By Sales Keynote Speaker and Human Behavior Expert Connie Podesta When it comes to top salespeople, ego comes with the territory. That bullet-proof attitude of self-assured confidence is what allows them to step out of the crowd and into the spotlight. It gives them the charisma to persuade and influence. It fuels their drive to close the deal and be the best. It’s also what can stop them in their tracks. I’ll give you a personal example. Years ago, I was working to land a keynote speaking engagement with a blue-chip company that I REALLY wanted on my client list. I knew, without a Read More
Lead Like You Mean it!
The Psychology and Leadership Connection by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta I was recently interviewed by a member of the California Special Districts ahead of their CSDA’s Annual Conference in September. 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 an inability to Read More
Quit Listening to Employee Complaints
by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Here’s a question for you. What are three words that make managers want to run the other way? Open Door Policy. The original intent of an “Open Door Policy” was to create a communication mechanism to ensure that employees would feel free to honestly discuss key issues without fear of retribution or, even worse, losing their jobs. In other words, not only would a leader’s door be open but, hopefully, so would their mind. However, over time that concept has expanded and become an excuse for some employees to also feel free to complain. About Read More
Exposure vs Speaking Fees
The Flip Side of Asking People to Work for Free You get what you pay for. There. I said it. Too harsh? Some might think so. As for me, I not only know my worth, as a professional keynote speaker for more than 25 years – I teach others to know THEIR worth. That’s hard to do when you agree to work for free. Imagine asking any other professional to do their job for no pay. Your plumber, doctor, hairdresser, or car service department – think about asking them to do their job for free in the hopes that someone might witness them devaluing themselves and their work. Can you see how that Read More
Connie Podesta Headlines ATD International Conference & Exposition Alongside Obama and Marcus Buckingham
San Diego, CA: May 10, 2018: The ATD International Conference & Exposition boasted record attendance as headliners Barack Obama, Marcus Buckingham, and Closing Keynoter Connie Podesta delivered timely topics and cutting-edge strategies from the start of the 4-day conference to the closing session. The conference hosted more than 10,000 registrants who attended 300+ sessions, for more over 14 hours of education. Connie Podesta, MS, CPAE, CSP shared one of her most requested topics, Life Would Be Easy if it Weren’t for Other People, pulled from her acclaimed book of the same title. It Read More
Quit Avoiding Documentation
The Proof-Gathering Side of Leadership In courtrooms, decisions are made based on actual proof. Hard evidence. Indisputable facts. The same principle should apply to leaders who determine the next career steps for their employees. The key word there is “should.” Unfortunately, it often doesn’t happen that way. I know that firsthand from my years of experience in HR. Leaders would show up to my office with an urgent request to fire a trouble-making employee, and I was more than happy to assist with that process. But when I asked for a copy of the file that documented the poor Read More
Customer Service Problem? Maybe Not!
Quit Ignoring Unacceptable Behaviors and Attitudes by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Consider this scenario. When the report says customer satisfaction is way down, the manager wants to get to the bottom of it. The questions are fast and furious. Have the salespeople fallen down on the job? What’s the standard script for the customer service staff when calls come in? Are the clients becoming pickier because of the tough economy? Perhaps a competitor is starting to offer better products and features, so we are no longer measuring up. In the business world, there are Read More
Quit Leading Everyone the Same
Avoiding the Leadership “Golden Rule” Trap by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Even those who appear to be remarkably humble and self-aware can fall for this one. As children, most of us were taught “the golden rule”: we should treat others the way we want to be treated. Definitely, a great mantra for life. The world needs more kindness and consideration. No arguments there. But as leaders, this deeply ingrained belief could be inadvertently reducing our effectiveness. Think about that for a moment. If we treat all of our team members the way we want to be treated, we Read More
Quit Underestimating Workplace Dynamics
Friends and Leaders: The Challenges of Changing Roles By Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta When workplace roles change, so do relationships. Which can make for some very interesting—and perhaps awkward—situations. Consider the impact. Your best friend on the team gets promoted. Or you get promoted. In a single moment, there’s a clear shift. Instead of being grab-a-beer-after-work-to-complain-about-the-boss co-workers, now one of you IS the boss. Throwing a new sense of accountability into the mix quickly changes the dynamic. Here’s the issue. When the line between Read More
Quit Defining Leadership the Same Old Way
Describing Leaders: In Charge? Or Influential? by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta If you asked 20 people to describe the characteristics of a powerful leader today, you’d probably get 20 different answers. So how can we effectively and concisely describe the essence of a successful leader in our current business environment—with the backdrop of global competition, splintering markets, and whiplash-inducing advances in technology? One word: influence. While great leaders years ago were often seen as being in charge, great leaders today are considered Read More
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