What’s really holding you back in your communication as a leader? As we continue to celebrate the podcast’s 3rd birthday, I’m sharing a deeply honest conversation about the real blockers I see time and again with ambitious professionals who are ready to grow… but still find themselves holding back from being visible, speaking up, or leading with their full voice. Whether it’s in the important meetings, presentations, or in wider influence as a global leader, these hidden barriers can quietly sabotage your growth and impact. 🎙 In this episode, you’ll learn: ● How to start reframing imposter syndrome and stop letting it limit you ● Why perfectionism could be reducing your visibility ● The truth about confidence vs arrogance ● Why being loud is not the answer ● How cultural intelligence helps you lead with authenticity 💭 Reflection: What’s one thing that’s kept you small in your communication as a leader? 🎧 Click here to listen to the episode: https://lnkd.in/en63xjFT #Leadership #GlobalLeader #LeaderCommunication #Career #Growth #Impact #CommunicationSkills #CulturalIntelligence #Future #Development #Podcast #CulturalCommunicationConfidence -- Hello, I am Victoria Rennoldson, a Speaker, Facilitator and award-winning Coach specialising in Global Leadership, Communication and Cultural Intelligence. My first book will be published in 2025, and I am the top-ranked Podcast Host of Cultural Communication Confidence. I am passionate about helping global leaders and teams to communicate impactfully, collaborate and thrive in their careers. I partner with ambitious individuals and forward-thinking organisations to empower their talent, upskill their managers, and ready their people for future leadership positions globally. Talk to me about how I can grow your people globally- message me to set up our conversation.

🧩 Belonging isn’t a “nice-to-have” — it’s foundational. A recent UK employee survey shows that 18% of people say they don’t feel they belong at work most or all of the time. And: only 53% feel belonging most or all of the time, meaning many people are in the “sometimes” zone. That gap — between sometimes and always — is where so much opportunity lies. In my coaching work and in the conversations I have on The Belonging Project Podcast, I see the ripple effects of not belonging: - quieter voices - hesitation in speaking up - the invisible cost to creativity and trust If you're designing culture, leadership programmes, or team experiences, here are 3 small shifts I believe make big difference: 👉 Make space for quiet voices. For example invite input before meetings. 👉 Normalise the emotional load. For example check in not just on tasks, but how people are doing. 👉 Reward vulnerability. For example, when someone shares concerns or doubts, acknowledge it publicly. I’d love to hear from you: In your experience, what one small shift made people feel more seen or more a part of the team? #belonging #belongingintheworkplace

@Ikonology Podcast Spotlight Review – Courageous Leaders Podcast POW-er house host the incredible Joanna Howes w/ Elisabetta Toretti In London’s LinkedIn era, leadership is a signal, not a title. Reinvention as Authority: Elisabetta Toretti left Italy for London at 25 with little English and zero network—proving that reinvention is the boldest visibility lever. Every leap was a signal to the world: transformation beats comfort. Self-Belief > Imposter Syndrome: Her story turns adversity into fuel. Therapy, self-trust, and rewired self-talk replaced self-doubt with visible confidence. Visibility = Currency: 100K+ organic followers. Your personal brand is no longer optional—engineer it, or it’s engineered for you. Consistency and authenticity grow real influence. Boundaries = Power: Trolls and criticism? Proof you’re being seen. Use it to amplify your values and strengthen your brand signal. Action Over Perfection: Start posting before you’re ready. Early mistakes = low-risk, high-growth. Legacy builds on honest, human content—not polished pitches. Signature Quotes: “Everyone has a personal brand by default, the choice is whether you nurture it.” “Trolls are a sign of success. Welcome them.” “LinkedIn is human connection.” Why it matters: Legacy is built one bold signal at a time. Courage, consistency, and connection make your brand impossible to overlook. The GOLD: Repurpose struggle into story. Be generous. Set boundaries. Let your brand breathe human. Ready to engineer your Spotlight Signal for visibility and legacy? 👉 DM Ikonology for strategy and signal science, tailored for founders and ambitious leaders. #IkonologySpotlightSignal #LinkedInLeadership #WomenInBusiness

Loneliness is quietly reshaping our workplaces — and it’s time leaders take it seriously. As this powerful HBR article reminds us, loneliness quietly erodes trust, creativity, and performance. The solution isn’t more tools or “team-building” sessions — it’s rebuilding human connection at the heart of how we work. In my own journey, three practices stand out: 1️⃣ Belonging – as Amy Hood once said on the Positive Leadership Podcast, “Belonging isn’t about sameness; it’s about being seen.” When leaders build shared rituals, invite every voice, and recognize contributions, people feel they matter. 2️⃣ Trusted relationships – Stephen M. R. Covey reminded us that “trust accelerates everything.” Start small: make clear commitments — and keep them. Be trustworthy, then be trusting. That’s how collaboration gains momentum. 3️⃣ A culture of growth – Dr. Mary Murphy taught us to move from “prove you’re smart” to “let’s learn together.” When we create psychological safety, even rough ideas can surface, improve, and ship. In an era of disconnection, these are not “soft skills.”  They are the critical infrastructure of resilient, innovative, and joyful teams.  Let’s lead so that every person we work with feels seen, trusted, and free to grow. 🌱 👉 🔗 Link to the full article in the comments.  #PositiveLeadership #Belonging #Trust #GrowthMindset #Leadership #Wellbeing 

𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀, thank you so much for sharing this. In an era when people are over indexing on #AI, #growth, #TheNextBigThing, what could get left behind are #People. This beautiful article by 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 and 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘇 𝗠𝗕𝗔, 𝗣𝗵𝗗. titled, 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 is beautiful. To leaders, aspiring leaders, and anyone who works with leaders, this is a wonderful piece, with not just points of view but actionable recommendations: 👍 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 👍 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 👍 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 👍 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 👍 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. Do read the article (in JPC's post's first comment). And do share it with anyone you think would find it useful! #selfawareness #lifelonglearning #leadershipdevelopment #growthmindset with Jean-Philippe Courtois Harvard Business Review Kristin Gleitsman Luis Velasquez MBA, PhD.

People & Perspective - The Power of Self-Awareness One of the questions I often ask in my Podcast is is about self-awareness.  This has been something I have always been interested about since I was given feedback about it during my 1-2-1 back then. In my research about it, I cam across this Tedtalk from Tasha Eurich (https://lnkd.in/etnMKZb7)  Research shows a significant gap in something far more fundamental: self-awareness. While a staggering 95% of people believe they are self-aware, studies show that the true number of self-aware professionals is only 10-15% (again, Tasha Eurich, Insight). This profound gap is a primary reason many managers fail; in fact, a lack of self-awareness makes leaders 600% more likely to derail in their careers. The "unaware" leader can be prone to impulsive decisions, miscommunication, and a wide chasm between their self-perception and their team’s reality. This is why the right kind of introspection matters. Research by Tasha Eurich found that people who constantly ask "why" they are a certain way (e.g., "Why am I so stressed?") tend to be less happy and more anxious. In contrast, those who ask "what" (e.g., "What situations can I avoid to reduce my stress?") are more effective at finding actionable solutions. It's a key distinction that empowers action over rumination. Professional self-awareness comes in two forms; Internal Self-Awareness—knowing your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses—and External Self-Awareness—understanding how others perceive you. Together, they are the foundation for effective leadership, enhanced communication, and sustained career growth. This essential attribute is a recurring theme in my conversations with some of the most inspiring leaders in procurement. Here are some standout moments from our podcast. (see below) Self-awareness isn’t a soft skill—it’s a power skill. When leaders take the time to truly understand themselves and their impact on others, they bridge the gap between perception and reality and create environments where people and businesses thrive. How do you cultivate self-awareness in your professional life? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #procurementandsupplychain #leadershipskills #selfawareness

What happens to your credibility—and your company—when you stay invisible? For many executives, HR leaders, and entrepreneurs, the instinct is to stay behind the scenes and let the work speak for itself. But here’s the hard truth: in today’s world, if you’re not visible, you risk losing trust with your employees, credibility with your stakeholders, and even sales with your customers. That’s why I sat down with Marina Byezhanova, CEO of Brand of a Leader, on this week’s episode of The Leader’s Mindset Podcast. Marina has helped founders and C-suite leaders around the world build authentic personal brands, and she shares why visibility is no longer optional for leaders who want to succeed. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why visibility has become a requirement—not a luxury—for executives and HR leaders. • How personal branding impacts trust, engagement, and sales. • The hidden cost of resisting the spotlight—and how it hurts your organization. • Practical steps to start shaping your personal brand without looking arrogant. • Why authenticity always beats polish when it comes to leadership communication. If you’ve ever asked yourself: 👉 “How do I build my personal brand without looking self-promotional?” 👉 “Why does visibility matter if my work speaks for itself?” 👉 “What’s the first step to getting started?” …this conversation is for you. 🎥 Watch the full episode now and see how you can start building credibility through visibility: https://lnkd.in/gGa6hn5d 🔎 I’d love to hear from you: What’s the biggest challenge you face in building your personal brand—fear of visibility, finding the right message, or staying consistent? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Onward and Upward! 🚀 #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalBranding #ExecutiveVisibility #HRLeadership #Entrepreneurship

It takes courage to lead with honesty, to show up as yourself rather than the version you think leadership demands. We often assume leaders need to have all the answers, to always project confidence and control. But when that’s all we show, people see the title, not the person. Showing vulnerability bridges that gap. It says, “I’m human too.” I was reminded of this recently while listening to comedian and author Sara Pascoe on the High Performance podcast. She shared how, during a Q&A session, the audience connected with her most deeply, not if she had given a polished or canned answer, but when she was honest and open. When she allowed herself to show vulnerability. That moment was a powerful reminder that people don’t follow perfection, they follow truth. Showing vulnerability doesn’t weaken leadership; it amplifies it. It turns authority into relatability, and relatability into trust. A Stoic might say: "...to show vulnerability is not to be weak, but to be free from the fear of appearing so." Because at the end of the day, we connect more deeply through our shared imperfections than through our polished strengths. What's one time a leader's vulnerability made you trust them more? #Leadership #Authenticity #Vulnerability #Trust #HumanLeadership (FYI: The image below isn't a photo of Sara Pascoe, as I couldn't find a royalty-free photo of her.)

🔥 The 80/20 Truth That Changed How I See Leadership I was listening to Tony Robbins podcast when one line struck me deeply: 💎 “Skill completes a goal, but psychology sustains vision.” He went further to say that 80% of the time, the chokehold that holds businesses back isn’t lack of skill, but the psychology of the leader. Think about that for a second.... You can have the best strategies, attend the best trainings, even hire the best consultants. But if your mind is clouded as a leader with limiting beliefs, stress, or self-doubt — growth becomes impossible. I’ve seen it first-hand in my work as a trainer. Sometimes, it’s not the strategy that’s missing, it’s the mindset. The leader says “I can’t” … and the whole business follows. Here’s the real shift 👇 It’s not the economy. It’s not your competitors. It’s not even your staff. 💧 The real game changer is always your psychology. Because scaling revenue without scaling your visibility, narrative, and authority is like stepping into a negotiation with no voice — others will define your value for you. 🔹Your name should be the strategy. 🔹Your reputation should create demand before you even enter the room. As we wrap up September and step into the last quarter of the year, I want to remind you and myself too: ✔️ Align your actions with your words. ✔️ Protect your mindset—it’s oxygen for your brand. ✔️ Choose a winning psychology that fuels destiny, not one that chokes it. What mindset shift has helped you scale your career or business? 👇 Share with me in the comments—I’d love to learn from you. I’m Martha Nmadinobi and I help leaders transform service into delightsome experiences. 🔔 Subscribe to my newsletter Strategic Service Edge https://lnkd.in/gfKuqPTS for practical stories and strategies to keep your brand standing tall. #Leadership #Mindsetshift #BusinessGrowth #StrategicServiceEdge #MarthaNmadinobi

𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐠𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 📉 I had the absolute pleasure of doing a podcast interview 🎙️ with Personal Leadership Academy’s Chief Heart Officer, Dunia Darwiche. Check out the link to the full episode in the comments section below! 𝐀𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. ✨ Too often, we hold back because we fear looking inexperienced, or we let ego get in the way. But as I share in this clip, the bigger the ego, the weaker the performance. 🎭 The truth? When you put your ego aside and ask the “obvious” or “dumb” questions, you often spark the most meaningful conversations. 💬 Questions unlock new perspectives, challenge assumptions, and sometimes even lead to solutions the team hadn’t considered. 💡 Leaders and early-career professionals alike, your willingness to ask questions can be the very thing that transforms a project, a team, or even your own growth. 🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!👇 Special thanks to the founders of PLA and my mentors, Brenden 🎤 Kumarasamy, Vamsi Polimetla, and Venkata Hari for this invitation to be interviewed by Dunia Darwiche. 🙏