In today's episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with

Margo Gouley, Director of Program Development, The Humphrey Group

Here are some moments from their conversation:

Reimagining what it means to inspire - 01:57

Humphrey group history -- speech-writing firm - 02:41

Speechwriting is a hard job - 04:11

Democratization of training -- leadership at every level - 04:58

Reasons for decline is speechwriting - 05:16

The Digital Transformation and the Death of Formality - 07:27

Is the 'speech' dead? - 07:54

What has come to the fore to replace formal communications? - 08:39

No Gatekeepers to communication anymore - 09:23

New voices -- and pressures for organizations - 10:16

How did Humphrey group change? - 10:48

Influence has changed and so has Humphrey - 11:38

Re-imagine what leadership and leadership communication - 14:35

What it means to inspire today? - 15:21

What do people expect of leaders? - 17:24

Engagement - 19:38

People expect to be engaged with a genuine purpose - 19:54

Moving from persuasion -> broader idea of influence - 21:43

Inspiration - 22:22

3 Streams at the Humphrey Group - 23:05

Describe the 3 Streams - 23:44

REFLECTION- 23:45

CONNECTION - 24:11

PERSUASION - 25:24

Final thought: What do you stand for? What inspires you? - 27:46

Last take away from episode -- you can build these skills - 28:46

Inspire Podcast Season 2 Episode 3

In today's episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks

with- Mary Legakis Engel - The Management Coach

How to adapt your style to inspire anyone

Here are some moments from their conversation:

What is a "Management-whisperer"? - (02:10)

Common management challenges - (02:57)

Time management and hitting skill limits - (03.:09)

Common communication challenges - (04:43)

Authenticity in management - (05:58)

"Situational management" - (07:28)

Relationship vs Task orientation- (08:53)

"Developer" Style manager -- values relationship over task - (09:06)

The "Benevolent Autocrat" - Style - (10:03)

The "Collaborator" style - (11:35)

"The Administrator" Style - (15:03)

Autocrats can create "Deserters" - (17:40)

Difference between personality type and behavioral models - (15:34)

How do you use situational management - (19:22)

How much is the manager responsible for choosing style? - (25:57)

Understanding your demands as a manager - (26:22)

Different types of work require different styles - 26:50)

Practicing adapting styles - (30:42)

Example of leader who had a hard time adapting styles - (31:17)

3 things to get started with situational management - (34:15)

Check out: www.e-suite.com

In today's episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks

with Tim Bezbatchenko - President and GM of Columbus Crew SC

Here are some moments from their conversation:

Tim's Footballer experience (3:23)

Tim's Law School experience (4:25)

Tenuous future of MLS league (4:53)

Vision for MLS (6:38)

The new vision for the MLS (7:16)

Transition from League Office to General Manager of TFC (9:37)

The risks of coming to Toronto as a GM (11:13)

How do you start building a vision? (12:20)

Collaborate on vision creation (13:20)

The first vision and its evolution (14:16)

What to do with those who don't buy in to vision (18:07)

Measure your day in the number of hard conversations you've had (21:27)

Bart and Tim talk about hard conversations for leaders (22:16)

Winning the Championship and how that affected the vision (23:16)

Creating a vision for Columbus Crew (25:03)

3 pieces of advice on creating vision (30:21)

1 - Write it down (30:57)

2. Grand enough that it can't be achieved in a short period of and broad enough (31:43)

3 Understand that change is inevitable (32:05)

The Inspire Podcast returns for Season 2! Thanks for everyone who listened and help make season 1 a success. We launch Season 2 today with Tony Fratto, Former Deputy White House Press Secretary.

Tony left the US Treasury level of Assistant Secretary of Treasury, then moved to the White House, where he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary. Today Tony is leading Hamilton Place Strategies, a communications consulting firm he founded.

Bart and Tony discuss:

Tony’s work (3:56)

Changes in media/government and how they communicate (7:52)

Changing news cycles ( 8:53)

No rhythm to the day anymore (10:35)

Current news cycles are unsustainable (13:35)

What regulators need to change (15:36)

A time of great uncertainty (17:46)

Don't forget tried and true methods of communication (18.03)

New targeting channels can be very effective (24.31)

Problems with social media and twitter (27:27)

How to combat misinformation during elections (29:33)

Link to Hamilton Place Strategies: https://www.hamiltonplacestrategies.com/

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyFratto

Learn about The Humphrey Group at www.thehumphreygroup.com

Follow Bart on Twitter @THG_Bart

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Alizabeth Calder, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer at HomeEquity Bank. They talk about how to communicate with confidence at the Board and Executive level.

Alizabeth is a senior technology strategist, published business author, certified corporate director (ICD.D), and recognized speaker. She delivers governance and leadership at the Board, CEO and CIO level, including in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), cybersecurity, and crisis management.

Here are some moments from their conversation:

Alizabeth's book: Duty of Care. (3:22)

Make technology a management conversation. (6:32)

Mindset of the C-suite. (8:10)

Find a "loving critic" and board level articles. (10:20)

Steps to prepare for presentations. (11:26)

Gauge the room. (13:00)

"Nose in, fingers out." (15:15)

The boardroom experience. (17:53)

Get people looking at you. (21:41)

Redirecting tangential questions. (22:49)

Wrapping up. (24:00)

Elevator chat with senior executive. (26:01)

Listen now to hear more!

Learn more about Alizabeth Calder:

http://alizabethcalder.com/

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This week on the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Maggie Huculak, Consultant at The Humphrey Group. They talk about presence and how to connect with your audience and achieve a leadership presence.

Maggie is a seasoned executive coach, providing one-on-one training, seminars, and workshops for leaders at all levels in many industries in Canada and internationally. She is also a professional actor, and has been acting for 35 years.

Here are some moments from their conversation and *exercises you can try to achieve a strong presence:

What is presence. (3:05)

Presence and authenticity. (4:40)

When nervous, make connection. (7:38)

*Power, intelligence, and compassion - chair exercise. (8:51)

*Grounding exercise. (12:13)

Grounding stabilizes you and others. (17:45)

Gestures and hand use. (19:43)

Eye contact - keep the connection. (23:00)

Expression. (25:39)

Be present, be vulnerable, make connection. (27:14)

Listen now to hear more!

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New episode on the Inspire Podcast! Bart Egnal speaks with Kate Lynch, Consultant at The Humphrey Group and a voice professional, actor, director, and playwright. They talk about how to unlock your voice, free your breath, and project your ideas with confidence and authenticity.

Kate specializes in strengthening her clients’ vocal and physical presence. Kate has taught voice at the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, the University of Toronto Drama Program, George Brown College, and the National Theatre School.

Here are some moments from their conversation and *exercises you can try to free your voice:

Voice work. (3:51)

Allow underlying emotion. (6:00)

Vocal impediments. (7:20)

Where to begin with voice work. (10:06)

Voice apps. (12:31)

Alignment and posture. (13:58)

*Alignment and balance exercise. (16:30)

*Shoulder and neck tension. (21:07)

How much we reveal about ourselves through voice. (23:09)

*Jaw exercise. (24:17)

Three quick fixes to help with voice. (25:00)

*Pitch exercise. (29:13)

Find your authentic voice; unlock your vocal instrument. (31:22)

Listen now to hear more:

Check out one of many voice Apps:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.voiceoneapps.activateyourvoice

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Today on the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with John Ewing, Co-President & Chief Investment Officer at Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners Ltd, a boutique investment firm. They talk about what it takes to prepare for and successfully conduct interviews.

John co-founded Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners in June 2011. John is responsible for portfolio management and investment research and contributes to client relationships and operations.

Here are some moments from their conversation:

About Ewing Morris & Co. (2:25)

Conducting management interviews. (3:24)

Why interview. (4:50)

Get off the script to understand thought processes. (5:45)

Preparing to conduct interviews. (8:53)

Asking tough questions. (10:25)

Allow adjusting the order of questions. (15:22)

Force choices to learn more - Hanger company example. (16:10)

How to tell when candidates 'package' the truth. (19:00)

Allow silence after asking a question. (21:45)

Avoid compound questions. (24:16)

Listen now to hear more!

Learn more about Ewing Morris & Co.:

https://www.ewingmorris.com/

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In today's episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Dan Dumsha, Consultant at The Humphrey Group. They talk about improv as not just a theatrical technique, but a skill for every leader to practice to be inspirational.

Dan works closely with leaders at all levels, delivering coaching and group courses. He draws on his background as an improv specialist and acting performer to help clients deliver a strong presence, and make a positive change in their communication. Dan teaches improv at the Vancouver TheaterSports League.

Here are some moments from their conversation:

What is improv? (3:06)

Authenticity and engagement. (5:05)

Why leaders need improv. (7:39)

Presentations are conversations. (9:38)

Gauging your audience. (12:28)

Vancouver TheaterSports League courses. (14:35)

Acknowledging another's idea. (16:57)

Yes-and exercise. (18:30)

Co-creating. (23:54)

When conversations don't go as expected. (25:06)

What to avoid - Yes-but exercise. (25:47)

Organized thinking - Instant Expert exercise. (30:53)

Reacting to what you hear. (37:16)

Listen now to hear more!

Learn more about Dan Dumsha and the Vancouver TheaterSports League:

https://www.vtsl.com/people/dan-dumsha/

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Today on the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Paul Carroll, Head of Operational and Process Improvements, Global Wholesale Operations at Scotiabank and Managing Partner at Pathfinder Leadership Associates. They talk about how vulnerability is key to inspiring as a leader and building trust and rapport with others.

Paul previously spent 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He commanded squadrons and retired with the rank of Major. He brings this experience to his work at Pathfinder Leadership Associates, providing experiential training to the corporate world.

Here are some moments from their conversation:

Defining vulnerability. (4:04)

Building trust. (5:58)

Being vulnerable builds trust - military training story. (6:58)

Collective model of leadership - Blackwater Retreat story. (8:49)

Moving into role at bank. (12:36)

Openness to different perspectives. (14:40)

How to be relatable: test and adjust. (16:58)

Lead by example: show that vulnerability is good. (20:40)

Open up different channels of communication. (21:30)

Create comfortable spaces to express ideas. (23:41)

Recognize flaws and work collectively. (25:03)

Listen now to hear more!

Learn more about Pathfinder Leadership Associates:

http://www.pathfinderleadership.ca/

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