The Great Canadian Leadership Podcast

What Does it Take to be a MasterChef?

How do you bring out your best when under pressure? And what if that moment is in front of millions watching?  What do you do? What do you focus on? 

This episode can help as we talk with Michael Varga on how he handled the pressure of being in the spotlight, the importance of vulnerability and why not trying to please everyone was key.  

We also discuss how he deals with recently being promoted into a leadership role and the transition from being a part of the team to now leading it. Where it used to be, “Hey Mike…” to now, “Lieutenant, can I do this?” 

Our guest Michael Varga is a MasterChef Canada finalist, Chopped Canada Winner, and Vancouver Fire & Rescue Lieutenant. Michael competed on the reality television show Chopped Canada, taking home the title of Champion and earning high praise from Iron Chef Susur Lee. On MasterChef Canada, Michael went on to become a finalist, and the opportunity to work with several talented chefs elevated his skills and pushed his limits in the kitchen. A seasoned Vancouver firefighter, he also heads the Fire in Your Kitchen program for the Vancouver firefighter’s charitable society, cooking private dinners that are auctioned off for charity. For more on Michael and recipe ideas, check out his Instagram site Varga Cooks. 
 

This episode is about dealing with the spotlight moment and why being genuine is important to connecting with your audience, whether it be 1 person or 1 million. 

 

Our next episode, we are answering your questions on communication and leadership.  Do you have a question or comment? 

Send us an email podcast@greatcanadiantraining.ca 

How Do You Inspire A Shared Vision?

Inspiring others sounds great - so how does one do that? And how do you share your vision? This is the challenge. When you hear the words ‘inspire’ and ‘vision’, it’s hard to grasp, it feels abstract.

In this episode, our guest Arminda Gonzalez Dumpierrez is here to deconstruct the abstract, to make it real and tangible. She clearly shows us the ways you can inspire and share your vision, and how important this is as the next step in leadership and communication.

Arminda Gonzalez Dumpierrez has been guiding business leaders for over 20 years. She is currently the head of talent transformation for one of the largest employers in Canada, Walmart Canada. Her international business education spans 3 continents, including teaching global business courses at the post-graduate level. Over the span of her career, Arminda has had the opportunity to run her own start up as well as manage the strategy operations of a multinational corporation. She combines the visionary and practical in moving people and teams toward success www.linkedin.com/in/armindadumpierrez

There are many advantages, from a business perspective, of the ROI of being able to communicate clearly, ask good questions, and speaking a common language, that make people feel involved and motivated towards a common goal (or what’s in it for them).

Selling Isn’t What You Think It Is

If you have to sell an idea or a product, do you immediately think, “I don’t want to be pushy!”? For most of us that’s a firm YES!

Fair enough, we’ve all had salespeople and leaders overwhelm us with facts and features, yet not even take a breath, let alone ask us a question. If you are a leader or anyone trying sell a new behaviour, idea or product, finding the best way to connect and influence can feel daunting. In this episode, our guest is Kira Callahan, an expert in sales conversations, who will guide you with different perspectives, confidence and skills to be more authentic and connect with your customer or whoever your audience happens to be.

Kira Callahan is the founder of Conversation Gym. She has had the pleasure of coaching more than 6,000 financial professionals to master their sales conversations and build a thriving practice they love. Kira is an expert in coaching high achieving executives, managers and salespeople to connect with and persuade their audiences. In the past twenty years, Kira has facilitated workshops and personally coached professionals from front-line to VP and was a regular business blogger for the Huffington Post.

For more on Kira and Conversation Gym

We discuss:

-How to focus on your intention vs your objective (MUST SELL!)

-How to be persuasive by earning the trust and connecting

-How to sell your value first, not the product or idea.

And the importance of preparation and safety in your interactions.

 

• Want to learn more skills to communicate with confidence and clarity? Sign up for our next public sessions on June 8^th, August 25^th, October 31^st or November 24^thhttps://courses.greatcanadiantraining.ca/understanding-and-developing-effective-communication-strategy-skills/

Do you want to book a private session for your team or organization? Contact us at info@greatcanadiantraining.ca for more information

Can Giving Feedback Be Fun?

Are you ready to confidently deliver thoughtful & actionable feedback? Um, not quite? This episode will make it easier for you.

“When giving feedback, it’s not what you say; people get defensive because of why they think you’re saying it”. 

We share the strategies you need to deliver feedback that is motivational, not confrontational! And isn’t it more fun when giving feedback that is helpful, focused on recognition and growth of the other person?

As always, we have our 3 stars at the end AND we’re also sharing:

• TOP 6 reasons why feedback is not fun
• TOP 6 ways to make your feedback effective

Listen in as our host Joel Silverstone shares some simple techniques you can use immediately to give feedback like a leader, not a critic.

• Do you want more on giving effective feedback? Join us and register for our free webinar: “Give Feedback Like a Leader, Not a Critic” on October 19^th, 2022 
• Do you want to build your feedback skills and confidence? Sign up for our next public sessions: "Great Leadership Conversations Means Feedback"  on July 15th, August 8th, or September 1^st: 
• Do you want to book a private session for your team or organization? Contact us at info@greatcanadiantraining.ca for more information.

 

Presentation Secrets from a Sports Broadcaster

Presentation jitters? How can you feel more comfortable and confident when presenting?

This episode can help with some tips and techniques to communicate your thoughts in front of an audience from 1 to millions. Our guest is John Horn, who shares 20+ years of sports broadcasting experience on what it takes to be prepared, ask the right questions and share your story in a way that engages an audience.

John Horn  is a veteran in the sports broadcasting and sports production industries working in Canada, the United States and around the world. You may have seen or heard John on ESPN, CBC, TSN, WTA, FIBA, MLB Network, Global TV, DAZN, GBE, Tennis Channel and others. John has interviewed athletes and celebrities throughout North America, including LeBron James, Sidney Crosby, Larry King, Dan Marino, Wayne Gretzky, Pete Rose and Michael J. Fox.

We discuss:

-How does John interview athletes that are guarded and scripted?

-How can you balance your audience’s needs when some are very knowledgeable, and others are new to the ‘game’?

-How to own your content and why it matters?

• Want to learn more skills to inspire and deliver great presentations? Sign up for our next public sessions on July 13^th or August 26^th courses.greatcanadiantraining.ca/inspire-and-deliver-great-presentations/
• Do you want to book a private session for your team or organization? Contact us at info@greatcanadiantraining.ca for more information.

 

Time Management in Ten Minutes

“I have no time!” Sound familiar? Is this you?  

This episode can help with tips and strategies to manage your time and the stress that comes with it.  

When you fail to manage your time, there is a feeling of loss of control which causes stress. If you want to break this cycle, the answer lies in great time management skills and the behaviours to get there. Because being busy is not the same as being effective. 

Take a few minutes to listen in as our host Joel Silverstone shares some simple techniques you can use immediately. 

Are these time management challenges the same ones you were struggling with last year? Last month? Last week? 

 

Let’s break that cycle! 

 

• If you want more on time management, register for our free webinar: “Effective Time Management – Take the Stress Out” on April 12th https://www.greatcanadiantraining.ca/webinars#upcoming 
• Learn more skills and how to feel in control of your time. Sign up for our next public sessions on May 10th or August 12th:  https://courses.greatcanadiantraining.ca/take-the-stress-out-with-great-time-management 

• Do you want to book a private session for your team or organization? Contact us at info@greatcanadiatrianing.ca for more information. 

Leadership Lessons From The Circus And Beyond.

Episode #20 is energizing! Leadership Lessons From The Circus and Beyond.

You might be asking yourself: “What does the circus have to do with leadership?”

How about if that circus was called Cirque du Soleil? At one time one of the largest live entertainment shows, having played to over 100 million spectators, and its staff comprised of over 50 nationalities, speaking 25 different languages…. Now that is a leadership and communication conversation! 

We are talking with Jay Guilford, sharing his insights from creating and running Cirque’s leadership training program to now as the founder of CoWorks Leadership Strategists. 

• How do we get leaders to feel more confident with their soft skills gap? And how is this like an Olympic gymnast who has a fear of heights becoming an aerialist at the circus? 
• Speaking of aerialists, when the stakes are high why can direct communication and feedback mean performing at another level? 
• What is missing from your virtual communication? 
• And ‘Cool Mom’ complex 

Jay Guilford once worked with a bunch of clowns. Literally. A few years ago, Jay ran away with Cirque du Soleil. There, Jay created Cirque’s leadership training program. Jay has designed leadership sessions for top-performing companies and is currently the Founder and Managing Partner of CoWorks Leadership Strategists. He also hosts an interactive workshop on creativity and innovation, inspired by his work at Cirque du Soleil. Jay wants to “Robinhood” the knowledge he has gained from Cirque du Soleil and from his work with leaders in Fortune 500 companies to help improve the way managers lead and team members interact. His mission is to build a world where work is not just a means to an end, but a source of inspiration, transformation, and interpersonal growth.   

For more on Jay Guilford

This is a compelling episode on leadership, soft skills and the communication styles needed to build trust and collaboration in your organization. 

“A Difficult Conversation? You Got This!”

Episode #19 is insightful! This is the final episode of our significant four podcasts series on navigating difficult conversations. Don’t forget to go back and listen to episodes 16, 17 and 18 for the full path.

Are you getting ready to have a difficult conversation? Dreading it?

Nobody enjoys it!

90% of the time, you have normal, routine conversations; however, around 10% of the time is that moment when you or the other person says or does something irrational or is triggered…and we’re in a difficult conversation.

In this episode, Joel Silverstone, our host and the senior professional skills facilitator & coach at The Great Canadian Training & Consulting Company, shares tips and tools to help you feel more comfortable with challenging conversations.

We try something different with this episode - the examples come to life with reenactments of those pivotal moments. A big Thank You to Melanie Ziltener, Jim Irons and Max Silverstone for bringing the scenarios to life with your talented voices.

When you listen to the scenes, you’ll also gain a better understanding of the missed opportunities to use a difficult conversation to create more trust, deepen a relationship or build collaboration.

How to get more comfortable with the uncomfortable by building your awareness for these subtle moments and where you can shift the conversation.

• We’d like to thank you, our Great Canadian Leadership Podcast listeners. As part of this significant series of navigating difficult conversations, we are offering you a special package to develop your confidence and communication skills with difficult conversations. Please click here for more information on this package: greatcanadiantraining.ca/promo