IntHERrupt

Why can it be hard for people to accept praise and be proud of our work? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda shares her thoughts on how women, and really anyone, can accept praise with grace and poise.

Mitigating compliments from those around you is a common mistake.

• In Linda’s past career, she distanced herself from compliments her coworkers, friends, and listeners shared. 
• However, she learned you need to be proud of your work and accept the acknowledgment you deserve.
• Be mindful of your critical mentality because it can prevent you from being proud of your work. 

Do you find it easy to accept praise, or do you struggle?

• Perhaps you have difficulty believing what others say and project that lack of confidence onto others.
• Give yourself space to acknowledge yourself, your work, and the effort you’ve put into your life.
• If you were taught to minimalize your thoughts as a child, you need an interruption in thinking; you have the power to impact your life, inspire others, and reach your goals.
• Track how you feel after listening to the people and media around you. Which ones fill you with inspiration, hope, and power? Conversely, which ones cause anxiety and angst? 

Being thankful for yourself and your life is an increasingly difficult task, but remember to reward and congratulate yourself for the work, dedication, and passion you bring to your work and relationships.  

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.

Crises are a part of life, and everyone experiences them at some point. After coming out of a global pandemic, everyone is a little more familiar with crises, but not everyone knows how to deal with them when they come up. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Katie Gurney to discuss how we can best prepare ourselves and loved ones for crises and manage them when they arise.

The number one action step to take to prepare for a crisis? Know that one will inevitably come. 

• Choose your directives. Coordinate a power of attorney for both your healthcare and financial needs.
• If you are in an accident and cannot speak for yourself, giving someone power of attorney will allow them to advocate on your behalf. 
• Pay attention to your resilience. Especially if your partner is the type to get legal and financial things done for both of you, be reasonably aware of those situations, so you aren’t confused and scrambling during an already traumatic time.

Being empathetic to teammates going through a crisis:

• Recognize that people grieve differently. Follow their lead, because some people need the normalcy of their work as a space from grief.
• Don’t ask someone how they’re doing - when they want to talk about it, they will. Instead, acknowledge their loss and tell them something encouraging and meaningful. Directly ask if they wish to speak and respect the boundary they set.
• Instead of asking a widow or widower what they need, pick certain things you’re able to do and ask if they’d like you to do them.

Four tips to prepare for losing a loved one:

• Legally, get your directives. Put in place how you want to be handled and what to do with your property.
• Financial, determine what kind of life you want your survivors to have through stock options, life insurance, and monetary assets.
• Mentally, make sure your family knows how they support your spiritual needs. Let them know what to do to ensure you’re at peace when you pass.
• Practically, coordinate the tasks you and your partner do so they can be appropriately handled if one of you were to die.

Moving on from a family crisis:

• A great way to move forward is to find a support group. Find your people, especially others who can understand and know the feelings you’re experiencing. 
• Ask a close friend to help coordinate and interact with others reaching out. It saves stress and a feeling of obligation to help others process their own emotions while you’re going through a difficult time.

Visit affairsinorder.com to download a free Emergency Documentation PDF to have everything handy in the event of a family crisis. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn or send a message through her website to get in touch.

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.

Leadership is more than meeting deadlines; it’s encouraging yourself and your team to be the best version of yourselves. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Bethany Foyt, ​​Marketing Director at JourneyTEAM, to discuss how expressing vulnerability has made her a better leader. 

Leaders struggle to show vulnerability:

• They feel like they need to know all the answers, and being vulnerable shows signs of professional weakness. 
• Bethany’s background in inbound marketing, a tactic notorious for long-term results and little short-term growth, made it challenging to take the initial foray into leadership. However, she learned how to adjust her goal-setting.
• Self-doubt and anxiety get louder if you let them, and Bethany learned the tools to combat that and engage in self-love. 

Bethany’s likes and dislikes of leadership:

• She loves the strategy element, working through difficult situations to make relationships stronger, especially between coworkers.
• However, she struggled with delegating and handing things off when she first started, wanting people to do things her way. She’s since learned to open her mind and back off. 

Is vulnerability a gift or a curse?

• It was a curse for the first 10-12 years of her career; she needed more experience and knowledge.
• Now, she’s in a place she never thought she would be. But that approach has been stressful.
• It’s a gift because you’re open to new things, methods, and ways of overcoming problems. As a result, you’ve opened more doors to trust.
• To Bethany, vulnerability is being genuine and honest in your situation, and being open to saying you don’t have the answer.

Three tips for showing vulnerability as a leader:

• Embrace vulnerability instead of hiding it. Understand what needs to happen to move forward, whether determining a solution or overcoming a challenge.
• Be curious about vulnerability. Work with the people around you and be open about challenges and obstacles impacting your work to see if they can help.
• Break down hierarchies. When people feel comfortable discussing their emotions at work, they’re less likely to impact performance.

For more information and content from Bethany, connect with her on LinkedIn. Watch Brené Brown’s TED Talk discussed in the episode on the power of vulnerability. 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.

Collaborating with the C-suite can be a challenging and frustrating task. So how can you handle those interactions in a positive and healthy way? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the Founder of Schulz Business SELLutions, Greta Schulz, to learn to communicate, collaborate, and interact with C-suite executives (and really anyone in leadership.)

Let’s face it; the C-suite can be intimidating: 

• Remember, they’re the same people we are. Yes, they’re intimidating, but (just like anyone else) they like to talk about themselves.
• When dealing with decision-makers, know enough about them to interact positively and in a well-informed way.
• Ask them questions, learn about them, and be willing to understand their insights about their position and company to show intelligence and empathy.

Overcoming fear and intimidation:

• The more information you have, the better you’ll feel. 
• Come prepared to a conversation, read everything you can, and give yourself time to find ‘neutral’ questions and comments that are insightful but not too personal. 
• If you can use knowledge and research to ask good questions, the decision-maker will feel elevated and have greater respect for you.

Overcoming societal mannerisms:

• When Greta meets other women, they sometimes put themselves at a disadvantage with mannerisms and body language.
• Look people in the eyes, smile, and have a firm handshake. That’s perfectly acceptable for a woman to do.
• Don’t ‘be male,’ but ensure you are seen as confident.

Asking for feedback from leadership:

• If you’re unsure why someone was given a promotion over you, set up an appointment with the decision-maker to ask for feedback. 
• Don’t work in a position expecting someone to give you a raise if you work hard. Be prepared to advocate for yourself and get what you deserve.
• When asking for feedback, don’t focus on what you’ve done. Instead, focus on where you want to go and what you need to improve on to get there.

For more information and content from Greta, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her website www.schulzbusiness.com/. Greta is also launching a new podcast! Tune into Pivot, available on her website soon! 

For more content and information from Jaime, 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. 

Whether you’re a full-time in-person professional or a fully remote employee working exclusively from the comfort of your couch, you still might encounter that chatty coworker who prevents you from getting everything you need done. So how do you interact with those people, maintain relationships, and create healthy boundaries? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, guest Jaime Russ discusses how she handles chatty coworkers and sets those limits.

Stopping a chatty coworker can be awkward and frustrating. How do you deal with it?

• Remember, we’re dealing with humans, and everyone is slightly different. 
• There are neurodivergent people, people dealing with external or internal issues, and other factors that might influence the best response.
• In general, set a healthy boundary and enforce it.
• Have a sense of self-awareness and compassion for the people you work alongside.
• Allow space for everyone while protecting your own.

Boundaries depend on the work environment (both physical and political.)

• Team rules might dictate the best action - respect blocked-off schedules, avoid those wearing headphones, or whatever it is for your company. 
• If you don’t want to break someone’s boundary, ask them out for coffee or for a later meeting to discuss the matter with them.
• If you work virtually, explain exactly when you need the privacy and isolation necessary for your work.
• Visual cues can be difficult to determine through virtual meetings, so rely on verbal cues.
• Use the tools available on your platform of choice, whether Zoom, Meet, or Slack, to show when you’re available for interruptions and meetings.

Why do people get overly chatty at the workplace?

• Going from working full-time in an office to remote, Jaime realizes she has extra social capital when she stays at home. 
• We are social creatures; even introverts like Jaime enjoy interacting with others.
• Having time to connect with others is something everyone enjoys (though at varying levels.)
• Sometimes we can’t see a solution until we have a coworker or another person listen to the ideas and the conversation.
• When in team meetings, Jaime prefaces that she likes to talk and is welcome to say they don’t have time. It gives people space to feel comfortable.

Discouraging the chatter:

• Pay attention to the mannerisms of those around you.
• Be direct if you’ve communicated and reminded someone of your boundaries and they ignore them. Explain that you’re under time pressure and set a time in the future exclusively for you and that person to engage. 
• Escalate the firmness if needed to carve space for yourself. When you start dictating those spaces, people pick up on those cues.

For more content and information from Jaime, 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.

Virtual teams are everywhere in the post-pandemic professional world. While creating a virtual team is easy, managing and maintaining the relationships within those teams can be challenging. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Amy Hanlon, president and founder of BlueMeta Design, to learn how she leads her virtual teams successfully.

When working from home, find a workspace that works for you.

• Amy works best in a standard office setting. However, other members of her team prefer their living room couch or a coffee shop. It all depends on personal preference.
• Everyone works differently, and remote leaders need to encourage that.

Challenges to virtual teams:

• The lack of personal connections within the workplace can make it difficult for many people.
• Amy’s team conducts standup meetings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to discuss company updates, staff workload, or if there are any issues.
• Encouraging a team (as a leader) will set the environment and precedent for a collaborative atmosphere that helps people accomplish their virtual work.
• To make the virtual workplace more interesting, add elements of fun. For example, each Friday, a different member of her team gets to ask random icebreaker questions to encourage people to relax.

Conducting virtual performance evaluations:

• Communication is paramount, whether through slack, zoom call, or scheduled meetings down the line. 
• Maintaining communication will keep everyone informed, motivated, and on-task to accomplish company goals. 
• Amy’s team utilizes different softwares for HR and other departments to track timesheets, PTO, annual reviews and preestablished KPIs.  

Helping underperforming employees:

• Amy’s company uses carefully logged timesheets to show clients where their money is going.
• Because her team is composed of contractors, she makes sure they include detailed logs explaining how they allocated their time. 
• The great thing about working remotely is the flexibility of hours. People can work wherever and at whatever time. As long as projects get done, Amy is happy.

For more content and information from Amy, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her company website at bluemetadesign.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.

As we kick off season seven of IntHerrupt, Linda uses the premiere episode to share her leadership strategies, insights, and tips for leaders to implement. Today’s topic focuses on the importance of asking powerful questions to ourselves and others.

Questions have power:

• In many business settings, the person asking questions is the person considered confident. However, this is only when you listen to the answer.
• When Linda was in a prior leadership position, part of her process was to meet within the firm and deeply understand everyone in their roles. In that position, Linda learned just how powerful questions could be.
• Using different indexes and questionnaires is a great metric to gauge new understandings and new perspectives.

Don’t just ask questions; ask questions the right way:

• Closed-ended questions have a definite, (typically) simple answer. (The only closed-ended question asked on this show is “have you ever been interrupted?”)
• Asking closed-ended questions will not give you an extended dialogue. However, for a direct commitment, closed-ended questions can be helpful. 
• Open-ended questions allow us to foster more profound insights and stronger relationships.
• “What” and “how” are some of the most impactful questions you can ask.
• Write your questions on paper (or your notes app) to keep them at the forefront of your mind. 

Determining the answer:

• Give thoughtful questions thoughtful answers. If you need more time to think of a response to a given question, allow yourself to think first. 
• Ask clarifying questions to refine your answer; you’ll come across as interested, competent, and thoughtful. 
• This podcast is all about asking questions to women leaders. What is important to you? How can you achieve what’s important to you? 
• By asking questions, processing answers, and hearing yourself say those answers out loud, you’ll be more focused on moving forward with your goals.

Today’s final takeaway? You’re ultimately in control of your actions, choices, and decisions. If there is something you want to change in your life, altering your reaction is critical to being the leader you’re capable of being.

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.

Every leader has their own style and method of successful leadership. However, there are fundamental principles that any leader can improve upon for positive success. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by fitness and nutrition coach Natalie Oriol to discuss leadership and how anyone can improve their leadership skills.

What makes a good leader?

• Communication is critical. Natalie notices that good leaders communicate with their leaders, employees, and stakeholders, whether in a personal or professional space.
• Good leaders are passionate and share that passion with others.
• They accept feedback and adjust their leadership to help their employees.

Every leader has to solve problems:

• Communicating across the department and working with people throughout the organization
• As a leader, ask your teammates what you can do to best support them to both build trust and create a better work environment for both parties.
• Leadership is critical. They provide the guidance and support to help teams accomplish their objectives.

Three ways to step up your leadership skills:

• Have open and honest communications, and combine them to be open and honest. That’ll lead to so many other great things.
• Self-awareness. Know how you present yourself and how others view you.
• Find your motivation, and emphasize that to get everything you need done.

To reach out to Natalie or see other great content, follow her on Instagram @natalie.oriol.

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. 

How we dress is a big part of how we are perceived and treated in the workplace, especially as you climb the corporate ladder. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Sharon Kornstein to discuss dressing for success, explaining how anyone can dress to impress, from the entry-level analyst to a C-Suite executive.

Everyone should dress to impress:

• First impressions are essential in the business world; our visual appearance is often the first thing people will see. 
• The best way to step up your look is to dress in simple, classic pieces with a flattering fit.
• Wearing nice clothing doesn’t have to be over-the-top or expensive pieces.

Dressing nice doesn’t mean dressing boring. 

• Your business clothing should never be the initial statement - you want people to notice what you have to say before what you’re wearing.
• Wear just two or three colors at a time, and avoid overly loud pieces. 
• Knits and tailored blazers are great pieces for women because they go with multiple outfits and styles. 

Establishing creativity in your dress:

• Your ability to be creative depends on many factors like your geography, industry, and office environment. However, you can almost always bring personality through accessories.
• A necklace, earrings, or even glasses can be statement pieces that make the look personal and unique.

Sharon’s three tips for finding the right clothes:

• Think about colors. It’s what makes you memorable. Learn which colors flatter you, and implement them into your wardrobe.
• Focus on fit. As women, we don’t think about the way our clothes fit. Make sure dresses and skirts are long enough, knowing they will ride up about two inches when you’re seated.
• Wear what makes you feel good. Put yourself in the position to feel confident so that you can express yourself without concern.

Overcoming fashion mishaps:

• Styling tape and safety pins are great supplies to keep in your purse or desk to make simple repairs if needed.
• Keep a neutral sweater or blazer in your car or office to cover up a stain or mark if the situation happens.

For more content and to learn more from Sharon, connect with her on LinkedIn or visit her Facebook page. 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.

We work and grow alongside our coworkers for much of our lives. But how can we maximize that growth by inspiring a sense of community, inclusivity, and belonging in the workplace? In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by FirstLantic Healthcare’s Director of Marketing, Karen Gross, to learn how we can foster a better work environment. 

Everyone feels like they don’t “belong” in their workplace at some point.

• Karen faced low pay, long hours, and high expectations during her time at an advertising agency. While she enjoyed the industry, she knew she wanted more. 
• If you don’t feel that necessary sense of belonging, it likely isn’t because of you; it’s because of the environment. 
• A workplace culture that embraces people is essential to having employees stay, thrive, and grow.

Belonging inspires passion for work:

• If someone is struggling to find passion for their work, it’s likely due to these negative feelings. 
• If you are struggling, consult with management or leadership; leadership is there to listen.

Creating a sense of belonging:

• Her company has ‘21 fundamentals’ that embrace their values, and new hires are exposed to them from the beginning.
• Those values are implemented through training sessions. However, belonging can also be as easy as talking to your staff and coworkers as people to inspire a feeling of belonging.

A key thing leaders can do is communication.

To communicate how their role impacts the organization’s vision and how it is valued in their everyday work.

Everyone matters. There is not one person in her organization that isn’t important to their fundamental work. Everyone is important.

A sense of belonging is feeling valued and accepted 

Part of your group and feeling like you have a voice and feeling like you belong. When that’s not present, passion can be difficult to manifest.

DEI is an opportunity to revive a workplace culture.

Someone listen is likely thinking ‘we don’t have the culture.’ What can they do for themselves to impact their workplace culture.

Even if the culture isn’t there, you still have a voice. You should feel confident expressing those emotions and feelings. If you can’t express those, you’re just kinda doomed. You’ll feel miserable! 

You might think noone wants to hear from you. But you can be shocked what will happen when you speak up and share ideas.

A Gallup study found that Engagement is one of the largest indicators of passion. Many people are actively disengaged from their work. 

How do you keep you and your team engaged in the work?

It comes down to being curious. When she’s looking to do something different, she’s given the mandate to determine something new. Curiosity and tapping into other people and engaging in conversations with people and sharing ideas is critical. 

If it’s a good idea, it’s a good idea. Don’t be afraid to find new ways to do things.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn for more great content and information. 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.