Stepping Into your Leadership

Christine welcomes leadership coach Blonka Winkfield back to her show for this powerful episode which explores imposter syndrome under its preferred name of “imposter feelings.” The discussion investigates the widespread occurrence of self-doubt among successful leaders by examining both the source of these feelings and the social systems that create them.

Blonka explains the origin of imposter syndrome through its historical development as the "imposter phenomenon" while explaining why changing its name brings benefits. Christine reveals a childhood memory which continues to influence her financial communication approach and she and Blonka present direct strategies for managing their inner critics as well as those of their clients.

This conversation addresses everyone who feels out of place in their role whether they recently gained promotion or lead a new team or enter situations where they feel like outsiders.

Listen in to learn:

• The act of identifying your imposter feelings will instantaneously decrease their ability to control you.
•  The process of transforming your internal speech leads to actual changes in brain chemistry.
• The connection between imposter syndrome exists with social systems which include racism ageism and sexism.
• A step-by-step approach to convert discouraging self-talk into motivational statements of empowerment.
• The scientific evidence shows that positivity functions as a strategic approach rather than meaningless flattery.
• Small achievements deserve more recognition than people typically understand.

💬 The discussion includes authentic dialogue together with humorous parts and a message that perfection should be avoided.

The upcoming 100th episode is near while listeners who enjoy this episode should check out our previous Blonka episodes.

https://growlead.business/m/Blonka

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What’s it like to manage—or be—the loudest voice in the room?

In this episode, Christine sits down with Greg Shamie to explore the expressive social style: the high-energy, idea-sparking, people-centered leaders who light up meetings, connect quickly, and often get mislabeled as “too much.”

Together, they unpack the strengths and growing edges of expressives, how they show up in teams, and why structure and preparation are just as important as spontaneity.

Whether you’re an expressive leader yourself or managing one on your team, this episode will help you understand what drives them, what drains them, and how to bring out their best—without dimming their light.

• The expressive style explained: strengths, instincts, and energy
• How expressives impact team dynamics (for better or worse)
• Why expressives need structure to thrive—and may not ask for it
• Coaching an expressive through growth moments, setbacks, and burnout
• Using the Situational Leadership model to support expressive team members at every stage
• The power of recognition, preparation, and authentic connection

“Expressives don’t need to be toned down. They need to be supported and seen—so they can shine and bring everyone with them.”

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During this episode, we will be focusing on the power of curiosity and the art of asking questions as a means to better understand and serve others as leaders. We'll explore how asking questions can reveal and resolve issues, and how it can lead to more effective performance and better results. In fact, did you know that Google conducted a study that found managers who asked more than eight questions were not only more effective, but also achieved better outcomes?

Our guest today is committed to sharing stories of vulnerability, mistakes, and learning. They attended a conference where they realized the importance of supporting women, who often hesitate to share their achievements. Inspired by this, our guest made it their goal to change this pattern by sharing stories of their own vulnerabilities and mistakes, leading to positive reactions from their team and staff.

We'll also discuss the alarming statistic that only 30% of employees feel that their opinions matter at work, while a staggering 70% feel that their opinions do not. That's why curiosity and asking questions are such powerful tools for leaders. They engage the brain, foster learning, and create an environment where everyone's voice is valued.

So get ready to explore the depths of psychological safety and unlock the potential of curiosity and questions in your leadership journey. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and download the PDF of the tips discussed in this episode. Thank you for joining us, and let's welcome our guest, Greg Shamie, to the show.

Check out : https://www.tlpnyc.com/podcast/psychological-safety for a download of the powerpoint.

[00:00:03] Psychological safety: podcast delves into creating it.

[00:04:34] The importance of psychological safety in organizations, specifically how effective leaders create it, is explored. One tip is to start meetings with a check-in to gauge the mood and acknowledge the individual experiences of team members. Another strategy is to have participants rate their personal and professional well-being on a scale of zero to ten.

[00:09:03] Start meetings on time, save time.

[00:11:05] Share vulnerable stories to build better relationships.

[00:16:34] Only 30% think opinions matter at work.

[00:19:18] Encourage risk-taking by destigmatizing failure - tips.

[00:21:31] Promoting learning through intelligent failures for success.

[00:27:40] Invest in leadership development and emotional intelligence.

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Psychological safety is the secret ingredient of the most successful teams. It’s what allows people to speak up, take risks, challenge ideas, and truly contribute—without fear of judgment or punishment.

In this episode, Greg Shamie and I dive deep into what psychological safety is, why it’s essential for workplace success, and how it impacts performance, trust, and innovation. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a culture where your team thrives, this episode is for you.

🚀 What you’ll learn:

✔️ The four stages of psychological safety (Timothy Clark’s model)

✔️ How Google’s Project Aristotle proved its impact on team performance

✔️ The hidden ways fear-based leadership holds teams back

✔️ A personal story of when I (unintentionally) shut down psychological safety—and what I learned from it

🎧 Listen now and check out our new infographic to see six practical ways to foster psychological safety in your workplace!

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In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney sits down with Amanda Meeson, Executive Director of the Sterling Community Center, to dive deep into the art of communication in leadership. Amanda, a dynamic leader who has transformed organizations through strategic growth and innovation, shares powerful insights on how leaders can build trust, ensure clarity, and navigate difficult conversations with confidence.

Together, Christine and Amanda explore:

✅ The role of authenticity in leadership and why you can’t fake it

✅ How building trust starts with clear, consistent communication

✅ The power of feedback—giving it, receiving it, and creating a culture where it thrives

✅ Practical strategies to handle tough conversations while maintaining strong relationships

✅ How great leaders adapt communication styles to their teams for maximum impact

With engaging stories, practical takeaways, and real-world leadership lessons, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their communication skills—whether you’re leading a team, managing up, or simply wanting to foster better relationships at work.

🎧 Tune in now and step into your leadership with confidence!

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In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney and producer Tatiana Dominguez take a deep dive into Situational Leadership—one of the most powerful leadership models for managers and rising leaders.

Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. The Situational Leadership Model helps leaders adapt their style based on their team's competence and commitment levels. But how do you actually put it into practice?

💡 In this episode, we discuss:

✅ How to assess where your employees are in the leadership model

✅ Why coaching (not just directing) is essential for success

✅ The biggest mistakes leaders make—like delegating too soon or micromanaging

✅ How check-ins & trust-building prevent leadership breakdowns

✅ A real-world framework for applying adaptive leadership styles

This episode is packed with practical techniques that will help you build stronger, more effective teams—whether you're leading one person or an entire organization.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

🎙️ Missed Part 1? [Listen Here]

📌 Explore the Leadership Learning Lab – An 8-week online bootcamp for managers & rising leaders! [Join the next cohort]

🔎 Related Episode: Building Trust as a Leader

👉 Did this episode help you?

Share your takeaways on LinkedIn or Instagram and tag us! #SituationalLeadership #SteppingIntoYourLeadership

📢 Subscribe & Leave a Review!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate and review the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

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In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney brings back an old friend and former colleague, Ray Vicencio, to dive deep into the analytical personality type in the workplace. As a former CFO and controller, Ray embodies the traits of an analytical thinker—detail-oriented, logical, and driven by accuracy.

Together, they discuss how analytical individuals approach work, their biggest pet peeves, and how to effectively communicate and collaborate with them. Christine and Ray explore strategies for managing deadlines, giving constructive feedback, and helping analytical team members make decisions with confidence. Plus, they share tips for analytical thinkers on how to work effectively with more spontaneous or expressive colleagues.

If you've ever struggled to understand the meticulous, data-driven mind of an analytical coworker—or if you are that person—this episode is packed with insights to help you build stronger, more productive relationships in the workplace.

Tune in for practical advice, real-life workplace stories, and a few laughs along the way!

🎧 Listen now and learn how to work better with the analytical minds around you!

Understanding different personality assessments can help leaders and teams communicate and collaborate more effectively. Here are some key ones we mentioned:

• DISC Personality Test – A widely used tool that categorizes personalities into four types: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). Analytical personalities align with the "C" (Conscientious) type.
• Social Styles Model – A behavioral model categorizing individuals into four types: Analytical, Driver, Amiable, and Expressive. Ray represents the Analytical type.
• The Achiever Personality Quotient (APQ) – A tool used in hiring and leadership development to assess personality traits and work habits.
• Working Genius Assessment – Created by Patrick Lencioni, this model helps teams identify their natural strengths in the workplace.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to dive deeper into leadership and team dynamics, subscribe to Stepping Into Your Leadership and follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram for more insights!

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AI is changing the game in business, and it’s happening fast! In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney sits down with Vince W., founder of Econify, to discuss how AI is transforming workflows, productivity, and business strategy.

Vince shares his experiences leading groundbreaking projects—from helping develop Wi-Fi at Apple to working with top media companies like NBC and Bloomberg. He breaks down how AI tools are already reshaping industries and how business leaders can leverage AI effectively rather than fear it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ AI-Powered Productivity Hacks – Tools like ChatGPT Tasks, Otter.AI, and Summate that help streamline work

✅ AI in Business Operations – Using Notebook LLM (Google) to create interactive employee handbooks and match talent to projects

✅ The Future of AI in Organizations – How to go beyond just “sprinkling AI” and strategically integrate it into workflows

✅ Leadership Lessons from Apple & Beyond – Why choosing the right boss over job can define your career

🚀 Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to stay ahead in an AI-driven world.

📌 All resources mentioned in this episode are listed in the show notes below.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

• ChatGPT Tasks – Set up recurring AI-generated insights, reminders, or industry news updates
• Summate.io– AI-powered tool that summarizes newsletters & YouTube transcripts
• Otter.AI – Real-time transcription and meeting summary tool
• Firefly – AI-powered meeting assistant for automatic notes & action items

• Notebook LLM (Google) – Upload internal documents (like employee handbooks) for instant AI-powered responses
• Vercel V0 – AI-assisted website builder that allows you to generate custom sites with simple prompts

• Wi-Fi Development at Apple – Learn more about 802.11b Wi-Fi standard, which Vince helped develop
• Econify – Check out Econify, the software development firm founded by Vince Waduwani
• Leadership Insight: “Don’t pick your job, pick your boss.”

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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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