212: The Power of Uncomfortable Conversations in Business with Shauna Garner
Aug 6, 2024
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Shauna Garner, President of a leading tech company and former aspiring medical doctor, shares her inspiring career transition. She highlights the importance of taking risks and the value of uncomfortable conversations in business. Shauna discusses how effective communication fosters leadership and promotes team engagement during changes. She also delves into personal growth through forgiveness and self-discovery. Finally, she emphasizes the significance of gratitude and strategic thinking in navigating the complexities of the tech industry.
Shauna Garner's journey illustrates that risk-taking is essential for effective leadership and fosters opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Engaging in uncomfortable conversations and active listening enhances team communication, builds trust, and encourages diverse perspectives in navigating corporate risks.
Deep dives
Embracing Risk in Leadership
Risk-taking is a cornerstone of effective leadership, as demonstrated by Shauna Gana's personal journey from biomedicine to becoming President of a tech company. She emphasizes that risk should not be viewed as a fear-inducing step but rather as an opportunity for growth and learning. Taking calculated risks can drive innovation, and embracing them requires a mindset of viewing outcomes as valuable lessons rather than mere successes or failures. Through her experiences, Shauna showcases the importance of stepping outside comfort zones and encourages others to recognize the potential that lies in both the risks they take and how they respond to the challenges they face.
The Importance of Communication
Effective communication is essential in navigating both personal and corporate risk-taking. Shauna advocates for not just speaking but actively listening to her team, understanding that diverse perspectives enhance decision-making processes. Engaging in open dialogue allows leaders to address concerns and validate the feelings of their team members while still moving initiatives forward. This approach fosters a culture of trust, which is vital for collaborating on risks that impact the organization as a whole.
Managing Uncomfortable Conversations
Navigating uncomfortable conversations is a critical skill that leaders must develop, particularly when discussing risks that invoke differing opinions. Shauna highlights the necessity of allowing pauses for reflection during discussions, which can lead to more thoughtful decision-making. By presenting a space for individuals to voice their concerns, leaders can constructively address dissenting views while maintaining focus on the common goal. This approach not only strengthens a team's alignment but also promotes a culture of continual growth and resilience.
The Value of Perseverance and Forgiveness
Perseverance is key to overcoming the inherent challenges that come with risk-taking in any career. Shauna speaks to the power of forgiveness—both toward oneself and others—when the desired outcome from a risk does not materialize. Understanding that setbacks are a natural part of any journey allows individuals to rise again after failures, ultimately contributing to their personal and professional development. By reminding herself and her team of the shortness of life, Shauna encourages a mindset that embraces challenges and celebrates the learning process, fostering both individual and organizational growth.
In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the world of risk-taking and the essential conversations that come with it. Join us as we explore the remarkable journey of Shauna Garner, who transitioned from aspiring medical doctor to President of a leading tech company. She shares her story of embracing the unknown and the pivotal role of uncomfortable conversations in driving success.
Ready for valuable insights and practical advice on how to hold space for risks to become a powerful and visionary leader?
Let’s go to the show!
We dive into:
Shauna’s career journey from medicine to tech
The benefit of taking risks in our careers
Taking risks on behalf of your organization
Handling uncomfortable conversations: team communication and engagement during risky changes
Shauna’s insights on formidable leadership, growth, and forgiveness
And more
**Useful links**
Connect with today’s guest and sponsor, Shauna Garner
If you are ready to uplevel your career, get unstuck or you are simply ready to unlock those leadership time-management techniques then join us in my monthly career & leadership coaching program exclusively for women in tech: https://www.tonicollis.com/academy
Join the Leading Women in Tech community in Slack where we discuss all-the-things for women’s tech leadership, covering everything from early-career leadership to C-level executives.
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