ADVANCE: Take Your Next Step with Mike Acker

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 19

Does emotional intelligence aid in better connection with people? If so, where do you start?

Any connection starts with you. Being aware of yourself first and then learning to understand others can help you connect with your people better.

Join Mike Acker in today’s episode as he teaches you the fine art of emotional intelligence and how you can use it to build healthy relationships with your colleagues and partners at work.

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 19 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: 

How do you practice connection?

2:28

One of the ways to connect is just being you and allowing people to see you as vulnerable. A great vehicle for connection is emotional intelligence. 

What is Emotional Intelligence?

3:29

Emotional intelligence is being aware of here and connecting with people out there. And it's then using what we have here, to empathize and connect with people out there. 

What are the 5 different aspects of Emotional Intelligence?

KEY QUOTES:

4:27-4:34

“So much starts with self.  Leadership of others starts with the leadership of self.”

 4:57-5:05

“Emotional Intelligence doesn't mean that you put this into practice for them, it means that you first start and put it into practice for you. ”

 5:15-5:21

“EI starts with self, self-awareness, self-regulation, and then self-motivation.”

 7:36-7:51

“If your emotions are wildly out of control, and way out of values, or you don't know your values, you might look at getting help, you might even look at getting a counselor who can help you understand what's going on, and why you're doing it.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Books- 

●      Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Video- 

●      Embrace Rejection in leadership & Speaking by Mike Acker

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 18

You must have all had that one person in life who phenomenally transformed your path to the destination. How do some people become your greatest influencers in life? What makes them strikingly different from a majority of other speakers and leaders?

To become a great speaker, you have to learn to take people with you as you talk and guide them to their path. In today's episode, Mike discusses the C-suite advantage of Guidance and how it can help you achieve excellence in speaking!

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 18 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: 

Why should your communication be guided? 4:21

Guidance is important to ensure you know where you are leading the communication to. If you don't know where you're going, there's a good chance that not only will you get off track, but you'll lead others off track.

How do you increase the guidance outcome?

8:18

Write it before you say it. Write your expectations from the speaking clearly in advance.

10:41
Stay on point and on purpose.

12:35

Follow up by whatever means you can. Follow up with paper, email, or clearly saying what you just said, so people could clearly understand what you delivered. Because something may have piqued their minds then.

KEY QUOTES:

5:58-6:08

“Words are like the rudder that can guide and direct the entire ship Diva, a massive, massive boat, guided by a tiny, tiny rudder.”

14:16-14:25

“Your communication directs people, there's a good chance that if you're not doing this on purpose, you are leading them down a path that you didn't intend to go.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST:

● Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Quarterback) as a good communicator

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 17

Leadership is all about influence. Nothing more, nothing less. But how do influencers create their brands?

It all starts with you, who you are as a person, where you are right now, why people should listen to you, and how you can help them. 

In the episode today, Mike interviews international speaker and coach Marina Barayeva. Marina helps entrepreneurs build their influence and create a life of purpose. Join them as they discuss the 5-step authority system, building your brand online, and not just doing it for yourself but doing it for the relationships you build.

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 17 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: 

 Who is an Influencer?

An influencer is a person that can impact behavior, choices, and other people because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with the audience.

What do people start out with if they want to become an influencer? 

4:26

Start with where you are right now, who you are as a person, why people should listen to you, why they should come to you and how you can help them. Think who are for the people who you serve, and what service you can provide them.

Why is your story important?

7:45

Your story is very deeply connected to what you do and doesn’t have to be difficult. It got you to wherever you are right now and tells why you do what you do.

What is the 5-step authority system?

9:04

1. Start with your foundation. Know the audience you serve.

9:51

2. Know about your service. Focus and understand how people find you there, consume your message, and how they react to it.

14:04

3. Get more media appearances. 

16:54

4. Work with influencers. 

18:26

5. Accumulate whatever you've done and update your media kit.

KEY QUOTES:

6:58-7:03

“Even if you have only a few people around you, you can impact their life tremendously.”

10:39-10:49

“If you would want to really grow your personal brand, and share your message to more wide to get publicity, it's quite easy actually.”

11:25-11:29

“Because even your website is not, it's not about you. It's about people who serve.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Podcast-  7 Strategies to overcome a fear of Public Speaking with Mike Acker by Marina Barayeva

Blog & Books- Bob Burg

CONNECT WITH MARINA:

Website | LinkedIn  

(For a downloaded copy of show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 15

Innovation has become a hot topic of discussion in the world today. Companies are struggling to come up with breakthrough ideas and strategies.

What can they do to adopt the best practices for continuous improvement and innovate better?

Join Mike Acker on this episode of the Advance Podcast as he interviews Bella Rushi from Symmetri Consulting, a consulting firm using science and a systematic approach to build innovation strategy and drive communications. Listen in for insightful tips to overcoming challenges and embedding innovation into an organizational process!

CONNECT WITH BELLA:
https://www.symmetriconsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellarushi/



(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)

EPISODE 15 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS

Why is innovation such a huge topic of discussion right now?

1:50
Companies are stuck between two options. One, finding out how to barely survive, and second, how to thrive....

What are the challenges in front of companies right now?

4:47

Because of the pandemic, many companies are struggling just to connect with their customers today. So they have to look for ways to either find new products or new services to develop, so they can connect with their customers. 

As a fresh entrepreneur, what should anyone do to innovate?

7:53

1. One, develop a culture of innovation. Create an atmosphere to praise and give recognition to your employees for experimenting, innovating, and learning from their failures.

8:13

1. Second, companies need to understand their DNA, their core strengths. They need to re-examine what their capabilities are. 

8:28

1. Lastly, CEOs must be involved when talking about innovation. Their vision needs to be communicated and reinforced to their employees. 

Key-takeaways for the listeners

21:53

Innovation happens through collaboration, collaboration within your company, your partners, your suppliers, your customers and all the people you can involve in the whole ideation process. 

22:45

Innovation is a continuous incremental process. 

KEY QUOTES:

3:16-3:21

“It seems obvious to look to innovation, but it always is not easy to create the business of tomorrow.”

6:55-7:07

“Many companies are understanding that customer focus is what they need to really be thinking about right now. And shifting their business models is a great place to start.”

8:43-9:05

“The idea to innovate actually begins at the CEO level, who then has to create this culture of innovation, and understanding, examine their capabilities, and then create partnerships within their organization as well as external partnerships to support the innovation process.”

CONNECT WITH BELLA:

Website | LinkedIn

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 16

Some of our teachers in school have been our favorites for the way they made us understand the subject very well. Everything they taught was so simple and clear that you needn’t have second thoughts about the matter. What is it that effective communicators have mastered that we all need to, too? 

 Clarity.

How do excellent speakers bring about clarity in speaking? In this episode, Mike gives away top strategies to achieving clarity in communication and discusses how it could help you excel as a speaker!

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 16 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: 

Why is clarity important for achieving excellence in speaking?

3:54

Something which is unclear to you as you speak, has to be equally confusing for the listener. It is important to know well what you aim to convey.

What are the benefits of having clarity in speaking?

4:26

The first benefit of having clarity in speech is understanding what the topic is and what it is that you have to deliver to the listener.

6:11

Also, clarity illuminates and helps people understand the topic you're talking about better and people go, “Oh, Okay, I got that!”.

 How do you bring about greater clarity in your communication? 

10:01

1. Understand what you want to say.

11:36

1.  Break it down so that it is simple enough for you to deliver.

13:33

1. Plan your conclusion. Know how you would want to end your speaking and what you should do for that to happen.

KEY QUOTES:

6:00-6:07

“When you're not clear, it obscures the truth. But if you are clear, it illuminates the truth.”

7:56-8:07

“So many times, miscommunication and conflict comes when people are arguing about things that the other person actually didn't say, this is actually a tactic in debate.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST:

●      The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

●      Upcoming Book: C Suite Advantage by Mike Acker

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 14

Powerful speakers, leaders and performers, have all got something incredible in common. Do you realize what that is?

It's authority.

How does excellence in speaking bring about or reinforce authority? Join Mike Acker on this episode as he gives away top ideas and tips to mastering the art of communication and how to establish your authority for greater success in the business space!

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 14 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: 

Why should you achieve excellence in speaking?

2:50

Excellence in speaking provides authority. There's a power, a role, and a position that the C-suite team members (CEO, CEO, CFO and others) have that not everybody else has.

What is Authority?

4:05

Authority is the ability to get people to listen to you. It's that ability for you to speak for you, to lead, to write, to communicate. 

4:40

Whether it's oral or whether it's written, you need to communicate, and people need to be able to listen and follow.

How do you bring authority in speaking?

7:34
Believe in yourself and in what you’re saying. Also, have a grounded reason to do so.

12:06
Follow one singular thought instead of bringing about many different ones to get to a point. Focus on authority to believe in what you say. 

12:35
Breathe well. If your breath comes across as very shallow, it's very easy for your voice to take on an overly gravelly tone. It changes your physical posture and the tone of your voice, giving you enough time to think and deliver what you want to.

KEY QUOTES:

8:05-8:09

“You need to believe in yourself, you need to believe in your words, you need to believe in your authority.”

3:18-3:31

“Realize that their position is based on an authority that they've really already garnered with the team through their past experience, their ability, their skill, their ability to bring out the best in others and other areas of leadership.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST:

●      Upcoming Book: C Suite Advantage by Mike Acker

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 13

On a scale of 10, how would you rate your company's customer service? 8.. 9.. Outstanding? 

Exceptional Customer Service goes much beyond just convincing a person to choose your services. It not only helps customers feel comfortable, but also incredibly increases your revenue. On the show today, Mike interviews Dr. Kelly Henry, Business Coach and Author of the book “Define and Deliver Exceptional Customer Service: Proven strategies to maximize your profits”. Listen in to the show today for quality tips to scale your business with laudable customer service!

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 13 SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS: What is Exceptional Customer Service?

4:07 

Relentless focus on a customer, consumer or patient and making them feel their best at the time they're doing business with you.

4:38 

Customer Service can be of two types: Proactive or Reactive Customer Service.

When the employee and the client are both in a good mood, and the environment aids better service, then it is reactive great customer service.  Proactive customer service is independent of such external factors and aims at giving the best at all times.

What do we need to know more about Customer Service? 

7:16 

Most businesses think they provide great customer service. But the truth is, 80 percent of the businesses function at a level of average customer service to below that. We need to accept this truth and work towards improving it.

Things we can do to improve our Customer Service skills:

13:45

1. Put a smile on your face. Wear it as your uniform. It creates a lasting impression and puts your customers at ease.
2. End on a good note. People often remember this better than the first impression.
3. Manners matter. Using words such as “please”and “thank you” also show your respect towards another person. Use them at all times and all platforms.

KEY QUOTES: 

07:47-07:51

“Most businesses do have pieces of great customer service.”

19:02-19:09

“Let’s do the simple things consistently and you’re gonna reap the rewards because of them.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST: 

●      Book: Define and Deliver Exceptional Customer Service by Dr. Kelly

CONNECT WITH DR. KELLY 

●      Website

●      LinkedIn

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 12

Success is a vague concept with several definitions. However, there is one area that remains constant of the truly successful people. What is that? What is the constant that leads to personal success?

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 12 SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS: Revealing the Secret to Self-Success 

Increase your Self-Awareness

02:10

We need to see what other people see.

03:53

We need people to point that out to us. There are things that they see that we don’t see. We might not see what’s happening behind us. We have blind spots.

 Where Self-Awareness starts...

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 11

What if there was ONE ACTION that would set your whole day in incredible motion? There is. You can choose to act in such a way that the whole day is under your control. Learn to embrace ONE ACTION to set your day in motion.

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com) 


EPISODE 11 SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS: One Action to Set the Day in Motion

Setting ourselves up

01:10
I don’t want you to be set up for failure. Always learn from others and extrapolate the principles that apply to yourself.
Control 

3:35
You need an action that sets the day in motion, and there are a couple of reasons for you to do this.

03:48
One of the reasons is control. There is nothing you can do to solve the world’s problem other than do what you need to do to not spread it or take it in.

05:10
As I control the neatness of my bed, it reminds me that I can control my thoughts, my mind, and my attitude. I don’t have to just let it happen and let it be messy.

Mind Conditioning ...

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 

Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker 

INTRODUCTION TO EPISODE 10

Do you wonder how to increase engagement and participation in the meetings you lead or the virtual conferences you attend? Learn how to set your audience up for success (both their success and yours)!

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit https://connect.stepstoadvance.com)


EPISODE 10 SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS:  Increase Participation and Engagement

Discussing Engagement

1:29

Set them up for success. Sometimes it feels like us versus them in communication. They aren’t giving feedback. They’re not involved in the dialogue. They’re not bringing their best ideas. However, have you set them up for success?

3 Different tips that will be very helpful for you when you’re trying to engage people virtually or in-person

2:16
● Set expectations
● Give it in advance
● Let them know at the beginning

Set Expectations...

(For the full show notes and more resources, at no cost, visit connect.stepstoadvance.com) 


Also, check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker