#340. The Secret to Getting Ahead is Being Awkward at Work with Henna Pryor

Feeling awkward used to be just a teenage rite of passage, but now it follows us into adulthood and impacts our careers. So how can we turn awkwardness into an advantage? In this episode, Henna Pryor, an award-winning keynote speaker and workplace performance expert, reveals her counterintuitive approach to awkwardness as a strategic tool for taking smart risks and advancing your career. Henna is known for her science-backed methods to help high achievers take their success to the next level. She’s been featured in Forbes, Real Simple, and Fast Company.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why leaning into awkwardness helps build confidence
• How to strengthen your “social muscles” in a hybrid world
• When taking risks at work, being awkward means you’re growing
• Why we freeze up: the psychology of vicarious embarrassment
• Exercises to practice awkwardness before high-stakes moments
• Giving yourself an “awkward advantage” to stand out from the herd

If you’ve been playing it safe out of fear of embarrassment, this conversation will empower you to embrace awkwardness for bolder career moves and innovation. Gain an unexpected edge by getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

 

Connect with Henna at the Pryoritygroup.com

Follow & Connect on LinkedIn & Instagram

Pre-Order Good Awkward

Sign up for Erik’s weekly newsletter - Adaptation

Join the AIM7 Beta Community

---

Quotable moments:

"Strengthening that muscle again, our ability to embrace awkwardness and stay in it a little bit longer is directly tied to our ability to take more risks at work, innovate and find that courage and confidence that we all are hoping to find." - Henna Pryor

"Every time we try something new, every time we hit an inflection point, any time we need to have a conversation where something matters, we are inviting awkwardness into our lives." - Henna Pryor

"The more we stay part of the herd, it's the sheep formula, right? When you look and sound like everyone else. You are essentially kind of lumped in with everyone else and people who make those big jumps in their career They have to be willing to stand out." - Henna Pryor

---

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST:

The BluePrint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals.   Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.

On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.

Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.

SUPPORT & CONNECT

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikkorem/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ErikKorem

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-korem-phd-19991734/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erikkorem

Website - https://www.erikkorem.com/

Newsletter - http://link.aim7.com/adaptation-newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.