If your team is “too busy” to grow, connect, or innovate, it might be because you are. True leadership starts with modeling balance, not burnout. 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. On payroll or volunteering. Whether you chose leadership or had it thrust upon you. Even if you think you’re just a “follower” who avoids the spotlight—you can’t escape the truth: you influence people every single day. That influence is a huge responsibility. Every choice you make sends a ripple. Your tone. Your decisions. Your reactions. Even your silence. All of it shapes the people around you. And here’s the kicker: people are Read More
Leadership…How to be the Person Others Want to Follow!
Leadership…How to be the Person Others Want to Follow!
True leadership isn’t managing—it’s empowering. Be the person others choose to follow by setting the bar high and inspiring ownership. Read More
It’s Time to Take HAPPINESS Seriously
It’s Time to Take HAPPINESS Seriously
The secret to stronger teams, better focus, and clearer leadership? It starts with taking happiness seriously—especially now. Read More
Reposition Your Strengths (And Get To Know YOURSELF)
Reposition Your Strengths (And Get To Know YOURSELF)
Reposition your strengths, rediscover your purpose, and lead with clarity—because what got you here won’t get you where you’re meant to go. Read More
The Number One Mistake Leaders Make? The Answer Might Surprise You
The Number One Mistake Leaders Make? The Answer Might Surprise You
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
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