According to bestselling career author Vicky Oliver, people skills are the main reason people fail or succeed at work. In fact, a recent study of 20,000 new hires found that nearly half of them (46 percent) failed within 18 months -- and it wasn't because they lacked work skills. Eighty-nine percent of the time it was for attitudinal reasons: inability to be coachable and get along with others.

A great way to make oneself attractive to a prospective employer or a boss is to hone one's people skills. Anyone, says Oliver, can learn to be a people person.

During this interview, Oliver will share 7 ways to become a people person including:

How taking an acting class can boost one's communication skills

How cultivating casual acquaintances can benefit your career

How to seem empathetic, enthusiastic, and cheerful--even if you're not

Vicky Oliver is a Manhattan-based job interview consultant, and the bestselling author of five career development books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions, and Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots. She's been featured and interviewed widely in the business media, including Fox News, Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, Forbes, Fortune, CareerBuilder, and many others.

During today's show, Lauran will talk with Dr. Nanci Shandera about how to attain personal spiritual transformation using principles of alchemy, dream work, pre-­‐birth Soul decisions, shadow work and more.

Dr. Nanci Shanderá is the founder of EarthSpirit Center for the Transformational Arts in Nevada City, CA, where she teaches transformational workshops, and specializes in dream work. Formerly, as a Religious Science minister, she administered the Ernest Holmes College School of Ministry in Los Angeles, where she also taught transformational intensives. She draws from almost 40 years experience in non-traditional, spiritual teaching and counseling, and studying with her teacher, W. Brugh Joy, M.D. since 1977. She is the author of Your Inner Gold: Transform Your Life and Discover Your Soul’s Purpose and The Quilt: A Woman's Journey to Power, a transformational novel. She has written for magazines such as Science of Mind and Shaman's Drum and is currently preparing “The Older Heroine's Journey,” which explores how women over 50 can become the Wise Women of our global tribe.

America has a housework gap. Despite the fact women are the sole or primary source of income in a record 40 percent of U.S households, women average 30 percent more time spent on housework and childcare than men do. This inequity in the home is more than unfair; it’s impacting women’s careers. The housework gap has been linked to the gender-based wage gap, negative perceptions at work, and lack of advancement opportunities for women. We’ll talk about how to “put down the mop” and make time for what matters, how to negotiate at home, as well as at work, for a more equitable arrangement, and why women need to tell each other the truth about work and family and having it all.

Liz O’Donnell is a working mother and author of Mogul, Mom & Maid: The Balancing Act of the Modern Woman. A senior vice president and head of the digital practice at public relations firm Double Forte, Liz is also the founder of Hello Ladies, an award winning website for smart, busy women and named one of the top 100 websites for women by Forbes. She is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and her writing has also appeared in The Boston Globe Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Tampa Tribune, PTO Today, Gatehouse Media and The Glass Hammer.

Liz lives with her husband and two children outside of Boston and regularly juggles family, career and community interests. She is a recovering PTO president, a current Town Meeting Member, and co-founder of a non-partisan organization committed to encouraging and supporting women’s involvement in local politics.

Bill Farr, author and wellness coach, about transforming relationships and helping you find the perfect match for your personality type. You’ll discover:

The truth behind the myth “opposites attract”

The requirements for a healthy relationship

How to know if you’ve found Mr. Right

Bill Farr is the author of, “The Power of Personality Types in Love and Relationships,” a wellness coach, an instructor in various forms of martial arts and Bill Farrmeditation, a former kickboxing champion and professional Argentine Tango dancer. As a consummate student of human behavior, Bill studies with well-known Western psychology teachers as well as Buddhist monks, South American Shaman, Chi Gong masters, Grand Masters of martial arts and other prominent teachers. He now travels worldwide teaching the principles from his book as well as meditation and wellness. (www.TheArtofUnity.com) His concepts are designed to help people become healthy and united in mind, body, and spirit in order to prepare themselves to find their perfect mate as well as a path to fulfillment and higher consciousness. The focus is on developing compassion, understanding and respect for each other based on important differences existing in both intimate and professional relationships.

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What listeners will learn during Lauran’s interview with Christina Steinorth, author and psychotherapist:

1.) When to start bringing finances into the discussion.

2.) What topics related to finances you should cover.

3.) Are you financially compatible?

Christina Steinorth is the author of the critically acclaimed book Cue Cards for Life: Thoughtful Tips for Better Relationships.

Lauran will be talking with Dana Manciagli, author and business thought leader. Listen in to:

Learn the dynamics about women working in a man’s world

Realize how you can be successful in light of most male-dominated industries.

New techniques to build your own brand and position your career for growth.

Dana Manciagli

Dana Manciagli is a global career expert and 30+ year veteran Fortune 500 sales and marketing executive, recently retired after a decade’s tenure at Microsoft. She is the author of Cut the Crap, Get a Job! A New Job Search Process for a New Era. A recognized career, networking and business thought leader, she is a sought-after speaker and a regular contributor to print and online publications, including owning her own weekly “Career Mojo” column in all of the national Business Journals. She was named among Seattle’s Women of Influence, sits on the worldwide board of Junior Achievement and has her MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

- See more at: http://lauranstar.com/talk-radio/guests-and-topics/#sthash.Wi56go3l.dpuf

Our professional and personal success, as well as the success of our organization, depends upon us being assertive. We must stand up and speak out for ourselves. We must assertively ask for what we want from our employees, customers, suppliers, and associates. If we are passive, we will never achieve our goals, and neither will our organization. If we are aggressive, we will damage our professional and personal relationships, including our relationships with our customers. The costs of passive and aggressive behavior, the benefits of assertive behavior, and how to find the balance of being assertive is discussed.

Listen in as Susan L. Farrell discusses:Susan L. Farrell

The costs of being passive

The costs of being aggressive

The benefits of being assertive

How to find the delicate balance of assertiveness

Susan L. Farrell speaks nationally on personal leadership for women. She has more than 25 years of management, consulting, and training experience, including owning her own business, SLF Consulting and Training. She has been speaking nationally for more than 10 years and is a professional member of the National Speakers Association. She is the author of the book Don’t Act Like Prey! A Guide to Personal Leadership for Women.

Her speaking style is clear, concise, and features fun and insightful anecdotes. She has the ability to truly connect with her audience.

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What makes a company healthy? Strong teams, good communication, knowledge of vision and goals that get everyone moving in the right direction. Wendy Hanson has worked with managers and teams for 15 years in companies including Google, AOL, and Verizon. As part of the team of PointForward, she has co-created a Business Health Assessment from this experience.

Whether you own a small business, a major corporation or have spent your life climbing the corporate ladder, some day you will exit. Listen in to my interview with Vicki Donlan, business and health coach, to learn:

How and why you need to start planning now.

What your options truly are.

How to plan for the next chapter.

Vicki Donlan is a business and health coach working with business owners to start, grow and plan an exit for their business. Her extensive experience working with Vicki Donlansmall businesses, growing and selling her own, and having a far-reaching network cause her to be a resource every businesswoman and entrepreneur needs.

She is the former publisher and founder of Women’s Business, a 25,000 controlled-circulation newspaper devoted to women in business in the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island region, founded in 1998, and sold to the Boston Herald in 2004, remaining as publisher through 2007.

Her first book HER TURN: Why It’s Time for Women To Lead in America was published in September, 2007. She currently blogs for The Huffington Post on the topics of women in business and women entrepreneurs.

She co-founded South Shore Women’s Business network in 1991 and as its first executive director grew the organization to more than 750 members and went on to help launch two other prestigious women’s networks.

Her advocacy for women in business has earned her many prestigious awards including the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Advocate 1994 for Massachusetts and New England.

- See more at: http://lauranstar.com/talk-radio/guests-and-topics/#sthash.oqrhOUEY.dpuf

According to Bloomberg, there’s been a dramatic enrollment uptick in business etiquette schools. Meantime, the Wall Street Journal identified a new trend in business schools: courses in “soft skills” such as casual communication and showing respect.

These trends are not surprising, considering that Gen Y and Millennial employees didn’t exactly grow up in an era of formal manners. But no worries. If you find yourself at an important business event with colleagues, coworkers, clients, or prospects, and you’re not sure how to act or what to say, listen to today’s show with Vicky OliverVicky Oliver to learn a few key behaviors that will make a good impression:

The stumbling blocks to beware of when traveling abroad

Social media etiquette

Who opens the door for whom these days

The rules of etiquette in an office without walls

And much more

Vicky Oliver is a Manhattan-based job interview consultant, and the bestselling author of five career development books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, and 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions. She’s been featured and interviewed widely in the business media, including Fox News, Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, Forbes, Fortune, CareerBuilder, and many others.

- See more at: http://lauranstar.com/talk-radio/guests-and-topics/#sthash.Kd7uiFUP.dpuf