If you're like most first-time managers, you've probably got a voice in your head that's holding you back. It's the voice that tells you that you're not good enough, that you can't do it, or that someone else could do it better. 

In this episode, I interview Marla Konrad about what this voice is and how you can silence it to become the leader you know you can be.  

In this episode, we talk about:  

About Marla Konrad

As an executive coach, trainer and consultant, Marla draws on many years of experience as an executive, and combines this with powerful communications and coaching skills to support the development of leaders at all levels. Prior to launching her own practice, Marla was Vice President of Executive Affairs at World Vision Canada, and held senior roles in Strategy, Communications, and Public Relations with the company over several years. She’s certified to coach and train with the EQ-i Emotional Intelligence tool and with the Integrative Enneagram.  Also, she is a faculty member at York University’s Schulich School of Business where she teaches in the Executive Education program. 

Resources Mentioned in this episode:  

If you're a first-time manager, chances are good that you'll have to deal with grief in the workplace at some point. It might be the death of a family member, the loss of a contract, or a company reorg. It can be difficult to know how to handle the situation, especially if you've never been through something like it before. In this podcast, grief recovery expert Jinnie Lee Schmid reflects on her leadership journey and shares some tips for dealing with grief in the workplace for you and your team.

Please keep in mind that every situation is unique, so these tips may not be applicable in every case. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or the HR department.

In this episode, we talk about leadership:

We also talk about grief:

About Jinnie Lee Schmid: Jinnie is an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist and a Certified Grief & End Of Life Coach. She has experienced about as much change, loss, and grief as anyone can imagine, and has perfected "Academy Award Recovery" at an early age to power her way through a long, successful career as a corporate consultant and entrepreneur. She loves working with women executives and entrepreneurs who have too much at stake to stay stuck and are ready to complete their past, release their grief and reclaim their freedom to thrive.

Resources mentioned: Find more about Jinnie and download your Freedom to Thrive workbook at https://changenavigatorsllc.com. Find more about Chris at https://www.chrisasper.com

Giving feedback can be tough, but it's an important skill to have as a first-time manager. In this interview with Elise Gelwicks, we talk about how to give difficult feedback in a way that doesn't hurt the other person's feelings and makes them more likely to listen.  We also discuss how to build a network of mentors to help when making important decisions.

In this episode, we cover:  Why mentors are important when making decisions: 7:01 || How to find a mentor for yourself: 8:27 || How to build your network from scratch: 10:19 || The one thing you need to do right now to build your network: 13:41 || The #1 conversation managers avoid: 15:00 || Why managers avoid giving difficult feedback: 15:58 || How to give difficult feedback:  17:18

We also discuss:  How to know if you are an entrepreneur: 4:27 || How to maintain your professional network: 22:46

About Elise: Elise has specialized in teaching communication and networking skills for over a decade. She founded her first company while in college to help students secure internships through networking. After working at Kimberly-Clark and in management consulting, she founded Eleview Consulting. Her firm specializes in leading interactive professional development programs on the essential interpersonal and leadership skills.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  Eleview Consulting & the Emerging Communication Trends Report:  www.eleviewconsulting.com | More about Chris Asper:  www.chrisasper.com

If you had 30(ish) minutes with a leader in the C-suite of a 500-person international organization, what would you ask them? In this episode, I interview the Chief Operating Officer of World Vision Canada, Sumair Mirza, about the mistakes he made as a first-time manager, lessons learned, and the advice he’d give himself if he was starting over.  We also discuss what it was like to be a leader in the C-suite at age 34, not being taken seriously because of his race, and how he balances his Christian faith with being a leader in the workplace.

In this episode, we talk about:  What does World Vision Canada do: 1:52 || Some mistakes first-time managers make: 3:29 || Why first-time managers make those mistakes: 6:07 || If you aspire to become a leader in the C-suite, start here: 7:04 || The #1 job of a leader is to…: 8:46 || How to be taken seriously when you look young: 11:30 || If you aren’t being taken seriously because of your race, listen to this: 16:52 || How his faith helped his career: 20:30 || Staying humble when you’re in a position of power: 24:00 || Balancing religious beliefs with being a leader in the workplace: 24:55 || If he could go back in time, this is what he’d tell himself:  27:25 || Wise advice:  29:05

About Sumair Mirza: Sumair oversees operations and execution at World Vision Canada and has more than a decade of leadership experience in marketing, consulting and product development. Previously, Sumair worked with GE Capital, Element Financial, and founded a digital agency – Convergent Labs. He honed his business acumen by attending executive courses at acclaimed institutions such as GE Crotonville Management Institute and the Harvard Business School. He is actively involved in his community through local volunteer work and through the Toronto Swatow Baptist Church, where he has been a Sunday School teacher, chair of the church board, and chair of the Christian education committee and is passionate about Christian apologetics.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  World Vision Canada:  www.worldvision.ca || World Vision USA:  www.worldvision.org || World Vision International:  www.wvi.org || More about Chris Asper:  www.chrisasper.com

It's easy to feel like you're constantly on the go and not taking any time for yourself. But what if I told you that it's possible to get ahead at work, enjoy your free time, AND take care of your wellbeing?  In this episode, I interview Dr. Kate Steiner about how first-time managers can prevent burnout and recover from it – both for themselves and their teams.

In this episode, we talk about:  Dr. Kate’s personal experience with burnout: 1:16 || A sign you might be burning out: 3:42 || What exactly is burnout: 4:35 || How to prevent burnout: 6:18 || How and why first-time managers burnout: 6:53 || How to recognize your own burnout: 9:28 || Bad advice when it comes to dealing with burnout: 10:59 || If you are burned out, do this right now: 12:56 || Why first-time managers need to care about burnout and their team: 13:57 || How to prevent burning out your team: 15:23 || If your team is burned out, do this right now: 21:08

About Dr. Kate Steiner: Dr. Kate is a Burnout Recovery expert, coach, speaker, and founder of LIFT Wellness Consulting. She supports professionals overcome the burden of burnout through a guided reflection process. Holding a Master of Counseling and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, her practice is grounded in the research-based Steiner Self-Reflective Sustainability and Wellness (SSRSW) model, published in the Oracle Research Journal. She has been a researcher in wellness and burnout for over 15 years and has appeared as a guest on NBC, Fox, ABC, and The List.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  LIFT Wellness Consulting & The Feeling Crispy Quiz:  www.liftwellnessconsulting.com  ||  Dr. Kate’s Instagram:  @drkatesteiner || Dr. Kate’s podcast:  From Burnout to Recovery Show with Dr. Kate || More about Chris Asper:  www.chrisasper.com

Chris Asper (leadership coach) interviews seasoned professionals who share their hard-earned wisdom, and expert guests to cover topics such as difficult conversations, delegation, and avoiding burnout. Whether you're a new manager or looking to take your leadership to the next level, this podcast has something for you!