Most leaders avoid conflict. Not because they are weak, but because they want to be liked, respected and seen as reasonable.

In this episode of The Professional Speaking Show, John Ball and leadership expert Julie Holunga unpack how conflict aversion quietly erodes authority, credibility and influence — especially for leaders and professional speakers who rely on trust and presence to lead.

Julie introduces the idea of “lazy leadership” and explains why avoiding hard conversations feels easier in the moment, but costs leaders status, clarity and effectiveness over time. The conversation explores how language, tone and timing shape authority, and how leaders can address tension without becoming aggressive, performative or fake.

This episode is for leaders and professional speakers who want to lead with clarity, credibility and confidence — not just keep the peace.

Find out more about Julie's work at JulieHolunga.com or connect with her on LinkedIn

CHAPTERS

00:00 Lazy Leadership: A New Perspective

02:24 Empowering Women in Conflict Resolution

05:28 The Importance of Language and Tone

08:02 Navigating Male-Dominated Environments

10:48 Constructive Conflict: A Path Forward

13:43 The Spectrum of Conflict Engagement

16:19 Authenticity in Communication

19:07 The Three C's of Conflict Competence

21:54 Building Trust Through Effective Communication

24:48 Practical Applications in Everyday Life

42:11 Closing Thoughts

Key Takeaways

Credibility in leadership is crucial for effective communication.

Lazy leadership occurs when leaders avoid difficult conversations.

Effort and preparation are necessary for addressing conflict.

Language and tone significantly impact conflict resolution.

Women often face challenges in asserting themselves in male-dominated environments.

Constructive conflict can lead to better outcomes and relationships.

Clarity, choice, and communication are key components of conflict competence.

The Titanium Rule emphasises speaking to others as they need to be spoken to.

Authenticity in communication fosters trust and collaboration.

Being deliberate in our interactions can lead to more positive outcomes.

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

Stand Out on LinkedIn: Strategies for Speakers and Coaches

SUMMARY

In this episode of the Professional Speaking Show, host John Ball engages with LinkedIn expert Michelle J Raymond to discuss the evolving landscape of LinkedIn and how speakers and coaches can navigate its complexities. They explore the challenges posed by AI-generated content, engagement pods, and the pressure to conform to viral trends, emphasising the importance of authenticity and genuine engagement. Michelle shares her insights on how to stand out in a crowded space by building real relationships and creating meaningful content that resonates with audiences. The conversation also touches on the necessity of maintaining an updated LinkedIn profile and the strategic use of various content formats to enhance visibility and engagement.

Connect with Michelle and sign up for her LinkedIn Newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejraymond/ and check out Michelle's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-media-for-b2b-growth-linkedin-strategy-for-b2b/id1603908569

TAKEAWAYS

LinkedIn is becoming noisier and harder to trust, but authenticity can help you stand out.

Building real relationships is more valuable than chasing viral trends.

Your LinkedIn profile should be treated like your homepage; keep it updated and engaging.

Engagement pods may provide short-term visibility but can undermine long-term credibility.

Consistency in posting and genuine interaction are key to leveraging LinkedIn effectively.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to LinkedIn Expertise

02:16 Current State of LinkedIn

05:29 Authenticity vs. Automation

09:40 The Impact of AI on Content

11:40 Standing Out in a Homogenised Space

15:37 The Importance of Building Relationships

19:04 The Temptation of Quick Fixes

24:25 Integrity in Online Presence

26:24 Building a Community on LinkedIn

27:29 The Challenge of Engagement Pods

29:39 Navigating LinkedIn's Algorithm Changes

31:12 The Importance of Reciprocity on LinkedIn

34:31 Strategic Commenting for Engagement

36:54 Creating Effective Content on LinkedIn

44:46 Maximising Your LinkedIn Profile

52:30 Final thoughts

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

Secrets of Personal Branding

SUMMARY

In this episode of Present Influence, John is joined by branding expert and bestselling author Mark Schaefer to explore what it truly means to become known in a noisy, copy-and-paste marketing world.

They explore why most personal brands fail, how guru-led thinking is killing originality, and why authority is built through relevance, consistency, and usefulness rather than visibility or hype.

Mark shares practical insights from his books Known and Audacious, including how speakers and experts can clarify what they want to be known for, choose the right content strategy, and avoid the trap of chasing platforms instead of building trust.

This conversation is essential listening for speakers, coaches, and consultants who want to build real credibility, stand out without selling out, and turn visibility into lasting influence.

Find out more about Mark and his books at https://businessesgrow.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Mark Schaefer

02:44 Contrarian Views in Marketing

06:02 The Importance of Personal Branding

08:51 The Role of Speaking in Business

11:49 Advice for Aspiring Speakers

15:00 Finding Your Unique Voice

17:59 Leveraging Social Media for Branding

20:51 Creating Content that Resonates

23:53 Opportunities in the Speaking Industry

26:39 Navigating AI in Marketing

29:59 The Need vs. Nice to Have in Speaking

33:01 Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned

35:52 Conclusion and Resources

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.