706: How to Talk to People Who Intimidate You, with Shandy Welch

Shandy Welch: Leadership Coach

Shandy Welch is an executive leadership coach. Her coaching focus is around humanizing leadership and re-engaging individuals and teams to inspire change and innovation. She is also a Coaching for Leaders Fellow.

Most leaders find themselves — at least occasionally — in conversations with people who intimidate them. In this SaturdayCast, Shandy and I share what’s worked for us and how it might help you have better conversations.

Key Points

• Nervousness is your friend. If you feel it, that means you care. Try to get the butterflies flying in formation.
• You are there because you are the best person to be there. Full stop.
• People with visibility will expect you’ve done your homework. If they’ve put something out into the world, they want you to find it.
• Preparation helps you improvise. “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.” -Charlie Parker
• Always assume there is something you can do to help out someone else. Consider their perspective and what they gain from the meeting with you.
• Everybody has doubts and struggles. Remember the humanity that’s present in every interaction.

What was helpful to you from our conversation? We’d love to know. Share it with Shandy at shandywelch@gmail.com

Related Episodes

• How to Talk to People Who Have Power, with Jordan Harbinger (episode 343)
• How to Help People Speak Truth to Power, with Megan Reitz (episode 597)
• Set the Tone for Speaking Up, with Mike Massimino (episode 672)

Discover More

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.