Become a Global Leader

Difficult conversations. How do you feel about them?

They may not be easy, especially when it involves giving negative feedback to someone.

Emotions can run high and our response might be to avoid the conversation altogether, at least for a while. Or alternatively, we may run into it too quickly, when emotions are still high, to get it over with.

There is no 1 way which works for every situation because every person and context is different, however I share here today a way to approach, prepare and engage in difficult conversations that could help.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to handle difficult conversations when emotions are high
• How to approach and prepare the conversation
• Conversation strategies
• Avoiding blame
• Staying open to different viewpoints
• Focusing on actions and desired future change

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://culturecuppa.com/confidence
• Explore our team communication programme for global teams: https://culturecuppa.com/leaders-and-managers
• Discover more about our programme, 9 steps to communication confidence, to fast-track your communication when working in English: https://culturecuppa.com/individuals
• Learn more about our team training programmes in communication: https://culturecuppa.com/leaders-and-managers
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com

When working in multilingual and multicultural global teams we can experience situations where a few voices dominate in meetings, while others are quiet.

If we do not fully understand the cultural and communication challenges that individuals may experience, it can lead to frustrating, unproductive meetings.

As team and project leaders, we need to use our cultural intelligence (CQ) to consider and adapt to include people and hear from everyone, rather than relying only on the familiar and usual ways to run meetings.

Today we will explore the specific challenges that can come up, the cultural values which explain why they happen, and the strategies that could support the team to overcome them.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Key cultural and communication challenges that global teams can experience
• Speaking up and why our current approaches don't work
• Humour & fast speech
• The issues with idioms & expressions
• Being mindful of culture references
• Strategies to overcome the cultural and communication challenges

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://culturecuppa.com/confidence
• Discover more about CQ Cultural Intelligence assessments and training: https://culturecuppa.com/leaders-and-managers
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com
• Watch Episode 16 here: https://youtu.be/7_EskKuJOiY
• Watch Episode 17 here: https://youtu.be/vMh-YQ9qRng

Do you know how to get your emails right when it really matters?

Are they being opened and cutting through? And are you achieving your project and work goals successfully through email?

We might use plenty of quick messenger tools these days for working with our colleagues and co-workers, such as Teams, Google, Slack or Trello, but we also need to know how to put together a professional email that influences others to do something for us in response.

Today I will share the best ways to create effective, professional emails which have impact and will get your team to reply and take action.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why email
• What is your relationship currency with the recipient
• Make sure your emails are opened and read
• Making your email action-orientated
• The importance of relationship-building through email
• How to cut through and be clear in your emails
• Copying in others into emails- Be 'cc' and 'bcc' aware

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://culturecuppa.com/confidence
• Discover more about our programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://culturecuppa.com/individuals
• Learn more about our team training programmes in communication: https://culturecuppa.com/leaders-and-managers
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com

Why do we need all this small talk?

Research shows the importance of informal conversations for virtual and hybrid meetings, and how it can make the difference for teams, how they work and their overall project and performance success.

However, small talk isn't comfortable for, or even valued, by everyone. This is a great example of cultural dynamics at play, and how what may seem obvious and natural for one culture, is not for others.

For me, small talk isn't actually small. It's actually 'human talk' where we are looking to create a personal connection which can build a relationship.

In today's episode, learn more about the importance of small talk and informal conversation, and top tips for connecting.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How small talk supports a communication strategy for your meetings
• The research that supports why small talk and informal conversations are critical for success when working together in virtual and hybrid meetings
• Small talk is cultural
• How to rethink and approach small talk
• My top tips for small talk connection and successfully creating rapport with others

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://culturecuppa.com/confidence
• Discover more about our programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://culturecuppa.com/individuals
• Learn more about our team training programmes in communication: https://culturecuppa.com/leaders-and-managers
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Watch Episode 16 here: https://youtu.be/7_EskKuJOiY
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com

January can be a tough month after the excitement of the holidays and Blue Monday, the 3rd Monday in January known as 'the most difficult day of the year', is coming soon.

So we all need some humour this month. I am a great believer in the power of humour, and for me it's a great way in business to build warm connections with others and create a good atmosphere for communication and working together.

Humour is universal and can cross cultures, as long as we are mindful of making our humour inclusive and enjoyable for everyone, not just for a few insiders.

In this episode I share my key humour tips for connection:

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why humour matters in business
• How to make your humour inclusive in cross-cultural teams
• Key humour tips for connecting with others
• You're aiming for creating a smiles, not planning a comedy show
• Be yourself and be human- best way to connect
• Humour can be used to lighten the mood, even in the most serious and challenging situations
• It's not just what you say: Humour in your non-verbal and verbal communication
• Understatement for humour
• Using irony
• Making fun of yourself

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence/
• Discover more about our leaders' programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://bit.ly/victoria-discovery-call
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/

Happy New Year! Hope you had a great time over the holiday season, and started the year well. As we kick off this January, we're focusing on the big ideas for 2023 in communication and cultural intelligence.

I will share with you the top 5 big areas to know about for you and your team, including key trends in communication and cultural intelligence.

Plus I will give you the key questions to ask yourself, so you can put these trends into action to make sure you're communicating and connecting at your best to support your performance, business and career objectives this year.

What you will learn in this episode:

• The 5 big ideas for 2023 in communication and CQ
• Global teams will succeed when they build an equal share of voice for all
• A communication strategy for virtual and hybrid
• Cultural intelligence, not just awareness, will make the difference
• The new rules for meetings
• Connection through your non-verbal communication

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence/
• Discover more about our leaders' programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://bit.ly/victoria-discovery-call
• Talk to me about our team training programmes in communication and cross-cultural training: [email protected]
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/

As we are coming to the end of the year, it's a good time to stop and reflect on your current communication performance. Just like any other performance-related activity, it's important to check in regularly with what you are doing and how you can improve.

The end of the year is a natural time to do this, so you can put together your action plan and get off to a quick start in the New Year.

Today we are talking about how to fast-track your communication in 2023.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Reminder: Why you should do a performance review for your communication
• Get feedback & insights to build the plan
• How to establish your goals for 2023
• What is important in an action plan
• Taking the first step

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence/
• Discover more about our leaders' programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://bit.ly/victoria-discovery-call
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/

As we are coming to the end of the year, it's a good time to stop and reflect on your current communication performance. Just like any other performance-related activity, it's important to check in regularly with what you are doing and how you can improve.

The end of the year is a natural time to do this, so you can put together your action plan and get off to a quick start in the New Year.

Here is how you can do your own performance review.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you should do a performance review for your communication
• Planning the review
• Key questions for self-reflection
• How to gather insights & feedback

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence/
• Discover more about our leaders' programme, 9 Steps to Communication Confidence, to fast-track your communication next year: https://bit.ly/victoria-discovery-call
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/

How do you plan and write a presentation? Open up PowerPoint or google slides, and start writing?

The problem is we often spend too much time writing, designing and fiddling with the slides, without planning the messaging, story or the communication flow.

In today's episode you will discover how to plan your next presentation in 15 minutes to make sure it's clear, persuasive and your audience listens. All you need is some post-it notes and the roadmap I'm about to share with you.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Key questions to ask yourself before you start writing your presentation
• Identifying your key messages
• Building the story
• Introduction to the Roadmap structure
• Writing the slide deck

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence/
• Find out about our training & coaching for communication: https://bit.ly/victoria-discovery-call
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa/
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/

I am sure you have experienced challenging communication situations. When somebody seems determined to see the problems with your idea. The answer is leading to a 'no' or they're only seeing the downside. They seem close-minded to the possibilities.

Is there any way to get around a 'no'?

I believe we can get around this by building communication bridges that will connect you and to find a solution which works.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What are communication bridges
• How to build a bridge with your communication:

• • Your non-verbal communication and body language
  • Exploring the objections
  • The common goal
  • Your innovation mindset to find a solution
  • Next steps

Resources:

• Get your free resource Keys to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/confidence
• Find out about our individual coaching programme 9 Steps to Communication Confidence: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk/9-steps-communication-confidence
• Sign up for free insights: https://bit.ly/PerfectCuppaBlog
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perfectcuppa
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectcuppa
• Email me: [email protected]
• Website: https://perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk