Cultivating Professional Confidence & Presence

Confidence and communication are the keys to leadership success, but how do you develop them when self-doubt creeps in? In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, host Christine Courtney is joined by the dynamic Blonka Winkfield to kick off a new mini-series on communication.

🌟 What You'll Learn:

✔️ The critical role of communication in leadership (and the surprising stats that prove it)

✔️ How to build confidence in professional settings—even when you feel like an imposter

✔️ Why body language, self-talk, and active listening are game-changers in meetings

✔️ Practical tips to boost your presence, speak up, and own the room

💡 Actionable Takeaway: You belong in every room you step into—someone invited you there for a reason!

Tune in now to learn how to project confidence, communicate effectively, and elevate your leadership game. 🎧✨

Resources & Key Takeaways for Show Notes:

📌 Key Discussion Points:

• The importance of communication in leadership (91% of employees believe leaders lack communication skills, and poor communication is a key reason for project failure).
• Building professional confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome.
• The role of self-talk and mental coaching in strengthening confidence.
• Tips for speaking up in meetings and using body language effectively.
• The concept of "appearing weak when strong, and strong when weak" from The Art of War.
• The power of active listening and how it builds trust.

📌 Practical Tips from the Episode:

✔️ Speak up in meetings – Say your name and company at least once.

✔️ Celebrate successes – Recognize and acknowledge your wins.

✔️ Use body language – Mirror confident postures to project presence.

✔️ Challenge negative self-talk – Replace doubts with affirmations.

✔️ Be your own mental coach – Reflect on strengths and logical achievements.

✔️ Practice active listening – Nod, lean in, and engage with speakers.

📌 Additional Mentions:

• The Art of War by Sun Tzu (concept of appearing weak when strong and vice versa).
• Marcus Buckingham’s quote: “The brain is Velcro for negative and Teflon for positive.”
• Encouragement to use mentors, friends, or "wingpeople" in social and professional settings to build confidence.

📌 Actionable Affirmation:

"You belong in every room you step into. Someone invited you there for a reason!"

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