Posts Tagged ‘Leaders’

Harnessing the Power of Total Confidence

Monday, June 20th, 2011 by Connie Dieken

Tim Sanders is a confidence guru. A New York Times bestselling author, riveting keynote speaker and former Yahoo executive, Tim has written a compelling new book called Today We Are Rich: Harnessing the Power of Total Confidence that’s loaded with insights on how to develop unshakable confidence in a shaky world. The book is based on the timeless wisdom he gleaned from his grandmother.

Tim’s take-aways in our recent podcast interview came fast and furious.  He challenges your assumptions and can forever change how you approach confidence, scarcity thinking and relational equity.

Among the many take-aways, you’ll discover:

  • The 3 elements of a leader’s confidence
  • The difference between confidence and narcissism
  • How to cultivate confidence in others
  • What to feed your mind every day
  • Why scarcity thinking is an airborne disease that you catch from fools
  • How a “Chicken Little” mentality can be your downfall
  • How to get the “A” team assigned to any idea or project you pitch
  • How to attract success in the “Wow Economy”
  • Why criticism delivered to your face is a gift
  • Why you must stand against things as well as for things to be confident
  • Why a recession is like a Nascar race – and how to win when the flag drops

Tim’s Toolkit

I encourage you to download the transcript of my interview with Tim. You can read his remarkable interview insights here:

Download the Transcription

The iTunes podcast audio recording is also an option, which you can download here:

Listen to the Podcast (iTunes)

Sadly, the podcast is a bit difficult to hear. Turns out, Tim’s audio recorded pretty low. As hard as my team tried to boost Tim’s audio level and diminish mine, you’ll need good speakers to hear his answers comfortably. I suggest the PDF as a great option so you don’t miss out on any of Tim’s business acuity or get your ears blown off by my higher audio level.

Where to Learn More About Tim Sanders

If you’re a leader who wants to be more confident and people-centric, I wholeheartedly urge you to pick up a copy of Today We Are Rich: Harnessing the Power of Total Confidence.

You can download a free chapter of the book and learn more about Tim here.

You can also pick up a copy at bookstores or order it by clicking on this Amazon link which takes you directly to the book.

Tim’s an indispensable resource for any leader or organization wanting to develop strong relationships that lead to better business performance. You might also enjoy his previous bestsellers, including Love is the Killer App.

You Write. We Reward.

Would you like to win an autographed copy of Today We Are Rich? Tim has kindly provided a copy for one of our Influential Leader readers. Simply add a comment to the blog, sharing what you found valuable about Tim’s interview, and I’ll pick a winner and get the autographed copy in the mail to you!

Stop Selling Yourself Short – Be a Confident Communicator

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 by Connie Dieken

Being a confident communicator who influences others is a choice you make each and every day.  Every time you attempt to sell an idea, product, or service, you can choose to:

A) Own your message and go all in, or
B) Wimp out by watering down, withholding, or collapsing to the competition.

I was the queen of watering down when I launched my business ten years ago.  I’d like to think my intentions were honorable – I wanted to get along with everyone in my industry and I didn’t want to sound too full of myself.  But by diminishing my messages about how potential clients could benefit from working with me,  I sold myself short. Worst yet, I missed opportunities to contribute and help leaders learn to influence at the top of their game.

What about you?  Are you selling yourself short? Perhaps you could learn a lesson from this little girl:

Motivational Girl Speech

I’m on a mission to help you become a more confident communicator – every bit as motivated and self-assured as the little girl in the video.  Confident communicators influence others and make things happen. Let me ground you with a few communi-truths:

  1. Confidence is the expectation of a positive outcome. It’s the opposite of negativity.  Confidence requires that you tackle and wrestle your inner critic to the ground so you project an outlook every bit as positive as the little girl in the video. Don’t choose to be road kill. Confidence is situational – expect a positive outcome in a specific situation, motivate yourself to attain it, and deliver your message to the world, unabashed. You’ll exude executive presence.
  2. Confidence stays in the moment. Maybe the product or service you sell has an imperfect past.  So what?  Every product/service worth its weight in gold has been beta tested and improved in stages.  Stop looking behind you and sounding apologetic as you dwell on past imperfections. Great ideas are a work in progress – your job is to stay in the moment and deliver the here and now.
  3. Own your message or your competition will own you. Don’t let the competition define you by telling cautionary tales to potential customers.  That’s the negative comparison trap.  Instead, spread your own message.  Communicate your unique success stories and watch people gain trust in you.

Confident communicators don’t sell themselves short when they face pushbacks. They don’t come across as defeated when challenged.  Instead, they move the ball forward and confidently change minds, resulting in a win-win for all involved. Now get out there and influence your world!