Ep517 - Erin Weed | Authenticity: Leading and Speaking with Your Head, Heart and Core
Jan 17, 2025
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In this engaging conversation, Erin Weed, founder of Girls Fight Back, dives into the essence of authenticity in communication. She reflects on her journey from tragedy to empowerment, navigating the emotional complexities of loss and purpose. Erin discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the realm of television production and the importance of meaningful interactions during life transitions. Through personal anecdotes and insights, she encourages a balance of intellect and emotion to foster genuine connections and inspire others to speak their truth.
Authentic communication fosters stronger connections and societal progress by encouraging individuals to express their true selves without fear.
The integration of Head, Heart, and Core in communication enhances personal and professional relationships, allowing for deeper connections and inspiring leadership.
Experiencing personal tragedy can transform priorities and motivate the pursuit of safety and empowerment, emphasizing the importance of speaking one’s truth.
Deep dives
The Importance of Authentic Communication
Authentic communication is crucial for personal and societal progress. It allows individuals to express their true selves without fear of alienation, creating stronger connections between people. By being authentic, people can inspire others to do the same, fostering a ripple effect that encourages openness and vulnerability. This is particularly vital for women, who often face barriers in self-expression, and can help break the cycle of fear and shame surrounding women's issues.
The Power of Connection
Connection is a fundamental aspect of human life that significantly impacts well-being and longevity. Research indicates that strong social ties can contribute to a longer life, outweighing even factors like diet and exercise. Authentic relationships, where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings, amplify this effect, creating a supportive community. The speaker emphasizes the need for genuine connection, which is often lost in superficial interactions typical of modern society.
Personal Transformation Through Tragedy
Experiencing personal tragedy can lead to profound transformation and a reevaluation of life's priorities. The speaker shares a pivotal moment when her friend was murdered, highlighting how this tragedy catalyzed a deeper understanding of fear and the restrictions it imposes on women's lives. This realization motivated her to advocate for women's safety and empowerment, ultimately leading to the founding of Girls Fight Back. By recounting personal stories, she illustrates the importance of speaking one’s truth as a means of healing and empowerment.
The Head, Heart, and Core Framework
The framework of Head, Heart, and Core serves as a tool for effective and authentic communication. The 'head' represents facts and rational thoughts, the 'heart' conveys emotions, and the 'core' expresses desires and aspirations. By integrating all three elements, individuals can communicate more authentically and connect deeply with others. This approach not only enhances personal relationships but is also beneficial in professional settings, where authentic leadership can inspire teams and drive success.
Letting Go to Embrace Authenticity
Letting go of fears, preconceived notions, and past identities is essential for individuals to fully embrace their authentic selves. The speaker uses the metaphor of breaking a coconut, symbolizing the release of barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their true potential. This act of release facilitates personal growth and allows for the emergence of a new self, ready to tackle challenges and pursue passions. The idea is to approach this process with gratitude, recognizing past experiences as valuable lessons that have shaped one's journey.
Erin Weed is the founder of Girls Fight Back, a women’s safety education company. After teaching live self-defense seminars to over 1 million people worldwide, she sold Girls Fight Back in 2013. Since then, she has been working as a speaker, author, and communication strategist who helps people seek their purpose and speak their truth.
Today, we’ll hear her Talk at TEDxBoulder about how to connect with one another by communicating authentically. On International Women's Day 2018, she joined Women@BLD to share a technique on how to lead and communicate authentically, from the head, heart and core.