The Psychology and Leadership Connection by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta I was interviewed by a member of the California Special Districts ahead of their CSDA’s Annual Conference. The topic was leadership -- and the message (for the article and the keynote) is how leaders can use the power of psychology to help them drive bottom-line results for their teams. Psychology = profits and productivity. I shared, that for most people, their JOB isn't actually the thing that holds a team member back. It's the PEOPLE that they work with and their inability to communicate, understand, Read More
FIGHT for Your RIGHT to be HAPPY
FIGHT for Your RIGHT to be HAPPY
For All Who Need It By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta When I wrote my book Redefining Happiness, I did so with so many people in mind. My clients. Audience members. Online followers. Friends. Family. Colleagues. I wrote it because I think in our sometimes crazy world we tend to put a lot of things on the top of our to-do lists and somehow happiness, joy, and celebration seemingly creep to the bottom more often than not. We get busy. Overwhelmed. Worked and worked some more. And here’s the crazy part – you won’t believe how many people feel GUILTY about being happy. About Read More
Life (and Learning) are Better When You’re Laughing
Life (and Learning) are Better When You’re Laughing
Why I Use Humor to Help Connect Audiences With Ideas By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Anyone who’s ever been in one of my audiences or heard me keynote an event knows that I’m kind of a no-nonsense kind of speaker. I cut to the chase. I leave the ‘rah-rah’ stuff to someone else. In today’s world, people need serious strategies, solutions they can count on, skills that are scalable – and humor. Lots of humor. Why? Because we learn better when we relax a little. We listen in when we’re not completely bombarded with some of the overwhelming tasks before us. We engage more with Read More
Solving the People Puzzle
Solving the People Puzzle
Understanding What Makes People Tick is the #1 Key to Success by Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta So here's what I hear all the time on the phone from potential clients, "To be honest Connie, I don't get it! Why does my audience need an expert in psychology? We're going through a lot of (Fill in the topic blank: Stress. Change. Upheaval. Downsizing. New leadership. Etc. etc.) We need a speaker who can increase our: (Fill in the blank: Sales. Profits. Market Share. Productivity. Leadership. Etc. etc.) Just how can psychology help all that?" My response? "I don't get it Read More
Rah Rah Or REAL Results?
Rah Rah Or REAL Results?
What's Changing for Event Planners and Audiences? by Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta When people ask me if I am a Motivational Speaker I always answer that I definitely motivate audiences to stand up and be accountable. Be proactive. Deal with change. Increase their sales. Rev up performance. Attract more customers. Lead with integrity. Collaborate more. And be a role model. But I am NOT a “rah-rah, dream your dream, you can have whatever you want with the right attitude” kind of speaker. Why? One is because that type of motivation is not long-lasting. It's a quick fix in a world Read More
The Top 10 Things Great Leaders QUIT
The Top 10 Things Great Leaders QUIT
To Avoid Feeling "Lonely at the Top"! Read More
Success Lies in How We ‘Act’ or ‘React’
Success Lies in How We ‘Act’ or ‘React’
By Connie Podesta, Hall of Fame Speaker, CPAE, CSP Success is NOT the result of good timing, karma, coincidence, fate, or good luck. Those are the labels used by people who REACT to what the world sends their way The true key to success is to ACT: Cease excuses. Be accountable. Take responsibility. Stand out. Read More
Get Your Team Out of the Funk!
Get Your Team Out of the Funk!
Wondering how to infuse your team with a little humor and insights that can help break the tension and turn up morale and productivity? I've got you! Read More
Adaptability: The Sales Superpower You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Adaptability: The Sales Superpower You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Say goodbye to the days of one-trick-pony sales tactics and hello to the golden age of adaptability—the superpower every sales pro needs up their sleeve. Read More
HAPPINESS is FLAWSOME!
HAPPINESS is FLAWSOME!
Learning to Celebrate Your Imperfections by Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Perfection? Overrated. Unreachable. Exhausting. Impossible. Obsessive. Look, I’m not saying don’t stop reaching for more. Far from it. But no one—NO ONE—is perfect. Happiness is getting to that point in your life where you can say, “I don’t have to have it all, do it all, be the best,” and being all right with that. You know, there’s a very real difference between getting it perfect and giving it all you have. Happiness is about realizing that mistakes are part of life’s crazy plan so we can learn Read More