How to Communicate More Effectively and Lead a Better Life with Michael Hoeppner
The Remarkable Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 04/02/2025
The Remarkable Leadership Podcast
What makes work meaningful, and how can leaders create that experience for their teams? Kevin is joined by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, who state that their research shows nearly 50% of an employee's experience of meaning at work is tied to what their leaders do or fail to do. Meaningful work is the upstream factor that drives engagement, productivity, innovation, and the bottom-line results that organizations want. The conversation centers around the Three C’s of Meaningful Work: Community – Creating authentic connections and a sense of belonging among team members, even in remote or...
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Are you drowning in meetings? In this episode of Remarkable TV, Kevin Eikenberry explores a common leadership challenge: How many meetings are too many? The answer may not be a number—but a shift in mindset, purpose, and effectiveness. Discover: ✅ How to clarify your desired meeting outcome ✅ How to decide whether a meeting is truly necessary ✅ How to choose the right people for your meeting ✅ Tips to stay focused and finish strong ✅ Why meetings ARE part of your real work If you're tired of unproductive, time-wasting meetings, this episode is for you. Make your meetings more...
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We’re great at celebrating birthdays and personal milestones—but are we celebrating enough at work? In this episode, I explore why workplace celebrations matter and how we can make them more intentional and meaningful. I share questions you can ask yourself and your team to determine what’s worth celebrating and how to do it in a way that reinforces your culture, motivates your people, and aligns with your organizational goals. Whether you lead a remote team, a hybrid team, or a traditional office-based one, you'll walk away with ideas to bring more purposeful recognition and joy into...
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Are you thriving or just surviving? Steve Magness joins Kevin to discuss how many of us operate in psychological survival mode far more often than we realize, treating everyday workplace challenges as threats rather than growth opportunities. They explore the psychological traps of modern stress responses, protective systems, and the impact of flattening our identities. They also cover accepting “messiness”, the balance between short-term comfort and long-term growth, redefining success, and why authenticity must go beyond performance to resonate. Listen For 00:00 Introduction to The...
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What can a tree teach you about being a better leader? More than you might think. In this episode of Remarkable TV, Kevin Eikenberry draws powerful lessons from the natural world—specifically trees—to help you become a more stable, adaptable, and effective leader. Learn how to stay rooted in your values while remaining flexible in your approach to leadership challenges. 🌳 🌟 Key Takeaways: - The importance of being rooted in principles, values, and purpose - How flexibility in your leadership approach strengthens your effectiveness - Why true leadership is about balance: being both...
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What if your well-intentioned leadership style is holding your team back? Kevin sits down with Sabina Nawaz to discuss the illusion of "bad bosses," the myth of singular authenticity, and the impact of pressure on leadership behaviors. Sabina introduces the idea that it’s pressure, not power, that corrupts and outlines the three primary pressure pitfalls leaders fall into: controlling, abdicating, and automating. They talk about why delegation often fails and how unexamined internal “hungers” sabotage our best efforts and intentions, as ell as how leaders can learn to shift their...
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How patient are you with yourself? In this episode of Remarkable TV and the Remarkable Leadership Podcast, I’m challenging you to reflect on an important leadership skill: giving yourself the same patience and grace you extend to others. We’ll explore: - What your self-talk says when things don’t go as planned - How to zoom out and gain perspective when you feel stuck - Why staying in the present moment builds patience and confidence - How building personal patience strengthens your leadership and reduces stress for you and your team Leadership is a journey, not a destination. These...
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Do you know how to effectively communicate with someone in a higher position, such as your boss, a board, or anyone in a position of authority? Kevin welcomes Melody Wilding, who shares strategies and conversation frameworks to help professionals at all levels navigate complex relationships with their leaders. Melody and Kevin discuss the concept of “managing up”; not as sucking-up or people-pleasing, but to take ownership of your success by fostering productive and respectful relationships with those in charge. They also discuss the critical conversations outlined in her book and dive...
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How patient are you with others—especially as a leader? In this episode of Remarkable TV, Kevin Eikenberry explores why patience is more than just a virtue—it’s a leadership skill that impacts trust, engagement, and your effectiveness as a coach. Kevin walks through the common triggers that test our patience (like stress, urgency, and mood), and he offers practical steps to help you respond more thoughtfully—even in high-pressure situations. Discover how understanding your own mindset can help you show more grace and build stronger, more productive relationships. My name is Kevin...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered how the physical act of speaking can improve your communication? Kevin sits down with Michael
Chad Hoeppner to discuss the physical nature of communication and exercises we can do to get better. Michael challenges our common assumptions about speaking, such as believing it’s purely a mental activity. Instead, he introduces the concept of embodied cognition, explaining how communication is a physical activity involving over 100 muscles and should be approached like athletic training. Michael shares the science behind thought suppression and why focusing on "not saying um" is counterproductive. He also talks about the Five Ps of vocal variety (Pace, Pitch, Pause, Power, Placement) and how they impact your message.
Listen For
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
02:00 Meet Michael Hoeppner
04:00 The Journey to Communication Coaching
08:00 The Physical Side of Communication
12:00 Why Thought Suppression Doesn't Work
16:00 Tips for Reducing Filler Words
20:00 Exercises for Clear Communication
24:00 The Five P's of Vocal Variety
28:00 Managing Nerves When Speaking
32:00 Final Thoughts and Book Information
35:00 Closing Remarks
Michael's Story: Michael Chad Hoeppner is the author of Don't Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and the CEO and president of GK Training, a firm dedicated to giving individuals, companies, and organizations the communication skills necessary to reach their highest goals in work and life. As an individual speaking coach, his clients include Andrew Yang, Swiss Re, Xerox, The Boston Consulting Group, Pfizer, Columbia University Business School, NYU Law School, Macy’s, Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver, and others. His expertise lies in every aspect of communication: public speaking, business development, executive presence, interpersonal agility, email skills, and speech writing. Hoeppner is one among the growing chorus of voices identifying the link between the physical aspects of spoken communication and broader issues of health and wellness.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchadhoeppner/
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