Voxy Lady Magazine

„Inspiration

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

from the Female Voice‟

Sally Anderson– Thinking Outside the Box i

In this Issue Change is the New Constant – Mandy Holloway What to do when you need to have a tough conversation at work – Karen Adamedes Why am I not losing weight? Susie Burrell

|

What mental diet are you on? Clare Mann

Welcome to the Christmas Issue of Voxy Lady Magazine

5 Tips for Success – Shannon Dolan PLUS

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

The magazine has been produced to share with you some great advice by the speakers, mentors, coaches and entrepreneurs who are represented by Voxy Lady. We will aim to deliver to you quality articles and advice each month.

This month we feature Sally Anderson who encourages not only to think outside the box…but to get rid of it! I have mentioned Sally‟s book “Freefall” before and it was a great help to me recently when my mother had her stroke. In fact I read Sally‟s book entirely on a flight back from New York. On the subject of New York Sally is making quite a name for herself over there.

Other Voxy Lady speakers who have contributed to this issue are Mandy Holloway who writes about leaders being courageous with regards to change. Karen Adamedes gives you a few tips on having to deal with tough conversations at work. The fabulous Susie Burrell has just released her new book “Lose Weight Fast” and she gives some answers to why people do not lose weight.

Clare Mann asks you about the thoughts you feed yourself and the gorgeous Shannon Dolan gives her 5 top tips for success. Quite a bit of reading!

I would be delighted if you opted to sign up for our newsletter on the link below. Our newsletter will give up to date information on our new woman speakers as well as showcases and events and will always include a copy of our online magazine link. The link takes you to our Facebook page and a „like‟ would be greatly appreciated.

All the contributors of Voxy Lady magazine are represented by us, please email me directly for any booking enquiries. dcarr@voxylady.com.au There are many speakers who specialize in a wide range of expertise on our books, if you have a question that you would like answered or a topic covered in our magazine then please email me and I‟ll endeavour to have it covered for you in an upcoming issue.

Happy Reading.

Deb Carr, Managing Director Voxy Lady Women‟s Speaker Bureau

MAKE A BOOKING ENQUIRY SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

Change is the However for this kind of personal courage to be

unleashed means stepping away from ego and New Constant embracing the true essence of who you are and the kind of leader you really want to be. This

By Mandy Holloway may mean acknowledging the mistake or wrong decision and learning from it in order to make a better decision. To come from a place of such  For years courage requires leaders to step up, take business leaders responsibility for their choices and stop blaming, have thrived on hiding or justifying. Do this and these leaders predictability and then feel raw vulnerability. accordingly lead with a reliance on the predictability of cause and effect thinking. When leaders unleash this kind of courage they Nowhere is this more evident than in our approach issues and problems with interest, reliance on budgets. Leaders persist with creativity and integrity. They facilitate the the more traditional way of responding to thinking of others so they enthusiastically uncertainty and change with risk aversion embrace their future, develop themselves and and fear – no one wants to be the one approach problems with creativity rather than who makes the wrong decision or takes constraint and fear. Thinking is not limited by the wrong action. any out-dated need for predictability. Learning 



We continue to see leaders feeling a need to control, to comply and to protect their organisation. During the uncertain times prevailing over many economies since the GFC we have seen the return to command and control styles of leadership and this certainly catalyses people onto the downward spiral of fear.

Many organisations continue to resort to the fearful strategy of cost cutting instead of the more courageous strategy of finding new “blue ocean” revenue streams – and even better still generating new business models. This kind of thinking and strategy development requires leaders to unleash their courage – it means embracing a feeling of vulnerability. An underlying foundation for the success of this approach is that speed is paramount and so if the decision to move into a new revenue stream turns out not to be exactly right then the leader also needs the courage to say “this isn‟t working” and let it go.

agility is completely embraced so people are not in fear of retribution for making a mistake.

Fear is an unproductive and insecure place to live; while courage is where we feel energised, we believe and we have hope. All leaders need a personal framework to embrace change with more courage because without change inspiration is dampened and passion burns out.

Generally, leaders are exposed to two types of change – the change they create and the change imposed on them by others.

Imposed change is generally hardest for existing leaders to embrace. As the diagram shows it is like activating a chemical reaction within the person and often the business. Once change is imposed emotions are triggered and can only be „neutralised‟ when each person „embraces‟ the imposed change with their head, heart and soul. The length of time it takes to complete this neutralisation process depends

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

It is at this stage you start to accept the change and look at ways to adapt your behaviour.

Accepting and adapting are done with your „mind‟ but it is your heart and soul which allows you to courageously embrace the change- and this is where rethinking and reframing are vital.

You learn about and restore belief in yourself and you understand more about the change being imposed. This leads you to embrace the change and you have heart, soul and mind commitment to it. Your suspicions about the future and feelings of defensiveness and uncertainty disappear because the chemical reaction has been neutralised.

on the capability and willingness of the people impacted to move through their personal change framework - when they courageously make time We need more leaders to step into this place of complete vulnerability where they are prepared and create the head space to react, reflect, to be challenged and most definitely prepared rethink and reframe. to change. Only then do organisations give Building capability to work their way through this themselves a reasonable chance of attaining a high-performance culture and delivering framework means they not only speed their sustainable results. journey they can also coach others to do so.

Start by allowing time to react to the change Mandy Holloway draws on personal experience, inimposed by labelling your feelings. Then reflect depth business understanding, real business using Edward de Bono‟s Six Thinking Hats.

Creating this space to think is essential because application and passion to inspire others to be Courageous Leaders. This passion translates into things are happening around you, to you and the commitment to model courage both personally without you; and you have choices to make. and professionally inviting others to develop confidence and conviction to do the same.

Mandy’s continuing personal leadership journey from emerging leader to partner at KPMG and for the last decade inspiring courageous business leaders, while juggling the roles of wife and mother, means she brings to life the real and practical aspects of leading others and leading yourself through stories and experiences.

Meet Mandy at Voxy Lady

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

What to do when you need to have a tough conversation at work. Karen Adamedes

They're not something anybody looks forward to - but unfortunately at some time or other - there are some tough conversations that need to be had at work.

February 1, 2012

Pick the most appropriate venue Different locations are appropriate depending on your relationship with the person and the nature of the conversation you need to have.

If it is someone senior, and very busy, his or her office is likely to be the best place. If it's a peer or a staff member, find a meeting room where They might be necessary because a conflict has you can have the discussion in private. If it's arisen, as a manager you need to deliver some someone you have an existing relationship with, negative feedback, or you might have to raise offering to buy them a coffee and stepping out something tricky with your boss. of the office might take the heat out of the situation and provide a relaxed 'neutral' Whatever the reason, they are not fun. But the environment. consequences of avoiding them may be even worse. Putting them off is not the answer. If you Once you're talking, don't have the difficult discussions - the risk is Approach the conversation from the other that the problem/situation will get even worse. person's point of view.

It can take courage to initiate a tough conversation, but if you make sure you have the facts and approach it in a business-like and respectful manner, the potential benefits of a resolution can outweigh the initial discomfort.

To make it easier: Set up the conversation in advance Send a short email requesting some time to discuss the business issue. The less time you ask for the more likely you are to get, or even better, take a deep breath, pick up the phone and ask for the time. Practice what you are going to say beforehand if you are really nervous.

Often time - just being prepared to have the conversation will win you kudos from the other person.

Ask questions to understand their perspective and understanding of the situation. In these circumstances, Steven Covey's "Seek first to understand, then to be understood" habit from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a good approach to adopt!

Once you are talking you're on the pathway to resolve an issue. It might not be the whole answer as many situations are genuinely difficult. But it's a start.

Meet Karen at Voxy Lady Career, Women in Management, Leadership, Sales Karen Adamedes is the author of “Hot Tips For Career Chicks” has been featured in Notebook, Cosmopolitan, Cleo, Madison and Working Women‟s magazines. She has also appeared on national TV on 9 am with David and Kim on Channel 10 and has been a panelist on a CareerOne Women‟s forum

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

Congratulations to Voxy Lady Speaker, Susie Burrell who just realized her new book “Lose Weight Fast”

Why am I not losing weight? –

Meet Susie at Voxy Lady Perhaps the most common question from clients who appear to be doing everything they can to support weight loss. They are going to the gym, cutting back on carbs and not drinking during the week and yet the kg won‟t seem to budge. Here are the most common reasons that you may not be losing weight with the good news is that all of these factors are very easy to adjust and get things moving the right way on the scales.

You are eating breakfast too late in the day One of the most important things you can remember when it comes to weight loss is “the earlier you eat breakfast, the better”. Waiting until you get to the office to enjoy the first meal of the day is a little late when you consider that breakfast fires up the metabolism for the day ahead. So if you are waiting until 8 or 9 to enjoy your eggs, oats or shake, shift it forward an hour or two and get that metabolism firing.

You are training inefficiently It may sound harsh but the longer you have trained, the more you are going to have to push yourself in order to achieve the same calorie burn you did initially. Change things around with your training as much as you can and focus on working out intensely for just 20-30 minutes burning 200-300 calories in this time. Change the settings on the machines, swap the order in which you do your cardio and/or weights and swap between different machines and classes. When you have trained for many years, sometimes all you need to do is change the type of training and intensity to get things moving again.

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

Thinking Outside the Box – Sally Anderson is a Leadership Coach/Leadership Retreat Facilitator/Keynote Speaker/Author/Seminar Leader/Master Coach Trainer

Meet Sally at Voxy Lady

Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box – love that quote by Deepak Chopra. I feel we as leaders need to embrace liberating ourselves from the steadfast rules of standard traditional leadership. Don‟t get me wrong I am all for tradition where it enhances our decision making but I am categorically against doing things because „it‟s just the way it‟s been done in the past‟. As a leadership coach I witness a lot of leaders constrained by external or self imposed rules! News Flash – there are no rules!!!!

Thinking outside the box is a phrase used quite commonly these days but why does there need to be a box anymore? The first thing that occurs when we do venture into the unknown, into unchartered waters, is that we experience resistance from others and or resistance from our own belief system. The irony, from a leadership perspective, this is our primary responsibility.

The more we remove ANY barriers to our own leadership growth the better. Try on some of these recommendations in the next month and see what happens?

Top 10 Recommendations:1. Ask your team what aspects of your leadership style could improve over the next 12 months 2. Delegate and or let go of controlling the ship to the degree to which you currently do – measure this so that you are not just thinking this is a nice concept 3. Offer a member and or members of your management team an opportunity to contribute to the leadership direction of the organisation – great if you are already doing this but if not give it a shot, you may be pleasantly surprised 4. In your assessment of your own leadership style do you currently have limitations? If a box in fact does exist in the context of how you currently lead, what comes up for you in contemplating getting rid of the box?

5. Take a day off mid week and see how your team runs the show 6. At your next Executive Team Meeting discuss as a group what „cultural box‟ is in existence within your organisation 7. Do 5 things this month that would confront you – go out on a limb and see what evidence you find for your own barriers to change 8. The two key emotions we experience when we step out as human beings are fear and the inner critic dialogue has a tendency of becoming all mighty powerful. What is your current relationship with fear, and or your own inner critic? What would you accomplish as a leader

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

if you led fearlessly and or no longer heard your inner critic?

9. Facilitating the above conversation with your management team would be interesting – give it a go, you would be amazed how many people in management are had by fear and their inner critic 10. At your next Executive Team meeting have a discussion focused on what you as a team are confronted by, resistant of, uncomfortable with – the key access to transformation is owning what has us – we cannot transform something unless we own it is running. This is not the average discussion to facilitate but in every organisation there are human beings and I am here to tell you, it comes with the human territory. The collective impact of not addressing this can usurp a leadership/executive team.

I remember that I have my freedom Deb Carr I am unique Meet Debbie at Voxy Lady I breathe I see Whenever I see dark skies I know it’s I hear a fact there is sun above them I touch I smell Whenever I feel like life is too I feel challenging I remember that I have food tomorrow is a new beginning I can walk I can speak my mind Whenever I think a negative thought I have water I remember I am in charge of my thoughts and I can think the opposite I have electricity I have warmth Whenever I think ill of someone I remember something nice about them I have a bed I have a computer Whenever I think life is too hard I remember that someone else is doing it I have the ability to harder communicate I have my individuality Whenever I think I hate my job I remember that I am lucky to have a job I am special I have another day to experience life Whenever I whinge about someone who voices their opinion I have been loved and I I remember I am lucky I live in a country where we can voice our have loved opinion I have the power to seize every opportunity given to Whenever I complain about having to stand on my feet all day me I remember I am lucky I can stand on my feet all day No one ever has or will ever Whenever I get angry sitting in a traffic jam I remember I am lucky I own a be ME!……and if I don’t have all of the above, I car have some of the above Whenever I bitch about someone else I remember I am not perfect….but I and for that, I am grateful!

Thank you. am trying to be

Always Something Good by

Whenever I complain about my teenagers I remember I was one of those once

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

What Mental Diet Are You On? Clare Mann Meet Clare at Voxy Lady Anxiety is a physical and psychological experience which can rise and cause panic attacks.

Because so much is written on it in the popular media, it seems that everyone has become a psychologist and immediately looks for psychological reasons for it.

However, whilst self-reflection and examining one‟s current circumstances is enormously valuable, I would like to offer something important in how anxiety is often exacerbated.

What mental diet are you on?

We all know that our physical diet is important – a few days of overindulgence or with too many sweet or rich foods, makes us feel tired or sluggish. We need good fuel if we are to perform at our optimum. In the same way, what we feed ourselves mentally is essential for our psychological wellbeing. If we feed ourselves on negativity, trauma and distractions, there is no doubt that we will, over time, feel anxious, negative or even depressed. Watching the news repeatedly, filling our minds with trauma or fear – if only fictitious through a movie, has a negative impact on our outlook on life.

When we view information about an earthquake or tsunami, it is understandably tragic and distressing but to watch it over and over again, makes us more fearful of such a situation or even our ability to trust anyone or anything. We simply feel anxious. As with our physical diet, we feel unbalanced, exhausted and with indigestion.

Whilst I think it is important to be informed of what is happening in your environment, I suggest you limit filling your mind with negativity and trauma, instead take inspired action to improve your life, those of people you care for and even offer your services to the community – contributing to others reminds us that there are some wonderful things happening in the world as well as trauma, fear and limitation.

Clare Mann is an organisational psychologist, existential psychotherapist and author of numerous books and training programmes. She is skilled in dispelling the myths that limit people in their lives and work so they can create and satisfying lives which align with their values and purpose. Her education equips her with the skills to work in a variety of contexts and contribute creative interventions to challenges facing individuals and organisations.

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

Personal and Professional Leadership- 5 Tips for Success Shannon Dolan

Would you like to be more respected and successful in your communication and in your role?

Sometimes small things can make a very big difference. Here are some simple practical reminders that will make a strong impact and inroad on your development as a leader in all aspects of your life.

Tip #1: The Golden Rule-You can't go past this one to start. If this foundation is not in place, you won't be getting any further along the path, or the success you achieve certainly will not last. The Golden rule is not only about treating others as you would like to be treated, but treating others as they would like to be treated, and that is as a unique individual. If you have not done much study into various communication and personality styles and preferences, 2012 is the year to start. Make sure you are a leader in the way you read, adapt, and communicate with people. Be a role model in every way. Respect always at every moment in every situation. Your people need to respect you and buy into you first before they will listen and buy in to what you have to say.

This is true not only in our professional life but our personal life. Who do you admire as a leader and why? What could you and what would you like to be doing more of this year that will continue to bring you down the path of success you desire.

February 1, 2012

Tip #2: Be Present-Bring yourself into the space. Be there. Physically, vocally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, and personally. Bring the best part of yourself through the door and share it. Be on time. Be early. Promptness is one of the true signs of respect, care, organisation, attitude. energy, humility, and that winning edge. Your body, your face, your gestures should say "I am here for you. I am listening to you. I am open to you.

Let's work together. I feel good. I want to be here." The tone of your voice should display confidence, credibility, strength, warmth, and inspiration. Moods transfer, don't kid yourself.

Make sure when you step into a space you are present and switched on. If any of these areas are letting you down. Ask someone you trust to give you feedback on your presence. This year is the time to step up.

"The handshake of the host affects the taste of the roast."

Benjamin Franklin

Tip #3: Communicate with Influence- Keep people in the loop, follow up regularly, communicate along the way. Build trust. Tell it like it is. Be honest and direct but diplomatic and savvy. Create trust and firm strong relationships with people. As Stephen Covey says, make regular deposits into your emotional bank account. There will be something to draw upon when the hard times hit. If people do not hear you, if people do not follow you, if people do not get your message, then you are not communicating as a leader. Foremost and completely leadership is influence. A leader needs to speak well. A leader needs to have great presentation and speaking skills. If this is a weakness, it will be to your peril and to everyone's detriment. This is a skill like any other. It takes study, guidance, practice, and feedback.

"The very essence of all power to influence lies in getting the other person to participate."

Harry A. Overstreet

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

Tip #4: Find Balance- Take care of yourself.

Exercise, meditate or pray, relax, have fun, eat healthy delicious foods, drink plenty of water, give up destructive habits, reduce stress, find time for your family your interests, hobbies, growth, education, and reflection. Make a plan and stick to it. Everyone is time poor not just you. Use any time you have. Take the stairs, stand up and stretch, walk the floor and connect with people, take a power nap, meditate on the bus, sing in the car, take 3 deep yogic breaths, dance around the house, hug and kiss your family and tell them that you love them. Time is short and ephemeral. Live life and don't waste a moment. Respect and be grateful for where you are and for what you have been given. Without gratitude for where you are right now you will not get to where you want to be going. Keep stretching, keep growing everyday.

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life."

Socrates Tip #5: Create a Positive Mindset- We all have an inner voice. If you don't think so, then what is that inner voice doing right now that is telling you you do not have one! The problem is that many of us have a negative inner voice that is constantly niggling away at us telling us that we are not quite good enough, not quite able to handle it, not feeling well enough, not confident enough, too afraid to speak up, blah, blah, blah.

This negative voice can really get in our way of success. Now is the time to get on top of it.

Replace it with a positive voice that is supportive of you and your life journey. Coach yourself internally to success. Give yourself positive messages, even if you don't believe it.

You create your own destiny. You create your own world. You are supported and guided, but ultimately it is up to you to make it happen. Look around and see what you have created in your life.

February 1, 2012

Tell yourself you are worthy. Tell yourself you deserve love and success. Tell yourself you have something very special and unique to offer. Start now you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. No one can do this for you.

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."

Albert Einstein

Shannon Dolan is Director of Performance Power, a boutique communications firm based in Sydney, Australia and New York City; specialising in personal and professional development. She has a BA in Dance and Psychology from UCLA, a PostGraduate degree in Movement & Direction from The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and a Masters in Theatre from The University of New South Wales. She is qualified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

Meet Shannon at Voxy Lady

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

VOXY LADY MAGAZINE

February 1, 2012

About Voxy Lady Women’s Speaker Bureau Our expert women speakers come from all areas of business, politics, finance, women leaders, marketing, sales, communication, customer service, inspiration, motivation, networking, team building, health, fitness, family, networkers, time management, business owners, entrepreneurs, authors, indigenous and corporate speakers. In 2011 Voxy Lady was chosen as a finalist in the 2011 Stevie Awards in the category "Women Helping Women".

www.voxylady.com.au