Improve Your Body Language And Communication Skills

The BBC series The Traitors is the ultimate murder/mystery game which has gripped audiences not just here in the UK but around the world.

The show follows a group of strangers who are brought together to compete in a series of challenges. But what they don't know is that some of them have been chosen as traitors by the producers, and their task is to deceive and sabotage the others without getting caught. The remaining contestants must work together to uncover the traitors and eliminate them from the game, ultimately hoping to win up to £120,000.

Originally created in the Netherlands, The Traitors combines elements of reality TV, game shows, and whodunnit mysteries. As the contestants battle it out in challenges, alliances are formed and broken, secrets are revealed, and tensions rise throughout the castle.

We're fascinated with the programme as it highlights so many areas which we talk about in our training. From body language (what are their non-verbal cues revealing?) to their communication skills (does being defensive mark them out as traitors when they're not?)

If you're a fan of the show, or if you're just interested in how human behaviour can change when we're under pressure, have a listen to the latest Body Talk podcast with Richard and Alina. 

We talk about the stress signals the contestants are showing, why the traitors were slipping under the radar at first, how the contestants built trust but so easily destroyed it and why certain personality types were misunderstood.

In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, we're talking about resilience, storytelling, and creative peacebuilding with a remarkable guest.

Honey Al Sayed founded Honey&, a leading agency focused on human development and the visionary behind MAP – Media and Arts for Peace.

Honey presented "Good Morning Syria" for seven years, captivating over 7 million listeners. But her path hasn't always been smooth. Displaced by war multiple times, Honey's journey is marked by resilience, determination, and commitment to improving the world.

In 2012, Honey relocated to the United States, where she became a sought-after speaker at academic institutions across the US and Europe, all while advocating for women's leadership, youth empowerment, and the transformative role of media and arts in building lasting peace.

We delve into Honey's incredible life journey and explore key themes that have shaped her path:

• Staying resilient after being displaced: Discover how Honey has turned adversity into a source of strength.
• Experience as a broadcaster: The power of storytelling through the eyes of a seasoned broadcaster.
• Pivoting through different roles: How Honey transitioned between diverse roles and industries.
• Creative peacebuilding: Using media and the arts to foster peace and understanding.

Do you ever feel tense and anxious when an important or difficult conversation arises? Do you then find it hard to express your thoughts and feelings? If this sounds familiar, Talib Fisher’s insights on working through conflict can help you understand how to approach disagreements and conflict at work and in your personal life. 

Talib is a therapist specialising in relational and trauma resolutions. In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, he shares his experiences of integrating understandings from Eastern and Western philosophies to help us find areas of opportunity in the way we communicate, our emotional intelligence and how we can be more empathic.

This episode of the Body Talk podcast is all about the power of your voice and how it can make or break your message. We've all experienced those moments when someone walks into a room and effortlessly captures everyone's attention with their voice. But how do they do it? And why do some people struggle to get their message across, even if they're saying all the right things?

To answer these questions, Alina spoke to voice expert Emmanuella Grace. Emmanuella has a background in performance and psychology and is a coach, speaker, and facilitator in the mental, physical, and creative skills to speak up and communicate with clarity, confidence, and poise.

In this episode, Emmanuella shares her insights on how to use your voice in the world of business and covers everything from speed and pitch to mindset and vocal fry.

Here’s a special episode in our podcast series where the founder of Body Talk and this podcast series, Richard Newman, chats to Alina about his new book – Lift Your Impact!

Richard has been running his own LIFT podcast alongside this series for well over a year and, at the same time, has been working on the book to support it. LIFT is all about getting yourself in a great place so you can lift yourself and others.

The book is aimed at people from all walks of life who want to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life, leaving a legacy they are proud of. We talked about the hero’s journey, taking risks, mindset, influence and much more!

Use this link if you’d like to pre-order your copy of the book:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1265086141?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KCPGRTKQ5PP209G02YD0

You can also book your place at our inspiring LIFT Retreat. For two decades, we have delivered professional development at Body Talk. Last year we launched personal development with the LIFT retreat to help you overcome challenges and lift your life. Use this link for more information and to book and use code LIFT950 for a huge discount! https://liftyourimpact.com/

Is 2023 the year you look to gain a promotion or find a new role? Perhaps you've been putting off that discussion about a salary increase. All of these situations require you to be at the top of your communication game because we all know interviews and salary negotiations can be a little uncomfortable and sometimes intimidating. 

Someone who has a wealth of insight into these areas is Don Gatewood.

Don has led several non-profit initiatives in Detroit and Washington DC over the last 23 years. He’s led large teams, program operations, strategic planning, accounting, communications, compliance regulations as well fundraising for several organizations including American Red Cross and Goodwill Industries. Don is also the co-founder and CEO of The Initiative Baltimore; a Professional Leadership Consultant, and the host of the podcast-- Leadership and Professional Development.

In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, Don lends his expertise to best practices for job interviews and salary negotiations, staying resilient through challenging times, and also his experience as a distinguished toastmaster.

In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, we’re talking about leadership and ways that you can flourish in a senior role and inspire your team.

For anyone who is on the leadership path or has been on that journey, we know it’s tough. There are constant hurdles to overcome, not least from the pressures we put on ourselves.

Susan Brady is the Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership at Simmons University in Boston and the first Chief Executive Officer of The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership.

The Institute develops the mindset and skills of leaders at all stages of life to foster gender parity and cultures of inclusion. Susan is a relationship expert and leadership well-being coach; she educates leaders and executives globally on fostering self-awareness to get the best out of themselves and others. 

She is also a speaker and author - having written three books on leadership. Her most recent, Arrive & Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership, was released in April 2022 and landed on the best-seller list in the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today.

We explore how women can thrive in leadership roles, how you can foster a culture of belonging and inclusion and what to do when your inner critic starts to take over.

There's lots of talk these days about neurodiversity, and for good reason. As our understanding of the brain grows, we're beginning to see just how complex and varied it can be. But what does that mean for the workplace? How can businesses embrace neurodiversity and create an environment where everyone can thrive?

Neurodiversity is the term used to describe the natural diversity of brain function and wiring. It includes conditions like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and dyslexia. Many businesses are now beginning to understand that neurodiversity can be a source of strength, creativity, and innovation, but there's still more to be done to fully include people who are neurodiverse in the workforce.

John Boileau has been with the NHS for 20 years with a background in transformation and change. He currently works for The NHS Transformation Unit, which works in partnership with other NHS organisations to transform health and care outcomes for people and communities. Over the past two years, John has led programmes of work related to neurodiversity, in addition to being diagnosed with ADHD himself.

His professional and personal experience has inspired him to set up a business talking to organisations about neuroinclusivity, and we asked John to come on the Body Talk podcast so he could share his insights. Listen in to discover what neurodiversity is, why it's important for employers and businesses and how a greater awareness can help your business and team thrive.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a test of resilience for everyone. Loved ones have been lost, lives have been changed, and businesses have gone under. The global economy continues to be in flux, with rising inflation and energy bills putting pressure on finances.  Many of us have had to grapple with the impact of the pandemic, and now there is the potential for further hardships and uncertainty ahead. 

But it is possible for businesses and individuals to weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side. The key is resilience. 

What does resilience mean? Resilience is the ability to overcome adversity and bounce back quickly from difficulties. It’s about having a positive mindset, being adaptable and finding ways to keep going when times are tough. 

In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, Richard and Alina discuss how we can build resilience during challenging times. Richard also shares his personal story of how he kept what had always been a face-to-face training business afloat during lockdown and how the experience made himself and the company stronger.

Your voice is a powerful tool – you can use it to motivate and inspire change in others. When we use our voice well in business, it can help us to connect with our audience and to get our message across with clarity and confidence.

All sounds good, right? But many people don’t like the sound of their own voice. They might speak quietly, quickly, too high, or maybe monotone.

If you're not confident about your voice, or you simply want to improve how you sound when speaking to an audience, this podcast is for you.

Our guest in this episode of the Body Talk podcast is David Tyler. David is a communication expert, speaker, and voice-over talent based in Montreal, Canada. He has decades of experience in TV & radio broadcasting and voice-over and has been helping companies communicate their ideas for over 30 years. 

Whether you're a business professional, a teacher, an entrepreneur or someone who wants to improve your speaking voice, we discuss techniques and tips to help improve the sound of your voice so that you can feel more confident and get your message across more effectively.