In the Right Direction with Deb Elbaum

We all have ideas of things we are excited to try or accomplish. We have home projects, creative projects, personal endeavors, and even professional goals that we know are important and have the potential to make us happier, healthier, and more successful. And, yet, too often our great ideas stay ideas – we never act on them. We think it's too hard, or too late, or we're too old. We never take that first step to make our idea a reality.

What if you knew how to take an idea and put it into action? What if you had the tools for the right type of action plan – one that keeps you on track and accountable? It would give you a road map to move forward, to cross items off your to-do list, and to feel more empowered.

Listen in to this episode as Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares how to make the right type of action plan – and the three key pieces that every action plan must have. When you have a great action plan, you're significantly more likely to follow through, take yourself seriously, and accomplish the goals you set for yourself. And, as Deb reminds us, we do this one baby step at a time.

If you're ready for a personalized road map to move you closer to your goals, grab a pen and paper and press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

Many of us hear a constant refrain from our inner critic about all the things we should be doing and feeling. And you might think the word should is helpful. After all, it keeps you on your toes and reminds you about all of the things you'd like to ideally accomplish. The reality, though, is that word should has a judgmental energy and can make us feel like we're underperforming and not measuring up.

What if you had a way to way to move forward without letting your inner critic constantly remind you about all the ways you're falling short? What if you knew how to move forward with more excitement and peace of mind?

The antidote to the shoulds is the concept and tool of permission. Permission allows us to think more positively, be in an exploration mindset, and try out behaviors and thoughts out to see what they're like.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares the powerful concept of permission and teaches you how to operationalize it with lots of concrete examples. If you're ready to be kinder to yourself and still get the things on your to-do list done, press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at www.debelbaum.com/podcast.

If you're like my clients, you say things like, I want to be a good leader. Or I wish my presentation had gone better. We use words like good, bad, better, or best all the time without really thinking about them, and without really taking the time to define exactly what we mean.

The key to clear communication is defining these general words. When we define what we mean by good, bad, and other placeholder words, we understand more quickly what the other person means, we get clarity on what we want and need, and we help our brain's thinking.

In this episode, Deb explains the importance of paying attention to how we and our colleagues describe things, from a science perspective. She shares examples to illustrate how these little changes in our conversation can have a big impact.

If you want to communicate clearly and precisely, coach others more effectively, and sound like more of a leader, press the play button now.

Full transcript or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

We all use the word "but" all the time, often without thinking about it. That word has an energy of resistance to it. It shuts down whatever thought you just had, or whatever idea someone else recently proposed. This can make you feel like you're not allowed to have other thoughts, and it can make the person you're talking with feel like you're shutting them down.

What if there was an easy way to help inclusive thinking and communicating? There is: by switching your "buts" to "ands."

The truth is that we can hold seemingly opposing ideas at the same time. I might have a valid point, and someone might have another idea. Both can be true, and using the word "and" reminds us, our brains, and the person you're speaking with that all ideas can be allowed.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares her thoughts behind this simple, yet powerful, leadership communication strategy, and why job seekers and interviewees especially need this advice. If you want to hear more about the importance of changing your "buts" to "ands," and what I'm calling the And Challenge, press the play button now.

Full transcript or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

In our interactions and conversations with other people, our brain often jumps to conclusions. Our brain assigns motives to people's behavior and comes up with reasons people do things – usually without knowing the full story or having all of the information. This is a problem, because our brain has an inherent negativity bias. This means that the stories our brain makes up about other people's motives are usually negative.

What if you were more aware of when your brain was making up stories, so that you could recognize that they might not be the truth? What if you had a way to get more data so that you didn't jump to the conclusion that someone was disrespecting you or ignoring you? You would be able to shift your judgment into curiosity and compassion instead.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares the brain science underlying our brain's habit of making up stories as well as the steps we can take to recognize our stories, reality test them, and gather more complete information about what other people are thinking and feeling.

If you're ready to change your habit of jumping to conclusions into a new habit of curiosity, press the play button now.

Full transcript or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

Do you ever look around at other people and their successes, and wonder if you've achieved enough or are as far along in your career as you should be? Life is not a straight, upward trajectory. Remembering this and defining our life story and the shape of our life can help us feel more confident about the choices we make and the narrative we tell.

Today's conversation is a big picture one. Inspired after reading the book "Life is in the Transitions" by Bruce Feiler, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares what she knows – from working with clients for years and from her own studying and practices – to be true about life.

Knowing that we matter, knowing that we get to define our own success, and knowing that we are the author of our story is empowering and validating. In this episode, Deb shares guiding thoughts and questions to help you feel reassured that there are many ways to do life "right" and that you are OK.

If you want to get out of the weeds and into the big picture, press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

When we change our environment, it often lets us think and feel in new ways. How might your thinking be different if you were on the water, say kayaking in the ocean or on a lake?

Meet Sarah Scala, a leadership and executive coaches who offers kayak coaching as part of her unofficial services. She takes leaders out to kayak on salt or fresh water, which helps them slow down, be present, and think more openly.

In this bonus interview episode, Deb and Sarah discuss kayak coaching sessions – what's cool about them, what happens, and when a session like this might be possible for leaders. If you love the water and are curious about how it can help you think more expansively, press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

If you're like me, you always have thoughts in your head. And if you're talking with someone – a partner, spouse, or colleague – you might not know what they are thinking. After all, we can't read other people's minds.

What if you had a quick hack for getting other people to share what's on their mind? What if you had a question that would get the other person to open up to you?

There's a question that can do this – and it's one that works, every time. In this episode, Deb shares her most commonly used coaching question to hear what someone else is thinking about, and the reasons this question works. She also shares a story from a client about how using this question makes business development conversations much more effective.

If you want a question for your toolkit to enhance all of your conversations, press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

Meet Men's Coach, Ken Mossman, Founder of Cirrus Leadership & Coaching

What does it mean to be a man? How do men find and refine their mojo? And how does that fit in with being an overall conscious, emotionally connected human being?

In this interview, men's coach and host of the podcast Mojo for the Modern Man Ken Mossman shares his thoughts about the importance of helping men reconnect to their emotional lives by building up their emotional literacy and fluency. Deb and Ken discuss how early messaging can keep men from allowing themselves to feel vulnerable and fully express their emotions.

If you're curious to hear our conversation about men's coaching, what it focuses on, and how it can have a ripple effect, press the play button now.

Full Transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

At the end of an important conversation, we might think we know what someone else is understanding and agreeing to, although we are likely not 100% sure. How do you ensure that everyone is on the same page and committing to next steps with accountability?

The leadership communication tool to use to create clear alignment at the end of an important conversation or meeting that creates commitment about next steps is called "making an ask." Making an ask helps leaders follow up with more confidence and clarity – and helps everyone understand exactly what they are agreeing to.

Never underestimate the power of a single ask! Asks made from a leadership stance can be life-changing. In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares the 4 key pieces of making an effective ask. She also shares a powerful personal story illustrating how a confident, well-placed ask can have a ripple effect across time.

If you are ready for a confident communication leadership tool to help you engage others with more confidence, press the play button now.

Full transcript here or at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/