You don’t have to say a word for people to know exactly what you’re thinking.

Sometimes your face gets there first.

In Episode 6 of Leading Ain’t Easy, Ryan and Erny dig into the idea of “Fix Your Face” and how your nonverbal tells can completely change the way people experience your leadership.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why you can’t “not communicate”
  A workshop exercise makes it painfully obvious: even when you’re silent, your body and face are saying plenty.
• When your emotions live on your face
  Ryan talks about getting in trouble for “lack of bearing” in Marine Corps boot camp and how that same struggle followed him into his professional life.
• The coworker who kept whispering “fix your face”
  How one colleague’s honest feedback turned into a mantra Ryan still uses in every tough meeting.
• Erny’s public board meeting lesson
  A clerical error, a very public question, and the moment his panic face cost him trust and put his work under a microscope.
• Authentic vs. unfiltered
  Being real doesn’t mean letting every reaction show. You don’t have to give everyone your unedited response to be honest and trustworthy.
• Tools to keep your bearing when you disagree
  • Micro-resets: adjust your posture, take a sip of water, breathe
  • Re-centering questions: “Why are we here?” and “What’s the actual objective?”
  • Using silence to collect your thoughts instead of firing back defensively
• Choosing where (and with whom) to vent
  Why it’s healthy to have safe people and places to unload, and how venting in front of your team can quietly erode trust in you and your organization.
• Leading with intention, not impulse
  How to stay human and expressive while still being intentional about the message your face, body, and tone are sending.

If you’ve ever been told, “your face is saying a lot right now,” this one’s for you.

Leading Ain’t Easy is hosted by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley.

• Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, a career and leadership coaching practice helping veterans and other professionals realign their work and lead with purpose.
• Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development.

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