In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, we dive deep into how storytelling can transform sales conversations and client presentations. Research shows that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone—so why aren’t more sales professionals using them to their advantage?

Join Christine as she breaks down:

✅ The neuroscience behind storytelling and why it builds trust and engagement.

✅ The top storytelling frameworks—including the Hero’s Journey, Before-After-Bridge, and STAR Method.

✅ How to handle objections using customer success stories instead of data alone.

✅ Practical exercises to help you refine and shorten your sales stories for maximum impact.

We also discuss the Storytelling Playbook for Sales and Client Presentations, a resource packed with tips, exercises, and templates to help you integrate storytelling into your sales strategy. Want a copy? Download it now using the link in the show notes!

📢 Tune in and start using storytelling to boost sales, engage clients, and make your pitches unforgettable! 🚀

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Confidence and communication are the keys to leadership success, but how do you develop them when self-doubt creeps in? In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney is joined by the dynamic Blonka Winkfield to kick off a new mini-series on communication.

🌟 What You'll Learn:

✔️ The critical role of communication in leadership (and the surprising stats that prove it)

✔️ How to build confidence in professional settings—even when you feel like an imposter

✔️ Why body language, self-talk, and active listening are game-changers in meetings

✔️ Practical tips to boost your presence, speak up, and own the room

💡 Actionable Takeaway: You belong in every room you step into—someone invited you there for a reason!

Tune in now to learn how to project confidence, communicate effectively, and elevate your leadership game. 🎧✨

📌 Key Discussion Points:

• The importance of communication in leadership (91% of employees believe leaders lack communication skills, and poor communication is a key reason for project failure).
• Building professional confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome.
• The role of self-talk and mental coaching in strengthening confidence.
• Tips for speaking up in meetings and using body language effectively.
• The concept of "appearing weak when strong, and strong when weak" from The Art of War.
• The power of active listening and how it builds trust.

📌 Practical Tips from the Episode:

✔️ Speak up in meetings – Say your name and company at least once.

✔️ Celebrate successes – Recognize and acknowledge your wins.

✔️ Use body language – Mirror confident postures to project presence.

✔️ Challenge negative self-talk – Replace doubts with affirmations.

✔️ Be your own mental coach – Reflect on strengths and logical achievements.

✔️ Practice active listening – Nod, lean in, and engage with speakers.

📌 Additional Mentions:

• The Art of War by Sun Tzu (concept of appearing weak when strong and vice versa).
• Marcus Buckingham’s quote: “The brain is Velcro for negative and Teflon for positive.”
• Encouragement to use mentors, friends, or "wingpeople" in social and professional settings to build confidence.

📌 Actionable Affirmation:

"You belong in every room you step into. Someone invited you there for a reason!"

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Dive into the world of leadership dynamics with Christine Courtney in our latest episode of "Stepping into your Leadership" as we explore the intricate maze of personality in the workplace. Join our esteemed guest, Erika Bayh, in an enlightening conversation on the power of the DISC assessment – a tool revolutionizing team synergy and communication.

In this episode, titled "DISC," we unravel the four personality quadrants: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C), and delve into how they shape our interactions and leadership styles. Christine and Erika offer in-depth insights into how recognizing and embracing diverse personality profiles can lead to a robust and dynamic team.

Embrace the transformation as we discuss the history of the DISC model, its evolution from Dr. William Moulton Marston's seminal work to the popular assessment by Wiley, and the significant benefits it brings to workplace productivity.

As we navigate through the quadrants, you'll learn not just about the value DISC brings in understanding your team, but also the importance of adapting your leadership approach to foster an inclusive, efficient, and thriving environment.

Discover the benefits of generating a personalized DISC report, fostering self-awareness, and how to leverage these insights to cultivate a harmonious and effective team. We'll also tackle common reservations about taking the assessment and the laughter that comes with recognizing oneself within these profiles.

Tune in to "Stepping into your Leadership" and learn how to navigate the intricacies of your team's personalities to step firmly into your leadership role. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just stepping up, this episode is a critical resource for anyone looking to excel in leadership through the power of understanding and adaptation.

Visit our website for more resources, and don't forget to share your DISC stories with us. Empower your leadership journey by mastering the art of personality dynamics today!

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In this episode of "Stepping into your Leadership," we're diving deep into something that's super important for every leader out there: trust. Christine Courtney sits down with leadership pro Greg Shamie, and together, they break down why trust is everything, whether you're dealing with colleagues, friends, or family.

Christine and Greg chat about the key ingredients of trust, how it shapes our lives, and its huge impact at work. They sprinkle in some wisdom from Stephen Covey and his insights on trust being the secret sauce of successful relationships. Plus, Greg gets real with us, sharing personal stories about trust—both the good and the bad.

The conversation hits on all sorts of gems, like why being open and honest can really help you bond with your team, and what to do when trust takes a hit. They talk about forgiveness, showing character and competence, and putting your values to work. It’s all about taking steps to build trust and keep it strong.

Here’s what you’ll get from this episode:

• The lowdown on why trust is so crucial in leadership
• Tips from Stephen Covey on making trust your superpower
• Greg’s formula for trust: competence + character = credibility
• Real-life stories that'll make you think about your own trust-building moments
• How being open, making mistakes, and showing you care can really pay off
• Practical advice on aligning your values with your team’s and why it’s a game changer
• Simple but effective ways to create a trustworthy vibe at work

Whether you're looking to up your game with your team or just want to be someone people can count on, this episode has you covered. So tune in, take some notes, and let's get real about trust.

Key Points:

• Trust in leadership and life
• Insights from Stephen Covey
• The trust equation: competence + character
• Personal trust stories from Greg
• The power of vulnerability and honesty
• Building trust at work and at home

Subscribe to "Stepping into your Leadership" and catch Trust-Building Techniques for Leaders: Creating Safe and Productive Environments—you won't want to miss it!

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Welcome to a new episode of "Stepping into your Leadership," where host Christine Courtney continues the conversation with returning guest Erika Bayh. Following up on their previous discussion about manifesting, they dive deep into practical and inspiring goal-setting tips to help you and your team kickstart the new year.

In this episode, discover actionable strategies such as:

• Starting Fresh:
• Erika suggests throwing away any rushed resolutions made on December 31st and starting with a blank slate at the end of January or early February.
• Daily and Monthly Goals:
• Break down your larger goals into daily and monthly activities for better manageability and progress tracking.
• Vision Boards:
• Create physical or digital vision boards to keep a visual reminder of your goals. Erika shares how she keeps parts of her vision board as her phone’s wallpaper for daily inspiration.
• Bingo Cards:
• Christine brings a creative twist with 2025 Bingo cards, which can include goals like family trips or writing a book. Consider implementing a "reverse bingo" to celebrate accomplishments as they happen.
• 1% Improvement:
• Inspired by James Clear's "Atomic Habits," aim for just 1% improvement at a time to make sustainable and impactful changes.
• 4000 Weeks:
• Erika recommends Oliver Berkman's book “4000 Weeks,” which emphasizes the importance of choosing wisely how to spend your limited time.

Whether you're looking for new ways to set personal goals or ways to motivate your team, this episode is packed with tips to help you manifest your most productive and fulfilling year yet.

Tune in, take notes, and let's step into our leadership together!

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Episode Description:

As we roll into the new year, it's time to focus on how we can turn our visions into reality and step into our leadership roles with intention and clarity. On this special New Year's episode, host Christine Courtney is joined by leadership expert Erika Bayh to dive deep into the art and practice of manifesting goals.

🔥 In This Episode, You Will Learn:

1. The Power of Manifestation: Erika and Christine elucidate the concept of manifesting, breaking down common misconceptions and highlighting its relevance in goal setting for both personal and professional life.
2. Visualization Techniques: Discover how top athletes use visualization to prepare for success and how you can apply these techniques to your own goals.
3. Combating Negative Thoughts: Learn practical strategies to counterbalance negative thoughts and stay focused on your manifestations even when doubt creeps in.
4. Incremental Goal Setting: Erika emphasizes the importance of setting small, achievable goals rather than making sweeping, unrealistic resolutions.
5. Strength-Based Focus: Understand why amplifying your strengths can be more effective than focusing solely on weaknesses and deficits.
6. Community and Accountability: Christine and Erika discuss the transformative power of having a support system and accountability buddy in your goal-setting process.
7. Year-End Reflection Exercise: Get introduced to Erika’s unique exercise of writing a letter to yourself, celebrating the achievements of the best year yet, to help map out actionable steps for the present year.

☑️ Takeaways and Tips:

• Stay Positive:
• Frame your goals around enhancing and expanding the best version of yourself rather than punishing or berating yourself for past shortcomings.
• Seek Support:
• Leverage the power of community for encouragement and accountability.
• Visualize Success:
• Create a mental image of your achievements to guide your actions and decisions.
• Reflect and Reframe:
• Use Erika’ letter-writing exercise to envision and work towards a successful year.

Join us and start your year with a mindset geared towards achieving and manifesting your highest potential! Press play, lean in, and let’s make this year one of abundant growth and leadership.

📢 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe for more enlightening episodes!

✨ Quotes to Inspire:

• "The art and practice of manifesting is to start to act as if those things are true." – Erika Bayh
• "What you look for, you find in life. So if you're looking for these things that you're visualizing, you will start to find them in your day-to-day life." – Christine Courtney

#ManifestingGoals #Leadership #Visualization #GoalSetting #PositiveThinking #TeamMotivation #NewYearNewYou

Don't miss out on next week's episode where Erica returns to share more practical tips for setting effective resolutions and achieving your goals. 🌟

Ready to manifest your goals? Tune in and subscribe today!

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Welcome back to "Stepping into your Leadership" with your host, Christine Courtney! In this insightful episode, Christine is joined by returning guests Tom Armstrong and Tatiana Dominguez, two seasoned managers, as they tackle a challenging case study sent in by a listener.

A team manager is grappling with a new team member, Sam, who struggles with self-direction and critical thinking, impacting team productivity. How can the manager foster independence and help Sam develop these essential skills?

Tatiana suggests exploring situational leadership to understand Sam's development phase—whether he's an enthusiastic beginner or a disillusioned learner. She also touches on the tough choice of potentially parting ways if progress isn’t forthcoming. Tom expands on this by emphasizing the importance of constructing a clear action plan or Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). He highlights the need for establishing clear deliverables, deadlines, and quality expectations to foster both accountability and growth.

Christine adds a critical point: before jumping into action plans, consider having a direct conversation with Sam about his hesitations and the importance of taking initiative. She advocates for creating a safe space for risk-taking and learning from mistakes as a part of the growth process.

As the conversation wraps up, the team reflects on the importance of gratitude in leadership. Listen in as they share heartfelt stories of mentors who shaped their early careers, revealing the power of kindness and candid feedback in developing future leaders.

Tips from this Episode:

1. Situational Leadership
2. : Identify and understand the developmental stage of your team members.
3. Clear Action Plans
4. : Create specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
5. Direct Communication
6. : Have open and honest conversations to address issues directly.
7. Safe Environment for Risk-Taking
8. : Encourage your team to make decisions and learn from their mistakes.
9. Gratitude and Mentorship
10. : Recognize the importance of gratitude and learn from positive leadership examples.

Join us for an engaging discussion that will equip you with practical strategies to elevate your leadership game and manage challenging team dynamics effectively.

Happy Holidays from the "Stepping into your Leadership" team!

Listen now on your favorite streaming platform!

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review if you enjoyed this episode. Your feedback helps us bring more insightful content your way!

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In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, Christine is joined by leadership experts Tom Armstrong and Tatiana Dominguez to tackle one of the most common challenges for managers: resistance to change.

From dealing with experienced team members who are set in their ways to fostering collaboration and innovation, this discussion is packed with actionable tips to help you lead effectively. Learn how to focus on behaviors rather than assumptions, acknowledge the value of institutional knowledge, and create buy-in through transparent communication and inclusive processes.

Plus, hear inspiring stories of leadership and trust that highlight the importance of empowering others to succeed. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating workplace change.

Key Takeaways Include:

• How to encourage openness to new ideas without undermining experience.
• The importance of stakeholder analysis and collaborative brainstorming.
• Strategies for setting realistic goals and fostering buy-in for change.

Don’t miss this engaging and practical conversation that will transform how you approach change management.

Interested in sharpening your leadership skills? Join our next cohort of the Leadership Learning Lab (L3) and gain access to tools and techniques that empower middle managers to lead confidently and effectively.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Emotional Intelligence as a Superpower
• Building Trust Through Relationships
• Navigating Difficult Conversations
• Delegation and Prioritization, and more!

👉 Sign Up Here: [Registration Link]

📅 Next Session Begins: Feb 5, 2025

Learn more about how L3 can help you transform your leadership style: [Info Link].

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🎙️Mastering Dynamic Presentations: Actionable Tips for Any Setting

This Thanksgiving, while you're gearing up to bring your best self to the table, we're bringing you a feast of actionable insights on delivering dynamic presentations! In this episode, Christine Courtney and Greg Shamie dive into the how of presenting with confidence, energy, and impact—whether it's for a big pitch, a team meeting, or even a family gathering.

💡 What you'll learn:

• How to hook your audience in the first 15 seconds
• Why storytelling is 22x more memorable than data alone
• The power of visual vitality to enhance your presentation
• Techniques to calm nerves and bring your best self forward

No matter your role or the size of your audience, these tips will transform your communication skills. Tune in for engaging stories, expert advice, and inspiration to make your next presentation unforgettable.

🎧 : Listen now and step into your leadership!

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