I am a tough nut to crack. The more someone tries to push me – into an idea, a product or a service – the more reluctant I become. It’s not that I’m purposefully obstinate. The daughter of an engineer, I’ve been encouraged to think critically from such a young age; it’s in my blood. Gimmicks, “jazz hands” and other “persuasion techniques” just aren’t for me.

So, what do I recommend instead?

This was the topic of my talk when I met with some of the most influential women in the private wealth sector for breakfast last week. I shared how, as a business psychologist, I approached cultivating trust and inspiring confidence, with authenticity and integrity, so I’d get to help with the things I loved: facilitating organisational strategy, sense-checking important hires and promotions, unlocking teams’ potential, mediating conflicts and challenging executives to be better leaders.

A big thank you to Juliet Moses and Aimee Mitchell (Partners at TGT Legal) for inviting me to speak, Kristiina Kukk (also from TGT Legal) for making the morning happen, and all the attendees for the lovely reception and great work they’re doing in this space!

I’ve been doing a few more of these business-networking-type events of late, and have thoroughly enjoyed myself each time. So, if you’re part of one of these sorts of groups and you’re looking for a guest with quite a different perspective to offer, let’s discuss your audience and whether we think I have something to share that will resonate with them.

#shanelwinning #winningperformance #psychologist #speaking #networking #trust