IntHERrupt

Experiencing an interruption can cause unfortunate situations and crises to arise, and dealing with those with confidence and understanding is a necessary part of leadership. Today on IntHerrupt, our host Linda is joined by Eliza Gomez, a seasoned professional at navigating crises as they come up with experience in government, private, non-profit, and higher education sectors.

Crises come up in all sorts of fashions.

• As a leader, it's essential we know how to identify and navigate them.
• Growing up in South Florida, Eliza was familiar with storms, lightning, and hurricanes. Living in preparedness was simply everyday life. 
• Eliza was a college literature major, so she took to journalism and public relations. She later transitioned to events management, corporate sales, and other communications special projects before joining local government. 
• There, she worked in the health and human services, dealing with populations with special needs like the homeless, HIV+, and youth groups.

Handling her largest crisis:

• Dealing with a terminal illness and the loss of life and family members, accessing services you don’t necessarily think or prepare for like Hospice.
• When team members deal with death or personal crises, it impacts the entire team.

How can leaders prepare for these circumstances? 

• Be sensitive and aware of what’s happening around you.
• We bring our stressors with us to work, and other people are influenced by that environmental factor you introduce. 
• Have open lines of communication (formal and informal) to make sure everyone is okay.
• Reach out to people, and don’t assume you know how they’re feeling.
• Have leadership reinforce topics of preparedness and personal responsibility.
• The silver lining of the pandemic was the transformation of remote work. We can manage our time independently, which reduces costs and adds value through flexibility.
• Be mindful and aware. Have the conversation sooner rather than later.

Helping others in crisis:

• When someone is affected by a situation, they don’t perceive someone normally; it’s through a filter or lens. 
• Communicate with them - check the baseline. What are the quickest steps to get them in a reframed mindset to process what’s happening?
• As you identify those unmet needs, work with them and your leadership team to see what solutions are available.
• Making an effort to help can go a long way to helping another person through a tough time.

For more information and content from Eliza, 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 honor of Memorial, today’s episode of IntHerrupt is a special one. In today’s episode, Linda reflects on her life to discuss some prominent people who have influenced her success. We should all take the time to show some appreciation to those who have done the same.

When Linda was looking for work, she landed a role with John’s company.

• John’s firm saw Linda’s potential and strengths, allowing her to grow in her leadership abilities. 
• When he began experiencing severe back issues, Linda stepped up and helped John accomplish the things he could no longer do, and he helped her grow dramatically faster.

Carolee, Patricia, and Scott were coworkers and supervisors who helped Linda thrive in her career. 

• When Linda went to her supervisor Patricia to see if she could take another step in her career by doing new responsibilities, it almost doubled her salary. 
• However, after being bedridden while pregnant, Linda didn’t want to lose her opportunity. But her entire department was supportive, transferring the phone calls for the department to her home so she could work from bed.
• Carolee and Scott were the co-chairs who trusted her and believed in her. 

Her mother and father are the most significant leaders in Linda’s life. 

• They taught her authentic leadership and were very involved in the community.
• Her parents taught her that people are essential by spending time at events at church and in their community. 
• Her mother found the fun in life by keeping her passions alive while leading a family of seven children. She learned the violin in her 50s and played piano for different events.
• She kept an organized house, and Linda is grateful for the experiences they shared with her.

At least three of the leaders have passed on, and Linda wants to dedicate this episode to those who’ve passed. Talk this episode as a sign to reach out to the leaders in your life and share with them how they’ve influenced you.

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.

Empowering a team starts with empowering yourself. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by sales coach and Chief Growth Officer of Consult Speak Coach Cheryl Parks. Cheryl got into sales to make a nice life for herself, and she mentally walked her mind into a new way of thinking to do her best in the business.

Breaking out of the mindset dichotomy:

• It starts with one decision. Cheryl realized she wouldn’t reach her goals if she didn’t change something about her life.
• At first, she never wanted to be seen and instead wanted to hide in the background. 
• To be someone new, she pretends to be someone else. She started mindset shifting, preparing herself to be confident and outgoing in her work.
• Keep affirmations on your phone, listen to motivational music; there are many things you can do to trick your brain into a new way of thinking.

The benefit of empowering your team:

• Buyers are significantly savvier than they were before. 70% of decision-making is completed by the time a salesperson starts a conversation.
• A huge proponent of diverse experiences is diverse connections. 
• You are only as strong as the weakest person in your team. If someone isn’t interested in what’s happening, the team will only get that far.
• To improve team empowerment, prepare everyone and meet people where they are. 
• Talk through the situation, practice, and if you see it a few more times, you’ll feel more comfortable. 
• If the person can’t get past themselves, there may be a conversation about whether or not they should be a part of the discussion.

Empowering other stakeholders impacted by decisions:

• Communication. Simon Sinek’s Start with Why explains that people are more focused and supportive of an idea or methodology when they understand its why.
• If you can explain why you’re doing what you’re doing to other stakeholders, it can be helpful.
• Communicate with people impacted by a decision. The time and energy that goes into supporting an opportunity is an investment, and everyone will bring their best energy if they know what’s happening.

Other empowerment methods:

• Spend time with high-action people who keep you accountable. 
• Be around people who have a similar thought process.
• Manages your energy - give yourself time to take a walk, get some sunshine, or do whatever you need to maintain energy.

Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn for more content and to stay up-to-date on her work. 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 many industries and professionals, women are still vastly underrepresented in leadership positions. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by Juana Watkins, General Counsel and Vice President of Law and Policy at Florida Realtors, to discuss her experiences and methods to stay empowered in a man’s world.

Women are empowered to do well in real estate. 

• From a basic perspective, 61% of real estate brokers in America are women, up from just 21% in 1978. Sales associates haven’t changed as dramatically, but women overall represent a substantial percentage of real estate decision-makers.
• The industry is designed to be conscious of equal opportunity for everyone. So while the industry isn’t perfect, there’s consciousness.  
• The law side is not as advanced: Half of law graduates are women, but only 19% of managing partners are women. 
• There is a tremendous amount of progress in law schools, but the actual profession itself doesn’t seem as influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sexual harassment in real estate and law:

• Juana sees it much more frequently on the law side because of the equal opportunity in the real estate industry, it’s less common.
• However, it still happens. For example, there are documented incidents where male landlords accept sexual favors for rent. As lawyers for realtors, we must train members to look for that type of abuse and know how to report it.

Juana has been impacted by other female leaders:

• Particularly, women who taught the importance of quiet power. The same stereotypical mindset that contributes to holding women back is what we have to overcome, even when faced with discrimination or harassment.
• While unfair to the recipient, we have to consider how our actions and mindset can be interpreted by others around us.
• Give people what they’re looking for - you can send a message without saying a word.

What can you do to feel empowered when faced with a setback?

• Juana comes from humble beginnings, and she didn’t share that story with others until a real estate conference. When you reach a place of success after overcoming obstacles, you feel accomplished. 
• Even when doing everything right, you can experience negativity that prevents you from reaching your goals. Because of her personal experiences with this, Juana experienced self-doubt in her work and her profession.
• She decided not to let that feeling define her professional work, and she encourages other people to do the same.

Juana’s parting thoughts? Persevere and stay focused, because there is nothing we can’t overcome. For more great content from Juana, connect with her on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on her work. 

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.

Inspiration, whether for yourself or the people around you, can be the key to unlocking the success you deserve. On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by a certified coach and founder of the Mind Rebel™ Academy, Taryn Watts, to see how she brings out the best in her team to help them perform their best.

What is “performing at your best?”

• It’s feeling connected with what you do and empowered to do what you do.
• A part of us always knows the way forward - when we can connect to that, we’re operating at our best.

Overcoming a loss of passion:

• Taryn came from a corporate job she wasn’t passionate about - and spent ten years there. But, once she left that job, she connected to her why.
• Even though she’s created her coaching job, there are still moments she dips in motivation and inspiration, and that’s completely normal. 
• Remain in view of your vision and anchor in your why to maintain your passions. 

Getting the best productivity out of those around you:

• Taryn’s one-on-ones with team members aren’t always about strict directives; most of them are coaching meetings. 
• Coaching isn’t always about professional development - it’s overcoming limiting beliefs, personal issues, and anything else that might come up in life.
• When you coach others, you help them realize their best versions of themselves. 
• The goal is to pull people into their zone of genius, which generates the most impactful type of inspiration. Because it isn’t coming from a feeling of need but a feeling of want.

Three tips to tap into your zone of genius:

• Find the thing you or your team love to do. What could you do or talk about all day long?
• If you’re struggling to find your way, ask your peers. Sometimes your zone of genius is so profoundly ingrained that you need the reflection of others to identify it.
• Play around with different things. Then, as you develop yourself and those around you, you’ll work towards your goals more quickly.

To learn more about Taryn’s academy, visit themindrebel.com and follow the Mind Rebel™ Academy on Instagram for more inspiring and educational content. 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.

Overcoming adversity, while seemingly impossible in the moment, is what motivates us to pursue our dreams. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by entrepreneur and business owner Monica Smith to discuss how she worked to reach her dreams and overcome the obstacles that got in her way.

As a child, Monica’s family life wasn’t perfect:

• While her family was close-knit, her father’s alcoholism fostered familiar dysfunction. 
• Monica began to daydream to escape her family life, and she lost focus in school. Her mom knew something was wrong, so she sent Monica away to her aunt. 
• Monica started to do better in school. But life took a turn, and she fell into the wrong crowd. She was in a gang, experienced drug abuse, and her life spiraled.
• Her dreams fell by the wayside, and he had a baby at 17. She graduated high school and earned her diploma, but life was challenging.
• She lost custody of her kids, but life is all about overcoming adversity. And those obstacles brought her to where she is today.

Sometimes things come up, and you have no control over them.

• Some of her dreams were to become a fashion designer, create a unique product, and just be successful.
• While she didn’t become a fashion designer, Monica found a job with a purpose (helping women affected by homelessness and substance abuse), and she worked with women for nine years. 
• She went back to school for a degree in health and human services, and then she created a hair care product after going through chemotherapy.
• Losing her hair made her lose confidence in herself. So, she crafted a product to help grow back hair with an alcohol-free formula. This took her on a new journey of entrepreneurship and helping people.

What are three things or steps or tips to encourage someone to help make their dreams come true:

• Don’t give up, and don’t get discouraged. You will fail more times than you succeed, so trust the process and stay strong.
• Have a strong understanding of your beliefs. Know what you want out of your vision because it’s easy to go astray.
• Enjoy the ride because you’ll meet people along the way who didn’t push through their adversity. 

Who has impacted Monica’s life?

• Her mentor. Monica’s mentor pulled her out of the negative situation, gave her a job, and taught her how to productively work towards her dreams.
• Her mentor taught Monica the value of daily maintenance - meditating, reading spirituals and books, and allowing herself quiet time.

Overcome feelings of anxiety:

• Listen to your body. Don’t be afraid to lay back rather than push forward if your body needs the rest.
• When she’s well-rested, Monica still daydreams. That’s when her mind works best. 

Monica’s final piece of advice? Look at the lessons you can learn through the journey. To see Monica’s hair care business, visit soberroots.com.

For more great content from Coni, visit her profile on LinkedIn and view her books available on Amazon. 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 special 75th episode of IntHerrupt, our host Linda Yates shares some of the current leadership trends in the business world and how we can start implementing these practices into our work as we look to the future.

Collaboration is king:

• A dictatorial leadership style is no longer effective. Positive workforce engagement is vital to the organization, the industry, and the world.
• A Gallup poll showed employee engagement rose from 13% to 19% since the pandemic.
• While a significant increase, it reveals there are still many barriers affecting engagement in the workplace, and leadership style is a vital contributor.
• Clearly communicate expectations, desires, and objectives to help foster that mentality.

Prioritize and value your employees:

• When you think of all the information we digest each day, do we sit and read everything? Never. We do a quick scroll for major points, and that behavior holds true for meetings.
• Keeping meetings short prioritizes employees’ time and promotes a healthier work-life balance.
• Many employees and teams face burnout; shorter calls that focus on what matters will help alleviate that feeling.

Develop your people to retain team members.

• The Great Resignation is still happening, so focusing on making the workplace a good place to work will pay dividends later down the line.
• Get to know and connect with your employees to build relationships. This is crucial, especially for fully remote teams that don’t see one another face-to-face.
• See the value in your employees and what they’re capable of, and communicate that to them. 

Inclusivity in the workplace:

• As a leader, strategic inclusivity campaigns and practices will be integral to organizational growth.
• Remember, you are a part of inclusivity as well. So make sure inclusivity practices are there to benefit everyone, even yourself!
• In making a healthier workplace environment, don’t be afraid to include laughter and positivity to make it a more mentally productive environment.

The final takeaway from today’s episode? Find the potential in life’s interruptions to become a better leader. You learn many lessons through overcoming obstacles, and using those experiences to fuel your leadership make you a more effective leader.

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.

There are many types of leaders, yet one group that often goes unrecognized is our military families. Whether supporting their enlisted spouse or serving themselves, women in military families make sacrifices and withstand many obstacles to accomplish their goals. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by a former military spouse Tammy Hollis to discuss her experiences and how we can better support military families. 

Tammy married her high school sweetheart, and he served in the Air Force for 30 years.

• When he first joined, the frequent moves made it a daunting experience. However, the support of the other military family members at the bases made it a better experience for Tammy. 
• With her spouse gone, Tammy made sure to provide for her kids. She wanted them to feel the love and support they deserved, even if her husband wasn’t always available.

Managing the frequent moves:

• Tammy’s kids typically didn’t mind the constant moving, especially when they were younger. However, as they grew older, it became more impactful.
• In her son’s senior year, he wasn’t allowed to try out for sports teams because it was his senior year. Another time, they moved shortly after a different move because of her husband’s special assignment, which was difficult.
• While challenging, her kids are adaptable and more resilient because of these moves. 

What makes a good leader?

• A true leader makes decisions about a situation and hopes that it’s the right one. Then, they carry through with it and hold themselves accountable for the outcome. 
• Tammy watched her husband be a great leader. She knew what she wanted to do to stay healthy, happy, and motivated when he wasn't around.

What three tips would you give to anyone listening about how they can support military families or be a great leader?

• Recognize there are sacrifices made by both the family and the person serving. 
• Most families don’t expect grand gestures. But understand the base supports the local community’s industry and jobs.
• Make the most of life?

Tammy’s experience with interruptions:

• Interruptions should be a prerequisite for a military wife, because new things happen constantly.
• To overcome an interruption, get accustomed to having a Plan B (or several Plan Bs.)
• If something is important enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. Otherwise, you can let go and move on to prioritize the things you need.

Now that her husband is retired, Tammy joined a skincare company to keep her mind sharp and learn new skills. Visit her business page on Facebook or check out her Instagram account at @tammydhollis1.

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 corner of people supporting you is integral for anyone in the workplace. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by author and course creator Coni Meyers to discuss the power of building alliances in the workplace (without jeopardizing existing relationships.)

What is an alliance?

• An alliance is a collaborative effort between people who bring out your or your organization’s strengths.
• It takes a village to do anything. Building alliances help you shape your leadership skills and be your best self.
• Coni was once in a business partnership with a guy who got very involved with drugs. When she left, Coni discovered she wasn’t on the major contracts she thought they were partners in, and he took her for a quarter of a million dollars.

Three ways we can build an alliance:

• Listen to your gut. If it’s an individual or a business, you must have complete faith that they’re authentic. 
• Identify if it’s a short-term or long-term relationship. If it’s short-term, what is your exit strategy? 
• As you move into an alliance, have an open conversation about what you can offer the other person to support them (and vice versa.) 

Honoring past relationships while moving forward:

• Don’t negate past experiences, but accept that you’ve grown beyond the old relationship because everything happens for a reason. 
• There’s a silver lining in every situation. For example, people began to see the gifts of humanity because of COVID.
• Don’t project past negative relationships onto new relationships. Use caution to approach alliances responsibly. While it can probably be taken too far, naively entering a relationship is just as, if not more, dangerous.

Relationships are a garden.

• Relationships are not all in bloom the entire year. Understand that alliances with different people and businesses will grow and take precedence at certain times over others.
• Be mindful when burning bridges. While there are certainly times it can happen, moving with integrity is the best way to move forward.

For more great content from Coni, visit her profile on LinkedIn and view her books available on Amazon. 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 65 years, there have been 1800 CEOs in Fortune 500 companies. However, only one was an African American woman (Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox.) She inspired Cherilynn to teach other women about the power of sales so that regardless of what table they sit at, they’re too good to be ignored. Cherilynn has since used her knowledge to help women be too good to be ignored, and in this episode of IntHerrupt, she discusses the impacts of “The Great Resignation.”

What is “The Great Resignation”?

• From upper management to the most recent hire, the pandemic has changed everyone.
• In sales, clients have changed. But as leaders and managers, our employees have changed as well.
• Leaders need to step back and evaluate their culture. People are burnt out and resigning to look for new opportunities.
• Cherilynn challenges management to shift perspective and think of it as “the great retention” rather than accept the current circumstances.

It was a perfect storm situation.

• The pandemic helped people determine their values and realize their goals in life.
• When everybody started working from home, the line between work and home got incredibly grey.
• Reduced travel opportunities led management to increase check-ins on employees, making them feel micromanaged or overwhelmed.
• Now that offices are reopening, many companies are asking workers to return at the drop of a hat, not considering the challenges that might prevent that from being an easy process.

The Great Resignation will impact every company.

• In the short term, companies slow to hire will lose out on top talent. As a result, the hiring practices will get quicker. 
• In the long term, management must put more effort into building relationships with their employees.
• Understanding empathy in the workplace will help management bridge that gap with their employees.

Overcoming the resignation:

• First, listen to your employees. If you haven’t changed your culture since the pandemic began, it is long overdue.
• Some companies use an ongoing engagement tool to address problems before the issues become systemic.
• Learn empathy because it is one of the best ways to listen and be present for others.
• Ask “the four Fs”: First, finest, failure, and future. Pick something that addresses a first, a finest, a failure, and a future topic for someone, and you’ll demonstrate the engagement and empathy people want.

How to work without passion in a career:

• First, think about where you are and your vision. 
• Cherilynn asks her clients what their wish is one year from now. Then, what’s their wildest career dream? Finally, what is their realistic fantasy?
• Determine what it is about those things that are important to you, and ask that three or four times to discover the root of your passions.
• If you have a “go-up” goal, be careful who you tell. Instead, find someone who shares your passion and will align with you.
• If you have a “give-up” goal, tell everyone to help you stay accountable. 

Cherilynn’s final tip? When your life is interrupted, pick a vision and focus on it. For more content and resources from Cherilynn, visit her websites www.postpandemicselling.com and www.masterfulselling.com, and 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.