Coffee with Kim

Communicating With Courage at Work With Tatiana Kolovou

Jul 22, 2025
Tatiana Kolovou, a LinkedIn Learning instructor and communications expert, shares her insights on navigating workplace dynamics with confidence and courage. She discusses strategies for handling gossip and micromanagement, as well as how to address challenging conversations such as telling your boss when a task isn’t a good fit. Tatiana also provides practical tips for job hunting after being let go and emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and continuous growth. Plus, she offers book and podcast recommendations to further enhance your communication skills!
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ADVICE

Handling Workplace Gossip

  • Stop workplace gossip by ignoring or redirecting the gossiper to prevent harm to absent colleagues.
  • Call out inappropriate gossip by questioning its purpose, making it stop without feeding into it.
ADVICE

Buy Time with Clarification

  • When caught off-guard by comments, ask the person to repeat or clarify to buy time and calm emotions.
  • Use this tactic to gain a do-over and respond with thoughtful, composed answers.
ADVICE

Help for New Employees Speaking Up

  • New employees should ask allies to help them speak up in meetings by inviting them to contribute.
  • Prepare by doing homework, verbal or written engagement, and asking open-ended questions for inclusion.
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