Podcast Summary
Finding unexpected opportunities through flexibility and adaptability: Being open to new experiences and opportunities can lead to great rewards, as demonstrated by Jen Psaki's unexpected career path and flexible short-term health insurance plans from UnitedHealthcare and affordable at-home manicure system from Olive and June.
Flexibility and adaptability are key in achieving unexpected opportunities. Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary, shares in her book "Say More" that she never had a five-year plan or dreamed of becoming a press secretary. Instead, she found herself in the role after working at an art school and volunteering for the Arlington County Democratic Party. Similarly, UnitedHealthcare offers flexible, budget-friendly short-term health insurance plans for those in between jobs or starting a side hustle. And for those seeking a salon-quality manicure at home, Olive and June provides an affordable and quick solution with their manicure system. Whether it's in communication, health care, or beauty, being open to new experiences and opportunities can lead to great rewards.
Encouraging conversations can change lives: Constructive feedback is crucial for growth, but providing it as a female leader can be challenging. Encouraging conversations and taking risks are essential for personal development and mentoring others.
A single conversation with someone can significantly impact the course of one's life. This was the case for the speaker, who was encouraged to explore politics despite growing up in a politically apathetic family. Now, as a mentor, the speaker recognizes the importance of providing constructive feedback to help others grow, rather than simply praising them for their current abilities. The speaker also acknowledges the challenge of providing feedback as a female leader, avoiding the perception of being too assertive or domineering. Overall, the speaker's experiences have shaped their perspective on the importance of taking risks, growing through constructive feedback, and mentoring others to do the same.
Navigating challenging conversations in person: Effective communication in person is crucial for resolving misunderstandings and addressing subtle biases in the workplace. Social media has impacted our communication skills, making it essential to recognize and address this issue in personal and professional settings.
While progress has been made in reducing overt forms of sexism, subtle biases and exclusion still exist in the workplace, particularly for women in leadership positions. Communication skills have deteriorated in the age of social media, making it challenging to navigate conversations with people who hold incorrect beliefs or create conflict. Face-to-face conversations, despite being more difficult, are more effective in melting the ice and resolving misunderstandings compared to digital communication. It's essential to know when to engage and how to approach these conversations respectfully and assertively. The ability to communicate effectively in person has been impacted by the prevalence of social media, and it's crucial to recognize and address this issue in both personal and professional settings. For instance, dealing with a controversial family member like an "uncle Bob" can be challenging, but maintaining open lines of communication and addressing misinformation respectfully can help maintain relationships and promote understanding.
Engaging in constructive conversations about controversial topics: Respect others' points of view, find common ground, avoid assumptions, and approach conversations with empathy and understanding.
Every situation calls for a different approach when it comes to engaging in discussions about controversial topics. It's important to determine what's most constructive in the moment and not make it your job to debate with your haters 24 hours a day. Respecting others' points of view and finding common ground can lead to more productive conversations. As former President Barack Obama demonstrated, recognizing the need to lower the barrier of entry and listen to others can help build connections and find common ground, even in seemingly divisive situations. Additionally, avoiding assumptions and leaving space for finding commonality is essential. Ultimately, it's about being mindful of the situation and approaching conversations with empathy and understanding.
Valuing Different Perspectives: Listening to understand diverse viewpoints can build connections, broaden perspectives, and prevent identity theft. Engage in meaningful conversations and protect personal info online.
Listening to understand someone's perspective, even if you don't agree, can be valuable. It's important to remember that finding common ground and having conversations with those whose opinions differ from ours is essential for building connections and bridging divides. These conversations should take place in person or over platforms designed for meaningful dialogue, not just social media. Additionally, understanding the reasons behind someone's beliefs can help broaden our own perspectives and lead to new insights. Lastly, protecting personal information online is crucial to prevent identity theft. Services like Delete Me can help keep sensitive information private and secure.
Using clear and relatable language is key to effective communication: President Biden learned the importance of clear language for inclusive communication. Using terms like 'non filer' might exclude some people, so aim for clear, relatable, and engaging language to effectively engage and inform all audiences.
Using complicated language and jargon when communicating can exclude and alienate some people in your audience, making it harder for you to effectively engage and inform them. This was a lesson learned from President Biden, as shared in Sharyn's book. He noticed that using terms like "non filer" might make some people feel left out and inaccessible. Instead, aim to use language that is clear, relatable, and engaging, so that people are intrigued and want to learn more, regardless of their background or knowledge level. This approach can help ensure that your communication is inclusive and effective. Now, if you're concerned about your personal information being shared online, DeleteMe can help. They send monthly reports on where they've removed your data and make it easy for you to take control of your online privacy. As a special offer for our listeners, you can get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by going to join delete me dot com slash sharyn and using promo code sharyn at checkout. Don't miss out on this opportunity to protect your privacy and keep your personal information off the web.
Speak in a way that connects with your audience: Use relatable language and share humanizing stories to build connections and foster understanding
Effective communication involves speaking in a way that connects with your audience, rather than using jargon or complex language that excludes or confuses them. This is important because making people feel stupid or excluded doesn't encourage curiosity or a desire to learn more. Instead, it's important to remember that everyone is an expert in different things and to speak in a way that is accessible and relatable. Additionally, sharing humanizing stories about people in positions of power can help build connections and foster understanding. For example, when people ask about what Joe Biden is like, rather than simply discussing his policies, sharing personal stories about his human side can help create a more nuanced and relatable image.
Presidency's Price: Loss of Privacy and Normalcy: The presidency comes with immense privileges, but also a significant loss of privacy and normal interaction with people, making it a heavy sacrifice for those who hold the office.
Being the President of the United States comes with immense privileges, but also a significant disconnection from normalcy and constant scrutiny. I worked for two presidents, Barack Obama and an unnamed one, and both experienced a mourning for the loss of privacy and normal interaction with people. Even simple actions like going for a walk or visiting a bookstore became impossible without a security detail. The pressure and scrutiny are relentless, and the impact on privacy is a sacrifice that not all presidents fully understand or appreciate. Mistakes are inevitable, and admitting and correcting them is a necessary part of being human, but in the public eye, it can be perceived as a sign of weakness or incompetence.
Admitting mistakes makes you stronger: Admitting mistakes shows confidence and humility, improves credibility, and moves conversations forward
Admitting mistakes can make you stronger and more credible, rather than weaker. It shows confidence and humility, and can help defuse tense situations. When you make a mistake, continuing to communicate about it and taking steps to rectify it can also improve your credibility and move the conversation forward. Avoiding or aggressively defending mistakes, on the other hand, can make things worse. The ability to admit when you're wrong is a valuable skill in both personal and professional relationships. It's important to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and how we handle them can have a significant impact on how others perceive us.
Focus on excelling and seeking feedback to become better communicators: New grads should focus on their current role, seek feedback, prepare for situations, and strive to make people feel valued through effective communication
Effective communication is not just about getting the facts right, but also making people feel that you are credible, humble, and putting in the effort. For new college graduates starting their careers, focusing on excelling in their current role and seeking feedback from colleagues are crucial steps to becoming better communicators. Preparation is also essential for every situation, be it a meeting or a job interview, as it shows dedication and professionalism. Remember, the key to communication is not just what you say, but how you make people feel.
Focus on current job and ask for more responsibilities: Master your job, seek more responsibilities, write thank you notes, and seek advice from experts for professional growth.
Recent college graduates should focus on mastering the job they currently have and ask for more responsibilities to advance in their careers. This simple yet effective strategy can lead to bigger opportunities. Another important tip is to write handwritten thank you notes as they make a significant impact. Additionally, seeking advice and feedback from others, especially from sources like Adam Grant's books and podcast, can help improve communication skills and overall professional growth. The book "Say More" by Jen Psaki is written for those who wish to learn from the experiences of someone 20 years their senior, and the lessons within can benefit individuals of all ages.