Elisa Heikura is a communications specialist and a coach who wants to make the life of developers and other tech-oriented people so much better – or even easier. She’s deeply interested in understanding the human interaction. She keeps on learning about it from books as well as from continuous trial and error.
What impostor syndrome is

A deep fear that makes you feel you will be revealed as a fraud. Feeling that people will realize that you have no idea what you are doing, and you’re not as competent as you are.
Elisa discovered that every single developer suffers from impostor syndrome. They are always in constant change: everything is changing.
From a public speaking perspective, impostor syndrome prevents people getting onstage, prevents you from starting.
Can we overcome impostor syndrome?
Not completely, but good things to do are:

* Switch the focus to how can I serve, help others.
* Share your own stories, especially a struggle story.

Elisa also believes that meditating and writing a journal are good habits that help you prevent impostor syndrome.
Related: Free Yourself from Self-Criticism
Favorite quotation
“‘Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?’
‘That is the only time a man can be brave,’ his father told him.”

— George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
Recommended book
The Power of Vulnerability (audiobook) by Brené Brown
Routine to Shine
Look yourself at the mirror and say “I love you, I accept you as you are.”
Links
Elisa at Twitter
Developerhood
 

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132. Elisa Heikura: Can We Overcome Impostor Syndrome?

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Self-Improvement

Paul Logue hails from near Glasgow in Scotland and boasts a 25-year career as a professional bass guitarist in a heavy rock band alongside a career in IT. He spent 21 years at IBM with half of that dedicated to Travel & Expense Management Software. Paul moved to Emburse five years ago and rose from the first Solutions Consultant in the UK to leading the International Team as Director of Solutions Consulting. He is also known as The Pre-Sales Rockstar.
The way to became a presales rockstar
A musician at heart, Paul chased his musical dreams in his early twenties while working a bank job. His father, however, pushed him towards a stable IT career which led him to IBM. Despite starting a family and rising in IT, music remained a constant passion as he played gigs on weekends. His most successful band, Eden’s Curse, emerged alongside fatherhood, but the realization that music couldn’t fully support his family led him to prioritize his flourishing IT career. Although his band continued for another 15 years, he ultimately focused on IT, becoming a top sales presentation performer.
Mastering the rock musician skills
Rock musicians aren’t inherently distinct from other performers. Musicians, actors, dancers, or even athletes, share key skills. These skills are built through dedication, refining their craft in private before ever reaching a stage. Paul highlights the importance of practice using Lady Gaga as an example. Stage presence, the ability to captivate an audience, is another shared skill that develops through experience. Finally, improvisation is also crucial for performers, Paul concludes by emphasizing the importance of authenticity, bringing your whole self to the table, even if it includes a passion for music.
The rock musician model for presenters
As a rock musician, Paul emphasizes the importance of practice and preparation. Here are the key points:

* Practice makes perfect: Just like musicians rehearse their songs countless times, presenters and salespeople should thoroughly prepare their material. This ensures a smooth delivery and allows for audience engagement.
* Eye contact is crucial: Connecting with the audience through eye contact is essential for both performers and presenters. It builds rapport and helps gauge audience reaction.
* Learn from improvisation: The ability to adapt on the fly is valuable. Just as a musician might have to adjust their performance based on audience response,

204. Paul Logue: Demos Are Like Rock Concerts

Sally Z is an award-winning speaker, author, coach and expert on the art of bravery because she knows personally what being brave requires. Sally’s mission is to empower people to move from the sidelines to the spotlight – at work, on stage, and in life – and unleash the power of #showupanyway. Sally has spoken in front of thousands of people – coached hundreds of leaders – and empowered countless ‘moving moments’ in that powerful connection between speaker and audience. Sally is also the host of This Moved Me, a top 2% podcast about the art of public speaking, best-selling author of the book Speaking Story, and producer & host of the beloved Permission Slip Conference.
 
Persuasion and Emotions
In this wonderful and amusing interview Sally Z exposed different points related to persuasion, emotions and the power of storytelling, from which we can highlight the following:

* What persuasion is and why do people often confuse it with manipulation.
* Why storytelling is the best and most underrated tool for persuasion.
* Sally explained her personal approach to storytelling, in which a story comes first: Moment, Meaning, and Move.
* Sally shared with us some recent examples of the effective use of storytelling. From the speakers Sally has seen recently, she was impressed with Jade Simmons‘ storytelling onstage.
* Finally, she shared an advanced tactic for improving your storytelling: the use of dialogue in telling stories.

Related: Danja Bauer and Sally Z Fireside chat: How to Structure Your Talk
 
Favorite quotation
“Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” — Ira Glass
 
Recommended book
10X growth is easier than going for 2X  by Dan Sullivan, Dr. Benjamin Hardy
 
Routine to Shine
Sally recommends a routine called “Walk and Talk“. This technique is a powerful rehearsal stage for content development. By walking and talking, it helps you unlock new ideas, making it effective for clarifying your thoughts and generating insights early in the content creation process. It’s a recommended tool for both speakers and self-content development.
Links
<a href="https://bemoved.

203. Sally Z: Persuasion and Emotions

Dr. Elena Paweta is an executive communication coach, speaker, TEDx organizer and university professor. As a professor at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, she specializes in international business, startup development and entrepreneurship. Dr Elena has been organizing TEDx conferences for the last 10 years. She has hosted the IDEAS+LEADERS podcast for over 3 years.
Greg Gazin, a.k.a “The Gadget Guy / Gadget Greg,” is a syndicated veteran Tech Columnist, speaker, author, podcaster and Distinguished Toastmaster. Since 2006 he’s produced the award-winning ToastCaster: Communication & Leadership Learning Lab, and co-hosts the Official Toastmasters Podcast. He’s also authored, Corey OutSMARTS the Butterflies, helping readers 8-80 learn the secrets of building confidence, leadership & communication skills.
What Makes a Great Podcast Host
In this fabulous fireside chat, Elena and Greg talked about:
• Who inspired them to become a podcast host. Some podcasters who inspired our guests were Roy Coughlan, Denise Duffield-Thomas, Amy Porterfield, Matt Abrahams, and surprise surprise: Oscar Santolalla himself. Thank you my friends!
• What are the top skills that will make you a great podcast host. Listening carefully to the guests was at the top, and changing your script on the fly was among the other skills that make a great podcast host.
• Finally, our guests shared some underrated skills or aspects that every new podcast host should master in order to succeed.
Related: Heather Flanagan and Greg Gazin fireside chat: How to give a tech talk successfully

Our guests’ links
https://elenapaweta.com
https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/ideas-leaders/id1531433083
https://www.toastmasterspodcast.com/posts/index.

202. Elena Paweta and Greg Gazin fireside chat: What Makes a Great Podcast Host





Karen Eber is an author, international leadership consultant and keynote speaker. Her TED talk, “How your brain responds to stories – and why they’re crucial for leaders”, continues to be the source of inspiration for millions. As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps companies build leaders, teams, and culture one story at a time. She is a guest lecturer at universities including the London School of Business, Stanford, and MIT. Now she’s the author of the book THE PERFECT STORY. How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire.

Amplify your Impact with Storytelling

In this informative and practical interview, Karen shares with us her insights into the transformative power of storytelling, its scientific fundamentals, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical advice for effective storytelling. We’ll hear:

* Her journey from a corporate career at companies like General Electric to becoming a consultant, speaker, and author.
* The Science of Storytelling, Karen contrasts traditional models like Joseph Campbell’s with recent scientific insights and how the brain processes information emotionally.
* Two common mistakes in storytelling.
* Why aspiring storytellers must tell stories regularly, emphasizing that the more stories one tells, the better they become, and share practical advice and tips for individuals looking to enhance their storytelling skills.

 

Related: Leon Conrad and Emily Edgeley Fireside chat on Storytelling
 

Favorite quotation

“Stories are the basic unit of understanding.” — A doctor from Doctors Without Borders.

Recommended book

A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life by Brian Grazer & Charles Fishman

Routine to Shine

Every week spend some time curating a list of stories. Make sure to think about things you’ve experienced, meetings you’ve attended, questions you’ve been asked, documentaries you’ve watched and add it to your list of ideas.

Links
Karen’s website
Book: The Perfect ...

201. Karen Eber: Amplify your Impact with Storytelling

André Noël Chaker is one of Finland’s leading business speakers and writers. Over the past ten years André has spoken at over 1000 business events in Finland and abroad. His more recent books, The Finnish Miracle and Santa’s Dream are national bestsellers and form the foundation for André’s highly successful keynotes on transformation and change. He is currently the Chairman and co-founder of MySpeaker, the fastest growing speaker bureau and speech communication technology company in Europe. He is the co-inventor and patent holder of the company’s revolutionary Artificial Intelligence platform that develops speaking skills at work.
A more impactful speaker with AI
In this fabulous interview, André talked about:

* The criteria we had about what an impactful speaker was 20 years ago is very different from what an impactful speaker is today.
* How speaking is one of the most valued skills for the future.
* Key ideas of Rhetorich, how it uses both Generative AI and Predictive AI.
* The big six: credibility, likeability, authenticity, presence, persuasiveness, storytelling.


Related: Speakers Shine With Pathos
Favorite quotation
“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” — Oscar Wilde

Recommended book
Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo

Winning Minds by Simon Lancaster
Routine to Shine
Make it a habit to record yourself speaking, video and audio, then listen to it carefully, look at your expression, listen to your voice, the tone.
Links
MySpeaker Rhetorich
André at Twitter
.



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132. Elisa Heikura: Can We Overcome Impostor Syndrome?

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