Soft Skills Salon

Mar 20 2024 3

Soft Skills Salon Podcast artwork

Welcome to the Soft Skills Salon: an audible think-tank on soft skills with your host, Diana Kawarsky. This podcast is where you learn how soft skills make a difference to your work, your teams, and your organization. Here, you will listen to international and diverse voices, both novices and experts, discussing their real-life perspectives, strategies, and insights. Learn how, when, and where our guests have experienced soft skills having a positive impact on-the-job. Each episode is a conversation based on our Soft Skills Impact Questionnaire. Join us for a dynamic and informative chat because “Conversation is the Currency of Communication”.

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Mastering self-confidence techniques for overcoming doubt with Michael Teape

Mar 20 2024 37 mins

In this podcast episode of the Soft Skills Salon, host Diana Kawarsky talks with Michael Teape, the co-founder and lead trainer of Teape Training International. Diana and Michael dive deep into the world of self-confidence, discussing the essential strategies for overcoming doubt and enhancing personal and professional growth. Through a comprehensive exploration of soft skills, eff

The secret sauce for surviving office drama with Keren Castelli

Jan 25 2024 35 mins

In this podcast episode of the Soft Skills Salon, host Diana Kawarsky has a conversation with change management expert Keren Castelli about the critical role of soft skills in the workplace, especially during the pandemic-induced shift to remote work. They discuss the misperceptions of soft skills as less valuable than hard skills and advocate for terms like "emotional quotien

Strategies for fostering teamwork and boosting confidence with Shoko Masuda

Jan 11 2024 36 mins

In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, Diana Kawarsky speaks with Shoko Matsuda, an executive coach and leadership trainer, as they delve into the essence of self-assurance, influenced by Eleanor Roosevelt's insights, and explores Shoko's experiences with English as a second language. Diana and Shoko also examine the dynamics of teamwork across cultures, emphas

The most effective ways to support and empower your team with Dr. Chaz Austin

Nov 23 2023 38 mins

In this episode of the Soft Skills Salon podcast, host Diana Kawarsky converses with Dr. Charles Michael Austin, also known as Dr. Chaz. They discuss leadership, the importance of understanding different cultures, and providing constructive feedback in the workplace. Dr. Chaz emphasizes the need for leaders to create a safe space for their teams, genuinely listen to their ideas, an

The most effective strategies for building confidence in your career with Billy Anderson

Nov 09 2023 40 mins

In this Soft Skills Salon podcast episode, host Diana Kawarsky talks with speaker, leadership coach, and author Billy Anderson founder of The Courage Crusade. Diana and Billy discuss the significance of self-confidence and self-belief in personal growth and the role of emotions in this process. Billy shares his insights on the importance of pushing beyond one's comfort zone. H

Exploring the power of soft skills and toys with Ilana Ben-Ari

Oct 17 2023 44 mins

In this podcast episode, Diana Kawarsky speaks with Ilana Ben-Ari, a toy designer turned social entrepreneur. They discuss the controversial nature of soft skills and the undervaluation of these skills compared to hard skills. Ilana shares her experiences with her learning and development toy company, Twenty One Toys, and the challenges of convincing adults that toys can be valuabl

Why Annual Performance Reviews and Engagement Surveys Fall Short in Building Confidence with Dan Pontefract

Sep 19 2023 39 mins

In this podcast episode, host Diana Kawarsky has an insightful conversation with renowned leadership strategist and author Dan Pontefract. They explore the meaning of confidence and its relationship with feedback and recognition. They highlight the limitations of annual performance reviews and employee engagement surveys, proposing a more effective approach to having frequent and m

The secret sauce to winning friends and influencing people in the workplace with Alan Middleton

Sep 12 2023 45 mins

In this episode, host Diana Kawarsky speaks with Alan Middleton, an independent author, speaker, and consultant with Sage Management Advice. The conversation centres around soft skills in the workplace. Alan shares his insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the need for soft skills and the importance of listening to frontline employees. The conversation also covers the

Unleashing the power of conversations: transforming teams and organizations with Douglas Squirrel

Jul 11 2023 41 mins

In this episode, host Diana Kawarsky interviews Douglas Squirrel, an executive coach and consulting Chief Technology Officer. Diana and Squirrel discuss the importance of aligning technical teams with business goals and using a common language for effective communication and productivity. They also delve into change management, resiliency, confidence-building, empathy, and difficul

Challenging traditional notions of soft skills and leadership with Stephen Shedletzky

Jun 12 2023 44 mins

In this Soft Skills Salon podcast episode, Diana Kawarsky speaks with leadership speaker and coach Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky about soft skills and leadership. Shed emphasizes the importance of teaching and helping others to succeed in leadership roles, promoting from within, and building solid relationships through empathy. The conversation also touches on the difference