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Terry Suplatt, one of President Barack Obama's longest-serving speechwriters, joins us to discuss his book "Say it Well" and shares powerful insights on finding your authentic voice and inspiring any audience. Through personal stories and White House experiences, Terry reveals the techniques that made Obama's speeches memorable while offering practical advice for everyone from business executives to everyday communicators.

• Finding your authentic voice rather than imitating other speakers
• The power of brevity – memorable speeches don't require length 
• The 50-25-25 rule for efficient speech preparation
• The "Barbecue Rule" – communicating complex ideas in accessible language
• Using AI as a research partner but never as your voice
• Discovering and sharing your "sacred story"
• The importance of executive involvement in the communication process
• How to recognize when a speech or presentation has truly connected

"This is a skill and we all have to be good at it... I've tried to make it for young people when they're just starting out their career, mid-career professionals, folks at the top of their game who want to get better."

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🌟Are you ready to break free from the 9-to-5 grind and thrive as an independent professional? 🌟

Join us on this episode of the Leaders Upgraded Podcast, where Adrian Tan, author of "No More Bosses."  shares his compelling journey from the constraints of corporate life to the liberating world of solopreneurship.

 If you're curious about making the leap to independence or fascinated by the shift towards fractional roles, this episode is packed with invaluable advice.

Adrian Tan is an expert in the field of solopreneurship and HR technology. With years of experience navigating the transition from corporate to independent work, Adrian has become a guiding light for those looking to build successful solo careers. His book, "No More Bosses," has inspired countless professionals to take control of their careers and embrace the freedom of being their own boss.

🎙️ Highlights of the Episode:

• Transitioning to Independent Work: Adrian recounts pivotal moments that led him to embrace a solo career and shares practical tools inspired by Tim Ferriss' "The Four-Hour Workweek."
• Navigating Fractional Roles: Discover the strategic merits of hiring fractional professionals and the benefits for both companies and freelancers.
• Realities of Freelance Freedom: Adrian dispels common myths about the freedom and challenges of a solo career, offering a reality check on managing multiple clients and achieving work-life balance.
• Building a Solopreneur Business: Learn about the importance of customer validation and actionable strategies for leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to build a strong personal brand.
• Personal Branding in HR Tech: Explore how writing about a topic can establish expertise and the necessity of refining business models through feedback.

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❓ Are you ready to simplify your organizational strategy and make it actionable?

❓ Curious about how inclusive leadership can reshape your strategic approach?

This time, I'm joined by the brilliant Jeroen Kruijenbrink, a renowned strategy and leadership consultant from the Netherlands.

Jeroen Kruijenbrink brings years of expertise in strategy and leadership. He is celebrated for his innovative frameworks that break down complex strategic concepts into manageable actions, making them accessible to all levels of an organization.

🌟 What You'll Takeaway:

• Simplifying Strategy: Discover Jeroen's innovative "strategy sketch" framework, which breaks down strategic planning into ten essential elements.
• Clear Communication: Understand the importance of translating strategic plans into practical actions for sustainable growth.
• Evolving Value Creation: Explore how technological advancements have reshaped value creation and how to balance growth with sustainability.
• Inclusive Leadership: Challenge the misconception that strategy should only come from top executives and learn why internal insights and collaboration are crucial.
• Psychological Insights: Uncover the psychological biases that can derail strategic decision-making.
• Strategic Competency: Learn how to develop a strategic competency framework to enhance strategic thinking organization-wide.

💡Jeroen and I tackle the complexities of strategy beyond the boardroom, making it approachable for everyone in the organization. We also dive into the critical importance of involving all levels of an organization in the strategy-making process.

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Have you ever wondered how a coaching mindset can revolutionize the way you lead?  Are you ready to transform your leadership style and unlock the true potential of your team?

We're thrilled to announce the latest episode of the Leaders Upgraded Podcast featuring none other than Marcia Reynolds, the fifth president of the International Coaches Federation and acclaimed author of Breakthrough Coaching. She has worked in 43 countries, reaching over 100k people.

In this episode, we deep dive into the powerful shift from controlling to genuinely supporting your team members through a coaching mindset. Here’s what you can expect:

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Adopting a Coaching Mindset in Leadership: Learn how a coaching approach can foster better engagement and commitment.
• Creating Psychological Safety: Understand the importance of a safe environment for better decision-making and team performance.
• Mastering Emotional Intelligence: Discover techniques to manage emotional triggers and navigate high-stakes conversations.
• Leadership Insights: Embrace ambiguity and practice deep listening to better understand and support your team.

From understanding the importance of intention and emotion in conversations to practical acronyms like HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) and WAIT (Why Am I Talking), this episode is packed with tools to elevate your leadership game.

Your journey to becoming a transformative leader starts here!

You can read more about Dr. Marcia Reynolds's work at www.covisioning.com

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Let’s talk about something we all know but rarely address head-on
The profound impact of performance pressure, ego, and control on team dynamics.

When these forces are at play, they can create a toxic environment where collaboration takes a backseat, and everyone starts working in silos. The pressure to perform can drive people to focus more on their contributions than the team’s success, while ego and control can stifle creativity and innovation. It’s no wonder teams sometimes struggle to hit their full potential.  

If you or your team struggle with this and more when it comes to collaboration then it is time to tune into the latest episode of the Leaders Upgraded podcast, featuring none other than Dr. Heidi Gardner. 


Dr Gardner is a distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School, Former Harvard Business School faculty and Founder of Gardner & Co advisor

Join us as Dr. Gardner delves into the secrets behind smarter collaboration in today's complex work environments. From her days at McKinsey to her pioneering research at Harvard, she shares invaluable insights on why some teams excel while others falter and how leaders can cultivate a truly collaborative culture.


🔍 Key Topics Covered:

• The profound impact of performance pressure, ego, and control on team dynamics.
• A compelling case study demonstrating how a networked approach can quadruple performance outcomes.
• The innovative scorecard approach to collaboration, emphasizing the importance of rewarding team achievements.
• The skills required for effective cross-organizational collaboration, from post-merger integration to leveraging AI tools.
• The essential role of purpose and fun in preventing burnout and enhancing team morale.

Join us on this journey to unlock smarter collaboration and elevate your leadership skills 🌟

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Are you ready to embrace your unique story and redefine leadership?

Are you curious about how your distinct experiences can drive innovation?

We're thrilled to announce the latest episode of Leaders Upgraded, featuring the remarkable Nilofer Merchant, TEDx speaker and Thinker's Future Award winner!

In this episode, Nilofer unveils the transformative power of "onlyness"—a concept that celebrates the unique spot each individual occupies in the world. Nilofer passionately explains how our unique histories, experiences, visions, and hopes create distinct strengths essential for innovation, especially in fields like healthcare.

📌 Key Highlights:

• The Power of Onlyness in Organizations: Learn how voices from the margins are contributing innovative solutions and how recognizing unique contributions can help co-create a more inclusive future.
• Redefining Leadership Through Authentic Connections: Discover the importance of introducing individuals based on their stories and qualities, fostering a more collaborative environment.
• Exploring Onlyness and Worthiness: Understand the journey of self-acceptance and how embracing your unique story can challenge dominant narratives and bring fresh perspectives.

The podcast shares practical advice for embracing your unique story within organizational settings, urging listeners to speak up and question dominant narratives. This episode is packed with insights to fast-track your leadership journey!

Tune in now to discover how embracing your "onlyness" can redefine leadership and foster authentic connections in the modern world. 🌍✨

Feel free to share your thoughts and insights in the comments below! Let's co-create a more connected and inclusive future together. 🚀

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🌱 Feeling overwhelmed? 

Let’s turn that into your advantage. 

Enter Andrew Bryant, the self-leadership maestro featured in our riveting new podcast episode: "The Art of Self-Leadership and Resilience." Andrew isn’t just another leadership coach he is a pioneer of self leadership, and a beacon for navigating stormy weathers with grace and grit.

🔥 What if the chaos around you could be transformed into your platform for growth?

• Picture staying impeccably calm when the stakes are highest.
• Imagine reclaiming your power when paralysis seems imminent.
• Envision handling complex personal and professional relationships with unmatched poise.
• Think about making tough decisions that are both empathetic and firm.

This isn’t just about leading others—it’s an introspective journey into leading oneself through the eye of the storm.

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Ever wanted influence without authority ? Then you want to listen to our latest podcast with Melody Wilding who is a best-selling Author of TRUST YOURSELF, Award-Winning Executive Coach to Sensitive Strivers, LinkedIn Top Voice, Keynote Speaker, Professor of Human Behavior, HBR Contributor

🎧 This episode tackles the real stuff:

• How do you transform a rigid hierarchy into a dynamic partnership?
• What are the secrets to maintaining your sanity and your boundaries in a virtual workspace?
• How can you avoid the pitfalls of feeling compelled to be the workplace hero, and the burnout that follows?

Join us for a candid discussion that’s all about flipping the script on traditional workplace dynamics. It’s time to boost your career and influence on your terms. Ready to dive in?

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Ready to supercharge your personal growth journey?

Our latest episode features the incredible James Altucher! 🎙️💡

James is a Top 10 LinkedIn influencer, prolific writer, successful entrepreneur, chess master, and venture capitalist. He is the author of the Wall Street Journal Best Selling books: 'Choose Yourself', and The Power of No (co-author), as well as "The Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth" and "The Choose Yourself Stories". USA Today ranked James: "Choose Yourself" second among the 12 Best Business Books of All Time.

Through the podcast, James takes us through his transformative journey of personal growth and resilience. The episode is filled with insights on cultivating authentic leadership, setting healthy boundaries, and forming daily rituals that lead us towards self-evolution, this episode is a must-listen!

💥The key Takeaways unpacked in the episode are:

- Discovering the role vulnerability plays in connecting with others.
- Uncovering the power of incremental changes in achieving your goals.
- Learning how to manage energy, not just time, for peak productivity.
- Understanding the art of saying 'no' to keep your focus on what truly matters.

🎧 Listen now and arm yourself with a toolkit for intentional and brave living. Whether you're looking to enhance your professional journey or need inspiration for personal development, this episode is a must-listen

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🎙️Are you intrigued by the allure of the gig economy?

 Wondering how to swap your corporate badge for a gig that's all your own?

Is gig work all that it is made out to be ?

Come join us for a reality check, and no hold barred conversation of what life can look like on the other side of the fence.

 In the latest episode of the Leaders upgraded podcast, we delve into the transformative journey from traditional employment to the independence of gig work. Join me and  Abhijit Bhaduri, as we unpack the nuances of forging a successful freelance career.  Abhijit is a top-10 brand evangelist and renowned Talent strategist, HR leader, author, and formerly leading Learning & Development at Microsoft globally. With a clientele spanning from Fortune 100 companies to startups, he's a top-rated learning expert and LinkedIn Top Voice. 

We cover everything from blue-collar to C-suite transitions and the pivotal role of skills and reputation in this dynamic new work landscape. 💼➡️🌐 

1. How Critical are Skills and Reputation in the Gig Economy? In the gig economy, where traditional job security markers like company tenure or a steady salary are absent, how do skills and reputation determine a gig worker's market value?

2. How Can Gig Workers Balance Flexibility with Accountability? The gig economy offers the freedom to choose when and where to work, but it also demands accountability. How can gig workers effectively balance personal branding with being accountable to their clients?

3. Why is Effective Client Relationship Management Key in the Gig Economy? Managing client relationships is pivotal for success in the gig economy. What strategies are crucial for networking and building a robust client roster?

4. How Do Passion and Persistence Lead to Creative Triumphs in the Gig Economy? The episode highlights that a mix of passion and persistence fuels successful careers. How does a deep-seated passion, combined with the persistence to refine and practice one's craft, lead to mastery and success in the gig economy?

🎶🔗 This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the exciting yet challenging world of freelance and gig work. Don't miss this exploration into professional independence! Listen now and get ready to date your dream on this open-ended journey.

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