SPEAK LIKE A CEO

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 Stage0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication2:34 The Power of Storytelling6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice31:21 Outro & ResourcesGet 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.⏰ CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction01:33 - Meet Dr. Vanessa Druskat & The Power of Team Emotional Intelligence04:25 - Why Individual EQ Isn’t Enough for Teams07:20 - The Relationship Between IQ and EQ10:09 - What Should Leaders Look for When Hiring?13:09 - The Three Essential Team Norms15:46 - Norm 1: Building Belonging & Trust19:22 - Norm 2: Creating Shared Purpose & Direction22:11 - Norm 3: Reaching Outside the Team25:20 - Is Team EQ Catching On?28:18 - How to Measure and Improve Team EQ31:00 - The Impact of Leadership and Culture Change34:00 - The Future: AI, Teams, and Emotional Intelligence37:00 - Vanessa’s Best Communication Advice39:00 - Wrap Up & Where to Learn MoreEnjoy 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/resourcesGet your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ 

Many leaders sound inauthentic, robotic or fake.It’s true: As a leader, it’s hard to sound authentic – to be real, relatable, and trusted. Some messages may come across as too corporate, others as too casual. The result is the same: there’s a gap between what you want to say and what your people hear. To close that gap, I’m joined by David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group, one of the biggest names in global publishing, with more than 220 million books sold annually.He’s raw, real, and incredibly believable – and he shows us what authentic leadership communication sounds like at scale.Get your 50 Presentation Hacks here: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/00:00 Introduction & Authentic Leadership00:32 Open Office & Company Culture01:39 Industry Changes & Inclusivity02:27 Feedback & Growth Mindset07:54 Diversity & Changing the Story10:27 Business Growth & Pillars of Success12:14 Understanding Consumers14:50 Building Trust & Communication Channels19:23 Transparency vs. Confidentiality22:34 The Future of Publishing26:03 Advice for Aspiring Authors28:49 Leadership, Communication, and Final Advice38:35 Closing Remarks