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Welcome to the Soft Skills Salon: an audible think-tank on soft skills with your host, Diana Kawarsky. This podcast is where you learn how soft skills make a difference to your work, your teams, and your organization. Here, you will listen to international and diverse voices, both novices and experts, discussing their real-life perspectives, strategies, and insights. Learn how, when, and where our guests have experienced soft skills having a positive impact on-the-job. Each episode is a conversation based on our Soft Skills Impact Questionnaire. Join us for a dynamic and informative chat because “Conversation is the Currency of Communication”.
34 Episodes
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In this podcast episode of the Soft Skills Salon, host Diana Kawarsky talks with Michael Teape, the co-founder and lead trainer of Teape Training International. Diana and Michael dive deep into the world of self-confidence, discussing the essential strategies for overcoming doubt and enhancing personal and professional growth. Through a comprehensive exploration of soft skills, effective communication, and leadership dynamics, they offer listeners actionable insights and techniques to build their confidence. Highlighting the importance of curiosity, humility, and purpose, the episode serves as a guide to navigating challenges and unlocking the potential within. Perfect for those looking to improve their self-assurance and impact in their careers and daily lives.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you contribute or build your own self-confidence?What does success leading others look like to you?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this podcast episode of the Soft Skills Salon, host Diana Kawarsky has a conversation with change management expert Keren Castelli about the critical role of soft skills in the workplace, especially during the pandemic-induced shift to remote work. They discuss the misperceptions of soft skills as less valuable than hard skills and advocate for terms like "emotional quotient" to represent their importance better. Keren shares her strategies for promoting empathy and understanding during change, such as welcoming resistance and using affirmations to resolve conflicts. The episode emphasizes the significance of empathy, listening, and open communication in change management and conflict resolution.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you compare pre-Covid soft skills to moving beyond Covid soft skills at work?Do you use the term soft skills? Why or why not?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, Diana Kawarsky speaks with Shoko Matsuda, an executive coach and leadership trainer, as they delve into the essence of self-assurance, influenced by Eleanor Roosevelt's insights, and explores Shoko's experiences with English as a second language. Diana and Shoko also examine the dynamics of teamwork across cultures, emphasizing the importance of clear objectives in forming cohesive teams. As they navigate the challenges of a post-pandemic workplace, the discussion highlights key aspects of psychological safety, inclusivity, and the evolving nature of leadership in today's complex world, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to enhance their soft skills.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you define confidence?How have you created teamwork in your career so far?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, host Diana Kawarsky converses with Dr. Charles Michael Austin, also known as Dr. Chaz. They discuss leadership, the importance of understanding different cultures, and providing constructive feedback in the workplace. Dr. Chaz emphasizes the need for leaders to create a safe space for their teams, genuinely listen to their ideas, and implement them when possible. He also shares his philosophy on leadership and management, stressing the importance of focusing on results and problem-solving efficiency. The conversation also covers the concept of situational leadership and the value of consistent and constructive feedback in fostering a positive work environment.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?How do you provide feedback to others?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this Soft Skills Salon podcast episode, host Diana Kawarsky talks with speaker, leadership coach, and author Billy Anderson founder of The Courage Crusade. Diana and Billy discuss the significance of self-confidence and self-belief in personal growth and the role of emotions in this process. Billy shares his insights on the importance of pushing beyond one's comfort zone. He also delves into the value of personal values in resolving conflicts and addresses the unique challenges of remote work. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on Billy's personal symbol of emotional openness and authenticity.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you define confidence?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on either your team or a team?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this podcast episode, Diana Kawarsky speaks with Ilana Ben-Ari, a toy designer turned social entrepreneur. They discuss the controversial nature of soft skills and the undervaluation of these skills compared to hard skills. Ilana shares her experiences with her learning and development toy company, Twenty One Toys, and the challenges of convincing adults that toys can be valuable tools for learning. They also explore the importance of confidence in entrepreneurship and the role of tension and friction in creativity and design. The conversation touches on vulnerability, self-awareness, and the significance of intuition and emotional awareness in personal growth and entrepreneurship.Today's Selected QuestionsDo you use the term soft skills, why or why not?What does success leading others look like to you?How do you define confidence?What have you done or seen during your career that develops a person's professional presence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this podcast episode, host Diana Kawarsky has an insightful conversation with renowned leadership strategist and author Dan Pontefract. They explore the meaning of confidence and its relationship with feedback and recognition. They highlight the limitations of annual performance reviews and employee engagement surveys, proposing a more effective approach to having frequent and meaningful conversations about performance and engagement. Dan emphasizes the value of empathy in building confidence and suggests using data and surveys to evaluate empathy levels within organizations. They also delve into the significance of trust and empathy in the workplace, especially in the context of the hybrid work environment. Dan introduces his innovative concept of the "four-day hybrid way," which combines a four-day workweek with a hybrid working method. Overall, they emphasize the importance of timely feedback, trust, and empathy in nurturing confidence and achieving success.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you define confidence?Where have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, host Diana Kawarsky speaks with Alan Middleton, an independent author, speaker, and consultant with Sage Management Advice. The conversation centres around soft skills in the workplace. Alan shares his insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the need for soft skills and the importance of listening to frontline employees. The conversation also covers the significance of complexity theory in planning and decision-making, building trust with customers and employees in the banking industry, successful leadership, developing mobility systems, and recognizing and understanding cultural differences in the workplace. The episode highlights the importance of soft skills and cultural awareness in the workplace, especially in the current global climate.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you compare pre-COVID soft skills to what we frame as moving beyond COVID soft skills at work?What does success leading others look like to you?What have you seen or done on the job to develop a person's professional presence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, host Diana Kawarsky interviews Douglas Squirrel, an executive coach and consulting Chief Technology Officer. Diana and Squirrel discuss the importance of aligning technical teams with business goals and using a common language for effective communication and productivity. They also delve into change management, resiliency, confidence-building, empathy, and difficult conversations. Squirrel shares techniques for promoting understanding and open-mindedness, including coherence-busting and genuine questioning. Overall, the episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for improving soft skills in the workplace.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?How do you define confidence?Where have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this Soft Skills Salon podcast episode, Diana Kawarsky speaks with leadership speaker and coach Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky about soft skills and leadership. Shed emphasizes the importance of teaching and helping others to succeed in leadership roles, promoting from within, and building solid relationships through empathy. The conversation also touches on the difference between leadership and management, the importance of safe and effective use of self in building trust with others, and the need for deliberate courage to step into discomfort. Shed and Diana conclude that recognizing patterns and being open to feedback can lead to growth and success in leadership.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?Where have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?Do you use the term soft skills? If yes, why? And if not, why not?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this Soft Skills Salon podcast episode, Diana Kawarsky speaks with guest Steve "Mr. Pineapple" Mathieu about his philosophy on living a positive and authentic life. They discuss the importance of emotional batteries, positive curiosity, and self-awareness in communication. Mr. Pineapple emphasizes the significance of daily self-reflection and recharging to maintain positive energy and emotional balance. He also suggests that success is about leaving a positive legacy and making others feel their best. Finally, Mr. Pineapple's philosophy emphasizes the importance of being present and appreciating each day as it comes.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you have a conversation with someone who has their facts wrong?What does success leading others look like to you?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
1In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, host Diana Kawarsky sits down with David Chapman, a seasoned trainer and executive coach, to explore the fascinating world of purpose-driven teams. Through their engaging conversation, Diana and David delve into the roles of entrepreneurs, leaders, and managers, highlighting the importance of purpose in inspiring and securing results. They discuss David's visionary framework, the vision triangle, which offers a fresh perspective on creating a sense of purpose and aligning teams towards a common goal. The episode emphasizes the power of asking meaningful questions, embracing vulnerability, and developing the confidence to lead with purpose. Join Diana and David as they uncover the crucial role of soft skills and purpose in fostering effective teamwork.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?How have you created teamwork during your career so far?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Garima Gupta, the founder and CEO of Artha Learning - an award-winning, e-learning design firm providing custom and off-the shelf learning solutions. Diana and Garima begin by discussing how confidence really has two distinct forms namely an external perception that we present to the world, and a second, deeper form of confidence rooted in our values, self-worth, and sense of belonging. They conclude their conversation with the idea that an evolution of authenticity in leadership requires a willingness to be vulnerable and genuine with one's team, while also maintaining a level of professionalism and projecting confidence. By embracing growth and striving for authenticity, leaders can inspire their teams to do the same and achieve greater success.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?How do you define confidence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Lorelle Luciuk, a platoon staff sergeant with over 27 years of experience in Ontario's policing community. Diana and Lorelle discuss how the policing community has undergone a shift in culture towards empathy as a form of communication. The traditional military-based approach has given way to a more empathetic approach that allows officers to build better relationships with the people they serve. This shift towards empathy is not only important in communication but also in mental health promotion, as it fosters genuine caring and better self-awareness. They continue their discussion by examining how clear communication and a culture of assertiveness are crucial to effective policing. They conclude the discussion by stressing that asserting oneself on the job can be challenging and complicated, especially for female law enforcement officers who face gender biases. Today's Selected QuestionsWhere have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?What does success leading others look like to you?How do you effectively assert yourself on the job?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Marsha Shandur, a storytelling, communication and sales coach and trainer who founded Yes Yes Marsha, a company that has helped thousands of executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals gain storytelling skills for ethical influence. Diana and Marsha begin by emphasizing the significance of empathy in effective storytelling. Through well-crafted narratives, people can connect with and gain insights into experiences they may not have personally encountered. They conclude their discussion by stressing the importance of empathy and curiosity in communicating with someone who may have inaccurate information rather than solely focusing on proving oneself to be right. Now let's have a conversation.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat do you recommend others do to improve their soft skills based on your experience?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on your team?How do you provide feedback to others?How do you define confidence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Audley Bell, a retired Chief Audit Executive, most recently with World Vision, a humanitarian aid organization helping children, families, and their communities overcome poverty and injustice. Diana and Audley begin by discussing the importance of taking an inventory of oneself to determine strengths and areas needing improvement as a way of improving their soft skills. They continue their talk on conflict management and the need to avoid the "blame game" by setting the expectation up front that mistakes are going to be made, which fosters a non-judgmental and open environment. They conclude their discussion by examining the merits of face-to-face feedback and its timely importance.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat do you recommend others do to improve their soft skills based on your experience?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on your team?How do you provide feedback to others?How do you define confidence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Cian Donnelly, who, among many things, is the founder of Diamond Dog Coaching, a company that provides training, development, and coaching for artists. Diana and Cian begin their discussion by exploring the importance of empathy in conversations where just listening can offer people a safe space to analyze and make difficult decisions. They continue their talk by examining how the conversation is the relationship. They conclude their discussion by exploring how the concept of self-talk is linked to self-awareness and emphasize the importance of understanding the weight of our words and how we can effectively communicate with others.Today's Selected QuestionsWhere have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?What is your understanding of the phrase "Conversation is the currency of communication"?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Una Wright, the founder and executive director of YouthSpeak, an organization promoting mental health and well-being to increase the resiliency of youth facing challenges. Diana and Una begin their discussion by examining how self-awareness and accountability are the first steps toward empathy. They continue their conversation by suggesting that successfully leading others is looking for someone's strengths in unexpected areas and providing them with opportunities and places to demonstrate those strengths. They also discuss that teamwork can prosper when a culture of mentorship is organically allowed to happen. They conclude their discussion by considering if one can acquire confidence from the result of taking action with a mindset of viewing failures as opportunities.Today's Selected QuestionsWhere have you seen or experienced empathy in your career?What does success leading others look like to you?How have you created teamwork in your career so far?How do you define confidence?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Kelly Shannon, an executive coach and development strategist for female leaders. Kelly is the founder of Women Lead Daily, a platform developed to inspire and engage women on their path to leadership. Diana and Kelly begin their discussion by examining the synergy between performance evaluation and professional development to successfully lead others. They continue their conversation by discussing the benefits of promoting yourself and your expertise confidentially without waiting to be asked for an update. They conclude the discussion by offering advice that we don’t need to have the perfect answer to successfully assert ourselves when we offer our opinions or ideas.Today's Selected QuestionsWhat does success leading others look like to you?What do you recommend others do to improve their soft skills based on your experience as a ____ or in ____ industry?How do you effectively assert yourself on the job, and what have you seen others do to effectively assert themselves?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Konstantin Tskhay, the Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness at Top Hat, an online teaching platform headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Diana and Konstantin begin their discussion by defining feedback, questioning when and where feedback is appropriate, and how to foster feedback in organizations. They continue their conversation by examining ways to manage interpersonal conflicts by focusing on the future rather than concentrating on the past. They conclude their discussion with the takeaway that a successful leader empowers their team, unlocking each individual’s leadership potential, often resulting in better outcomes for the organization.Today's Selected QuestionsHow do you provide feedback to others e.g. colleagues, staff, leadership?What is your favourite way to solve interpersonal conflicts or problems on your team?What does success leading others look like to you?Visit The Soft Skills Group to explore all our workshops to help you and your team in all aspects of communication.Social Media Links The Soft Skills Group | LinkedIn The Soft Skills Group | Twitter The Soft Skills Group | Instagram Diana Kawarsky | LinkedIn
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