Shortcuts to Communication Success

93. Why "Tell Me About Yourself" Trips People Up, and How to Answer It Well

Have you ever walked into an interview feeling reasonably prepared, and then the very first question throws you completely?

"Tell me about yourself" sounds simple. But without preparation, it's easy to say too much, too little, or nothing useful at all. In this episode, Shola breaks down what interviewers are actually asking when they pose that question, and shares practical ways to answer it with clarity and confidence.

Because this isn't an invitation to improvise. It's one of the first opportunities you get to shape how someone sees you.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

92. The Communication Habit That Nearly Cost Me Two Jobs

Have you ever done something at work that felt helpful at the time, only to find out later it was working against you?

Shola shares two stories from early in her career, one as a note-taker who avoided speaking up, the other as a manager who focused on her team while her client work suffered. Both jobs ended the same way: being called out for underperformance, for the same underlying reason.

In this episode, she looks at why staying quiet often feels considerate from the inside, what it actually costs over time, and why speaking up under pressure is a skill you build, not a personality trait you're born with.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

91. 3 Things to Consider Before You Speak Up in High-Stakes Moments

Have you ever been in a meeting where something questionable gets said, and you spend the next few minutes debating with yourself whether to say anything at all?

Most people treat speaking up as a confidence problem. But often it's a decision problem. Before you even think about the words, you need to work out whether it actually makes sense to say something in that moment.

In this episode, Shola shares three questions worth asking before you speak up in high-stakes situations, and why the risk of staying silent is just as worth considering as the risk of saying something.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

90. 3 Ways to Be More Persuasive Without Pushing Harder

Have you ever tried really hard to persuade someone, only to feel them pulling further and further away the more you pushed?

In this episode, Shola shares three practical ways to become more persuasive that have nothing to do with stronger arguments or repeating yourself. Because often, the real barrier isn't your message. It's the resistance you're creating without realising it.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

89. 3 Ways to Handle Being Interrupted And When to Let It Go

Have you ever been mid-sentence in a meeting when someone cuts across you, and then spent the rest of the conversation wondering whether you should've said something?

In this episode, Shola shares three practical ways to handle interruptions, and how to work out whether it's worth addressing at all. Because not every interruption deserves a response, but some absolutely do.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

88. Why Holding Back in a Heated Moment Is a Strength, Not a Weakness

Have you ever walked away from a heated moment and wondered whether you should've just said something there and then?

In this episode, Shola explores why stepping back isn't weakness, and how knowing when not to respond can actually be the more powerful choice. Using the Emotional Audacity framework, she shares a simple way to check in with yourself before you act, so you're choosing your response rather than just reacting.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

87. Why Sharing Your Conclusion First Is a Strength, Not a Shortcut

Have you ever watched someone build up to a big idea, only for time to run out before they got there?

In this episode, Shola shares a simple but powerful framework called BLUF, Bottom Line Up Front, and why leading with your conclusion isn't lazy, it's one of the most respectful things you can do for your audience.

Because your listeners shouldn't have to wait until the end to find out why any of it matters.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

86. Why Asking Questions When You're Speaking Is a Power Move, Not a Weakness

Have you ever sensed you've lost the room, but kept going anyway?

Most of us treat presenting as a one-way thing. Get the words right, hold your nerve, get to the end. But when we're in that mode, we miss what's happening right in front of us.

In this episode, Shola shares why asking questions during your presentation isn't a weakness, it's one of the most powerful things you can do. And why being flexible in the moment says a lot more about your confidence than a perfectly rehearsed delivery ever will.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

85. What's the Bravest Skill in Leadership? And How to Get Better at It

If you've ever asked for input in a meeting, only to be met with silence and then discovered afterwards that everyone had plenty to say, you're not alone.

In this episode, Shola explores why listening is one of the most courageous skills in leadership, and why the usual advice about it so often falls short.

Learn three practical ways to listen more bravely from Shola's Emotional Audacity framework, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.

84. 5 Things You Can Do to Turn Doubters Into Supporters

In this episode, Shola explores why listening is one of the most courageous skills in leadership, and why the usual advice about it so often falls short.

Using the emotional audacity framework, learn three practical ways to listen more bravely, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

Whether you lead a team, contribute to one, or simply want to have more honest conversations at work, this episode will give you something concrete to take into your next interaction.

Go to www.sholakaye.com/everything for resources, downloads and more information.