pursuing her journey to help others reach their health goals. In today’s episode, she and Linda discuss her journey with personal growth, fitness, and how she balances good health and a career.

Good health impacts productivity (in a good way.)

Productivity is necessary for almost all aspects of human life – in marriage, parenting, and career.
People define growth in different ways. Amassing money, improving quality of life, or reaching a point in a career are all valid definitions. It’s whatever motivates you.
Balancing your career and health can be challenging. Le’s pro tip: make it your lifestyle, and getting healthy will become a part of life rather than a chore in life.

Le uses weightlifting and fitness to channel her pain and emotions.

With the help of her current husband, they’ve been able to build a second gym.
Making good food choices makes a difference. It’s important to move toward eating clean and getting away from processed foods.
Your energy levels, mood, concentration, and quality of sleep improve if you eat well. Now that doesn’t mean you can never have a candy bar or that extra slice of pizza, but merely make good choices overall and do what makes your body feel its best.
Le Bergin thrives on overcoming interruptions. For her, it’s about resiliency and believing that every day is a gift. The more grateful you are, the less these interruptions bother you.
Le’s three tips for success: Life is short, break stuff. Trust your gut. Remember your purpose.

Follow Le Bergin on Facebook and Instagram! You can also check out her business page on Facebook and on their official website. Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more. This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios, If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Today’s episode is from the IntHerrupt archives featuring Linda’s conversation with Vidette Pires. In this episode, Linda and Vidette discuss challenges women have in the workplace and what we can do to establish processes and obtain the respect and authority our position and role in the company deserves.

Having a seat at the table

Organizations give women seats at the table. But often, these are token seats.
Even after being on a career path for years, it can be difficult to feel your position doesn’t command the same respect as male colleagues in the same position.

Partner with the right people

A seat at the table isn’t enough. In that seat, you must be able to speak and be heard.
The support of the right people can make it far easier for women to garner the respect and authority we deserve. The way around this is to create a process.
For Vidette, this includes knowing if there is a “hidden” agenda, changing the tone, and thinking about stakeholders who have a say in the outcome.
She reaches out to them, one by one, and partners with her managers to drive a proactive plan.

Have courage

It is equally important to take risks and have the courage to walk away if the situation demands it. When respect is no longer offered, regardless of gender, you have to know when to walk away with your dignity intact.
This can look different depending on the need. It may mean leaving a meeting to get fresh air. More severe challenges may mean leaving an organization that doesn’t support you or acknowledges your contributions.

Connect with Vidette Pires on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When it comes to interacting with the opposite sex in the workplace, doing so assertively and confidently is the key to having a strong presence. But how can we do this while remaining professional? On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Cathy Klein, the director of global service strategy and program management at Sensormatic, to learn how she communicates with men professionally.

Integrity is the key.

Communication is all about understanding your audience. If an audience doesn’t understand your intent, it’s up to the communicator to change.
Understand how to communicate with the audience you speak with. Interact at their level of understanding about their field to build a reputation and rapport that helps people listen to you (and it demonstrates your knowledge of the topic.)
If your audience doesn’t hear the intent behind your message, ask how you can alter your communication style to ensure they understand your message.
When someone doesn’t understand your message, ask for feedback rather than get upset. When you come across as assertive rather than passive, people are more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Managing the expectation for women to contain their emotions.

Give yourself the time you need to step back from a situation to regroup when you need it.
Find allies and advocates for you when unfair situations arise so they can help deescalate a situation if one occurs.
If there is no ally to help you, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself. Emphasize that you’ve already made a point or that something has already been discussed.

Find your confidence when at the workplace.

Stand up, take up space, and project your voice. Don’t scream, but be heard.
Draw on your colleagues - they are a great source to get feedback
Know and understand the material you’re talking about and working with.
You can choose to be confident, or you can choose not to be. People will understand and empathize.

Want to get in touch with Cathy? Connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Everyone, at some point or another, has encountered obstacles and failures in life. (If you haven’t, please reach out to Linda.) But the failure isn’t the part you should be worried about; it’s whether or not you pick yourself up. Today on IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Kendra Perry to discuss how she overcame failure in her professional life, and how she regained the confidence to move forward.

Her business began thanks to a skiing accident.

Initially pursuing a career in skiing (while working as a forester), a terrible crash in 2011 forced Kendra to put down the skis permanently.
The crash also prevented her from continuing her foresting career, meaning Kendra had to rediscover a professional passion.
She realized (after listening to a podcast) that she could offer coaching services online, so for the next five years, she grew a business helping women find their energy.
Kendra started business consulting on the side and soon realized she loved it.

Kendra experienced failure in her business.

Wanting to launch an online course, Kendra invested thousands of dollars into research, marketing, and creating her online course.
While she had 200 people join in the first webinar, she felt deflated and upset when it resulted in zero sales.
She relaunched three more times yet still did not find a way to make sales.
Kendra later learned there were components in her marketing and messaging that contributed to her failure. However, it still resulted in her losing confidence in herself and her business.

The critical question: How did she bounce back?

After a short pity party, Kendra hired a business coach. The coach helped her realize what was wrong with her approach (like too broad of a niche.)
Kendra realized her audience wanted support and accountability - two things her course didn’t offer.
She restructured her platform into a group membership program, and she immediately received $8,000 in sales.

Kendra’s tips for someone experiencing failure:

Give yourself the time and space to process your emotion and then move forward.
Remember, there’s no successful person who hasn’t had multiple failures. Those failures are an opportunity to analyze the bigger picture.
Develop a practice that helps move stuff throughout your body. Whether that’s journaling, meditating, or something else, find a solution to energize yourself.

To contact Kendra, connect with her on LinkedIn and visit her website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Did you know that when we communicate, only 7% is in the words that we say? That means 93% of our communication is through nonverbal language. In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda’s going solo to explain some of her findings and experiences in fostering positive nonverbal communication.

The goal with body language is to look at them in clusters, not just one instance of expression.

Nonverbal language is the way you move your body, the way you gesture, whether or not you’re smiling, and whether you make eye contact, all of which impact nonverbal language.
Did you know that we make over 3000 facial gestures a day? Humans are far more expressive than we might think.

Linda learned firsthand the importance of body language when interacting with a past COO.

She wanted to share an idea, but his body language was not receptive to communication. (His arms folded, he was scowling and made no eye contact.)
Linda mirrored him, becoming equally closed off.
Soon after, he began to nod and make eye contact, so Linda became more open. Once they were both open with each other, they were able to share ideas.

Posture is integral to good nonverbal communication.

Keep your shoulders back, with your shoulder blades rolled back and down.
Keep your head up, and your body open, and your legs uncrossed and your feet flat on the ground.
Spending time moving your body and getting exercise will help you be more confident.

Use nonverbal communication to gauge if someone might be deceptive.

Sudden jerky movements or covering their mouth after speaking
Shifts in voice tone or a sudden dry cough
Increased blink rate or clenched eyebrows.
They might smile more than usual, trying to overcompensate.

Your body language is just as crucial as your teammates’.

As a leader, you want to be approachable. Your job is to listen to others. Therefore, you need to show that you will and do hear people when in conversation with others.
Be aware of where your or someone’s feet point. For example, if feet are pointed toward the door, they might be uncomfortable with the situation.
If in conversation with someone who is uncomfortable, turn your body on a slight angle, so you aren’t interacting with them head-on.
Linda’s final takeaway: Record yourself speaking, whether at an event or even in your living room, and watch your body language. It’s a great way to observe any nervous habits you have that you might not even be aware of.

Do you have any questions about body language or being aware of your own body language? Ask it in Linda’s Facebook group!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As the CEO and founder of The VOS Group, a training group that delivers strategy to organizations to increase their profitability, LaDawn Townsend has had extensive experience communicating her value to stakeholders. And in today’s episode of IntHerrupt, she joins Linda to explain how you communicate your value regardless of your role in an organization.

LaDawn’s professional journey was unique.

She entered a corporate job right out of high school, managing a team in finance.
Twenty years later, LaDawn decided this wasn’t what she wanted to do with her life and needed a change.
She worked until 2014, when the company downsized. Forced to find a new source of income, she became an entrepreneur.

She struggled in the initial stages of entrepreneurship.

LaDawn had two goals: have a paycheck and help business owners have a sustainable foundation (so they would never have to lay people off.)
Because she wasn’t eligible for funding opportunities, she moved to Austin, Texas, to work another job and generate money for her business.
She worked 70-hour weeks, finding time before and after her job to get her business off the ground.
Since that time, her firm has blossomed into a profitable business with international clients.

What does value mean to LaDawn?

The number one responsibility of a business owner is to run a financially fit business.
There are three fundamental aspects of value:
- See a bigger vision of what’s possible for your clients.
- Have courage.
- Talk about your message.
When other people and clients can talk about the value and presence you offer, you know your message is coming across successfully.
When you can demonstrate expertise, you’ll be able to close deals. Especially with women executives and business owners, we tend to be challenged by asking for business.
Value isn’t just one statement or a mission statement; it is a concept and a pillar of the foundational beliefs of your business.

Internal value is just as significant as external (if not more so)

Recently, LaDawn realized she needed to value herself more. She needed to take time for things that fuel her.
When you value yourself, you can show up better for your clients and your coworkers.

Who are the stakeholders?

There are three different levels of stakeholders: the decision-maker, the influencer, and the silent stakeholder.
While the first two are obvious, the silent stakeholder is anyone you wouldn’t initially expect or be aware of who has an impact—for example, an employee who’s worked at the company for 20+ years.

What you should do when a stakeholder doesn’t see your value:

Use data to support your claims, and find an influencer who the decision-maker will listen to.
Take your ego out of the relationship. Focus on the project and goal you were hired for, and seek to help others.
If you encounter a negative stakeholder, build relationships with other stakeholders and influencers to learn how to communicate in a way that will be productive and make them advocates for yourself.

To contact LaDawn, you can connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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For anyone working in the modern workplace (but especially for women), it can seem daunting and difficult to admit you need help. You might feel you’ll be labeled incompetent or incapable. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth! There’s no shame in admitting when you need help, and in today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Judy Joffe to learn how to ask for help without feeling inferior.

Nobody knows everything.

There’s always someone who knows more and is better at the things you do know.
Everyone makes mistakes, but making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re stupid. It just means you have an opportunity to learn and grow.
If you’re deciding whether or not you’ll need help, use phrases like “I’d like to think about it” to buy time to calm your inner self and figure out what you can bring to the table.
Position yourself to go back to the project in control of your environment.

How can you ask for help and still feel confident?

Lead from your strengths. In an ideal world, everybody wants to help you. (But that’s not always the case.)
When working with someone difficult, think inward. Is it about them wanting you to look worse, or are you projecting your own insecurity and imposter syndrome? Think about it and address the problem accordingly.
You can use phrases like “that’s challenging,” “that’s a great idea,” or “that’s an interesting concept” to buy yourself time to figure out where the problem in communication lies.

You need to ask for help when:

You know you’ll impact the quality.
You know that without help, you’ll delay the deadline.
You know you won’t have time to research the project.
If the project is something outside you or our team’s expertise.

As a leader, how can you help people feel comfortable coming to you for help?

Build an open relationship where your team will be unafraid to come to you.
Give your team resources, so they have avenues to follow if they need it.
If you, as the leader, are unafraid to ask for help, your team will have more confidence in you and be more willing to do the same.
If you ask people for input and feedback, you’ll end up with a better project because the whole team will have buy-in into the project.

To get in contact with Judy, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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We’ve all experienced the stress that typically comes with a holiday. It may even get to the point where you want a holiday from the holiday! As business professionals, finding the time to recharge and refresh is integral, especially as we approach the holiday season. Today’s guest, Shanna Missett, president of Jazzercise Incorporated, explains what she does to recharge during the holidays.

The holiday season is stressful.

As a business professional and working mother, Shanna feels the stress that accompanies the holiday season. At times it feels like a job in of itself!
Women are typically in charge of decorating, purchasing gifts, wrapping, and many other holiday tasks.
Shanna used to go all-out with decorating, but she realized she doesn’t have to put that burden on herself.

Let go of burdens you put on yourself.

Think about the future. Will it matter two weeks from now if you don’t do a certain thing?
If it doesn’t significantly impact her life, that helps Shanna shift her focus and think about her end goal.
Because of her shifted focus, Shanna has since given herself more breathing room during the holiday season. For example, she no longer feels like it is an absolute necessity to get a gift to someone before Christmas.
Shanna prioritizes which things she wants to get done and which things she might not have time for. That way, she’s able to complete what she wants.

What can people do to move forward in life while also giving time to breathe and recharge?

Readjust goals if a life event demands it. More importantly, accept potential feelings of disappointment that come with changing a goal.
Realign yourself, process emotions, and handle any external events that might have an impact. Then, embrace that new goal.

Taking vacations allows Shanna to recharge.

Because her daughters were both in competitive dance, she grew to love attending competitions.
It was refreshing to focus on just her daughters and their performance rather than running an event or company.
Being present in whatever you’re doing can be very recharging.

Being present in life can be very recharging.

Stop checking your phone or laptop. There’s no reason to check your email.
Realize that you don’t have to check those things, and also that you deserve that time to yourself away from obligation.

Want to hear more from Shanna? Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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No matter who you are, you’re inevitably going to come across difficult personalities. (And it can be very frustrating.) To learn how to deal with difficult personalities in the workplace, Linda is joined by Debra Roberts, creator of The Relationship Protocol, to address these relationships and learn how to overcome them.

What qualifies as a “difficult personality” is different for each person.

For example, Debra reacts negatively to passive-aggressive personalities.
It’s any type you are triggered or challenged by, where you have to think through the proper responses in conversation.

The Relationship Protocol is a communication model that resulted from all her working relationships.

It provides actionable tools to have a conversation and deal with difficult topics.
If you want a positive relationship with someone with a difficult personality, ask yourself what you want to say or what you want their takeaways to be after the conversation, and decide your words based on that.
Don’t target the person, but explain how the actions or choices make you confused.

When something is bothering you, ask them to “help me understand.”

Sometimes people don’t realize they’re difficult. Debra has encountered many people who don’t even realize their actions are off-putting.
When you speak to someone respectfully, and you respond negatively, they’re going to assume they’ve done something wrong.
The takeaway? When in a conversation, never attack the other person when addressing a personality conflict. And remember, your tone is everything.

When talking to someone upset with you, be it a customer or co-worker, you must acknowledge their experience. Validate them.

Own up to or empathize with them to deescalate a potential conflict.
Everybody wants to feel heard.
It’s not about a grand gesture. But it’s about acknowledging other people and being kind.

Debra’s famous interruption story.

Early in her career, Debra was a department head that recently merged with another company.
The woman who held a similar position to Debra at the other company was very intimidating, and she terrified Debra.
She asked Debra a question and then walked out mid-answer. And Debra followed her as she left and called her out on it. And their relationship drastically improved.

To connect with Debra, visit therelationshipprotocol.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. Her website also contains her courses specialized for personal, group, or professional teams to learn how to communicate effectively and have productive relationships. You can also find her book on Amazon.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The Relationship Protocol: How to Talk, Defuse and Build Healthier Relationships

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No matter who or where you are, financial stability is something we all strive for. Today we’re joined by Sarah Poynton, who’s been through her personal journey learning how to make sound financial decisions to be best prepared for the future.

Sarah started her entrepreneurship journey with little financial knowledge.

She started a photo booth company that put booths in weddings, corporate events, those kinda things.
Founded in 2012, her business was failing by 2014. And by 2015, she had a lot of debt. Sixty thousand pounds of debt, to be precise (about $82,000 U.S. dollars), and it was all because of poor financial choices.
She got married in 2015, and she and her husband talked about the next chapter of their lives. But it all came back to the fact they had no money. Because of that, she realized she needed to do something differently.

So she started a property company in 2016.

It began to do pretty well, and she started to help investors build a property portfolio.
Since then, she’s built a portfolio for herself, has an education company, and everything she does is built around property and investments.
She is not a broker or investing specialist, but she helps people make money from those industries.
Once she was debt-free, she began to strategize for the future and create long-term wealth.
She doesn’t want money for the sake of stuff. She wants money for the freedom and choice money creates.

Why is it important to be financially prepared?

You never know what’s going to happen, and you shouldn’t be worried about not being able to pay something off.
Sarah remembers being in a position where she couldn’t pay all of her bills each month. It’s important from a mental health perspective. You only have one life.

Sarah’s financial takeaways:

Get investing as soon as you can. You can start investing with very little money. Put that money to work for you before you’ve got it.
Manage your money. Sarah used to spend until the card said no because it made her feel sick.
Manage it daily. Know where your money is going so that you’re working from a place of having enough for the things you need.
Because of the inflation rate, the value of your money is eroding and going down. That’s why investing is essential.

How can you break destructive financial behaviors?

Stop avoiding your bank account. Instead, check every day or every other day because ignoring the problem doesn’t fix it. (If anything, that makes it worse.)
Understand the difference between assets and liabilities. An asset makes you money. A liability costs you money.
Learn about it! There’s so much knowledge available online.
Don’t invest more than you can afford to lose because there’s always a risk with investing. But invest with the expectation you’ll lose it all.
Read the book Think and Grow Rich to learn more basics on financial literacy.

What are the benefits of being financially literate as a leader?

Sarah is very transparent about business financials. Her team knows how much they spend, how much they charge, and various tax information.
You don’t need to be a financial genius; just understand the basics. Understand the baselines of financial intelligence and make more than you spend.
By saving, what most people mean is putting it in a bank account. But in a bank account, the interest rate is horribly low and won’t help you. That is why investing generates more wealth.

*Sarah is not a financial advisor. Everything discussed in this podcast reflects her personal financial experiences and should not be taken as expert advice.

To connect with Sarah, DM her on Instagram @iamsarahpoynton. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century (Think and Grow Rich Series)

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Today’s episode of Int-HER-rupt features a robust discussion with guest Joanna Chanis. As an author and professional mentor, she helps women and corporate teams through challenging experiences. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, she learned how to **be grateful for the positives** in her life to accept the negatives she cannot change.

On the outside, Joanna had a perfect life.

And she worked hard to make it look that way. But she was actually under tremendous stress between her career and personal life, going through three traumatic experiences in just nine months.
Her cancer diagnosis forced Joanna to put herself first.
She considered herself someone who practices gratitude. But after her diagnosis, she realized she said the words and talked about it but was in a state of nonacceptance.
Because she had to accept something she didn’t want to accept, she let that manifest acceptance for everything else in her life.
She learned how to practice gratitude and live a life that was for her.
It was authentic. And she could make so much more good happen. And she was able because she had surrendered and gotten to a place of acceptance.

What is authentic gratitude to Joanna?

It started when she noticed all the conditional gratitude on social media. She was saying she was grateful (but didn’t really feel grateful.)
We’re conditioned to express gratitude as a formality, even if we don’t feel it.
So what is authentic gratitude? It’s a feeling you have when you’re genuinely grateful and accept what is.
That doesn’t mean you’ll like everything. But you have to accept it to move through the circumstances.
Because of this, Joanna’s life improved. She had better self-esteem, better relationships, and better peace of mind.

An exercise to practice shifting your perspective:

When helping a friend, client, or corporate group, Joanna applies it to the little things.
Don’t wait for a disaster to change your mentality. Instead, implement it throughout your day as practice, so you’re ready for a more significant situation.
Imagine traffic. If you’re annoyed that you’re stuck, shift your perspective. Accept that you’re in traffic and it’s annoying.
But search for something that because you’re in traffic, you’re grateful. (Quiet time without kids. Time to finish an audiobook. You’re in a heated car outside of the cold. )
Find something in the moment you wouldn’t be able to do if you weren’t having that circumstance.
You’re not going to get out of the traffic. But it won’t be as bad.

What would she say to people to have resilience and stamina in the wake of covid?

Everyone is resilient. But the key is to learn healthy resilience.
There has never been a more critical time to practice this methodology. We have to accept where we are.
With the fluctuations of COVID and the variants, nobody knows what will happen next.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. And we’re all going through the same challenge in COVID.
Accept that life will never be the same. So do what you can to accept where you are and what is. But then, find something in that circumstance to feel better.
Sometimes people get stuck trying to find the bad thing during the bad thing. Just let it be. What it’s meant to teach you will become more apparent once you’ve accepted it and the ordeal is over.

To connect and learn more about Joanna, follow her on YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also tune in to her own podcast, About Life, and check out her book, The Waiting Room.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The Waiting Room: Your Friend to Help You and Your Loved Ones through the Diagnosis

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The road to a fulfilling life is all about balance. Finding employment and work often come at the expense of your dreams. Can you live in a world with both? In today’s episode, Linda is joined by none other than her daughter, Summer Yates, to discuss why retaining your passions as you grow up is perhaps the most important thing you can do.

Summer has many passions outside her traditional job.

Her main craft is aerial acrobatics, owning and operating an aerial acrobatics studio.
In addition to her aerial acrobatics business, Summer models and practices makeup.
Her everyday job is a manager, overseeing three large teams within her company totaling around 55 people.

Summer uses her passions to shape her day job.

Her passions give her a different perspective and keep her grounded in everyday life.
People often get trapped seeking financial accomplishments or a particular title in their work, but in doing so, sacrifice a life worth living.
By prioritizing her sport and using it to help others, Summer knows why she goes to her job each day: to one day have the freedom to do what she wants.
She lets her passion guide her as she coaches her employees. She can’t expect them to give up their passions when she wouldn’t do it herself.

Prioritizing her talents helps Summer face challenges in her life.

There’s a ton of research that physical activities do great things for mental health, so she’s fortunate her passion is a physically active one.
But it’s also a creative outlet, allowing her to express herself when she’s not able to otherwise.
Many people complain about not having enough time for work and hobbies, but in reality, it’s all about priorities. She’s found more energy doing the things she loves than just vegging out after work.

How does she heal from the bruising doing aerial?

Summer thinks of it as a life lesson: people don’t see the pain, blood, sweat, and tears that go into a performance. It’s a lot like life.
She’s a big believer in safe practice of her sport, resulting in only minor injuries. But she also sees a sports masseuse a couple of times a month and takes salt baths to relax her muscles.
Sometimes, if she feels off, she visits a physical therapist and avoids dancing for a couple of days.
Listening to your body and understanding its limits is essential.

What lessons has your sport taught you?

The difference between discomfort and pain, because you don’t grow through comfort.
Be humble to ask for help and to learn from others.
Her journey isn’t about other people, but it’s about her.
When she is living passionately, she is at peace because she’s fulfilled.

So how does she relate this to her team?

Summer finds joy in helping people find their passions and realize they can do things they never thought possible.
She wants to push people beyond their comfort because you won’t go forward in life by remaining stagnant.
People limit themselves, so part of her job is to help people realize the limits they place on themselves are often self-inflicted.

This isn’t a solicitation for Morgan Stanley. This podcast has no affiliation with Morgan Stanley.

To connect with Summer, visit her website and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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For many working professionals, the typical day-to-day is a constant stream of projects and tasks. As soon as one project is finished, we immediately move on to the next job, leaving little time to celebrate our accomplishments and successes. But is this the right approach? On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by the founder of The Woman Behind the Smile and best-selling author Debby Montgomery to discuss the importance of celebrating your accomplishments.

We all have losses, whether we admit them or not.

After her husband’s death, Debby started online dating to put herself out there. She fell for a relationship scheme, losing over one million dollars over two years. This event inspired her first book, “The Woman Behind the Smile.”
After being hurt financially, emotionally, and spiritually, Debby realized this is a much more common problem than she thought; many women have encountered similar issues and are too afraid to admit it.
For the last six years, she became the woman to advocate for those who have fallen for online scams and tries to prevent more women from falling for it.
Her second book, “A Gift Called Fearless,” was created to understand that we have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. We can get out of our comfort zone to help others move forward.

It’s hard for people to accept a compliment.

Particularly for mothers, accepting a compliment is challenging. We are giving people, and we tend to focus the spotlight on others rather than ourselves.
While selfless, this doesn’t work long-term. Everyone needs a balance, and that includes being able to give and receive positive energy from others.

What does Debby do to celebrate her accomplishments?

She started her own podcast, Stand Up and Speak Up. The most rewarding aspect of her podcast is the positivity and interest it generates in those who listen to her content, particularly her parents.
We have a tendency to view large celebrations as selfish, which goes against our desire to be seen as selfless.
For some people, the celebration isn’t always a big spectacle. It can be as simple as seeing family and spending time with loved ones.
Green Light on Audible by Matthew McCaughnahey stands up and owns his experiences about rising to fame, and it’s great.
People need to know they aren’t alone. To Debby, she loves knowing she can connect and impact other people by helping people understand they aren’t alone.

To anyone listening who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one, expected or unexpected, remember that life goes on. You can honor the person, and there is nothing wrong with crying. Do what you need to accept what has happened and find a way to move past it. Go to thewomanbehindthesmile.com to find out more about Debby’s story and her books. If you’ve been a victim of a relationship scam, you aren’t alone. Reach out to Debby at debby@thewomanbehindthesmile to talk to Debby and

To get in contact with Gina, follow her on LinkedIn Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Working in corporate America means you’ll encounter people with all sorts of different personalities, for better or worse. But as a team leader, you need to support and create a healthy atmosphere for the entire team. In today’s episode, Linda is joined by Gina Stracuzzi, cofounder and director of the Women in Sales Leadership Forum, to learn how to foster unity in your organization, even with different personalities.

People with different personalities require different forms of support.

It’s very easy to alienate people in a business setting. Especially as people return to in-person work, they might not be used to all the socialization and communication.
Use emotional intelligence to mirror the way people speak. Match someone’s communication style to help them be more comfortable in their environment.
Building trust is integral. Gina had difficulty with people when she made assumptions about what they wanted or needed.
Building trust and rapport will help you determine how, where, and when someone communicates, and thus how you can best support them and make the greatest impact.

Gina’s tips for building rapport:

Don’t be in a hurry to get the sale.
Be a listener, not a talker.
Use questions that show you’re listening and want to know more.
Consider taking notes
Periodically repeat things back to the speaker to prompt them to elaborate.

Practice kindness and empathy.

Kindness and empathy have been the guiding force to get us through the pandemic. Even the most rigid bosses have to be kind and patient about people’s situations.
You don’t have to like somebody or be their friend. But you should be kind. If someone shows up to the office in a bad mood, it’s usually because something is happening.
Ask if everything is okay or if everything is alright with them. If that’s too direct, ask if anything is new. The key is to offer an opening for the person to express their problems.

What does Gina do to build unity within an organization?

Think about who you’re working with and how they communicate. What’s important to them? Are you asking them to think differently than they might be used to?
You can’t tailor everything to everyone, but you can be mindful of what motivates people.
Some companies pit people against one another, which can cause a lot of tension. Women, in particular, are pitted against each other for opportunities for advancement.
Instead of creating rivalries, build teams that work together and have healthy competitions.
Brené Brown talks about managing with shame. Depending on your role, make sure you aren’t using shame in an innocuous way to the point that it becomes part of the culture.
If you’re being managed that way, have a conversation with whoever is doing it. Repeat it back to them, and use their language. Have them explain how it will help instead of why because “how” is a much less aggressive way of speaking.

Has Gina ever been interrupted?

Yes, especially in corporate America. But Gina learned a technique from another trainer.
If someone typically dominates a meeting, go up to the perpetrator before the meeting. Ask them how much time they think they’ll need today during the meeting because you also have things you need to say.
It will make them aware that they’re speaking and make them aware that you’re aware that they’re speaking.

To get in contact with Gina, follow her on LinkedIn Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Regardless of your profession or career, there will always be times you need to say no. But even though it is a necessary skill, many people find it difficult to say no in personal or professional situations. In today’s episode, Linda is joined by the CEO of Cleo and Coco Suzannah Raff to learn how to say “no” and be okay with it.

Suzannah has worn many hats throughout her professional career.

After receiving an MA in business, Suzannah worked in high technology before pivoting to a tech startup that eventually went public.
She later went on to receive another MA in social work and worked another five years before launching her brand Cleo and Coco, where she is the current CEO.
Cleo and Coco make clean and luxurious personal care products, transforming the personal care industry by putting “care” back in personal care.

She’s had to say “no” in virtually all of these career steps.

As a brand founder, she has values for her product that she holds firm.
She found that manufacturers will say they can produce her products more cheaply by using an alternative ingredient that isn’t as clean or pure. Suzannah has to hold firm and say no in those instances.
As a Sabbath-observant Jewish woman, Suzannah doesn’t look at her phone or computer for 24 hours, starting at sundown each Friday. She has had huge business opportunities occur within that timeframe that she’s had to turn down (like going on-air for QVC) because they went against her values.
But Suzannah doesn’t feel guilty about saying no because these instances go against values she has for herself and her life.

How can someone learn to say no?

It’s much easier to say yes and keep the peace (saying no can cause conflict.) But to start saying no, Suzannah has three strategies:
Stop and think about the situation or problem.
Have a list of your values and what is important to you. Run it against your list of values, and if it goes against any of them say no.
Instead of saying “no,” determine the smoothest route to accomplish the same goal. Explain why you can’t do it, say complimentary things about it, come up with another solution or compromise.

When to say “yes” instead of “no”:

If the opportunity or problem doesn’t go against anything on your list, ask yourself why you want to say no in the first place.
The opportunity might be a chance to push yourself and try something new.
Suzannah also says yes anytime something is within her bandwidth and brings value to someone else. But remember, it must be within your bandwidth for it to be worth it.

How did Suzannah discover her values?

She makes lists for any major life decisions she has to make.

Where is she at now? Where does she want to be? What does she need to do to get there?

Have a brainstorming session with yourself, write down all of your ideas, and turn it into a list of your top 10

What would you say to someone struggling to say no after saying yes

Sometimes just talking it out with somebody might make you feel better. Recognize that there are times you just need to set a boundary, find a friend, and vent to them to get it out of your system.

Barrier looking to break?

Access to capital for female founders.

Less than 10% of venture capital goes to female founders.

Been interrupted?

SHe’s interrupted her own career a couple of times

Throughout those interruptions, how has overcoming them been helpful?

Beginnings are always difficult, but Suzannah enjoys the challenge and likes starting new things.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Leading a team in the workplace can be tough. What can make it even more challenging, however, is when situations at home force you to devote more time, energy, or resources away from business aspirations. On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Abbi Perets to discuss how to lead a team when you have special needs children, aging parents, or other commitments that can impact your professional aspirations.

But first, who is Abbi?

Originally your typical corporate professional, Abbi transitioned to freelance writing upon the birth of her first child.
Now Abbi has five children, with two having special needs. Her third child has Soto syndrome and her youngest child only has one ear.
While unintentional, freelancing was incredibly helpful for Abbi. When she found her days full of therapy and doctor’s appointments for her kids, she was still able to work.

Balancing work and her personal life is critical.

For Abbi, the key to balancing everything in her life is sacrificing things she is willing to sacrifice.
She doesn’t worry about having a perfectly organized home. Clean laundry can stay in baskets, and dishes can be in the sink overnight because she picks and chooses where to put her energy.
Letting something go doesn’t mean letting go of it for life. It’s simply reprioritizing based on what’s happening at the current time.

How does Abbi stay positive?

Apart from thriving on sarcasm and very dark humor, Abbi believes that happiness is a choice.
When her son and mother both had cancer, Abbi got the help she needed to remain hopeful and optimistic.
Women in particular struggle in silence. But there’s nothing wrong with taking medication, getting counseling, or anything else to find happiness.
She looks for small things that bring joy to her, like reading, a good cup of coffee, celebrating with her kids, and walks with her husband around their neighborhood.

How does Abbi manage her client’s expectations?

When her son was diagnosed with cancer, she immediately contacted her clients and said she wouldn’t be able to work for the foreseeable future, and it wasn’t until he finished treatment that she began to work again.
She is a huge believer that your calendar is not an aspirational document. You need to be realistic about how to plot out a calendar, which means scheduling time for yourself.
Being honest about the amount of work she can do helps her set realistic expectations with her clients and deliver work on time.

What are things listeners can do to be more sensitive to team members who deal with these types of issues?

Ask them to be honest with you about how much work they can take on.
Be cognizant, but also hold people accountable. Some people like to be very engaged in work during difficult times because it is a routine. If a coworker or employee wants that, respect it. Don’t decide what they need.
If your employees can do things better for you and themselves by working remotely, welcome that chance to help people balance their values.

To connect with Abbi, visit her website https://successfulfreelancemom.com/.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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When juggling the responsibilities that come with motherhood and a career, nobody understands the struggles more than today’s guest Veronica Romney. As the founder of MyModernBrand, she works to help great people and great companies clarify their brand message and market themselves authentically, all while she raises two kids! In today’s episode, Veronica shares her secrets to juggling responsibilities between motherhood and her career.

Veronica and her husband started a company months after their first child was born.

The most shocking thing she experienced as a new mother was the amount of guilt she felt. She felt guilty delivering subpar work in her career but also felt guilty giving herself time to rest or traveling for work.
After overcoming the shock of how difficult balancing everything would be, Veronica realized finding balance is impossible, because there are times her kids need her more than other commitments.
Instead, she believes in being honest about how much capacity she has for her workload. For example, if she’s going to take on a particular project, how much space will it take from the allotment she’s given to her children?

Veronica had to learn how to give time for herself.

At first, she was delegating and asking her family for help. But, after moving to North Carolina, she isn’t around family members to support her.
Instead, she calls on babysitters, cleaners, and even gardeners for help. Not all the time, but for the times when she doesn’t have the capacity to handle everything on her plate.
You as a human being have to constantly reprioritize and decide what is best for you.

What has been Veronica’s biggest challenge in being a mother and working professional?

If she doesn’t prioritize herself, everything else suffers. She needs sleep, food, and time for herself to give more to her family and job.
What she doesn’t do is go into life with the mentality “I can just wake up early and go to bed later.” - That’s how people experience burnout.
Overcoming this challenge meant safeguarding her own boundaries. If that means 30 minutes to herself, away from family, she gives herself that time.
Women are taught to set boundaries for themselves in the workplace and stick to them, but that process falls by the wayside in personal applications. But Veronica found that in expressing that she needs time to herself, her kids learned how to practice self-care for themselves.

What accomplishment has given Veronica the most pride?

Besides the birth of her children (the easy answer), it’s being married. Of course, nobody teaches you how to be married. But even after over a decade of marriage, Veronica and her husband love each other and communicate their needs.
Her secret? Be fully present in whatever you’re doing. When you try to juggle bowling balls, they’re all going to fall. So put down the extra balls and focus on one at a time.

To contact Veronica, connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and visit her website, https://www.veronicaromney.com/.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Whether you’re overcoming imposter syndrome or just want to feel supported in your career, addressing the difficulties to find empowerment is critical. Today on IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Heather Fueger, sports marketing director at RSM, to learn how she found empowerment and support through sports and physical activity.

Heather was involved in sports from a young age.

Growing up in the midwest meant sports was a cultural necessity. That and her professional golfer of a dad meant she was immersed in sports her entire life.
While Heather played multiple sports until junior high, it was clear she was far better at golf than anything else.
She realized she had to either hone in on golf (to play in college) or just have fun in multiple sports. Heather chose the former.

What critical skills for her future career does Heather attribute to sports?

Organization: Playing collegiate golf meant learning to balance school, sports, and her social life.
Time management: Her busy life meant prioritizing responsibilities was necessary for success.
Teamwork: Despite golf being an individual sport, Heather was still a part of a team and relied on her relationships to improve.

It’s essential for women to be in sports.

Being active can dramatically help anyone’s mental health.
Utilizing a gym or participating in a club sport is an opportunity to network and meet like-minded people. In fact, meeting others through golf was how Heather networked her first job.
Beyond a professional career, you can play several lifelong sports like golf and tennis as you grow older.

How does Heather continue to grow in a male-dominated industry?

She knows her strengths and weaknesses and leverages her strengths to perform her best.
A direct boss who is supportive can make all the difference in career advancement.
A supportive boss means Heather has the freedom to make decisions, knowing that it would merely be an opportunity to learn if she were to mess up.

To get in contact with Heather, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Working around the clock might help you find success at your job, but what’s the value if you feel burnt out? Now more than ever, finding a work-life balance that works for you is essential. Today Linda is joined by Amanda Abella, CEO and founder of Make Money Your Honey, to talk about the value of rest and relaxation and how Amanda finds balance in her own life.

The benefits of finding time for rest and relaxation:

Having time for relaxation helps generate better ideas, feel better physically, and be more emotionally balanced.
These criteria not only affect your work productivity, but also your general mental health and ability to find meaning and happiness in your life.

How does Amanda relax?

Personally, Amanda goes to the beach. But, for building her business, Amanda likes to think she’s on a mission to fire herself.
To build stability and time for relaxation within her business, she thinks with the end in mind. Most business owners don't think about the end result and take whatever comes to them.
When Amanda hired her first assistant, they sat down and planned their vision. Amanda only wanted to sell and make connections through podcasts. That's it.
It took them over two years for Amanda to get to that goal. But she started with that vision in mind and made decisions to reach it.

Amanda’s experience with letting go:

Amanda naturally just generates ideas, so a big part of shutting down was accepting that's how she’s wired, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
Instead of fighting it, which was draining, she just accepted it. However, just because she lets herself develop ideas doesn’t mean she starts implementing them all tomorrow.

Why relaxation is essential to Amanda’s community:

Amanda doesn’t want her or her team to be running ragged because that doesn’t help anybody.
She teaches sales to women, who are notorious underearners. Women are conditioned to overwork for little pay and not ask for what they want, and it creates a perpetual cycle of overworking and underearning. Amanda wants to teach women not to accept this.

What can someone do if they have a hard time relaxing?

If you have a hard time relaxing, there's something you aren’t owning or something you're trying to avoid.
Do some self-inquiry to determine why and what the problem is.
For Amanda, realizing there's a difference between recognizing her vision and goals and allowing herself to become overworked and overloaded feels different.

Episode Resources:

If you’re a woman, join her free Facebook group, where they do complimentary training once a week.
Find her podcast and videos on her YouTube channel, and connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Houston (formerly Barbara Stanny) changed Amanda’s life and revealed how to earn what you deserve and live at your full potential.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks describes the zone of genius - things you love to do and are good at.
Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.
Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level

Overcoming Underearning(R): A Five-Step Plan to a Richer Life

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You know those days you just want to quit your job? On today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Nicole Tschierske to discuss why you might not want to immediately quit and look for your next opportunity. As a scientist and positive psychology coach, Nicole helps her clients strategically turn their career frustrations into a renewed love for their work.

Why shouldn't you find a new job when you're feeling under-challenged or overwhelmed?

There will be situations you just have to get out of, such as discrimination or if you’ve tried to make changes without success.
But, especially if you work at a larger company, there are often many areas and new opportunities within your company.

Nicole had to overcome feeling under-challenged in her career.

At a previous job, Nicole had to knock on her manager’s door to ask for new opportunities.
She tried everything to remain challenged at work, and management told her she just had to be patient. But soon, an entire year went by without change.
When these monotonous feelings began to seep into her personal life, she looked for a coach for help.

Her advice to someone who feels under-challenged or overwhelmed:

It's normal to have a perceived plateau of learning.
If you feel you have to leave your company to grow, stay another year and use that extra bandwidth you have from no longer struggling with technicalities; use it to learn a whole set of other skills you might need for your future career.

Nicole’s guide to job tweaking:

What is job tweaking? It’s changing your daily work routine to make it more worthwhile or fun for you.
Look at the tasks you have to do, and find a way to switch them up. Can you change tasks with someone? Can you stack the most difficult ones at the beginning of the day?
Look at your relationships. Who energizes you? Or is there someone you have to manage your emotions around? Find ways to work on more challenging tasks with those you like to work with and vice versa.
Think about what you do and find meaning behind it. Who are you helping? What are you providing? Asking these questions can give your work meaning beyond the mundane.

How can you get noticed in the workplace to progress?

Take on tasks beyond your realm of responsibility, especially cross-functional projects that help out multiple people.
Try to work with people who bring out your best work.
Enjoy your work. If you can find joy, even in a mundane task, you’ll make progress. Just remember, you likely won’t be at that job forever. But while you're there, you might as well make the best of it.

Has Nicole ever been interrupted, and how she’s overcome it:

Nicole has definitely been interrupted, but she has also been accused of interrupting others.
To overcome being interrupted, Nicole asks herself what is important: standing up for herself or ensuring the point she’s making reaches the audience. Depending on the context, she uses different strategies to achieve the outcome she wants.

Want to get in contact with Nicole? Connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her website.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Building alliances in the workforce is critical in finding an environment in which you can work successfully. Today on the Int-HER-rupt podcast, Linda is joined by the founder of The C-Suite Edge, Olivia Roehm, to discuss how you can build strong alliances and relationships in your professional life.

Why is building effective alliances important?

You typically expect different departments, especially finance and marketing, to be at odds - but their goals can and do align. It’s critical to come together and figure out where those goals align.
A study from the wall street journal shows the average tenure of a chief marketing officer has gone down to 41 months.
The relationships you build at a C-suite level can have long-term implications in your career, so fostering those relationships is critical.

How has Olivia personally created those alliances?

Olivia acts on things within her control she can do quickly.
One thing is building relationships - it takes just seconds to send that LinkedIn message or email.
She noticed many women tend to struggle to give themselves proper credit within their industry, but showing your competency helps foster those meaningful alliances.

Has Olivia broken off or set boundaries in an alliance?

There are always challenges, regardless of who you work with. But you have to realize which relationships you should nurture and which ones aren’t.
However, this is a much larger issue in client relationships. Determine which clients provide long-time value, and dedicate your time and effort to maintain those relationships.
If a client is not a good alliance member and isn’t critical to your long-term success, evaluate if you truly want to do business with them.

Where do you feel is the easiest place to start building an alliance?

Look to mentors and those you want to learn from, train with them, or ask for training opportunities.
This training wasn’t a part of Olivia’s KPIs. But she made it part of her goals because she wanted to provide more value for clients, giving her long-term value.

And Olivia been interrupted? And how has she overcome those interruptions?

Yes, and as a result, she’s worked to surround herself with leaders who support people in a respectful way.

Having leadership that will back her up and says, “This is not okay, we're not accepting this within our relationship,” is an excellent sign of a strong alliance. Cultivating those relationships has made Olivia’s life career stronger because she understands where the respectful disrespectful boundaries lie in the workplace.

Want to get in contact with Olivia? Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Navigating the professional world, in any industry, means overcoming obstacles. On today’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt Podcast, marketing maven Amanda Rose shares her strategy to recognize barriers and biases to overcome them.

What are the barriers Amanda has faced?

A common barrier women encounter is overcoming likability: Balancing being assertive and pleasant without coming across as “abrasive.”
Being aware of the situation helps you realize that passion (which someone may interpret as overly assertive) is crucial for professional growth.
However, frequent communication can help minimize negative interpretations.

How has bias hurt Amanda in her career path?

Externally, men in positions of power might think women are capable of only specific tasks versus what they actually should be doing.
More important, however, are the issues of internal bias she’s come across - confirmation bias.

Amanda’s tips for overcoming confirmation bias:

When we get caught up in confirmation biases, we look to confirm an existing belief.
The first step is to recognize the issue as soon as it's happening. Take a step back, drop your ego, and ask yourself: Am I making an assumption about this?
The second step is to reflect on your thinking. Is it a generalization, or are there issues with your logic? Try to recognize what that bias is rooted in and how the current situation is different.
The final step is to challenge yourself to rethink that bias. Rethink the conversation or processes from the situation to determine how you can help this person and prevent yourself from sabotaging your thoughts.

Recognizing barriers is fundamental to your professional journey.

They're very similar to biases regarding recognizing when they occur and acknowledging that the barrier is not the end to your journey.
Sometimes it's keeping yourself busy until you're able to move past it.
Right now, we see a massive moment in history where many people are not treated the way they should be. It’s necessary to recognize those barriers and join together to be an ally and advocate.

Have you ever been interrupted, and how have you overcome those interruptions?

Yes, and Amanda admits she’s probably guilty of it herself.
There are situations where you pull a Madam Vice President moment by saying, “excuse me, I'm speaking.”
But there are also times you need to listen at that moment. Sometimes it's recognizing, okay, I should be listening to this person and letting them talk more.

If you want to get in contact with Amanda, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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On today’s episode of the Int-HER-rupt podcast, we’re joined in the (virtual) studio by Michelle Balaun, founder, coach, and mentor at True Self Branding. As a dedicated and proven expert in helping business professionals find their brand, there’s no better topic to discuss than how to trust your own voice.

How has Michelle trusted her voice, despite her changes across industries and countries?

It started with the first time she said no to her father. She was 30 years old, and that marked the first time Michelle stood up for herself.
Trusting her voice meant overcoming the restrictions she faced in the 60s and 70s.
Michelle has always been one to fight for the underdog and use her voice to support others. But she had to learn to apply that to herself in addition to others.

How can you figure out what your voice is saying?

For those who are young and unsure of their voice, Michelle recommends meditating. Think about the issue you’re trying to solve because she genuinely believes you know the answer, even if it’s deep inside you.
Consider talking to older relatives or friends you trust for perspective; their age might give them the experience and exposure to help.

Three tips to get back on track if you stop listening to yourself:

Don’t criticize yourself. Do what you can with the best intentions, and don’t beat yourself up if things don’t go the way you hope.
Stop, breathe, and meditate.
Once you’ve meditated, listen for your inner voice. And usually, the first thought you have about the situation is the right one.

How do you avoid comparing yourself to another person?

By remembering, everyone can win. The more we help each other, the better all our lives will be.
Not everyone has to like you. Understanding that and accepting it will help you be your most authentic self.

How can you lead other people to find their inner voice?

Appreciate other people’s points of view. Don’t make other people’s work the exact way you want it (unless you’re a brain surgeon.)
Lead through empowerment and support rather than being nit-picky over things that don’t matter in the long run.

Has Michelle ever been interrupted?

Yes, but she doesn’t mind being interrupted unless it’s a guy mansplaining because she also interrupts a lot (because she’s so passionate.)

To learn how you can revamp or discover your brand, visit Michelle’s company website or join her Facebook group DIY Branding for resources and guidance.

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieving their sales goals.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Today we’re joined by Ericka Eller, Head Trainer for Foot Traffic Formula, one of the most sought-after business coaching programs for small business owners. Ericka is the go-to for lead generation, social selling, sales strategy and conversion. As a veteran virtual worker for the past three years, Ericka has developed strategies for leading a remote team with confidence and success.

How do you step away from work when it’s remote?

The boundary between work and personal life has become blurred, especially since the pandemic.
For Ericka, time management is a huge component to help that line stay intact.
She determines her top three priorities and revolves her calendar around those objectives.
Ericka’s advice: Schedule a specific amount of time to accomplish each task to give yourself a sense of urgency.

How do you grow social relationships remotely?

Ericka’s team has a 15-minute check-in each day to discuss what they’re doing that day and if they need help or support.
Her team uses Voxer (think professional virtual walkie-talkies) as a method of communication throughout the day.

What are her major challenges within a virtual team, and how does she combat these challenges?

Remote work leads to text interactions as a primary communication method, which severely limits emotional understanding.
Ericka incorporates video calls whenever possible so she and her team can read nonverbal cues.
She occasionally sends care packages to her team to remind them she’s a real person and cares about them.

Find time for productivity:

Find your most productive time of day or a time when you don’t have to worry about being scheduled for meetings and calls.
Because most of her team is in a different time zone, she finds quiet time to work in peace later in the day when the rest of her team is winding down.
Once a month, block out an entire day. Use that day to plan out projects and set deadlines for the month ahead.

How do you address slacking team members?

Every single week she has a 1:1 check-in with each of her teammates. She finds out what they need, how they’re doing, and where they need help.
Make sure you have those check-ins. They aren’t micro-managemental, but they are supportive.

Has Ericka been interrupted?

Many things vie for your attention in a digital business, but social media can be a considerable interruption, especially when you use it for work and personal reasons.

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In today’s episode of Int-HER-rupt, Linda and guest Marybeth Bonnar address sexual harassment in the workplace. With a long career in human relations (and the current HR manager for a $700 million company), Marybeth has done just about every HR task imaginable, from recruitment to termination and everything in-between. Marybeth has had people come to her with sexual harassment issues, and she wants people to know how to mitigate problems and keep themselves safe.

But first, what classifies as inappropriate behavior, and when does it become harassment?

Inappropriate behavior in the workplace is anything that makes anyone feel uncomfortable. It could be a minor issue, like bullying. Or it could be more serious, like sexual harassment.
Harassment is anything inappropriate with a sexual nature, like gestures, a request for favors, or maybe even something perceived to be funny. And, of course, the blatant quid pro quo.

If someone feels uncomfortable, how can they stop it?

It’s important to remember this is not a strictly male-harasses-female phenomenon. It can happen to and from any gender.
If you’re uncomfortable, tell the person performing the action.
If you don’t feel like you can, go to a supervisor or HR department for support.
Some companies even have an anonymous hotline that allows you to alert the necessary parties without disclosing your identity.

What if you aren’t getting the help you need?

Look to a colleague to help, and keep going higher up the chain of command until someone takes you seriously.
Once you’ve exhausted the people within your company, you should get an attorney and file a harassment claim against your company.
If this is happening to someone you know, encourage them. Because it isn’t their fault.
There are support groups for people to help each other going through sexual harassment situations.

Marybeth believes three out of every four sexual harassments go unreported. Why does this happen?

Many people don’t report their situation out of shame. They don’t know how to handle the situation and don’t want people to know about it.
They might be afraid of retaliation and worry for their safety or their feeling of control over the situation.
Lastly, they might not want to sacrifice their reputation.

Marybeth’s parting advice, and has she ever been interrupted?

If a situation feels wrong, it probably is.
Ultimately, you deserve respect, and you need to enforce your boundaries.
For Marybeth, COVID was a huge interruption to her life.
While the pandemic made her shift both her work and home mentality, she worked through it.
In the end, she tries to be a positive person and make the most of every opportunity. Bitter or better - that’s your choice.

Do you have more stories to tell? Connect with Linda on LinkedIn. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios, including The Sales Evangelist and more.

Subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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On today’s episode of IntHERupt, Linda is joined by Tracy Smith, an independent consultant who advises teams on best practices to improve individual and organizational performance. Her seasoned experience is perfect for explaining her personal experience in sharing personal responsibilities with her partner. With four kids and two grandkids (with a third on the way), Tracy knows firsthand how important this dynamic is for a long and happy marriage.

How has Tracy found harmony between her work and life?

Harmony comes from instances where there isn’t harmony - by learning from mistakes.
Her husband helps her. She didn’t come from a traditional nuclear family, but he did. She learned to love his family dynamic, which was an initial adjustment.

How has Tracy overcome challenges in home and work life?

It’s not about a work-life balance; it’s about finding a balance that works for you.
She’s learned to be flexible, agile and apologize when she has to.
Tracy and her husband learned to communicate and have conversations that express their vulnerabilities.
She learned to say no to outside things that she, at the moment, thinks are important.

Tracy’s three tips for nurturing your spousal relationship:

Communicate - be willing to listen and ask questions.
Find time to spend together - and it’s okay not to bring your kids.
Love each other where you are and have grace. Tracy recommends the book Created for Connection to help work through rough patches in relationships.

How has her relationship grown through their partnering and sharing responsibility?

When she first met her future husband 32 years ago, they were both selfish. They were both in their own place. That brought some hardheadedness to their relationship.
While it was great in building their professional lives and taking care of four kids, they didn’t always see the value in each other all the time.
Their most significant growth was learning to appreciate each other and what they each bring to the table.

If you want to get in touch with Tracy and learn more, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Created for Connection: The "Hold Me Tight" Guide for Christian Couples

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In today’s episode, Angie Ulibarri joins Linda Yates as they talk about being charitable and how it helps make the community stronger.

Angie Ulibarri is a mother and wife. Her mother always engaged her in good works and grew up doing exactly that. She has an innate desire to help people in need.
She was 12 when her mother signed her up to be an American Red Cross volunteer.
She got very sick and felt sorry for herself. Her husband helped her get through the hard days and encouraged her. Volunteering, engaging in the community, and being charitable helped her change the course of her life.
In the later years, she became involved and engaged with organizations such as the Atlanta Mission of Homeless Shelter. The people are so gracious and their ability to accept the service is heartwarming. Giving back appreciation makes so much difference.

Where to start

Search for volunteer groups on Facebook. You can also search for volunteer opportunities on Google.
There are also some web apps and programs that are available out there that you can search for to start your charitable journey.
You can even start looking for volunteering works within your space - your neighbors, your church, or the community.
Remember that every nonprofit that uses volunteers has its own volunteer recruiting method. If you don’t make it to a particular group then look for another and try again.

Keeping the cup filled

Getting enough sleep is important to keep doing whatever you’re doing.
It’s also important to look for things that you love and make sure that you spend some time doing all these things that you love and enjoy.
Women have the natural ability to nurture and help and we need an outlet to put these abilities to good use.
Angie’s biggest challenge was her fear but she was able to shut down the voice of fear in her head every single day.
When you find the organization or a volunteer group that you are interested in, you will naturally gravitate toward it.
It’s important to have faith that whatever you ask for will happen. Just keep doing what you’re doing and celebrate every milestone.
Surround yourself with like-minded people to inspire and empower you to keep doing what you’re doing.
Life will always have interruptions. Patience is critical to overcoming interruptions.

“How Women Can Strengthen Their Communities Through Charitable Engagement” episode resources

Connect and follow Angie Ulibarri via LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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As a salesperson, how do you focus on others to help overcome your own imposter syndrome? Join Linda Yates and Melissa Oakes as they talk about overcoming imposter syndrome by helping others.

Melissa Oakes is all about helping others feel good about themselves.
Her approach is simple, she asks people of the best day of their lives and she lets them tell their story.
Melissa Oakes works for Hair Club, it’s a company that helps people with their hair and live their life just as if everyday was the best day of their life.

The Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is about people who, in some many cases, had done quite well for themselves but they didn’t have that feeling of accomplishment and they fear of getting found out.
They may have a title but on the inside, they feel that they’re not good enough.
There are people who are meant to be in front of the house while others are supposed to be in the back of the house.
Don’t let the negativity or the feeling that ‘i’m not good enough for you’ but instead determine what’s going to be good enough for yourself.
Challenge yourself to learn everything you can to get in front of people and be comfortable with it.
When you’re too focused on the things that you lack, you lose so much valuable insight.
Melissa discovered that she is at her best when she is focused on others.
If you experience setbacks, try to look at it as an opportunity. When something doesn’t go your way, try to be adaptable and flexible.
Even with setbacks, you can still help other people. Find out what’s important for them and try to find ways to help them. There’s always a lesson that you can learn from every story.

Baby steps to overcome the imposter syndrome

Move your voice of perfection to progress. Instead of focusing on being perfect, focus on your goals instead and on the progress that you’re making. Be in the moment.
Celebrate your wins. When somebody says thank you to you, accept it and don’t question it. Manage your self-doubt by not focusing on the “No”.
When there are interruptions in your life, take a step back and listen. Accentuate the positive and believe that you can make it happen.

“Focus on Others to Help Overcome Your Own Imposter Syndrome” episode resources

Connect and follow Melissa Oakes via LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Women’s sports were gaining popularity before COVID but the question is, why should that matter to us? Join Linda Yates and her guest Missy Heilman as they talked about the subject in depth.

Who is Missy Heilman?

Sports have been an important part of Missy’s life since growing up.
She played several sports including volleyball, basketball, and she ran track. She got a small scholarship at the University of North Dakota for track and field, and with hard work, she graduated on a full scholarship. She also earned an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
She started running in meets when she was in the eighth grade. She ran the 300-meter during high school and 400-meter hurdles during college, which also became her specialty. Her favorite would be the relay and their team made it to the nationals several times.

The Importance of Sports

Kids today are pressured to specialize so early. There is so much emphasis on winning that kids are paralyzed by the fear of failure.
Missy wanted to create an environment or program where girls could come and truly be themselves without the pressure. This isn’t just for the girls with parents who could afford to drive them all over the place. She wanted a safe place for all kids. This was how Bio Girls started. It is a nonprofit organization in Fargo where they help second to sixth graders to improve their self-esteem through a 12-week program.
The organization forced her to think about process, scalability, and documentation.
Even with the pandemic last year, their organization was able to help 1,500 girls across five states in the program.
Missy was working as a director of marketing and was paid a six-figure salary but it didn’t make her happy. It took her nine months to finally leave the job and focus on Bio Girls. They now have a staff of six and over 600 volunteers every year.

Working with women in Sports

The Bio Girls program trains young girls as well for non-competitive 5k runs. Physical activity is not the core of the program but they use it to reinforce life skills such as goal setting, practicing accountability, dealing with a bad day, and more.
Missy learned that when they spent money on marketing expansion and people came to know about them, many come forward and offered their help.
These are women who have the same passion for youth development and wanting to be a part of a community that aims to help girls become the best versions of themselves.
The program teaches the girls kindness, respect, and it encourages them to stop treating their friends as competitors.
Hard work pays off. Another mantra in Bio Girls is that actions conquer fear.
While sports can be intimidating, and it's difficult when you start, when you work hard and show up for the training, you are already winning the battle.
If you can conquer the skills taught in sports, you can conquer most of the things you face in your life and in your career.
Sports isn’t just about winning and losing. The important thing is being able to celebrate progress and improvement. There are always hard work and failures behind every win so celebrate not only your wins but also your growth.

“Women’s Sports Were Gaining Popularity Before Covid, and That Should Matter to Us” episode resources

Check out and follow Missy Heilman on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Sometimes, we get stuck in a cycle where we burn out easily. In this episode, Jenessa Fillipi talks about the value of finding meaningful work even if you don’t get paid for it.

Getting to know Jenessa Fillipi

Jenessa Fillipi is a mother of four and an elementary counselor for the last 15 years. Aside from that, Jenessa is the executive director of Down Home Nonprofit in Fargo, North Dakota.
Jennesa and her husband have very different talents. Her husband is a very skilled handyman. He has his own business and he can take about anything apart and put it back together.
Despite the different careers, both Jenessa and her husband love connecting with people. Over the years, they’ve talked about how they can utilize his gift in handiwork and construction and her love for design and transforming a space into something that people could love.
Three years ago, Jenessa felt the stir to do something else. She felt that there’s still something missing in her life. Along with her husband, they dug deeper and asked the input of their kids on what makes a house a home. They realized then that they could use their talents for bigger purposes. There are thousands of men, women, and children in the Fargo community that are sleeping on the floor. This was how Down Home came to life.

The Work-Life Harmony

Jenessa figured that for her to feel harmonized, she needed to draw close to one who is greater than herself.
In both her life and her work, she gives 110% of her effort. She learned to take deep breaths and she learned to let go of other tasks to focus her mind on the things that she wanted and needed to be good at.
As an elementary school counselor, she doesn't have to grade papers. There is still paperwork but that doesn't include grading the children’s works.
In Renata Bower’s book, Free to B., Jenessa’s biggest take is that we all have unique gifts and talents that we’re good at.
It’s important to recognize the things you’re good at instead of focusing on the things that you’re not good at.
Another lesson that Jennesa learned is that mistakes have their purpose, too. It’s critical that you give yourself grace when you make mistakes, especially when you’re not getting paid or you’re not paid well. You can’t lose your way because that would keep you from moving forward.
Make sure that you provide time for yourself. Sometimes, when we’re too passionate about something, we get caught up and it affects other relationships that we have.
Take the time to invest in the people around you: your family, your spouse, and your children.

Challenges today

Jenessa is now looking at a transition this year. It’s difficult to let go of a career she has invested in for the last 15 years and focus her time on Down Home.
To overcome the challenge, she’s putting more effort into helping fill the gap within the community. They invite more people into the Down Home family and maximize their resources to help more people in need.
Jenessa’s mother has been a huge help for them and for Down Home. There have been several people behind the scene who are helping Jenessa in creating Down Home.
Life is full of interruptions but when these things happen, she makes sure that she puts up a plan as best as she can.
She’s also trying to prioritize the interruptions, whether it’s the kids when she’s trying to do something or talking to people over video calls.

“The Value of Finding Meaningful Work (Even if You Don’t Get Paid for it)” episode resources

Check out and follow Jenessa Fillipi on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Women play a critical role in the workforce in whatever industry they are in. Due to personal reasons, however, some of them had to take a step back from the workforce. In today’s episode, Bianca Collings talks about what women returning to the workforce should know.

Who is Bianca?
Bianca Collings thinks of herself as a master juggler. She does many things but professionally, she grew up as a harpist. She studied it since her formative years and eventually, she got a scholarship to the University of Washington.
Three years into college she realized two fundamental things: 1. She loves the University of Washington, and 2. She hates being a music major.
Being a harpist means being at the back of the orchestra, mostly all by herself. The thing about Bianca is that she’s naturally extroverted, she loves connection, and she loves collaboration.
She left and went to live in Taiwan for a couple of years. When she came back, she studied Chinese.
She taught harp lessons for years before she decided to start her own business in 2007. She started her marketing journey and she was one of the few people who used Facebook for Business.
Tight no, she’s the head of marketing for a software company in American Fork, Utah.
The Challenge in going back to the workforce
The hardest part for Bianca is the moment right before you go back. It’s about that experience when your last kid goes to school all day long and you’re left with nothing to do.
It’s about having to do all the things for your children for so many years and when that’s taken away, you’re just left wondering.
You have this mentality of “I’ve been out of work too long”. You’ve got all these reasons to keep you out of work. May it be your outdated resume, that you're out of date, and whatnot.
When Bianca started working in tech, she also felt out of the loop. She felt like they were speaking a different language. There were all these terms and acronyms that she didn’t know about. Most of the people working in tech were young and were fresh out of college.
The strong narrative among women today is that when they leave, they’d ruin their family.
Women must have the courage to resolve this narrative and get past this negative mentality that they are too old, too outdated, to do anything.
The truth is, you never left the workforce. You can always dial on the soft skills you’ve learned and learn from the experiences you’ve had. Women need to learn to believe in themselves and learn how to spin their story the right way.
Tips for Women who are planning to get back to the workforce
“What Women Returning to the Workforce Should Know” episode resources

Connect and follow Bianca Collings via LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Women always face specific struggles in their traditionally-male dominated workplace. But how can women thrive working in traditionally-male industries? In this episode, Dr. Hilary Link addresses this issue. Listen to learn more.

Who is Dr. Hilary Link?

Dr Hilary Link is the first female and 22nd President of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. She’s an Italian Renaissance Italian Literature and Art Scholar. She’s always been drawn to higher education, particularly language learning.
She studied Italian literature and focused on Renaissance Theories on Perspective for her graduate studies. This allowed her to learn about where you stand impacting what you see.
She moved her entire family to Rome when she became the dean of Temple University's global campus. They all moved back to the US when she accepted the offer at Allegheny College.

Challenges women face in different industries

Some of the challenges that Hilary faced are things she didn’t anticipate. She learned that men and women lead institutions in different ways.
She didn’t really think about the effects of having a female president, much less the impact of a mother who would lead a school.
She faced different challenges between her experiences in Rome and in the US in the cultural approaches.
As a woman, her leadership style is very reflective of who she is. She’s very collaborative and she likes to engage with people one by one.
Hilary wants a direct relationship, she wants to support people, and she wants to build a team that’s working together in the institution. It’s a very different approach as compared to the ones the school was used to. It took some time to carry everyone in the direction she wanted.
She always had strong female mentors that she looked up to as role models in various ways.
As a female in an often male-dominated role, it enabled her to recreate what her role looks like.

Being successful

It’s important to know and figure out who you are as a person.
Always try to follow your authentic self. This will give people consistency and they will know what to expect from you and vice versa.
Collaborating and iterating are two big things for Hilary. When you toss a problem to other people, you get the other views and at the end of the day, you have a more interesting solution.
Find the things that make you happy and build on that. Build a career on the things that bring you joy.
Sometimes, interruption isn’t bad. Sometimes, pushbacks make you see things in a whole new perspective. Sometimes they open new doors and opportunities.

“How Women Can Thrive Working in Traditionally-Male Industries” episode resources

Connect and follow Dr. Hilary Link via LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The pandemic has affected various industries. In this episode, Cynthia Barnes talks about how the pandemic has impacted women of color in corporate America.

Cynthia Barnes is the founder and CEO of the National Association of Women Sales Professionals. It’s an organization of women who sell B2B services in predominantly male-dominated industries. We provide training created by women for women to help them reach the top 1%.

The sales business during the pandemic

Businesses have grown over the course of the pandemic. It’s something that Cynthia has been grateful for.
With a diverse team in their arsenal and with women closing 5% more than men do, they’re able to increase their sales year over year.
Women just have servants’ hearts. We believe in relationships and we are excellent in building relationships. Women have skills that are innate to them such as empathy and servant-nature. When we learn how to capitalize and amplify them, it makes us better salespeople.
The pandemic has given Cynthia three gifts: clarity, focus, and gratitude.
Clarity is realizing and tightening up on the unique value proposition that you offer to the market. You can’t be everything and you can’t be everywhere.
The pandemic has prompted us to focus and to be specific with our offers and focus on the needs of the clients. We focused on how we can serve them best.
The pandemic has also taught us how to be grateful, to show gratitude for everything: for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Victim vs victor mentality

When she was six years old, Cynthia’s father told her that there are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who wait for things to happen, and those who wonder what happened.
She knew then that she needed to work harder and better than everybody else.
Regardless of the situation, it’s best to take full responsibility for what happens in your own business. You can’t always be the victim of any situation.
Life is only 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.
When things don’t go your way, ask yourself what your role is. Evaluate whether you prepared for it and planned for it. Always look for that silver lining. When life gives you lemons, look for the quickest way to make lemonade.
Don’t compare yourself to other people. Base your success efforts and your success metric on what you can do and not on being better than the next person.
When you compare yourself to somebody else, you’re only doing better than what they did.
You need to set your own back. Don’t think small.
Cynthia learned that as a woman in sales, you don’t get what you don’t ask for. So when you’re asking for a relocation package, ask for the moon. When you’re negotiating a new position, ask for the moon.
Women face interruptions all the time even when they have the ‘it’ factor; even when they have that presence. When you are interrupted, raise your hand and ask to finish what you’re saying first. There’s a way to be assertive when someone is interrupting you.

“How the Pandemic Has Impacted Women of Color” episode resources

Follow Cynthia Barnes on LinkedIn. You can also check out her book, ‘Reach the Top1%: A Strategic Game Plan for Warrior Women in Sales’ on Amazon and her website.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Reach the Top 1%: A Strategic Game Plan for Warrior Women in Sales

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There are many opportunities for women entrepreneurs and there are many challenges as well. In this episode, Charlotte Purvis talks about women as entrepreneurs and the things you should know before you leap.

Challenges in the business

Charlotte Purvis is a consultant, a trainer, a coach, and a customer service enthusiast.
Her specialty is communicating with customers.
For Charlotte, the customer is always the customer.
Regardless of what their concerns are, they are customers and as sales reps, your goal is to provide the best services.
Charlotte was invited to start a business while she was conducting one of her programs.
One of the biggest challenges Charlotte faced is staying true to herself.
She started the business without really thinking about the profits. Her first thoughts were servicing her clients to the best of her abilities. It was challenging to still stay true to herself while listening to feedback from other people.

What you should know before you take the leap

B - Branding. You need to focus on your branding. Think of who you want to be and how you want to present your image. Figure out what you want in your business.
E - Engagement. You do not operate alone in the business. You have customers, you have business partners, you have mentors, you have coaches, you have sponsors, and so on. You need to engage all these stakeholders.
S - Systems. Everything you do in your business requires systems, especially in this technology-based world. You need a system for just about everything. So figure out the ones that you’re good at and for the ones that you’re not, then look for someone who can help you.
T - Transparency. Transparency builds trust.
There are two versions of leaps: the small leap where there’s not a lot of risks you are taking, and the large leap where you jump and give it your all.
Entrepreneurship has allowed Charlotte to be of service to more people and get more clients.
It’s important to be motivated at all times. Make sure that what you’re doing is something you would do even if you’re not paid for it.
Keep your customers and clients in mind to keep you motivated.
Your customer is anyone who isn’t you. It can be your co-worker, your family, and others.
Charlotte’s book, The Customer Communication Formula: How to Communicate With Your Customers and Boost Your Customer Service Brand is separated into two parts. The first one is about the phases of customer interaction while the second part is dedicated to customer service leaders and helping them look for more strategic visions to improve their customer service.

“Women as Entrepreneurs: Things You Should Know Before You Leap ” episode resources

Follow Charlotte Purvis on her official website. You can get her book, The Customer Communication Formula: How to Communicate With Your Customers and Boost Your Customer Service Brand here.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The Customer Communication Formula: How to communicate with your customers and boost your customer service brand

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What Every Woman Should Know About Her Personal Brand

In today’s episode, Kanika Tolver talks about what every woman should know about her personal brand and why a personal brand is important.

Kanika is a career coach and the owner of Career Rehab, a career coach practice in the Washington , DC area. She’s focused on helping people transform their careers. Kanika is also in the government tech space for more than 15 years.

Personal brand and leadership

As a person that leads a technology team and with career coaching clients, it helped her become more of an active listener.
It also helps her hone her skills in understanding what people really need.
Leadership means having the skills to help people and support them with whatever they need. Leaders should learn how to listen and to encourage.
For Kanika, personal branding is not about being heard, putting her brand out there, and becoming successful. It’s more of helping others attain success.
As a career coach, it’s about Kanika helping others transform their personal branding to land their dream jobs.
It’s important to be an active listener to help equip them with the information that they need to be successful.

Ways to step up your personal brand

Understand your why.
Journaling is helpful to help you map out your why. You need to figure out what you want to do and write down your goals.
When you know what you want, you can start aligning your goals into actionable steps.
After that, you need to lay the foundation of your brand. This includes revamping your resume, redoing your LinkedIn profile, re-evaluating your website, and more.
The next thing is to figure out the people you are marketing to. Create a marketing strategy around reaching your target market, identifying where they are, and how you’re going to connect with them.
Lean in to what you are passionate about and where your strength lies.
When you've hurt your personal brand, what you can do is to be honest and apologize. Be genuine about your intent.

Rise against the challenges

It’s important to take ownership of our lives and our choices.
We can turn our anxieties into accomplishments when we start voting for us.
You need to set up a team of people who can help you win.
Kanika’s book was a fruit of her choice of putting herself first . Her previous career wasn’t making her happy and upn evaluation, she decided to drop it and start her own private practice.

“What Every Woman Should Know About Her Personal Brand” episode resources

Connect with Kanika Tover on LinkedIn. You can also check out here book Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink The Way You Work here.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The sales industry has space for more women of color, so we discuss what women of color need to know to gain a seat at the table. In this episode, Minda Harts talks about how women can make it into the sales world.

Minda Harts has been living in New York for the last eight years. She’s originally from South Carolina and the first person in her family to enter the world of corporate America. Most of Minda’s career was as a fundraising consultant for university and college. She started her company called Memo LLC in 2015 where she looks at equity in relation to women of color and she wanted to be a part of that change.

Biggest challenges in getting a seat at the table

Building a network is a challenge. Sometimes, even when you’re working really hard, nothing much is going to happen.
Minda is an introvert and she needed to make an effort in getting out there, building networks and connections.
Minda was also the only black woman in the space she was in. It felt like she was walking on eggshells.
Despite the challenges, Minda knew that she owed it to herself to see what’s on the other side. She knew that if she wanted something different, she needed to activate something inside of her.
Minda initially believed that she didn’t have a voice and she couldn’t talk about some things in the workplace.

Championing oneself

Anybody can serve as a mentor for you.
Minda tried to get the attention of a senior executive in their company. She did it little by little and eventually, he became her mentor.
It’s important to find your voice and decide how to use it. You need to learn to articulate your needs in the workplace to the people who can help you.
Aside from taking your seat, you also need to add value.
Another tool in advancing your career is by building relationships because success is not a solo sport.
You also need to have the courage to get the things you want. You need to understand your why. Always remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Don’t be distracted or discouraged when you meet people who will not help your cause. Continue looking out for sponsors and mentors. Keep putting yourself out there bit by bit.
We all have a sphere of leadership and influence. We all can be helpful in one way or another.
If you know somebody who can do the job perfectly well, try to toss their name forward.

“What Women of Color Need to Know to Gain a Seat at the Table” episode resources

Follow Minda Harts on LinkedIn. You can also check out her website. You can get her book, The Memo on Amazon.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table

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Personal passions matter in whatever endeavor that women take. It’s the driving force to keep them going. In today’s episode, Bonnie Walton speaks of personal passions and how busy women can prioritize them.

Bonnie is a care manager for Florida Blue, a part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. In her free time, Bonnie is passionate about working out and exercising. She likes to lift weights, and do spin classes and pilates. The exercise makes her feel like she’s able to prioritize her mornings.

Personal passion matters

Even with distractions, Bonnie finds a way to still make her daily workout.
The world can be chaotic at times but when Bonnie starts the day with something that she’s passionate about such as working out, she doesn’t get as anxious and upset when something out of the ordinary comes up during the workday.
Working out has been part of her passion and since she left the Army, Bonnie decided to stick with it.
For busy women, you may want to do your passion slowly. For Bonnie, she started off slowly and she tells herself to do her best every time.
One of her major accomplishments was winning gold in an Army event which led to her earning the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge. There were a lot of physical hurdles they went through including swimming, shooting, track, pull-ups, and more.
Her workouts help her in becoming a leader. It improved her posture and it gives her a more confident look. The physical exercise and training back in the Army taught her a lesson to keep pushing and moving forward even in hard times.
For those who still haven’t found their passion, there are a few things you can do. You can always discover new things with just a click. There are social media groups you can join and communities you can be active in.
It’s also helpful to do brainstorming with somebody else. It could be a peer, a family, a friend, and others.
For her leadership conversations, Bonnie keeps a note of her ideas and her thoughts. It keeps her grounded and allows her to build rapport with other people.
Take advantage of modern technology to manage your daily tasks. There are many apps available out there to help you organize your passion and your career.

“Why Personal Passions Matter, and How Busy Women Can Prioritize Them ” episode resources

Follow Bonnie Walton on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Tech Roles

Women have been breaking barriers for a long time now. In this episode, Trina speaks of breaking down barriers for women in blue-collar roles.

Trina has 25 years of experience in the technology industry in Utah. Her mission includes trying to help women understand the benefits and opportunities that are available for them in the tech industry. Trina’s extensive experience in the field has allowed her to see what it is like for women to enter into the workforce. She recognized the gap where the tech industry needs new people but it’s not tapping the right resources - the women.

Women in different trades

Women have been tailored into the nurturing type of roles such as nursing and teaching. Most women find themselves more drawn into these professions so that the other opportunities outside these careers were never fully explored.
Removing those that barriers and constraints that women have put their minds in opens women’s their eyes to broader opportunities in the field of finance, techs, and other trades that often aren’t weren’t explored by women.
There is no industry today that doesn’t require knowledge. Every other industry today needs a level of understanding.
Every area or discipline today has opportunities for women.
The important thing is knowing your niche and learning how to do it well. You don’t need to go broad in a snap, what you need is to learn how to shift quickly.
Learn how to be flexible and adaptive in your career as this allows you to do different things.
Getting interrupted isn’t just about a pause when speaking or doing your presentation. Trina had a life interruption in the form of breast cancer. It was her pause moment and it allowed her to reflected on the things that are most important to her.
Once you get through an interruption, believe that something bigger is coming your way.
When you experience interruption in life or at work, take a step back and see where you are supposed to be heading. Re-evaluate and then redirect.
It’s important to find your superpower because every single person has their own individual superpower and it’s going to be different for everybody.
Having a coach or mentor is helpful to guide you and walk you through things.
Building your network is also crucial for career growth.

Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Tech Roles Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Blue-Collar Roles” episode resources

Reach out and connect with Trina Limpert via LinkedIn. You can also check their official website to see the available scholarships and other offers/discounts.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Lessons Learned in 2020 and The Impact They’ll Make in the Future

2020 has been a trying year. The pandemic impacted the entire world, making massive changes to work settings and schools. Many businesses shut their doors for good while others adjusted their hours of operation. What are the lessons we’ve learned so far and how will it help us survive in the years to come? Linda Yates, the host of Int-HER-rupt, will help guide us through what we’ve learned.

Insights from 2020

Linda saw the importance of having great mentors and sponsors in becoming successful. Many people can miss key opportunities because they don’t have these critical people in their lives.
Not only do we need people who have gone before us, we need to look for people in the organization we can also be a mentor to.
Early in her career, Linda worked as an admin assistant. It was a new working experience the interim director of the division she was working for became her mentor.
Linda came to her for help and instead of dismissing her, the director believed in Linda and offered advice. For example, this new mentor taught Linda that technology can automate their process.
Linda’s mentor taught her to believe in herself.
Self-confidence can help you become more assertive. not only towards work, but in life in general.
In the previous episode, Linda’s guest Sally Glick shared some important insights on how to overcome interruptions.
Sherry Chris, one of the first guests of the show shared how interrupting herself has become a key factor towards success. When you feel like you’re in some rabbit hole, it’s important to interrupt yourself.
It’s true that 2020 has been a tough year for many people but if you’ve gotten stuck in your bubble, it’s time to interrupt yourself and think about the possibilities that 2021 brings.
Confidence is critical in understanding what’s possible for you in leadership. Gain and keep a seat at the table.
It’s important to feed your mind with the information that will make a direct impact on your success. Seek to learn from the experience of others to help you move forward.
Another lesson Linda learned was to honor the differences between herself and others. We all have different experiences and learn different lessons. Expect to see the best sides of people as you learn about them.
Communicate with the entire team. They are your family in the organization and you need to support them.
From Michelle Johnston’s episode, Linda learned how to see the good in every individual. Seek to complement and highlight the strength you see in other people.
Look back at 2020 in its entirety and see how you survived it. That alone should tell you how strong and empowered you are.

“Lessons Learned From 2020 and What They'll Mean for the Future” episode resources

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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The phrase “money can’t buy happiness,” has been around awhile and for good reason. Even after people have achieved wealth, many are still looking for ways to achieve a joyful life. Sally Glick, today’s guest, talks about finding happiness.

Sally started her career by working with her father, a CPA sole practitioner in Chicago, during a time when firms didn’t yet have logos and brands. What they did have was white stationary with black ink. They were located in the downtown Chicago area. They didn’t know the words thought leaders and center of influence but that was exactly what they did. They stayed in front of their clients and helped them. The major trick she learned was to always put herself on the other side of the table so she could understand what her clients and prospects needed, from their perspective.

Overcoming interruptions

As Sally has experienced interruptions, her reactions depended on from whom the interruption was coming.
If she’s put in a situation where she can’t pause the interruption, she lets it go and thanks them for making a great point. She then continues from where she left off.
In a more informal situation, however, she tells them to hold their thought for a minute and let her finish speaking first.

Happiness matters

Happiness matters because people who are happier are also healthier. If you want to be healthy, seek happiness.
Finland has won The Happiest Place on Earth for three consecutive years. The main cause is because people there have deep social networks. When people feel connected, they don’t feel ignored, overlooked, and marginalized.
When you’re happy and satisfied, you can do more for others. You can be magnanimous and charitable, as well as forgiving and empowering.
Sally learned from all the studies she’s read that there’s no direct correlation between happiness and other factors such as money, material possessions, education, gender, or even physical attractiveness.
Studies show that relationships are what make people happy. It’s the ability to form deep and meaningful connections with other people. The more good relationships you have, the happier you are.
Money can't buy happiness but it can make life so much easier.
There are certain basic necessities that need to be addressed for you to feel complete but once those necessities are met, you don’t need more to be happy.
When you’re listening to someone, there’s a difference between finding common ground to talk about and taking over the conversation to the point of not acknowledging their story.

“You Can't Buy Happiness -- So How Do You Achieve a Joyful LIfe?” episode resources

Follow Sally Glick on LinkedIn. Check out her website as well.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How to Best Prepare for Life's Unexpected Interruptions

Life is full of interruptions and we’re not always prepared. In this episode, Lyn Elliott, Assistant Vice President, State Government Relations at American Property Casualty Insurance Association, will share her knowledge about being equipped when the inevitable interruptions disrupt our lives.

How Crisis Can Change How We Respond in the Future

A pivotal time in Lyn’s life was when she experienced a wildfire. People didn’t have time to grab many of their belongings and it helped her define what was truly important.
During this wildfire, Lyn also learned the importance of being prepared from a friend who also had decisions to make about her belongings. Her friend owned original paintings but when it was time to evacuate, she didn’t worry about them being lost because they were already insured. She had made preparations in case of unforeseen circumstances.
When you’re prepared, you don’t get upset when a sudden interruption comes and disrupts your life.
Taking personal responsibility is important. We are all in charge of our own behavior and when disaster strikes, we only have ourselves to depend on.
Your home is your biggest asset and you want to make sure to keep that protected. Insurance is a critical back-up plan.
Lyn’s first tip is to annually conduct an insurance check-up. It is important to put it on your calendar as a recurring appointment every year a month before your policy reviews.
In case of disasters, it’s always wise to walk through your home and video the aftermath. It’s also important to keep track of the receipts for repairs that will be done.
As a leader, you need to impress on your team, your family, and others that when there are unexpected life interruptions, your life is the most important thing.
While it’s important to encourage others in being well-prepared, it’s also important to be sensitive about it. You want everyone to be on board but expect that not everyone will take your advice.

“How to Best Prepare for Life's Unexpected Interruptions” episode resources

Follow Lyn Elliott on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Essential Ways to Motivate Yourself and Your Team

Getting to know Christine Hansen

Christine Hanes is the Vice President of Advocacy of NAR and is planning on running for the position of President in 2023. She’s been a licensed realtor since 1987 and a broker since 1989. She’s with the Century 21 Hansen Realty and enjoys working with everyone in the team.

Motivate yourself and the team

It’s important we have a vision of where we want to go so that we know when we arrive.
Focus on your why because this helps you stay on the right track.
With the noise around us, it’s difficult to stick to our schedule. The key is getting rid of the distractions around you. The best way to do this is by daily practice.
You need to understand what works for you. You don’t need to overcomplicate things by using other peoples’ methods. Just because it works for them doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.
Keep yourself motivated by creating a list and writing down what you should do and what you want to do. Break down your list to bite-sized pieces so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
Keep a close connection with someone with whom you can call and talk to.
Don’t scare yourself by entertaining thoughts that turn into fear and anxiety.
It’s especially important to learn how to say No. Learn how to commit only to the things you can do and want to do.
As the leader, it’s important to get to know your team and emulate that team spirit. Consistently touch base with your teammates and ask how they are.
Remember that there is nothing wrong with taking a little bit of time for yourself when you’re feeling down and depressed.
When people ask a question, don’t answer immediately. Take a breather and respond with a “Thank you so much for asking,” and tell them that you’ll get back to them. If your answer is No, thank them for the opportunity, and stop talking further. There is no need to justify your response.

“Essential Ways to Motivate Yourself and Your Team” resources

Follow Christine Hansen on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Getting to know Elizabeth George

Elizabeth George works as a senior manager at Sensormatic, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls. She is a mother of two boys, 16 and 10 years old. Elizabeth is also a member of Toastmaster International and has served in different capacities within the organization.

Taking a step back

Forcing someone to action may get you temporary success but as time goes by, things will revert back or may turn into a situation that is worse than you started.
It’s important to find balance. Look for where your team naturally excels and what your working environment has to offer.
Elizabeth started stamp collecting and included the help of her ten-year-old. She also used social media platforms and joined Facebook groups to occupy her time. It was a good thing to be busy during the pandemic.

Pivoting and moving forward

Do not be afraid of taking risks. This is what you need to do when you're going to an unknown position or new company.
Elizabeth took the leap when she was offered a management position, work that’s beyond her engineering scope. It was also a position where she needed to do extensive traveling. Before she accepted, she thought about the position and talked about it with her family.
The management position taught her many things. The risk she took allowed her to negotiate a new position within the company.
Coming from a different cultural background, Elizabeth needed to work on many issues.
You don’t go to work to make friends but when you do get to work, you need to build relationships with people who are ready to support you.
Look for a person to act as your sounding board. This could be a friend, a partner, or a family member. Having someone to talk to helps you put things in perspective.
When you need to take a step back to due to personal reasons, think of the long-term ramifications. Be patient and know that taking a step back allows you to have better doors opened for you in the future.
Leaders benefit when they listen to their team.
You are never going to go into a position without facing some obstacles. Think of these obstacles as your competition.

“Two Steps Back to Move Forward” episode resources

Reach out and connect with Elizabeth George via LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How to Manage Jealousy

Getting to know Nancy Gault

Linda Yates and Nancy Gault have known each other for 22 years. As a partner in a CPA FIRM and a certified valuation analyst, Nancy is the epitome of professionalism. She is a career woman who has the best of both worlds, her job and her family.

Managing Interruptions

Nancy always brings passion to the table and it shows in the way she cares for people. When you love what you do, you show up differently and as a result, she’s achieving success by doing what she loves.
Even when you’re not delivering good news, be honest and straightforward with prospects and clients.
Without interruptions, we would never know the pleasure of the successes we have.
We need to expect interruptions as part of our journey to success.
Great entrepreneurs pick their battles and put themselves in time out. They know when to remove themselves from the equation when an interaction isn’t going well.

Managing jealousy

Nancy learned how to manage jealousy by perceiving peoples’ emotions around her. She doesn't think negatively of people and gives them credit for what they do.
You can manage jealousy by acknowledging and recognizing the value in other people and appreciating what they contribute.
Humans can become jealous because of a variety of factors. Some reasons may include that they don’t have all the facts or they lack skill.
Managers need to sit down and ask the team what their goals are. Simply checking in on them and ensuring they are on the path to their personal successes goes a long way.
You can also manage jealousy by asking direct questions. It helps to understand the other person before you seek to be understood.
It’s normal for people to have jealous feelings but having appreciation and recognizing peoples’ worth, with gratitude, can go a long way to manage these issues before they become detrimental.
Mentors are key to opening many doors on a personal and professional level. If you are a mentor, let your mentees know that you are available. You are their safe person and the one who helps them navigate a variety of issues.

“How to Manage Jealousy” episode resources

Reach out and connect with Nancy Gault via her LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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Education and the Path to the C-Suite

Women in leadership roles are no longer a shocking thing. Still, women leaders face many challenges in fulfilling their roles successfully.

Getting to know Dr. Michelle Johnston

In this episode, Linda invited Dr. Michelle Johnston over to talk about stories and experiences to patch to the C-suites. Michelle’s career journey is a bit accidental for her. While she loved teaching from a very early age, this passion didn’t really come true until she became the president of the College of Coastal Georgia and previously the President of the University of Ohio.

The path to the C-suite

The work of leadership in administrative roles in campuses is an opportunity to be connected to students and serve educational missions at the same time.
It’s important to embrace the loss of something you are truly passionate about. It opens the door for you to love and invest into other things. The loss is a natural part when moving from one role to another.
In her role, Michelle always had people who encouraged her. It’s important to find the people who will walk you through the process and encourage you along the way. They are your soundboard.
One of the most important parts of leadership is listening. In that vein, being interrupted has always been part of the process of growth.
Being interrupted allows for challenges to come your way, without challenges your mind won’t work and look for solutions. You need to stretch yourself and your abilities to figure out how to do things effectively.

Having the right attitude to success

Michelle encourages persistence. Don’t give up on the kind of leadership you want. Be positive, persistent, and patience. You can’t be just patient, just persistent, and just patience. You need to embody all the three.
As a person with goals, you need to assess what path leads you to your success. If that is college, then do it. If you think self-study and connecting with women and leaders in the organization will help you, then do that. There is no one concrete path for all, everyone will have to take their own path.
Education comes in many forms and shapes.
It’s only through interconnection, working with each other, and helping with each other that you can become a success in your leadership role.

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Why Women Should Engage in the Election

The 2020 election culminates on voting day tomorrow, and in this 100th anniversary year since women gained the right to vote, it’s important to understand why women should engage in the election.

Sarah Lamar, an attorney from the law firm of HunterMaclean in Savannah, Ga., who calls herself a “political junkie,” believes that women should persevere and lean on each other in order to make their voices heard in politics.

Women’s role in politics

Women worked hard to make their voices heard, beginning with the prohibition movement which likely wouldn’t have happened without their participation.
So much of what happens in this country originates in Congress, from economic issues to civil rights and engagement in war. Women must make their voices heard as part of these important conversations.
The electoral college creates confusion but it amounts to each of us “telling” an elector from our state to cast a vote for a certain candidate. That elector casts a vote for a candidate based on the votes cast by people in the state.
The electoral college emerged as a compromise between a faction that wanted Congress to vote to decide the president, while another faction wanted the people to vote for the president.

Wading through the rhetoric

Knowledge is power. Your ability to learn about the issues determines whether you’re able to make an educated decision about issues that are on the ballot. Although the internet is a great resource for finding information, be careful about the sources you trust. Recognize the agenda of each resource and look for both sides of a conversation.
When you’re deciding how to vote, research the organizations that are endorsing an issue to get a better understanding of its impact.
Talk about it with the people in your circle to get other perspectives. Strive to have civil discourse with people that you trust so you can share positions without feeling threatened. Realize that face-to-face communication is better than a social media debate.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said this: “Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Articulate why you believe what you believe, and don’t judge others who disagree.
To impact your community, get involved in organizations that influence the issues that are important. Talk to your representatives about the things that you’re worried about. They are there for you, and not the other way around.

Shaking up the status quo

Don’t ever give up. Women outvote men in every presidential election since 1964.
It wasn’t until 1992 that the U.S. had more than 2 women serving simultaneously in the Senate. Now one-fourth of the Senate is made up of women.

LivingFacts.org Pew Charitable Trusts

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How to be Heard Over the “Me Too” Movement

Today’s guest is Amy Chorew and she’s going to speak about the “Me Too” movement, a hot topic in today’s generation. Amy sheds light on how our voices can be heard above the movement and how it has impacted women in leadership.

Being interrupted

Amy has been interrupted many times due to her roles in the corporate world.
Emotional intelligence for Amy is more about the leadership skills. She took an emotional intelligence test and the results showed her the strengths and weaknesses she has. She learned that she needed to focus on being positive instead of reacting without thinking things through.
Amy’s coach taught her to come from a place of curiosity instead of just reacting. It was the first step to figure out how to handle interruptions.

“Me Too” movement and women in leadership

For Amy, some movements have a lot of whining. This is something she doesn’t tolerate.
The Woman Up group, started by the California Association of Realtors, put some strong legs in the process of becoming a better leader.
We are living in a time where many people are finally opening their eyes and ears. There’s been an expansion of awareness and the “Me Too” movement is pushing that sense of awareness.
The “Me Too” movement was generally a women’s movement but it has opened doors and other platforms for everybody. It’s a movement of inclusion. People can articulate their thoughts and be who they are.
Many groups started to rewrite their leadership, their business management, and how things are done because of the movement.
For Amy, being demeaned means being taken at face value. She handled that by staying relevant and making sure to over-deliver.

Overcoming negative experiences

Have a better sense of self-worth and don’t take things personally.
Always believe in yourself because if you don’t, no one else will. It’s always good to take a few steps back to see the people who are supportive of your causes.
Amy suggests to not just agree. If you have them, voice your concerns and always research the facts. Back your solutions with data.
Get a mentor who will help you figure out how things work and how to connect with the right people.

“How to be Heard Over the “Me Too” Movement” episode resources

Check out Amy Chorew via LinkedIn.
This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,
If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Int-HER-rupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single interview. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for every episode you listen to.

Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

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How to Balance Good Health and Career

Le Bergin is the head trainer for FASTer Way to Fat Loss. She started out as a high school teacher before she pursued this journey of helping others with their health goals. In today’s episode, Le sheds light on her journey to personal growth and how it’s connected to fitness.

Good health impacts productivity

Productivity is present in almost all aspects of human life - in marriage, in parenting, in vocation, and many others.
True growth lies in making each day better than the next.
Everyone has a different way of defining growth. Some are motivated by money while some are motivated by the quality of life.
Balancing your career and health can be challenging but if you make it your lifestyle, getting healthy becomes an extension of you.
Prioritizing yourself doesn’t mean it’s at the expense of someone else. You need to ensure that your decision to have good health is your own responsibility.
Le may have had a rocky start but with the help of her current husband, they’ve been able to build a second gym. Le learned to channel her pain through lifting weights.
Making good food choices makes a difference. It’s important to move toward eating clean and getting away from processed foods. As the energy level changes by what you consume, so does mood and concentration. With good nutrition, energy gets better and better quality of sleep occurs. As a result, creativity improves.
Le Bergin thrives in overcoming interruptions. For her, it’s about resiliency and believing everyday is a gift. The more grateful you are, the less these interruptions bother you.
Three tips for success: Life is short, break stuff. Trust your gut. Remember your purpose.

“How to Balance Good Health and Career” episode resources

Follow Le Bergin on Facebook and Instagram! You can also check out her business page on Facebook and at the official website.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

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I'm Not a Witch... I'm Just Assertive

Today’s guest is Sherry Chris, the CEO of the Realogy Expansion Brands. Her focus is guiding the strategic growth of brands. Under her leadership, she’s been able to grow REBs brand in over forty states and across six countries. In this episode, Sherry talks about her experiences as a woman leading in the workforce, the challenges she faced, and how she’s been able to overcome these obstacles.

Being interrupted

Interruptions can be good or bad. Either way, they can force you to pause and evaluate if change needs to occur.
It is okay to be assertive and regardless of what people may think, you can be successful. The important thing is not compromising your beliefs.
People talked about how Sherry would be out of business within a year but that didn’t faze her. Instead, it made her stronger. Listening to people is good but when it’s not helping you move ahead, it’s better to leave their opinions behind.
Women are more sensitive and when criticized, tend to succumb to the hurt. Sherry advises women to put blinders on and not listen to the noise.
Surround yourself with people who are not critical, people who add value to you and the organization, and help you soar.

Achieving success

Visualize your success, set short term goals for yourself, and once these goals are met, set another list of new goals.
Everyone needs mentors, they help you, and teach you the ropes. They end up teaching you how to be better. You find mentors by being gracious, by openly giving, and not asking for anything in return. That is how people are drawn to you.
Sherry doesn’t categorize people by their gender. She sees them as people who want to succeed and she helps them achieve that.

“I'm Not a Witch... I'm Just Assertive” episode resources

Connect with Sherry Chris via her LinkedIn account. You can also visit their website and know more about Sherry and the company.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

Summary: Women who are leaders often hear criticisms. Figuring out how to overcome negativity can help you become successful in your industry.

Hear more about:

What to do when criticized
The positive impact of surrounding yourself with people offering value
The importance of having mentors

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I’m not your girl!

Many women have experienced being treated as though they are inferior. In this episode, Vidette Pires what being treated this way was like for her. Vidette is a technology strategist and she uses technology to improve profitability.

Having a seat at the table

Oftentimes, women are given a seat at the table but organizations can treat them like token seats. Even after being on a career path for years, it can be difficult to feel your position doesn’t command the same respect as colleagues in the same position. It’s a challenge that has to be navigated well.

Partner with the right people

Having a seat at the table isn’t enough. In that seat, you must be able to speak and be heard. In order to get this accomplished, you need the support of the right people to ensure that you’re not interrupted while sharing your ideas. Sometimes, you can speak and shortly after, another person relays the same idea, but it’s received better. The way around this is to create a process.

For Vidette, this includes knowing if there is a hidden agenda, changing the tone, and thinking about the stakeholders who have a say in the outcome. She reaches out to them one by one and partners with her managers to drive the agenda.

Have courage

It is equally important to take risks and have the courage to walk away. When respect is no longer offered, regardless of gender, sometimes you have to know when to walk away with your dignity intact. This can look differently depending on the need. It may just mean getting up from a meeting to get some fresh air. For deeper challenges it may mean leaving an organization that doesn’t support you or acknowledge your contribution.

Women as leaders

Technology has helped women understand everyone’s perspective and what they have at stake. It allows you to connect and bring people to the table so everyone has a place. Reading books about leaders, especially women as leaders, also helps.

“I’m not your girl!” episode resources

Connect with Vidette Pires on LinkedIn.

Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

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Race in the Workplace

What has race got to do with one’s experiences in the workplace? Does it impact results? Let’s talk about that in this episode. Charlotte Prince Leonard is a healthcare executive now working as the Regional Director of Operations. She’s also a member of several non-profit organizations advocating for women.

Challenges in the workplace

The top of most corporations today still have a male-dominant culture. The challenge isn’t only on the gender, however, but it becomes more apparent when you’re a black female. At the corporate level, the challenge comes when there is a lack of representation among executives and as a result, some top performers don’t tend to have someone who will speak on their behalf. There is just not enough support for black females in the corporate culture.

Men, on the other hand, naturally mentor and coach other men. Organizations have these cultures set up so leadership roles can be filled. Unfortunately,women who are equally capable of taking over these positions aren’t groomed in the same way.

Charlotte started an administrator job in 1989 and knows the importance of having support. She was fortunate enough to have women who were willing to mentor her throughout her career and they’ve helped provide opportunities along the way.

When let go

Charlotte was then let go from a job she’d had for 10 years. The company had been like her family but she was let go due to organizational changes. The challenge for Charlotte was not knowing the deficiencies that led her dismissal.

Even today, women continue to face obstacles so it’s important to have the right education and never give up. It’s important to continue learning and nurturing the skills that it will take to be competitive for leadership positions. You also don’t want to try to do it alone. Find the person in your organization who’s willing to help you up. Be proactive and apply for positions. Other skills you need to be a good leader are:

Show empathy
Communicate
Encourage people to do their best

“Race in the Workplace” Episode Resources

Reach out to Charlotte Prince Leonard via her LinkedIn account. Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.

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Am I a Bad Mom Because I'm Career Centered?

Balancing a career and being a mother is challenging. In this episode, we talk to Jenny Davis, who worked with large companies before starting her own firm. She is also the mother of five kids. In our discussion with Jenny, we will talk about the obstacles that can come from trying to have a career while raising children.

Balancing careers

Jenny has had great familial support during hard times in her career. At one point, she was laid off from Microsoft just as she found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t the best time for her to raise a child but it all worked out as her family rallied. When she worked for a start-up company the support of her family made it possible for her to juggle being a mother and a career woman. When she was pregnant with her 3rd child she was getting ready to purchase a publishing/event company. It was one of the most challenging times of her life as she navigated having a newborn and a new company.

Putting the head in the game

Time is an important factor in balancing a career with home life. Jenny’s career keeps her busy, but she makes sure that she knows how to prioritize the many needs. With her husband’s prompting, she decided to hire some help for the marketing and communications departments so she didn’t have to do it all. Jenny also makes sure to have time for her family and when she can, she brings them along when doing off-site visits. Downtime allows them to go to a park or do something else fun as a family.

Being interrupted

Throughout her career, Jenny has worked with different kinds of people. She learned that when interacting with people is challenging, it’s more about what they’re going through, and not about you. Jenny approaches these relationships from that perspective so she’s likely to get upset and it frees her to get things done.

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Don’t Interrupt Me! – Handling Male Interruption in the Workplace

As a woman, it can be difficult to convey your thoughts and ideas in a workplace that is dominated by men. How should you handle yourself when faced with so many barriers? In this episode, we’re going to talk about ways to control the controllable and overcome any obstacles that may get in the way of your goals.

Lee Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a content marketing and social media firm. Over the pandemic, Lee managed to successfully transition her company online.

Being interrupted in the workplace can be a common scenario with so many dominant personalities. It can be disconcerting and for some women, after happening multiple times, it can plant a seed of doubt that maybe you don’t have something important to say. At least, not compared to the men. It’s important to reclaim a foundation of confidence in order to be able to contribute well and be a strong part of the team.

Pave your own path

Women tend to be more cautious. They want to make sure all the boxes are checked before making a move. Men, on the other hand, tend to jump before being so deliberate. When you see a man apply for the job and get it, this can feel like an interruption. A job that looked perfect for you, with all your qualifications, has ended up in the hands of someone less qualified. Don’t let this send you backward.

Women are conditioned by society to doubt themselves. We are, however, better about helping each other and forming alliances. As a woman, it’s easy to dwell on this doubt but you have the opportunity to interrupt that thought pattern.

How? By surrounding yourself with empowered women who will stand by you. Interrupt your thoughts and determine your value. You may need to make sacrifices to assert your value. Lee Ceharer even started her own company and paved her own path.

When interrupted

What you do and how you respond with interruption depends on who interrupts you. The first thing, however, is to not make a scene. Let the person talk and bring it back to yourself. Give them the benefit of the doubt. If it happens a second time, it may be better to put a stop to it and ask that you be allowed to finish your thought. If it happens a third time, stand up and take a breather.

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Introduction to Int-HER-rupt Podcast

Linda Yates is the image energizer and host of the new podcast, Int-HER-rupt. Linda’s career spans over 30 years and with so much experience, she comes as a leader, consultant, and coach.

In this season, Int-HER-rupt will consist of 12 episodes that will showcase women who are empowered leaders sharing their experiences as they offer their knowledge and expertise.

The birth Int-HER-rupt

Linda was visiting her friend, Donald Kelly, the CEO and founder of TSE studios, home to The Sales Evangelist podcast, and a few others. They were talking about Linda’s experiences in leadership training and helping other organizations set up management teams. During their conversation, Donald talked to Linda about his vision of a new leadership podcast and after months of working with the TSE team, Int-HER-rupt has become a reality.

The goal of this podcast is to help women hone their leadership skills, help women who are looking to expand their careers, and offer women in existing organizations an opportunity to consider shifting into new roles. This podcast will be about breaking boundaries and getting out of your comfort zone.

Why Int-HER-rupt

As suggested in the title,Int-HER-rupt, is a podcast that puts focus on how women and their experiences can be interrupted in their personal and professional life.

This podcast is produced by TSE studios. Mark your calendars for the launch of Int-HER-rupt on September 21, 2020. There will be three episodes per week and will be available every Monday morning.

IntHERrupt: Recent Episodes

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