PowerUp Your Presence – Details, episodes & analysis

An astronaut, aquanaut, jet pilot, ER doctor, scientist, CEO, father – Dr. Dave Williams is an exceptional leader with much to share! The former Director of Space & Life Sciences at NASA has flown once on the space shuttle Columbia and once on Endeavour, logging over thirteen million kilometers in space and over seventeen hours of spacewalks. He holds the Canadian spacewalking record for the most number of spacewalks and was the first Canadian to have lived and worked on the world’s only undersea research habitat. He is the recipient of six honourary degrees, the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.

The first episode of Season 2 of PowerUp Your Presence features Dr.Dave Williams discussing his latest book, “Leadership Moments From NASA,” co-authored with Dr. Elizabeth Howell. Dr. Howell is a Canadian journalist who has written extensively on space exploration for over 20 years, has witnessed rocket launches in the United States and Kazakhstan, lived on a simulated Mars base, and interviewed dozens of astronauts. Their latest book combines their expertise and experience in space exploration with leadership lessons NASA practices to provide readers with the knowledge of best-in-class practices employed by some of the most pioneering leaders today.

In this episode, Diane Craig and Dave explore exceptional circumstances that challenge leadership, test resilience, professionalism, taking risks when the cost of failure is high and how leaders can create an environment of psychological safety, particularly in encouraging teammates to speak up without fear of retribution, while practicing empathy as a leader, and much more!

Leadership Moments from NASA delves into the senior NASA Executive overcome tragedy and adversity and how they leverage it to develop a culture of competency that continues to attract the best and brightest from around the world. The podcast investigates how did they prioritize? How did they resolve differences while maintaining a culture of safety and innovation? How did they chart new territory? How did they build highly competent and resilient teams?

In addition to Leadership Moments from NASA, Dr. Dave Williams is also the author of a series of children’s books on being an astronaut and a memoir entitled Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe.

To learn more about Dr. Dave Williams, visit his website www.astrodavemd.ca, and follow him on Twitter @AstroDaveMD

We all know the importance of connection - or we've all been told six different ways to network, but it's so much harder than anyone makes it sound. Overcoming that is not just a matter of positivity, but a genuine mix of affirmation, preparation and exuding confidence. If it helps, remember that it's not as easy as the pros make it look; 'working a room' is real "work", that's why it's in the name.

For the genuine introvert, you have to work on getting out of your own way. Overcome your fears, let go of self-judgement, and stretch yourself into networking spaces to get the work done. Preparation is key, imagine a perfect scenario where everyone is interested in what you think and use those answers to launch conversations. Have something ready for any topic - they say Eleanor Roosevelt had a small talk prompt set for each letter of the alphabet before any event, and seldom reached whatever she had ready to say about zoology!  Everyone left convinced of her ability to socialize. On a more tactical level, challenge yourself to meeting 1-2 people before grabbing a drink or some food.  Find groups with an odd number of people, they are easier to break into, and introduce yourself.

Reframe how you think about networking - make it about relationship building and what you can give the other person versus what you can get.  Social credit is the only real credit, leverage it any way you can.

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Our guest during this episode is Carol Stephenson whose forty-year career has seamlessly spanned private and public sector leadership roles. Carol is a highly respected former CEO and visionary. She played a critical role in restructuring telecommunications industry in North America-and helped steer the evolution of business education in Canada, as Dean of Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario.

Currently, Carol serves on the Boards of several leading companies. She is a Director of General Motors Company, Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Intact Financial Services Inc. Carol has earned significant recognition for her on-going community work and industry involvement-including her appointment into the Order of Canada.

As Carol reflects on her career and experience in the corporate world, she opens her interview by sharing that she attributes success to her courage, persistence and willingness to take risks. She encourages people to reflect on the reasons why they want to join a Board, the importance of articulating their own value and how functioning effectively as a Board member becomes easier with time.

Carol describes the impact of increasing numbers of women Board members and how this is shifting the nature of discussions from assertions and declarations to greater focus on curiosity, listening and understanding.

Another point raised during the interview is how the so-called "soft skills" are a key differentiator among leaders, although challenging to cultivate and maintain.

The interview moves from the role of Board member to that of employees presenting to the Board of Directors and the importance of demonstrating genuine executive presence. It's an opportunity for the Board to assess the person's communication skills, strategic capability, emotional intelligence and ultimately, the potential for a more senior role within the organization.

Carol also emphasises that informal interactions with Board members are equally critical and provide insights about the person's character-a significant factor when making leadership succession decisions for key roles.

Based on her experience, Carol offers four key tips for presenting to the Board. One, know your audience; two, there's no need to read your slides-everyone has come prepared and previewed the advance notes; three, really listen to the Board's questions before formulating a response, and four, engage the Board effectively. Always keep in mind, the Board is there to offer strategy, not tactics-spare the details in favor of what actually matters.

Carol also reflects on the importance of balancing a desire for stimulation with the need for breaks. Is she planning to write a book? Listen to find out!

Love the show? Let us know!

Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you be more intentional about how you show up and lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!

If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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We return to our conversation with Dr Dave Williams; astronaut, aquanaut, surgeon, and leader, with the idea that great accomplishments come from humble origins. Whether on the space shuttle or in the corporate world, truly effective leaders are humble leaders who put their people first. Being a humble leader means creating the space to learn from your team by embracing the skills and expertise of each team member. A style that Dave refers to as distributed leadership. High levels of creativity and innovation are experienced when we listen to each other and recognize the strengths and skills of each individual. Followership requires courage.

Dave reinforces that with the right mindset anything is possible and leaves us with the important reminder to not let other people define our dreams of what is possible. The episode explores the power of having a growth over fixed mindset as a key differentiator to individual and business success. It requires a lifetime commitment to continuous learning and keeping up a passion for self-development.

The episode is full of stories of what it is like to living under the sea, how Dave and his wife effectively managed the relationship between two motivated professionals, the push and pull model of inspiration and motivation, and keeping up with a spacewalk workout regimen in retirement.

Dave also mentions the book Trust by David Johnston as a current favorite. Check that out, as well as our contest on Instagram @Corporateclass to win Dr William's own book, entitled Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe, to further your own passion for self-development.

To learn more about Dr. Dave Williams visit his website www.astrodavemd.ca and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @AstroDaveMD

Love the show? Let us know!Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you be more intentional about how you show up and lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.You can also follow our social media channels:InstagramTwitterLinkedInFacebook

Astronaut, aquanaut, jet pilot, ER doctor, scientist, CEO and father - Dr. Dave Williams has two sayings that keep him rolling "It is what it is" and "We're all on a Journey" and those two ideas orbit around our interview with him as he explains how he got through university and med school on his own terms. Dr. Williams became an astronaut and remained resilient during setbacks and challenges along the way, including the loss of friends in the Columbia disaster and a cancer diagnosis that almost prevented him from returning to space.

The interview is peppered with anecdotes and lessons learned on the importance of living life to the fullest, leadership, astronaut training, living a lifetime in a moment dangling off the Canadarm, and learning how to persevere by demonstrating self-compassion.

One key piece of advice from this episode is that whether you are in surgery or on a spacewalk, when in the face of death, you have to offer solutions, not offer blame. Leading through accountability is key. There's a cliché in management about referring to mistakes as "opportunities for growth and development" and it is true; failure is always a chance to learn and assigning fault is never particularly productive.

While he's accomplished so much already, Dave is also the author of a series of children's books on being an astronaut as well as a memoir entitled Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe that expands on many of the ideas presented here. To win a copy listen to the end of Part 2 with our interview with Dave for details on our giveaway.

Our conversation will continue in the next episode so be sure to follow this feed and not miss inspirational and uplifting lessons about life and leadership.

To learn more about Dr. Dave Williams visit his website www.astrodavemd.ca and follow him on Twitter @AstroDaveMD

Love the show? Let us know!

Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you be more intentional about how you show up and lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!

If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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What does it mean to have presence?

What does it take to have presence?

Can anyone cultivate it?

The inaugural episode of The PowerUP Your Presence Podcast will answer these questions and more - beginning with an anecdote about a scientist trying rise within her firm. She had been passed over for promotion to VP several times and when she confronted the CEO over it, she was told she lacked the presence required for senior leadership and was referred to HR to help with that. HR then referred her to Diane and Sandra for coaching and development. They coached her around the key elements of connecting authentically, inspiring others, building confidence, and motivating a team into action.

Presence can be developed, and this podcast is designed to demystify what presence is, provide tips, resources, and stories to help you step into the power of your presence and elevate your leadership by bringing out the best version of yourself.

Presence starts from within and requires alignment between your mind, body and words. It requires growing strong "power skills" like emotional and social intelligence to build exceptional leadership. Diane and Sandra use the example of Matthew Lieberman's Ted Talk The Social Brain and how social thinking plays a bigger role in any industry than analytical thinking does.

Beyond the brain's role in presence, there's also the power of the body. Body language, posture and performance are a key component of what we're talking about. Amy Cuddy explains in her book Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges as well as her Ted Talk Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are that when we take more expansive poses for at least two minutes before an important meeting, presentation, or interview, we will appear more confident. She coined the term "Power Pose".

This episode would like to leave you with 3 tips:

Tip 1: Be Present in the Moment

In the modern attention economy, it's increasingly difficult to be entirely focused on only one thing. We all rewired ourselves for multi-tasking, but now it's more important to focus and reset to the task at hand, being mindful about where we are placing our attention. We offer a few techniques including balanced breathing, water-glass meditations, and writing quick notes about things that might distract you.

Tip 2: Nail Your First Impressions

Yes, Impressions. Every interaction, big or small, creates an impact, either positive or negative. You can make sure your impressions go well by setting a clear intention before entering an interaction. Focus on one word you want to have set the tone around how you want people to experience you during the interaction. There's a whole episode about first impressions coming soon, be sure to add us to your podcasting app of choice now.

Tip 3: Standing Out When you Speak

This is all about what you say, and how you say it. Standing out begins with congruence, let your facial expressions and posture carry the same feeling that your words do. Take a cue from tip number two and set the intent you wish to demonstrate. Furthermore, be concise. Let your audience know only what they need to know not everything that you know. When performing to your intent, don't leave your authenticity behind, simply stretch a little to suit the situation. Brian Little's Ted Talk, Who Are you Really? The Puzzle of Personality has some great additional advice on how to do this.

Another good way to build up these skills is to use your phone to record yourself, it's less distracting and more flexible than just standing in front of the mirror. As you review the video, focus on improving one development opportunity so it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

Until next time: Be present, be warm, be curious, and take notice of how others react to you.

Love the show? Let us know!

Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you be more intentional about how you show up and lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!

If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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Dr. Kathleen Reardon is Professor Emerita at University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. She is an author and leading authority on persuasion, politics in the workplace, negotiation and interpersonal communication.

Through her research and writing, Dr. Reardon has influenced the careers of countless women and men.

During this episode, we delve into women’s empowerment. Dr. Reardon shares candid stories about her career and personal life, along with insights drawn from other women—including her mother and luminaries within the business world.

Stepping into Your Power

We explore the difference between equality and empowerment. Dr. Reardon explains how to step into your power and overcome challenges. She provides practical advice and strategies for confronting inappropriate comments, dealing with constant interruptions and speaking with conviction.

Dr. Reardon offers insights into navigating workplace politics, advocating for yourself and managing your own career brand, while avoiding labels. She cautions:

• Don’t get stuck in a junk job. Focus on visible, relevant assignments central to your goals.

• Maintain a balance in your favor-account; be mindful of the support you deliver in contrast to what comes your way.

• Keep track of your sponsors; develop alliances with women and men.

• Most importantly, be genuine in building yourself up and recognize that to grow, you need to be willing and prepared to take some falls.

Our conversation closes with Dr. Reardon emphasizing, “You never overcome adversity fighting back with anger.” She stresses how important it is to focus on things that truly enrich your life and describes her personal journey through both her writing and oil and watercolour painting.

Dr. Reardon has just released her second novel, Damned if She Does. Learn more about her research, writing and artwork at: www.kathleenkelleyreardon.com

Love the show? Let us know!

Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you become more intentional about how you show up to lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!  If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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There is great power in listening. The ability to connect both personally and professionally with people and build successful relationships depends on deliberate, attentive listening. And yet, formal instruction on effective listening is rarely even touched on at school.

Lorna Dueck, journalist, broadcaster and CEO of Crossroads and YES TV joins us on this Listen to Lead episode, where we explore the hallmarks of powerful listening skills, notably in leadership positions.  Lorna explains that at the forefront is a genuine sense of curiosity, a critical component of learning at every age.

Next, she describes how there are two obstacles leaders must overcome-the ability to put aside a big ego and the time factor. The first requires humility and respect in place of ego, imperative to engage with empathy, while the time factor demands focus with no sense of distraction.

As our conversation moves on, we touch on the importance of listening for non-verbal cues, repetition as a tool for emphasis of vision and direction-and the importance of "cultural intelligence," or consciousness, to understand differences in communication meaning and styles.

Listening is an opportunity to gather information and insights. When organizations truly listen to employees as well as customers, and are alert to market trends, success follows. Lorna leaves us with a reminder of three magic words, "help me understand..."

Love the show? Let us know!

Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you become more intentional about how you show up to lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!  If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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Dr. Greg Wells, Ph.D., is a scientist and physiologist who translates scientific discoveries into actionable advice on how to improve people's health and well-being. Dr. Well's research is focused on what he's identified as "four interrelated grand epidemics" that cause people to struggle on a daily basis:

• Sleeplessness
• Mental illness
• Obesity
• Inactivity

During this podcast, to help unravel these four interconnected issues, Dr. Wells walks us through his STEM Pathway model where STEM stands for:

• Sleep soundly
• Think clearly
• Eat smarter
• Move more

Sleep soundly

Although we all recognize sleep is the foundation of human health and performance -and essential for the brain to recover-we're not always disciplined about making sleep a priority. Dr. Wells provides practical tips, easy to incorporate into a daily routine, on what he calls "defend our last hour," to help people get a good night's sleep.

Move more

Dr. Wells has a Ph.D. in Physiology, served as an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Toronto and is an exercise medicine researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. During our conversation, we also look at how prioritizing moving more benefits both the body-and brain performance to positively impact mental health.

Think clearly

Dr. Wells explains that we're living in the midst of a distraction epidemic where focus is the fundamental currency of our era. Devices and apps are scientifically designed to hold our attention. They can improve life when used positively but often become powerful distractions that prevent people form giving their full consideration to what really matters. This results in what Dr. Wells describes as "attention residue," where time is lost trying to get back in the zone and into a flow. To offset this, he offers techniques that both limit distractions and better control where and how to focus attention.

Dr. Wells leaves us with accessible advice and attainable goals for how we can begin to achieve a healthier lifestyle. He shares a simple strategy: Challenge yourself to be one percent better every day so habits begin to form-you'll feel better and be better.

A special offer for 2020

Dr. Wells is author of three best-selling books-Superbodies, The Ripple Effect and The Focus Effect.

We're excited to offer you a chance to win a copy of The Ripple Effect or The Focus Effect.

To enter: Head over to our Instagram page @corporateclass, follow us, and like The Ripple Effect post.   Comment on the post by sharing a key insight you gained from our interview with Dr. Wells. One lucky winner for each book will be selected at random from the comments.

Love the show? Let us know! Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you become more intentional about how you show up to lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know!  If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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Your reputation capital is a tangible asset. It’s the beliefs, feelings and opinions people hold about you. Your reputation can even serve as a powerful door-opener. Think of it as your personal brand—what you’re known for and the perceptions people have about you.

And because your reputation precedes you, there is no greater asset than a positive personal brand. In order to show up the way you want to be seen, you must have a clear vision of how you want to shape your personal brand. To build your reputation demands thoughtful consideration of how you desire to appear.

Sad but true, reputation is like fire, easy to maintain once it’s glowing—hard to rebuild when extinguished. And as we say: “Your reputation never goes on vacation!”

To understand how people perceive you, consider participating in a 360 assessment. When you hold up the mirror, honestly reflect on your interactions and ask for feedback, you shine a light on both your key strengths and areas requiring development.

Today, the expressions personal brand and reputation are often used interchangeably. During today’s episode, we discuss managing the three top elements that comprise reputation, including the importance of maintaining a strong personal brand on-line.

Let a strong presence underline your best qualities.

Love the show? Let us know! Do you enjoy listening to the PowerUp your Presence Podcast? If the tips, stories and interviews we share in each episode have helped you become more intentional about how you show up to lead more effectively, head over to iTunes or Spotify, subscribe to the show and leave a review to let us know! If you are interested in learning more about our training programs, workshops or private coaching visit our website at www.corporateclassinc.com.

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