Speaking to Influence – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Angelo J Valletta, CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, about leadership communication and taking risks. They discuss the importance of concise communication, the challenges of being an expert in a specific field, and the need for empathy and servant leadership.

Angelo shares a personal story about dealing with a toxic team member and the lessons he learned from that experience. He also talks about taking a big risk in his career and how he communicated that decision to key stakeholders.

In this conversation, Angelo J. Valletta discusses the risks he took in his career and the importance of understanding the core drivers of revenue in an organization. He shares his experience in advocating for mobile banking and the challenges of persuading others to invest in new technology. Angelo also emphasizes the value of empathy in communication and the importance of storytelling to effectively convey messages.

He challenges listeners to practice empathy and find ways to help others within their organizations. Angelo also shares his journey of developing concise storytelling skills and the impact of having mentors in his career.

In this episode you will learn:

• Master your subject to communicate complex ideas simply and concisely.
• Listen more than you speak to engage your audience effectively.
• Empathy and servant leadership are crucial for building a cohesive and successful team.
• Dealing with toxic team members requires addressing the issue directly and setting clear boundaries.
• Taking risks in your career can lead to growth and new opportunities, but it's important to communicate your decisions to key stakeholders.
• Understanding the core drivers of revenue in an organization is crucial for success.
• Advocating for new technology and innovation may require persuading others to invest in the future rather than focusing solely on immediate revenue.
• Empathy is a powerful communication skill that can help build relationships and drive success.
• Storytelling is an effective way to convey messages and engage others.
• Having mentors can greatly impact your personal and professional development.

About Angelo J. Valletta

Angelo has close to forty years of progressively responsible managerial experience in diverse industries with companies ranging in size from small consultants to multi-national firms. He has a proven track record of developing and building effective internal and outsourced distributed teams and is a turn-around specialist in operations and customer service.

He has held multiple board-level leadership roles and had his book “7 Rs of Leadership and Life” recently published by Newman Springs.

Angelo currently serves as President and CEO for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Ben Franklin Northeast, he served in several executive leadership roles at FISGlobal, one of the largest FinTech’s in the world; President and CEO of an independent Community Foundation; Senior Vice President and Chief Bank Operations and Information Officer at Sun National Bank; and Philadelphia Market Chief Information Officer at PNCBank. Angelo earned his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Temple University and his MBA from Philadelphia University.

He serves on several non-profit boards and mentors students at a number of fine universities. 

You can connect with Angelo J. Valletta in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aundrea-mitchell-06746370/

•  “7 Rs of Leadership and Life” book: https://www.newmansprings.com/release/?book=7rs-of-leadership-and-life

• Ben Franklin Technology Partners: https://benfranklin.org/

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraSicolainc
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Speaking to Influence, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Aundrea Mitchell, president of Customer Contact Services. Aundrea shares her experiences of handling a major error, turning a crisis into trust.

Hear how she faced the challenge head-on, communicated transparently, and built trust through teamwork and honesty. It’s a testament to the strength of partnership and the importance of owning up to mistakes. 💪✨

In this episode you will learn:

• Understanding your audience is crucial for effective communication.
• Tailoring your approach can lead to better results.
• Mistakes are opportunities for growth and building trust.
• Advocating for others can help unlock their potential.
• Self-awareness is key to improving communication skills.
• Simplicity can often lead to better solutions.
• Personality assessments can enhance team dynamics.
• Leaders should help find the right roles for their team members.
• Developing tact can improve interpersonal relationships.

About Aundrea Mitchell

Aundrea Mitchell is the President of CCS (Customer Contact Services), headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a Minneapolis suburb.

Before assuming her role as President in May 2020, she served as the company’s Director of Operations from July 2012 to May 2020. During that time she played a key role in the successful integration of several timely acquisitions, and the diversification of the CCS line of services from primarily telephone answering to a full suite of BPO (business process outsourcing) services.

Under her leadership, CCS passed 20 million client contacts and achieved a 98% first call resolution rate, placing it among the industry’s best.

You can connect with Aundrea Mitchell in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aundrea-mitchell-06746370/

• Customer Contact Services website: https://www.yourccsteam.com/

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraSicolainc
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Six Types of Working Genius. They discuss the importance of trust, vulnerability, and conflict in teams, as well as the six types of working genius.

Patrick shares personal experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for effective communication and leadership. The conversation explores the five dysfunctions of a team, emphasizing the importance of trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and attention to results. It also delves into the significance of effective communication, vulnerability, and understanding individual working genius.

Pat also shares insights on team dynamics, leadership, and the impact of dysfunctional behaviors on organizational success.

In this episode you will learn:

• Trust and vulnerability are essential for effective team communication and collaboration.
• Conflict avoidance can hinder team progress and innovation. Constructive conflict is necessary for growth and improvement.
• Understanding the six types of working genius can help individuals and teams leverage their strengths and work together more effectively. Trust is the foundation of effective teamwork, and without it, healthy conflict and commitment cannot thrive.
• Healthy conflict is necessary for teams to address issues openly and make decisions that everyone can commit to.
• Lack of commitment leads to passive agreement, which results in a lack of accountability and inattention to results.
• Avoidance of accountability hinders team performance and requires peers to hold each other accountable for behaviors and commitments.
• Inattention to results occurs when individuals prioritize their department's success over the collective success of the organization, leading to dysfunctional team dynamics.

About Patrick:

Pat is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organizational health movement. He is the author of 13 books, which have sold over 9 million copies and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

As President of The Table Group, Pat spends his time speaking and writing about leadership, teamwork, and organizational health, and consulting with executives and their teams. After more than twenty years in print, his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, remains a fixture on national best-seller lists. His most recent book, The Six Types of Working Genius, was released in September 2022. He is also the host of the popular business podcast, "At The Table with Patrick Lencioni".

You can connect with Patrick Lencioni in the following ways:

• Websites:
  • https://workinggenius.com/
  • https://www.tablegroup.com/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/working_genius
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth/
• Read The 6 Types of Working Genius: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637743297
• Read The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your input matters beyond your expertise. Lincoln University President Brenda Allen transitioned from a professor to an administrative role and quickly learned the importance of showing up to the executive table when invited. This week Laura and Brenda discuss the importance of higher education for critical thinking, problem-solving, and career preparedness. Brenda also explores how to navigate the complicated relationships between young adults and their parents, communicating progress with donors, and teaching students how to advocate for themselves.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• How higher education prepares job seekers for rapidly changing career demands
• Why transferable skills are priceless
• How Brenda’s team communicates with parents and donors on investment issues
• Why every leader should encourage questions
• Why Brenda believes, “if you’re invited to the table, you need to be at the table.”

During the 24-Hour Influence Challenge, Brenda encourages you to write a letter to yourself explaining your three main inner strengths and sharing those strengths with others.

Brenda A. Allen was appointed as Lincoln University’s 14th president in 2017. Since that time, she has implemented a strategic plan designed to ensure Lincoln's place among great liberal arts institutions. Current investments include increased support for faculty teaching and scholarship, and expanding co-curricular opportunities. Under Dr. Allen’s leadership, the University received a $20 million gift, the largest from a single donor in Lincoln’s 167- year history. Prior to coming to Lincoln, Dr. Allen held executive positions at Winston Salem State University, Brown University, and Smith College. She also served as a postdoctoral associate and lecturer at Yale University. She holds a bachelor's in psychology from Lincoln University, and a master's degree and a doctorate in psychology, both from Howard University.

You can learn more about Lincoln University here: https://www.lincoln.edu/

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can coffee change the world? According to Saxbys CEO and Founder, Nick Bayer, it begins with educating young entrepreneurs. This week Laura and Nick discuss how Saxbys is empowering young people to embrace the humanity of the hospitality industry and build a business that creates an impact.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• How Saxbys created an academic experience while building real businesses
• Why every young entrepreneur needs a course in critical thinking skills for business
• How to develop your empathy skills
• Why Saxby’s made B Corp status a priority
• What you can do to hold your team accountable to your mission and values

During the 24-Hour Influence Challenge, Nick encourages you to respond to all digital communication within 24 hours and evaluate how it impacts trust and relationship building.

Nick Bayer has always been in the business of bringing people together, whether it’s as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s "Most Admired CEOs" or as a consummate team captain since Little League. So when he created Saxbys in 2005, Nick never really considered it to be a coffee company — instead, it’s a social impact company fueled by amazing food, beverage, and hospitality. Saxbys has since grown from one corner café to a nearly 30-unit, Philadelphia-based business with a singular mission: Make Life Better.

For Nick Bayer, “making life better" began by fostering an O.D.D (outgoing, detail-oriented, and disciplined) team, committed to the betterment of the communities it serves and aligned by their shared entrepreneurial spirit and Saxbys' core values. Today, that team spans over 500 members across the Northeast that represent the change-makers of tomorrow. To that point, Bayer introduced Saxbys’ pioneering Experiential Learning Program (ELP) in 2015 in partnership with Drexel University — the nation’s first entirely student-run cafe where students earn full academic credit and wages through a university cooperative education program.

Bayer’s vision for the program is to embolden the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing undergrad students with tangible experience as a supplement to traditional classroom learning. In five short years, one ELP cafe has blossomed to a dozen, with five more partnerships opening in the Fall of 2021.

Nick is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, an adjunct professor at Drexel University and the Executive in Residence at Temple University's Fox School of Business.

He serves on the Board of The Franklin Institute, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, the Community College of Philadelphia, Drexel University’s Close School of Entrepreneurship and Drexel’s Steinbright Career Development Center, as well as being a Corporate Council Member for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He has been recognized as the "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, EY’s "Social Entrepreneur of the Year" and among the “100 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Philadelphia” by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

He resides in Center City Philadelphia with his wife Haley and son Luke.

You can connect with Nick in the following ways:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbayer6/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnickbayer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickbayer

Company Website: https://www.saxbyscoffee.com/

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s tension in silence, but so much to learn. This week Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn share why we feel the need to fill the silence and how to create better communication by speaking less and listening more. Join Laura, Leigh, and Justin as they discuss the impact of taking time to create space in conversations, meetings, and daily life.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• How to keep yourself from filling the silence in conversation
• Why silence helps you discern your thoughts
• How to view silence as a source of renewal
• Why a moment of silence feels like an eternity
• What you can do to create space to process silence in your daily life

About Justin and Leigh:

Justin Talbot Zorn has served as both a strategist and a meditation teacher in the US Congress. A Harvard-and-Oxford-trained specialist in the economics and psychology of human thriving, he has written for the Washington Post, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, Foreign Policy, and other publications. Justin is the coauthor of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, published by HarperCollins in the US, Penguin/Random House in the UK, and globally in 12 other languages. He is cofounder of Astrea Strategies, a consultancy that bridges contemplation and action, helping leaders and teams envision and communicate solutions to complex challenges. Justin lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and three children.

Leigh Marz is a collaboration and leadership coach for major universities, corporations, and federal agencies as well as a longtime student of pioneering researchers and practitioners of the ritualized use of psychedelic medicines in the West. She has led training programs to promote an experimental mindset among teams at NASA and a decade-long cross-sector collaboration to reduce toxic chemicals in products, in partnership with Green Science Policy Institute, Harvard University, IKEA, Google, and Kaiser Permanente. Leigh is the coauthor of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, published by HarperCollins in the US, Penguin/Random House in the UK, and globally in 12 other languages. She is the cofounder of Astrea Strategies. Leigh lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband and daughter.

You can get your copy of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise here: https://amzn.to/3TvnCMS

You can connect with Justin and Leigh at https://astreastrategies.com/

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understanding cyber security technology can be difficult outside of the tech industry, but according to Kris Burkhardt, “healthy paranoia” can be a good thing. This week Kris and Laura discuss the complexities of communicating to businesses about the importance of cyber security, as well as how he empowers his team to make mistakes and solve problems together.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• How to encourage questions when presenting to an audience
• How to use body language to gauge understanding of complex topics
• Why it’s important to let your team make mistakes
• How to communicate expectations clearly
• The importance of managing miscommunications early

During the 24-Hour Influence Challenge, Kris encourages you to choose 1-3 team members and give them a single piece of coaching advice to improve their performance, then follow up on a regular basis. This regular check in will improve your communication and your relationship.

About Kris Burkhardt:

As global chief information security officer for Accenture, Kris is accountable for securing the enterprise against threats such as ransomware and data theft. Infrastructure hygiene, advanced security tooling and operations, behavioral programs and systematic client data protection processes work together to secure Accenture, our employees and entrusted client data in more than 120 countries. In this role, Kris stays close to the current threat landscape, sets tactical and strategic priorities to monitor and minimize security risk, and maintains a 24/7 response capability.

You can learn more about Accenture here: https://www.accenture.com

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creating an impact in a large organization begins with your immediate team. This week Dana Reyngoudt shares how she engages and motivates her small team while working toward organizational goals. Listen in as Laura and Dana discuss understanding the needs of your team, creating a unified front to face challenges, and identifying the signs of an engaged leader.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• The best tools for engagement and feedback
• The definition of conversion franchises and why they work
• Why creating a growth plan motivates your team
• How to identify what engages and motivates individuals
• Why it’s important to create space for conversations on diversity and inclusion

About Dana Reyngoudt:

As Vice President of Partner Marketing for NBC Universal, Dana develops and executes marketing campaigns for the company’s broadcast and cable networks that drive value for distribution partners.

You can connect with Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-reyngoudt-5a6ba97/

Learn more about the Women In Cable organization here: https://www.wict.org/

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fastest way to find success is to follow the footsteps of someone who has gone before you. This week Greg Muzzillo shares why making millionaires is his favorite part of his job at Proforma. Listen in as Laura and Greg discuss how a franchising opportunity can provide business success, leadership support, and overall growth.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• How Greg’s team is working to qualify prospects virtually
• The definition of conversion franchises and why they work
• Why your business needs an advisory council
• How to build trust in high stakes relationships
• Why an engaged workforce makes higher profits

During the 24-Hour Influence Challenge Greg inspires you to write down the recurring inner thoughts that are keeping you from being influential in business and in life, gaining a greater understanding of what’s holding you back from success.

About Greg Muzzillo:

Greg Muzzillo started Proforma one year after graduating from college with a few hundred dollars. The business quickly grew to several million dollars and was recognized by Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 fastest growing companies for three consecutive years. This news prompted inquiries from others wanting to start a business, so Muzzillo developed the Proforma franchise model.

Today, the Proforma franchise model offers aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to start their own business with a few hundred dollars and build their own multi-million dollar company. 

Proforma is a $500 million company with over 500 Franchise Owners primarily in North America, and one of the nation’s largest distributors of printing, promotional produces, and custom packaging. Every year, 15-20 Proforma Franchise Owners are named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies and more than 300 Franchise Owners are in Proforma’s Million and Multi-Million Dollar Club.

Muzzillo has served on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association, the Board of Trustees at the University of Tampa, and the Board of Directors of the University of Florida Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center. Muzzillo is an active member of Advertising Specialty Institute, Promotional Products Association International, and the International Franchise Association. He is also host of Million Dollar Monday, a podcast with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

For more about our Franchise Affiliate Opportunity, visit www.proformafranchise.com. For more about Proforma’s services, visit www.proforma.com. 

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you captivate an audience without overwhelming them with data? This week Dr. Vincent Racaniello shares how his passion for teaching and virology led him to transition out of the lab and into educating the world through podcasting. Listen in as Laura and Vincent discuss how to share your expertise in a way that captivates while adding humor, levity, and increasing the audience’s ability to comprehend complex subject matter.

Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation:

• The importance of levity to deal with complex subjects
• How to speak to your audience with humility
• Why adding “Gee Whiz Moments” to your presentation increases audience impact
• How to decide what to share and how to share it
• How to not take yourself too seriously without impacting your credibility

About Dr. Vincent Racaniello:

Vincent Racaniello Ph.D. is Higgins Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Columbia University Medical Center. He has been studying viruses for over 40 years. As principal investigator of his laboratory, Prof. Racaniello is passionate about teaching virology to the World. His virology lectures can be found on YouTube. He blogs at virology blog, produces the podcast ‘This Week in Virology’ and has co-authored the textbook Principles of Virology. He regularly posts about viruses on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can find out more about Vincent and his work at: https://www.microbe.tv/

To learn more about Dr. Laura Sicola and how mastering influence can impact your success go to https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com/quickstart and download the quick start guide for mastering the three C’s of influence.

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @Laura Sicola 

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.