The #1 mistake leaders make? Ignoring bad behavior. Silence sends the wrong message—and reinforces the very actions you want to stop. Read More
Happiness Is Job Security
Happiness Is Job Security
Let’s talk about work for a minute. Most people don’t often rank HAPPINESS as a major component of success in the workplace. How many times do people put “I’m so happy” on their list of résumé skills and traits? I've never seen it even once. Is your “happiness level” ranked on the yearly evaluation sheet that determines whether you get a raise or promotion? Are you attending training workshops on “Raising the Bar for Happiness” or “Exceeding Happiness Expectations”? Does your company have a five-year strategic plan for increasing happiness ratios? Probably not. But let me tell you: Read More
Just Me and the Audience
Just Me and the Audience
Why I Don’t Use Slides or PowerPoint By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta I’m often asked why I don’t use slides in my keynote presentations. (Most people just hug me when they find out I'm PowerPoint free!). Here’s my thought: It’s not about the slides. I don’t have a personal grudge against PowerPoint or anything – or even those who use it. It’s just not ME. If you’ve ever seen me speak – or know me personally, one thing will come across probably in the first three minutes: I engage immediately with my audiences. I’m direct. And I absolutely LOVE playing off my Read More
Like It or Not: You ARE a Leader
Like It or Not: You ARE a Leader
Leadership Perceptions De-Bunked By Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Bottom line? YOU ARE A LEADER. All the time. Whether you’re at work or at home. Employed or stay at home parent. Paid job or volunteer. Willing or unwilling. Honestly? It doesn’t make any difference what you do or choose not do. Even if you THINK you are a follower and always avoid center stage, you can’t escape the fact that you are ALWAYS in the position to influence other people’s thoughts, actions and attitudes. That’s quite a responsibility. We influence others all the time. By what we say and Read More
How to Unlock the Potential Within Your Leadership Team
How to Unlock the Potential Within Your Leadership Team
Innovative Insights from Motivational Speaker Connie Podesta By Julie Escobar, Syndicated Columnist In a time when many organizations are working hard to grow their business, customer base, sales and profitability, savvy leaders are turning to industry experts for advice, motivation and real-world strategies for powerful change. I asked just such an industry expert -- Motivational Speaker and leadership expert Connie Podesta for her take on what’s working (and what’s not) for corporations and organizations today. Julie: Connie – what I love about you is that you’ve seen it ALL! As Read More
How to Survive a Crisis
How to Survive a Crisis
Fighting for Happiness in the Midst of Tragedy By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Whoa! Life is moving along just fine, thank you very much—when out of the blue, it hits us—a crisis! For me it was a recent house fire which destroyed 90% of everything material that I owned, loved and cared for. A crisis is something so far from what we wanted or expected that it totally knocks the breath out of us. “It’s like a dream,” we say. “I’m going to wake up and discover this never ever happened at all.” But unfortunately we don’t wake up. There it is, a looming force to be reckoned Read More
It’s Time to Take HAPPINESS Seriously
It’s Time to Take HAPPINESS Seriously
Let me say it straight out. There was a time when I would have never thought in a million years that I would be writing a book on HAPPINESS. Not that I wasn't a happy person. I was (most of the time). And not that I didn't believe HAPPINESS was a cool thing to have. I did. I loved it when it was in my life, missed it when it was wasn't, and did whatever I could to keep it around. But, truth is? I didn't take it SERIOUSLY. When asked to give traits that described someone powerful or highly successful, honestly, HAPPINESS would never have come to the top of my list. I just didn't view Read More
Reposition Your Strengths (And Get To Know YOURSELF)
Reposition Your Strengths (And Get To Know YOURSELF)
By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Sometimes as a keynote speaker, I receive emails from people who have been in my audience saying “I heard everything you said Connie, but you just don’t understand. I’m not like you. You have it made. But I am stressed. And worried about my job. And don’t have the talent or skills you do.” And I laugh, thinking – oh, if ONLY you had seen me yesterday sitting in my robe worried, stressed and overwhelmed by the day’s work ahead of me. I realize, that because I’m on a stage, I may seem invincible. Or full of humor. Or have all the answers. Read More
Change is in Your DNA (Quit Worrying…You Can Do This!)
Change is in Your DNA (Quit Worrying…You Can Do This!)
You know the old saying, “We can’t live with it and we can’t live without it?” Well that certainly applies to change. None of us can quite get our heads wrapped around how we feel about change. Sometimes it’s AWESOME. New places to visit. Exciting new job. Intriguing options. Plateaus to overcome. Limitations to conquer. End of boredom. Beginning of excitement. But then there’s the other side to change. You know – that gut feeling that tells us we are in over our heads. Brain freeze. Anxiety. Anger. Attitude that says “what was wrong with the way we used to do it?” Unknowns. Loss. Read More
Fun: It’s Secret to Success!
Fun: It’s Secret to Success!
Forget What Anyone Tells You to the Contrary! by Connie Podesta Listen, there's all kinds of people in the world. Those who will lift you up and those who drag you down. And some who are quick to tell you that getting ahead, succeeding, doing a great job at work all has to be an effort in drudgery, dullness and nose to the grindstone. Truth is? Some of the most successful people on the planet LOVE what they do every day. They have FUN with it. And even the parts of work that are well -- WORK. They make it fun. They find a way to enjoy the day. I get it - don't get me wrong. Read More