There’s something about the word “boundaries” that can conjure up the idea that someone is being difficult or purposely not helpful.The truth is, that’s not at all what boundaries are about. If anything, good boundaries that aren’t squishy can make things run more smoothly and actually help you AVOID conflict.  On this episode of the Elephant Conversations podcast, I’m talking about how having good boundaries can help you stop difficult conversations before they even begin.

Elephant Conversations

How to Stop Difficult Conversations (Before They Start)

Have you ever heard the expression that “perfection is the enemy of progress”? The reality of life is that nobody is ever going to be 100% perfect, and expecting them to be is just setting ourselves up for disappointment.  On this episode of the Elephant Conversation podcast, I’m talking about letting go of the idea that some people are projects to be fixed up and accepting that 100% perfection isn’t a reasonable goal.  

The 100% Rule

As a leader, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the trap of only singling out an employee when something goes wrong instead of making a point to catch people when they’re doing something right. So how do we break that habit and start making a point to draw attention to the positive?  On this episode of the Elephant Conversations podcast, I’m sharing how you can set your intention to fill the emotional bank accounts of the people around you and help yourself build stronger relationships.

Filling the Emotional Bank Account

You may think that including the phrase “it’s not personal” when you’re in the midst of a difficult conversation softens up what you’re saying, but in reality, it’s not doing you any favors.  In fact, it can have the complete opposite effect of what you intended.  On this episode of the Elephant Conversations podcast. I’m sharing why using “it’s not personal” doesn’t actually make things better and what to do when you catch yourself using it.

It's Not Personal

When you have a message to share, it’s important for you to remain calm, cool, and confident and speak powerfully. If you are stressed and anxious and in flight or fight mode, it’s contagious to those around you.  Having people stressed and on edge when you’re speaking to them is not the most productive way to go. On this episode of Elephant Conversations, I uncover the #1 tip to speak powerfully in any situation you encounter.

My #1 Tip for Speaking Powerfully

Have you said yes without even thinking and have it followed by regret and remorse? We all know that feeling too well. We say yes without making that conscious decision that it actually is something we want to do. You end up beating yourself up, and feelings of resentment start festering. Not a fun feeling, and it can create huge issues in your relationships. In this episode of Elephant Conversations, I explain how you can create space from the moment you have the ask until you decide to agree to take something on and decide that it is something you actually want to do.

Saying No: How and When To Do It

Being raised in a talkative family, I had to shout and talk over people just to be heard. I thought that If I could talk louder and dominate the conversation, people would listen. Boy, was I wrong! It’s something I have to work on because it’s so deeply ingrained in my personality. In this episode of Elephant Conversations, I’m covering strategies to have people listen to you and be more interested in what you have to say.

How to Get People to Listen to You

It’s so easy to get distracted with different projects than the one you should be working on. "Oh, I want to do a course on that! I really want to speak on that subject. I can’t wait to read the book about that!" But progress all comes down to one thing: Where do you want to focus your energy? When we get really clear on what we want to accomplish, we put aside time to do that and tend to make great gains at it.  In this episode of Elephant Conversation, I talk about how you can get out of the pattern of achieving a millimeter of progress in a million directions and avoid the disappointment and regret of half-done projects.

Why Focus Equals Results

When was the last time you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Your mood is already sour, and on top of that, everything you touch seems to go wrong.  How can you NOT let it ruin your day? Well, it’s up to you to choose how to change how you see what’s happening.  Having a change of attitude is really about hitting the reset button. On this episode of Elephant Conversations, I’m taking you through how changing your language and changing your story can actually change your life.

Change Your Story, Change Your Life

Kids are great. They’re fearless. They try something. They fail. They fall. And they keep on trying. It’s like having superpowers! So, what’s your superpower? It’s time to reconnect with that little kid in you and figure it out. So the question is: Are you ready for the Courage Challenge? It’s simple. Ask yourself: What is the ONE thing I can do better at? Be more efficient at? Can I be a better leader? A better speaker? A better team player? You can take it your personal life and ask how you can be a better partner or parent. There are no limits. Pick one thing and then ask someone you trust for their feedback. Uncomfortable? Yes. Important? Definitely. In this episode of Elephant Conversations, I’m challenging you to reach out for feedback about ONE aspect of your life and then push yourself to implement that feedback.

The Courage Challenge

What do you think about when you think about courage? Do certain people pop into your mind automatically as being particularly courageous? What about YOU? Are you courageous? We tend to admire courage in other people but forget that we have that within ourselves too. Think about the last time you felt fearful, yet pushed through that fear and accomplished what you wanted. Pretty amazing, right? In this episode of Elephant Conversations, I’m talking about what you can do today to flex your courage muscle. (Don’t worry — start small!)

Want More Courage? Try This.

How much more peaceful would your life be if you didn’t find yourself getting caught up in loops of complaining about the little things?The fact is, we have more control over our thoughts than we think we do. However, we can’t start to change our behavior unless we’re both aware of what we're doing and we have a plan of action to deal with ourselves when we’re becoming a complainer.  On this episode of the Elephant Conversations Podcast, I’m sharing my tips on how to detox from complaining.   

Detox From Complaining

How awesome would your life be if you were free from worrying about what other people think of you? If you were to live life on your terms? But maybe you're thinking "but Diane, there ARE some expectations that have to be met. Like at work, for instance."  Well, guess what? It's not an all or nothing proposition. While there are some expectations we do have to meet, there are certainly ways we can shed the stress we put on ourselves to meet expectations that aren't realistic or fair to ourselves.  You just need to know how to get started.  On this episode of the Elephant Conversations podcast, I’m talking about how you can free yourself from the expectations of others.

Free Yourself From Other's Expectations

We all encounter rude people in our lives. When we have encounters with people who are rude, the aftereffects can last for a while. Our adrenaline is pumping and we often spend more time than we should be contemplating all the different ways the interaction could have gone.  We’re left feeling depleted. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  In this episode of the Elephant Conversations podcast, I’m sharing my best tips for dealing with rude people.

Dealing with Rude People

Have you ever heard the expression “No is a complete sentence”?Sounds great in theory but saying no and leaving it at that can be really challenging for some of us.  Have you ever wondered why such a tiny little word can be sooooo hard to say? On this episode of Elephant Conversations podcast, I’m sharing some tips on how to say no with confidence, and knowing when saying no is in your best interest.

How to Say No at Work

Whether you’re working on confidence building, improving relationships, mastering difficult conversations, learning to embrace feedback, or developing leadership skills, you want simple, practical tips and ideas that you can apply in your work and personal life. Hosted by Diane A Ross, Elephant Conversations offers a unique combination of real talk, skill development, and her signature no-nonsense approach to getting the job done no matter how difficult the situation may be. Diane is a speaker, executive coach, leadership mentor, and difficult conversations expert and you can learn more about her at www.elephantconversations.com.

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Elephant Conversations

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