242. When Social Anxiety Gets You Labeled as “Difficult” at Work
Release Date: 08/15/2025
265. Stop Trying to Win with People: Reprogram Your Social Identity
Social Skills Mastery
Have you ever watched someone walk into a room and it’s like everything they touch turns to gold—promotions, opportunities, influence, connection, and wondered how it’s even possible? In this episode, we break down the real reason some people seem to “win” socially without effort: they’re not trying harder… they’re operating from a different identity. Social success isn’t created through willpower or forcing yourself to perform—it’s created through subconscious programming, beliefs, and an internal “thermostat” that determines what feels automatic and normal for...
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264. Devin Marks: How TED-Style Tools Can Improve Any Message, Anywhere
Social Skills Mastery
When you're ready to become a bona fide thought leader in your zone of genius, Devin D. Marks will uplevel your public speaking game. DEVIN is the nation's #1 (and world's first) TED-style speaking coach. His firm, CONNECT to COMPEL, has served 100s of short-talk speakers — including Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger for his all-time TOP 10 TEDx Talk (50 million views). The result: 100s of millions of views for clients. He helps coaches, authors, and experts spread world-changing ideas. Devin was also the most downloaded episode from this podcast in 2020, and you can find that episode ....
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263. Secrets to Creating a Polished, Professional Speaking Style with Neil Gordon
Social Skills Mastery
Neil Gordon is the bestselling author of The Most Powerful Sentence of All Time. He is a former editor of Dutton, now a division of Penguin Random House, where he worked on books by New York Times bestselling authors such as Eckhart Tolle and Sylvia Browne. He has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, NBC, and Fox. In episode #263, Neil reveals the career-defining skill that separates professionals who fade into the background from those who command attention and close deals. You'll discover how to craft your "Silver Bullet"— a deceptively simple elevator pitch that...
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262. The Under-the-Radar Star: Turn Hidden Work Into Visible Authority
Social Skills Mastery
If you’ve been told that “your work should speak for itself” and you’re still being overlooked, this episode explains why that strategy quietly fails in loud, fast-paced workplaces. Susan shares the real reason smart, capable, socially reserved professionals stay under-recognized, not because they lack talent, but because they’re playing by rules that no longer apply. You’ll learn why visibility is not self-promotion or personality-driven, but a learned language that shapes how leadership, confidence, and value are perceived. You’ll also discover five practical ways to learn...
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261. Why You Feel Drained When You’re "Doing Everything Right"
Social Skills Mastery
In episode #261, you’ll discover why your exhaustion isn’t just about workload, long hours, or a packed calendar, and why, even when life looks “successful” on paper, your day-to-day experience can still feel heavy and flat. You’ll learn how constant self-monitoring, impression management, over-apologizing, and social over-functioning quietly drain your nervous system, and what to do instead so you feel more steady, present, and energized without becoming louder or someone you’re not. If you’re intelligent, responsible, and used to being the person who “holds it all...
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260. The Year You Stayed the Same: Why Smart People Stay Socially Stuck
Social Skills Mastery
If your interpersonal skills are the same today as they did a year ago, the problem isn't your personality, your schedule, or your temperament. It's your thoughts. In this episode, we look at the hidden beliefs that keep high-achieving professionals socially stagnant, and why updating your thinking is the only path to true change. ** Don’t even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? : a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or...
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259. Reengineering Your Social Identity for High-Stakes Professional Growth
Social Skills Mastery
In this episode, we take a deep, honest look at the role your social identity plays in your success, especially in the rooms where influence, opportunity, and visibility matter most. If you’ve ever felt like your interpersonal skills lag behind your expertise, or that your social confidence doesn’t match your level of accomplishment, this conversation will change how you see yourself. You’ll learn why your brain continues recreating the same social experiences year after year, how emotional habits shape your identity, and why high achievers often hold onto outdated versions of themselves...
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258. The Transformational Power of Hosting: Create the Party Instead of Surviving It
Social Skills Mastery
What if the fastest way to stop dreading social events… is to host one yourself? In this episode, Susan breaks down the counterintuitive truth that hosting a party is one of the most powerful confidence-building tools for socially anxious, introverted, or socially awkward professionals. You’ll learn why hosting gives you control, structure, predictability, and emotional safety; the exact ingredients your nervous system has been craving. What You’ll Learn Why attending parties feels terrifying, and why it’s not your fault How hosting flips the social script and reduces 70% of your...
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257. Stop Dreading the Holiday Party: Your Step-by-Step Confidence Strategy
Social Skills Mastery
If your nervous system goes into overdrive every time a work event pops up on your calendar, this episode is your new survival guide. Today I’ll explain the psychology behind holiday party dread, the professional stakes, and how to navigate the event like a grounded, self-managed leader. You’ll walk away with concrete tools, conversation prompts, and a mental practice that transforms the way you show up. ** Don’t even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? : a...
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256. The Social Intelligence Advantage: How Charismatic Leaders Turn Heads, Build Trust, and Become Unforgettable
Social Skills Mastery
In episode #256, we unpack the real reason some professionals are welcomed, remembered, and trusted, while others blend into the background. Susan breaks down the non-obvious, leader-level skills today’s professionals need to stand out in meetings, networking events, interviews, client dinners, and every room that matters. This episode goes far deeper than “smile more” or “make eye contact.” You’ll learn the elevated, strategic social-intelligence behaviors that actually impact influence, reputation, and advancement, especially for analytical high-achievers who weren’t...
info_outlineAre your coworkers misreading you?
If you’ve ever been labeled “difficult,” “standoffish,” or “arrogant” when you’re actually anxious or nervous, you’re not alone. Many high-achieving professionals with social anxiety unintentionally send signals that others interpret the wrong way—hurting their reputation, relationships, and career opportunities.
In this episode of the Social Skills Mastery Podcast, social confidence coach Susan Callender explains why social anxiety often looks like arrogance in the workplace, the neuroscience behind why your brain reacts this way, and practical steps to show your true personality, even in stressful situations.
You’ll learn:
- Why social anxiety triggers behaviors that damage first impressions
- The “translation error” between your intentions and how others see you
- How protective habits like brief answers, avoiding small talk, or leading with credentials can backfire
- Four proven strategies to replace anxiety-driven habits with authentic connection
- A simple 4-week plan to improve your communication and shift workplace perception
Whether you’re in leadership, a technical role, or client-facing position, this episode will help you protect your professional reputation, build stronger relationships, and feel more confident in high-stakes interactions.
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Don’t even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills?
Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be?
Book a Social Strategy Session HERE
7 Biggest Social Mistakes Smart Professionals Make
Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com