SPEAK LIKE A CEO

Download your copy of the 21 Storytelling Frameworks guide:
https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver

Have you ever been told to "fake it till you make it" or “just be yourself"? It's no surprise this common advice doesn't work – it focuses on acting confident instead of becoming confident.
This episode breaks down Oliver’s three-step method that helps you build true confidence so you’re not overthinking or over-preparing for every presentation. You'll learn why you get so nervous in the first place, the common mistake that causes people to freeze, and how to calm your anxiety so you can speak confidently under pressure as a leader.

Topics discussed:
Bad public speaking advice (01:22)
How perfectionism fuels imposter syndrome (03:33)
Limiting beliefs that hold you back (04:04)
The foundation of being a confident speaker (05:07)
The 3-step BMW method (06:37)
Why scripts don’t work and what to do instead (09:02)
Strategies that build true confidence (10:56)

Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/

Communication problems don’t always start with words. From misinterpretation to slow execution, you can say all the right things and still be misunderstood.
Trust expert Stephen M. R. Covey has seen great organizations experience this for one reason: lack of trust. In this episode, he shares why trust is the foundation of communication and a true driver of performance. You'll hear powerful leadership lessons from Ford, Campbell's, and Hugo Boss, so you can build a culture of trust that moves faster.

Topics discussed:
What most leaders get wrong about trust (00:34)
The difference between low and high-trust cultures (04:09)
How leaders can build the skill of trust (07:11)
High-trust behaviors vs. counterfeit behaviors (09:19)
The first step to changing trust dynamics as a leader (11:48)
Alan Mulally and Ford case study (14:31)
Distrust in the age of AI: what leaders can do (17:36)
Why leaders should declare intent: the Campbell’s story (21:00)
Why trust must be both earned and given (24:52)
The #1 reason employees don’t trust their leaders (26:32)

Learn more about Stephen M. R. Covey and his book, The Speed of Trust: https://speedoftrust.com/

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-m-r-covey-6400191a5/

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/

Most women are taught to be nice and agreeable, but that comes at a cost in the workplace.
In this episode, Kate Mason, author of Powerfully Likeable: A Woman's Guide to Effective Communication, challenges the idea that women have to choose between being likeable and powerful at work. 
You'll learn how to define your authentic communication style, bring warmth without losing authority, and find calm confidence even in high-stakes rooms.

Topics discussed:
Why “likable vs. powerful” is a false choice (00:33)
How to define your own communication style (03:02)
Ways we diminish our authenticity (06:24)
Saying “no” and setting boundaries without guilt (08:18)
The failure privilege and who is "allowed" to fail (10:52)
What to do when you’re afraid to speak up (13:07)
Managing perfectionism and over-preparation (15:58)
The mindset shift that helps women "steal space" in powerful rooms (19:21)
The biggest challenge women face in the workplace (22:43)
The first step: audit your communication strengths (24:56)
Authentic communication and why it matters in the workplace (26:42)
Self-regulation to find your calm, confident self (30:46)

Connect with Kate Mason:
https://www.katemason.co/
https://www.instagram.com/drkatemason/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemasonphd/

Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: ⁠https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/⁠

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

If you’ve ever felt your heart race before a presentation, struggled to find the right words in a high-stakes conversation, or worried you’re not being heard at work, this episode is for you.

My guest is Matt Abrahams, a world expert in communication, Stanford lecturer, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. 

In this episode, he shares a powerful, practical approach to overcoming the most common challenges in public speaking and everyday communication.
We explore how to manage anxiety, stop over-relying on slides, and shift from performance mode to connection mode. Matt explains why memorizing a script often makes us more nervous and offers a better alternative: structure over script. 
He breaks down how to recover gracefully when your mind goes blank, eliminate filler words like “umm” and “you know,” and use storytelling to make your message more memorable and persuasive. 
We also dive into how to be seen and heard at work without sounding self-promotional, and how to build spontaneous speaking skills that make meetings and conversations feel less stressful and more natural.
Enjoy this masterclass in how to speak up – without freaking out.

0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage
0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication
2:34 The Power of Storytelling
6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence
17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility
21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls
29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice
31:21 Outro & Resources

Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

If your team is smart, talented, and experienced – but still isn’t performing as they should – this episode is your wake-up call. Because the problem isn’t your people… it’s the norms driving how they interact.
Today, you’re going to learn how to build team emotional intelligence on demand — the kind that unlocks trust, psychological safety, and fast alignment. If you want to lead a top 1% team, this is the playbook.
In this must-listen episode, Oliver is joined by Dr. Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist, long-time collaborator of Daniel Goleman, and co-author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team – one of the most important leadership books of the year.
We unpack why focusing on individuals is no longer enough, how to embed emotional intelligence into your team’s daily habits, the 3 essential norms that separate average teams from extraordinary ones, and how to measure and improve your team’s EQ, starting now.
Vanessa offers a science-backed, deeply practical framework to create high-performing, human-centered teams – even in high-pressure, fast-changing environments.

⏰ CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:33 - Meet Dr. Vanessa Druskat & The Power of Team Emotional Intelligence
04:25 - Why Individual EQ Isn’t Enough for Teams
07:20 - The Relationship Between IQ and EQ
10:09 - What Should Leaders Look for When Hiring?
13:09 - The Three Essential Team Norms
15:46 - Norm 1: Building Belonging & Trust
19:22 - Norm 2: Creating Shared Purpose & Direction
22:11 - Norm 3: Reaching Outside the Team
25:20 - Is Team EQ Catching On?
28:18 - How to Measure and Improve Team EQ
31:00 - The Impact of Leadership and Culture Change
34:00 - The Future: AI, Teams, and Emotional Intelligence
37:00 - Vanessa’s Best Communication Advice
39:00 - Wrap Up & Where to Learn More

Enjoy the episode!

Leave us your comments and ideas. We want to know what you think.

You can find the "Team EI Quick Survey" mentioned in the episode here: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/resources

Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/