009 Story: Finding my leadership voice, with Nina Sunday

In Ep 008, I share the story of a pivotal moment when I was just 20 years old and a university student with a part-time job delivering sales presentations to groups in response to advertising. One evening I found myself suddenly and unexpectedly with a full house, including standing room only. Although it felt daunting, I successfully delivered the presentation and collected deposits for future workshops. Next day my elation quickly turned to dismay when my manager accused me of losing the business money due to ineffective crowd management. I consider this my first “scar” in business that manifested years later as Avoidant manager behaviour dealing with my own direct reports; all because of a limiting belief. I wouldn’t speak up about the little things in case team members got angry and decided to leave (as she had done as a 20-year old). My example was the salesperson with the condescending and disrespectful tone of voice. I suffered in silence rather than point out my emotional discomfort to how they spoke to me. Reflecting on my journey in business, I've come to realize the importance of authentic communication and addressing friction directly. I recount an instance where I trusted my intuition to address a hiring mistake, highlighting the power of honesty and authenticity in leadership. I emphasize the need for managers to confront uncomfortable interactions promptly and honestly, rather than pursuing artificial harmony. Finding a balance between being too laissez-faire and overly hands-off versus micromanaging is crucial. Ultimately, I encourage listeners to cultivate social sensitivity, assertiveness, and authenticity in their communication. By doing so, we create a positive work culture where everyone feels valued and heard, including the boss or business owner. ABOUT NINA SUNDAY CSP Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninasunday/ Ask a question or suggest a topic for the podcast. Listen to my Leadership podcast, Manage Self, Lead Others Apple podcasts HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/manage-self-lead-others-emotional-intelligence-and/id1524749762 Audio episodes via your favourite app HERE: https://link.chtbl.com/-MXiwEWK Youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@manageselfleadotherspodcast?sub-confirmation=1 Invite me to speak in person on Leadership and Business at your conference https://www.ninasunday.com Next live online workshop through Brainpower Training Pty Ltd https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/signature-programs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices