211: Public Speaking, Trust, and AI in Leadership

Podcast Show Notes – Episode 211 | 01.14.2025

Episode Title: Njsane & Sean

Episode summary introduction:

Sean Barnes and Njsane Courtney delve into the importance of perseverance and the art of combining storytelling with emotional impact in public speaking. They explore the challenges and power of entrepreneurship and networking, highlighting vulnerability in leadership and audience connection. The discussion covers adapting leadership styles, managing time during speeches, and balancing focus between numbers and people. Trust, culture, and AI's role in performance management are examined, alongside AI's impact on resume screening and decision-making. Personal branding, historical technological perspectives, and the future of human-AI interaction are discussed. The episode concludes with insights on continuous learning and future podcast topics.

Key Moments

0:00 – The importance of perseverance

1:38 – Combining storytelling and emotional impact in public speaking

4:23 – The challenges and power of entrepreneurship and networking

8:49 – Vulnerability in leadership and connecting with your audience

20:49 – Adapting leadership styles and managing time during speeches

23:24 – Empathy and the Peter Principle in leadership

27:38 – Balancing focus between numbers and people in management

34:41 – Trust and culture in organizational performance

41:03 – Evolving performance management and the role of AI

50:08 – AI in resume screening and the human element in AI processes

1:00:21 – Context and accountability in AI decision making

1:04:07 – Personal branding and the future of human-AI interaction

1:07:16 – Historical perspectives on technological advancements

1:10:42 – Building connections and the value of spontaneous conversations

1:15:18 – Balancing personality tendencies and continuous learning

1:20:57 – Leveraging resources for self-improvement and knowledge prioritization

1:23:01 – Future podcast topics and episode conclusion

Key Takeaways

Consistency and perseverance are key to achieving long-term success, even when immediate results aren't visible.
Engaging storytelling can create a powerful connection with an audience, making complex or emotional topics more relatable and impactful.
Balancing empathy and accountability is crucial in leadership, helping to support and motivate employees while still driving performance and results.

Guest: Njsane Courtney

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/njsanecourtney/

Website: https://myfriendinhr.buzzsprout.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendin_hr/

Host: Sean Barnes

Website: https://www.wsssolutions.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wsssolutions/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/

YouTube: youtube.thewayofthewolf.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_seanbarnes