Words With Friends, Hosted by Phil M. Jones

In today’s show of Words with Friends, Phil interviews leadership keynote speaker and author, David Horsager. Our theme for today’s show is “Trust”.  In the current situation, when the hold world is grappling with the virus outbreak, maintaining trust has, perhaps, never been more difficult. But, we need to strive to choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong. So, how can we retain trust in these challenging conditions? One of the main themes that we touch upon is the need to maintain transparency. If you are a business owner struggling to retain your employees, it is easy to shy away from having hard conversations. But, doing so will simply keep your employees on tenterhooks, and drastically lower their morale. David and Phil share their own experience and reveal how they are dealing with their employees with transparency AND compassion. On the other end of the spectrum, what steps can employees take to ensure that their employers continue to trust them? We discuss the importance of being consistent, showing commitment and character in these trying times. Brands and businesses will have to pivot and adjust to the new normal to survive this steep downturn. In the latter segment of the show, we reveal how you can do just that.  We hope you enjoy this show! Resources: Trustedge Leadership Institute The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line

In today’s show of Words with Friends, Phil interviews author, producer and content creator, Alison Stratten.  Our topic for today’s show is “Family”.  Family means different things to different people. For Alison, her family is her purpose, her foundation – that gives her stability. Her life revolves around her five kids, ranging from 13 to 23.   During this virus outbreak, Alison shares that like most people, her family is also under lockdown.  How have her family dynamics changed in the wake of COVID-19?  While some of her kids are coping fine with social distancing, Alison reveals that her other kids are going through a difficult phase. In this segment of the show, we discuss why it is necessary to display more empathy right now.  How can you maintain an emotional equilibrium right now when you need to “give” without getting anything in return? And, as a parent, what is the best way of dealing with your child’s frustrations? We discuss all this and much more in today’s show.  We wrap up this show with a fun and engaging rapid fire round.  Tune in to this great conversation now!  What You Will Learn In This Show  How to manage family dynamics in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak  Why your family is your safe haven  How children are adapting to online learning  How to channel your emotions during the lockdown  And so much more!  Resources  Alison’s LinkedIn  Alison’s Instagram  Unmarketing  The Jackass Whisperer: How to deal with the worst people at work, at home and online―even when the Jackass is you  QR Codes Kill Kittens: How to Alienate Customers, Dishearten Employees, and Drive Your Business into the Ground 

In today’s show of Words with Friends, Phil interviews Sylvie Di Giusto, keynote speaker, and renowned image consultant. Sylvie helps her clients create more favorable impressions in front of their customers and employees.   In today’s show, we talk about the word, “image”.  This word has been often misunderstood and often viewed as shallow and superficial. However, Sylvie shares how creating a positive image requires you to look inwards, work on your gaps, and improve.   Listeners will learn that rather than relying on external appearances, the best way to improve your image is to build your confidence.   This show is full of some great tips for professionals and entrepreneurs who are struggling to adjust to the “work from home” lifestyle forced down upon us by the ongoing COVID crisis. Do your clients and colleagues still expect you to show up professionally? Should we use tools like virtual backgrounds when we log in for a call? Do we come across as inauthentic when we resort to such measures?  The ongoing situation certainly demands that we display greater acceptance and tolerance. Sylvie shares how she is going all out to help her clients in these trying times.  Towards the end, we have some interesting discussions about how some prominent personalities who have successfully managed to reinvent themselves.   What You Will Learn In This Show  Why improving your image requires you to look inwards  How to conduct yourself professionally in a work from home setting  Prominent personalities who have successfully reinvented themselves  And so much more!!  Resources The Image of Leadership  Studio for Image Professionals  To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

In today’s show, we interview Mark Bowden, body language key-note speaker, and bestselling author.   As a body language expert, Mark is adept at determining if a person is lying or telling the truth – which brings us to the moot question. Is it really bad to lie?   Is it really advisable to be brutally honest in all situations? Mark goes on to share why, to be socially adept, it is important to lie sometimes.   Whether it is political leaders “lying” to assuage the public in times of a grave crisis or parents attempting to shelter their children from harsh realities, sometimes it is necessary to tell a good “lie”. Aren’t you better off telling a lie if someone is simply incapable of hearing the truth?  From Winston Churchill’s war speeches to the current handling of the coronavirus situation, the above fact has been corroborated time and again.    Listeners will learn that telling a good lie, is, in fact, incredibly difficult and one of the hallmarks of truly great leaders. While telling a good lie requires wisdom and foresight, accepting this requires a certain amount of maturity as well.  What You Will Learn In This Show:  Is it okay to lie sometimes?  How being brutally honest can get you in trouble  Why a good leader needs to know how to tell a good lie  How to weigh the pros and cons, and determine if it is worthwhile telling a good lie  And much more!  Resources: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking  To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

In today’s show,  we interview Chris Ducker, founder, Youpreneur and author, Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business.  As “work-from-home” becomes the new normal in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, all of us are struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance. While it is natural to feel stress and overwhelm in these trying times, Chris shares some simple yet effective measures which can help you boost your productivity and protect your business.  Particularly, listeners will learn how they can avoid some of the most common time sucks as they adjust to a work-from-home lifestyle. Topics discussed in this segment of the show include time blocking and chasing progress over perfection.  Chris shares his example and reveals how he is functioning in “maintenance-mode” right now so that he is well-placed to grow his business once this current crisis subsides.  So, what are some productive ways of utilizing this downtime? Should you get virtual assistance so that you can better concentrate on your core competencies?  We wrap up this show with Chris revealing why “less is more” when it comes to productivity. We hope you enjoy this show!  What You Will Learn In This Show:  How to amplify your brand and business in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak  Does technology amplify or hinder productivity?  Hacks to sustain your productivity while on the road  When are the right time to find help and delegate tasks?  Chris Ducker’s Top Productivity Tip  And much more!  Resources: Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business    To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

In today’s show of Words with Friends, Phil interviews Amy Port, Co-Founder and President, Heroic Public Speaking.  Today we are going to talk about “performance”. And there is no one better suited than Amy to give us some nuanced insights on this topic.  Drawing on her years of coaching experience, Amy shares how listeners can improve their public speaking skills. Many of us fail to realize that subject matter expertise does not translate into public speaking expertise.   So, how can we reign in our nervousness when speaking on stage in front of thousands of people? The biggest mistake that public speakers make is worrying about the frivolous - like how they look on stage, for instance. Amy shares that listeners need to focus on “results” instead of “performance”. Rather than serving out egos, when we are on stage, we need to consciously remember that we need to serve the audience.  Amy also reveals that access to a safe haven where you rehearse your public speaking skills in front of well-meaning critiques is the best way forward. Doing so will allow you to test out purposeful and bold choices, adapt, and then pivot.  The latter segment of the show is particularly relevant as we talk about communicating with your family, peers, and employees in these trying times. Listeners will learn why transparent and empathetic communication is the need of the hour.  If you are a business leader struggling to put your thoughts into words, this segment of the show will be particularly interesting to you.   We wrap up this show with a fun and engaging rapid fire round. We hope you enjoy this show!  Resources  Heroic Public Speaking  Amy’s LinkedIn  To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

In today’s show, Phil interviews Kate O’Neill, speaker, author, an expert on better tech for business & people, & transformation.  What does humanity mean to Kate? What does “being human” mean? Is it our love and passion that makes us human? Is it our creativity? Or maybe our problem-solving skills? We kickstart today’s show by attempting to answer this rather convoluted question.  With the coronavirus outbreak bringing the whole world to a grinding halt, stresses are at an all-time high. And, fear and uncertainty are at the back of everyone’s mind.   None of us are at our best as we struggle to deal with the stresses of a work-from-home lifestyle. But how many of us remember this while dealing with our family members, colleagues, and clients? How many of us try to maintain an optimistic attitude so that we can be a source of strength to those around us?  Perhaps, displaying humanity has never been as important AND as challenging.   Because of the fallout of the current situation, Kate shares how businesses and professionals are gravitating towards a virtual marketplace/workplace at an unprecedented rate. And this has given rise to its own set of challenges.  First of all, is it really possible for us to create a digital world that exactly mirrors our physical world? Can we anticipate human needs using digital tools like Zoom and chatbots? Can we expect everyone in a virtual workplace to work with 100% honesty and accountability?  Next, Kate shares that this virtual work style will require a major mindset shift. Additionally, we speculate if this virus outbreak will cause a permanent shift in customer behavior.  Towards the end of the show, listeners will be reminded why it is important for each one of us to do our bit and fight this pandemic as a collective.  What You Will Learn In This Show  What does humanity truly mean?  How humanity is truly tested during challenging times  How to strive for a better future and work for a better future in these trying time  How to retain an optimistic outlook as you grapple with the fallout of the pandemic  And much more!  Resources Tech Humanist Creative Warriors Podcast Should a bot have to tell you it’s a bot? Kate’s Website Kate’s Twitter  To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

Our main theme for today is integrity. During these challenging times, are we doing things that are lacking integrity? Are we treating our family members, our colleagues, our clients, and our peers with utmost integrity?  Marcus Sheridan is not only a highly sought after international keynote speaker, but is a real straight-shooter and admits this is easier said than done – especially in the current circumstances. He shares how he is going out of his way to retain his 140 employees.   Marcus draws parallels between the current situation and the 2008 financial crisis. Instead of waiting for the economy to improve and the stimulus checks to roll in, Marcus urges listeners to adopt an action-oriented mindset to discover new and lucrative opportunities.  Marcus draws parallels between the current situation and the 2008 financial crisis. Instead of waiting for the economy to improve and the stimulus checks to roll in, Marcus urges listeners to adopt an action-oriented mindset to discover new and lucrative opportunities.  The path to success is rarely a linear one. Tuning in today will surely inspire listeners to adapt and pivot during this time of crisis. What You Will Learn In This Show  How to lead your personal and professional life with integrity  Why displaying empathy is a must in these trying times  How is the current period similar to the 2008 economic crisis?  How to make the most of this current downtime  And much more...  Resources  Marcus’s Website  They Ask, You Answer  To see more from Phil: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

This is a brand new season of Words With Friends and my team and I are excited to be back.  We will be featuring some of the sharpest minds in the industry as well as the world's greatest thought leaders that I have the pleasure to call my friend.  Each episode will have a theme surrounding one word and has it relates to our current world today.  To see more: https://www.philmjones.com/words-with-friends/ Want to discover "Exactly" what to say:  https://www.philmjones.com/sales-training-books/

Leslie Ehm is one of the most incredible people in the world. Giant heart, talent in abundance and more energy than the Duracell bunny! She has SWAGGER in abundance and spends much of her life helping others to unleash their brilliance with her training company, Combustion. I feel very fortunate to see Leslie as a dear and true friend, and choosing the word for today's discussion was easy... Leslie Ehm shares her insight into the word "Authenticity." Listen in on our conversation and enjoy being a fly on the wall to our discussion. Looking to help your organization to think, act and achieve better things, you may just need a little of what www.combustionco.com has to offer