IntHERrupt

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.

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.

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.

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

1. Let yourself off the hook. Don’t hold yourself to an unrealistic standard. 
2. Be open-minded. 
3. 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.

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.

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.

1. 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.

1. 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. 

1. 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. 

1. 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. 

1. 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.

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.

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.

Following your dreams takes grit, determination, and (above all) belief in yourself. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the founder and CEO of LFG Consulting, Leslie F Graf, to learn how she shifted her mindset to positivity and growth to accomplish her goals. 

Leslie has worked hard to accomplish her dreams:

• As a young child, Leslie knew she wanted to be strong, independent, and successful. 
• She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do, but she wanted those qualities. To her, that meant she had to go to college.
• Throughout her life, Leslie focused on taking one step at a time, saying yes, and moving toward her end goal of success.

Three top priorities to believe in yourself:

• Practice positive thinking. Recognize when negative thoughts and self-doubt come to mind and reduce them.
• Self-care is essential, and that looks different for everyone.
• Show up for the people around you and focus on being your best self.

Avoid buying into other’s limiting beliefs:

• People’s beliefs are based on their experiences, not yours. If someone has a limited experience with you, understand that it comes from a place of judgment or lack of understanding.
• Trust yourself. When you trust yourself, the disbelief of others doesn’t come into play.

Leslie’s next steps:

• Leslie is working on growing her business, and the next stage is coaching and mentoring financial professionals. 
• As a certified yoga instructor, Leslie loves to find opportunities to explore that passion and improve her mental and physical health.

For more content and information from Leslie, connect with her on Instagram and Linkedin or visit her company website at lfgconsultingco.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.

An educator by trade and entrepreneur by design, today’s guest Nathalie Gregg teaches, coaches, and trains students and professionals looking to progress in their personal and professional endeavors. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, she and Linda discuss the power of pay equity and how women can leverage their skills to secure a place at the table.

Negotiating equitable pay:

• First, determine what equitable means to you (and it doesn’t always mean equal.)
• As women, we frequently don’t take assessments of what we do well. So, start with that and think about the things that bring you joy.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help internally and externally to determine what equitable pay looks like for you. It’s based on your values and the value you bring to the organization. 

Three tips to get a raise:

• Know your value, and have confidence in your value.
• Have a list or project plan in action that shows what you’ve done and how you’ve responded in certain situations.
• Recognize how visible you are to your internal team because that influences the amount of leadership and decision-making you can generate.
• Be prepared to walk away. If the company is not willing to meet your demands or at least come to an agreement with you, be ready to leave.

What to do if you aren’t receiving equitable pay:

• Mentorship and networking are critical. You can’t network occasionally; it’s about serving others and helping others when the opportunity arises.
• Surround yourself with other people who move toward their goals.

Negotiating the performance review:

• Keep a record of your wins with an explanation of how they correlated to revenue, brand awareness, or whatever bottom line you help move.
• Testimonials from coworkers, peers, clients, mentors, and anyone else who would be a viable opinion to supplement your claims.
• Determine your non-negotiables. It could be money, time, vacation, or even office space; permit yourself to leave the circumstance if whatever is important to you is not met.

For more information and content from Nathalie, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her website nathaliegregg.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.