#mental fitness

Fielding Q&As from prospective clients, CEOS, or investors induces fear and stomach pain in the most confident presenters. For those working to build their courage, the fear of the unknown in these moments can paralyze. But in this week's podcast, we're offering phrases, come backs, and even tweaks to your mindset to help sail through that moment with ease.

We also tackle  this week on Medium, three of the more popular myths on Q&As which can induce panic  after we pitch or present our ideas. So, take a read and for anyone needing this vital help, please pass it on!

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.  I'm currently seeking group coaching clients for new launches of new communications and mental fitness workshops and programs. Stay tuned for those releases with the hashtag #bravecommunicators. 

Around half of Americans, Brits, and Australians are on the hunt for new jobs. Figures are scant elsewhere; but if my coaching base stays reflective of communicators, I'd say those numbers feel about right. But if a job interview awaits us, what myths exist on how we show up as communicators?

In this week's podcast, I debunk the biggest myths I see plaguing communicators starting with this idea that researching about the company becomes the most important task or that researching ought to consume us. Not true. Getting grounded, peaceful, and taking time to truly celebrate our achievements becomes the most vital move. Of course research becomes vital; but keep a cap on things and stay strategic, too. 

If you want more tips and techniques on staying calm, centered, and sailing through your next job interview (for an internal or external role) then you may find my article on Medium offers some respite and insight, too.

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.  Know a job seeker? Please forward this episode on to share the love and wisdom. 

My guest this week is entrepreneur and coffee e-retailer Brad Peugh who (through the height of the Pandemic) launched his e-retailer selling (what I find to be) the best coffee in America.

Brad's drawing from two major life experiences to launch Peugh's Brews: His time in the Air Force where he learned resilience, problem solving, but also exposure to the world's best coffee and intriguing cultures. He's also leaning in on expert organizational skills he uses daily as a program manager.

Listen in to hear Brad's journey and what he's learned along the way--wisdom you can apply to your own career change and/or venture.

Read up and even order coffee from Peugh's Brews by clicking here. Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.  

With the Great Return underway--and 50% of businesses demanding workers return to the office--politics are running amok. What's the bigger cry for help? Staying calm, focused, and centered when leaders hijack our meetings or presentations (and especially when external parties watch on.)

Fret not. This week's podcast episode offers tried-and-tested tips and techniques which other communicators have found yield positive, uplifting results.

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website. Please share this podcast episode with anyone you know needing/wanting communications help. Let's help humanity by tackling communications, one challenge at a time. 

Last month marked my fifth year living in the U.S. midwestern state of Wisconsin, one of America's most frigidly cold states.  I’ve found surprising gifts from the long, drawn-out colder temps which can linger through to May. (Last week, we froze for days. Yesterday: snow!)

In this week’s episode, I’m celebrating Wisconsin and what I learned about myself and my situation from a cooler climate. By that, I’m applying the Sage perspective I bring to my life and coaching: finding gifts, opportunities, and even knowledge, within tricky situations.

A few resources enrich this week's podcast including my article on Medium, a documentary I produced on ice fishing for National Public Radio from Wisconsin.

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website. Please share this podcast episode with anyone you know needing/wanting communications help. Let's help humanity by tackling communications, one challenge at a time. 

As we transition back to the office, we bring with us our fears and discomfort with public speaking. Having overcome this fear myself, I've a few tips and techniques (which include mental fitness approaches) and ideas I've co-created with coachees/leaders from all over the globe. 

Have a listen to this week's podcast and see how differently you feel from taking baby steps each week to get out of your mind, into your body, and keep your audience front of mind.  My earlier podcast on not letting our Judge take over in these high-stakes moments might spark something as well.

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website. Please share this podcast episode with anyone you know needing/wanting communications help. Let's help humanity by tackling communications, one challenge at a time. 

In this week’s podcast, we unpack (with the help of my dear coachees) some helpful strategies for the world’s biggest, most looming business communication problems.

I gather (then share) recurring themes and patterns I've noticed from hundreds of individual coaching sessions and the recurring learning: Communication problems become personal problems, but also room for growing confidence — and courage, as you’ll hear today.

Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website. And please share this podcast episode with anyone you know needing/wanting some communications help. Let's help humanity by tackling communications, one challenge at a time. 

This week, on February 23, many countries, including Canada and the U.S. honored Anti-Bullying Day as a way to stand against bullying. Countries like New Zealand honor Anti-Bullying Day in May and of course more honoring occurs with national bullying prevention month in October here in the states. 

As someone who’s been a target of workplace bullying, I’m curious how this phenomena impacts us at work, home, and how we communicate, especially now with workplace bullying on the rise. 

With that, I’ve invited to my show  Lida Citroen. She’s a Colorado-based speaker and TEDx Speaker, an Executive Coach, author, and LinkedIn Learning Instructor.  As part of her work, Lida coaches executives on multiple challenges, including managing and responding to workplace bullying and mobbing. 

You can read more about workplace bullying here. Find Lida via her website. Connect with me, Coach Debbi McCullough, about your group's communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website. 

Meeting fatigue has leaders all over grappling with sadness, loss, and questions about life. Cognitive overload from staring at screens create other struggles. Communication challenges range from shutting down when faced with ad-hoc questions and fading executive presence. But there's ways to turn the ship around by managing your schedule with love vs. fear.

In this week's podcast, we're unpacking ways to challenge your fixed mindset around saying 'yes' to all meetings using a fun and loving hybrid of communications coaching and mental fitness techniques. You can find the article on Medium here.

Interested in group coaching and training with D G McCullough? Set up some time to share with me your communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.

The world never stands still when we lead. Life continues swirling around us and I notice this point when coaching and training leaders on written and oral communications.

They know: to lead well, they must address whatever obstacles prevent them from leading from a clear, compelling place. (I feel so happy and honored to help.) In this ongoing series, I’m sharing the most pressing and/or memorable problems leaders come to me with each month— and how we turn things around.

This episode tackles three big communication challenges: How do I ask about love? (And especially when someone doesn't say "I love you.") How do I manage meetings as a new manager? How do I stand up to a bullying boss? I've published an editorial version of this episode here via Medium.

Interested in group (or individual) coaching with D G McCullough? Set up some time to share with me your communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.

In this week's podcast, I take the interviewee vs. interviewer seat. Charles Jett, a Chicago, Il. based career coach, interviews me on PQ Podcast, a weekly podcast exploring the ways that mental fitness (our ability to rebound with a positive vs. negative mindset) helps us in life.

In this interview, Charles asks me how I apply this magical tool to my communications, my life, and my energizing work as a communications coach helping leaders all over the globe to manage their fears and find their own unique, authentic brew of executive presence. The web link for the PQ Podcast and this interview lives here, if you'd like to follow the delightful series after today. 

Interested in group (or individual) coaching with D G McCullough? Set up some time to share with me your communication challenges by clicking here. Or, do visit my LinkedIn profile and website.

The mass resignation--millions of workers leaving their jobs in hopes of a better life and purpose--offers us gifts and opportunities as communicators. We can learn something from this global phenomenon, too. In this week's podcast, we explore what I hear and learn from thoughtful and strategic communicators all over the world.

You can read my article on Medium this week on how to craft a compelling branding statement. (Many communicators see these wobbly times as an opportunity for creating a first branding statement (or recasting how a robotic or stale statement looks and sounds. Hint, but no pressure: Now's the time for getting bold!)

And if you're keen to unpack your biggest communication challenge with me (or learn more about branding statements, narrative coaching, or storytelling) do so by clicking here or visit my LinkedIn profile and website.