Connie Podesta

Organizational therapist, human resource professional, and expert in the psychology of human behaviour, Connie Podesta is internationally known for her high-energy, interactive and entertaining sessions.

Having worked with hundreds of corporations nationwide, Connie has an insider's knowledge of organizations and uses this unique perspective to create customized presentations on key issues such as personal accountability, communication, life balance, customer service, leadership, sales, team building, change and productivity.

Multi-faceted and uniquely able to involve her audience, Connie combines her business expertise with her diverse talents as a comedienne, author, Licensed Professional Counselor, and radio/TV personality to inspire her audiences to reach new heights in their personal and professional development.

Connie Podesta is also a Board Certified Professional Counselor and a member of the American Psychotherapy Association.

With both the experience and personality to captivate an audience, Connie has encouraged millions of people to achieve the success they desire, the happiness they seek, and the personal and professional life they deserve.

• J. Stand Out From the Crowd

  DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL IS NO LONGER ENOUGH.
  
  If you want to set yourself apart from the competition and be recognized as a unique, one-of-a-kind brand, you must dare to do more and achieve more than you’ve ever done.  Ask yourself this question:
  
  What do you bring to the table that is so memorable that people will choose to be your customer, colleague, friend, employee, leader, salesperson or partner?
  
  Connie has the answers you need to speed past your competitors and truly STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD!

   

   

• I. Achieving Balance in a Crazy 24/7 World

  YOU CAN manage the demands of employers, customers and family while also taking care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. But how do you do that in a crazy world where seemingly no one sleeps? Between constant e-mails, tweets and FaceBook updates, six degrees of separation has turned into one. The world is on call 24/7 and it can turn any sane person into that workaholic you promised yourself you would never become. Life today is way beyond stressful...and the work life/balance strategies of yesterday won't cut it.
  
  Connie Podesta will provide the confidence, tools and encouragement you need to gain, or regain, that essential sense of balance...

• H. Life Would be Easy if it Weren't for Other People

  YOU CAN learn to handle the most difficult of situations and people by understanding more about personality style and exactly what makes people "tick." In today's "always on" world, it seems that demands are higher than ever and everyone wants what they want NOW. Knowing how to say what you really mean, express how you feel , set reasonable limits and boundaries and say "no" without feeling guilty can determine your level of success, happiness and professional and personal satisfaction.
  
  Connie Podesta will help you look at the role you play when dealing with "difficult" people and situations... especially the ones that drive you crazy! As soon as you understand why people do what they do, you will be able to ACT rather than REACT to their demands, guilt, anger, and manipulation. Now isn't life easier already?

• G. Solo Entrepreneur: On Your Own – But Not Alone

  YOU CAN be successful IF you have a personality that is willing to embrace a new venture or enterprise, take on some risks and accept full responsibility for the outcome. But no matter what business you start, in order for it to become successful and profitable you must possess two necessary qualities: leadership and sales. You must be willing to take charge, make decisions and learn to ACT, not REACT. And you must be able to sell — not just your product or service but YOURSELF. YOU are the main product—the one whose personality, drive, ambition, and passion will determine the success of your new venture.
  
  Connie Podesta, a business owner herself for more than 25 years, has experienced the joys and success of entrepreneurship and will share valuable tips that can turn your dream into a reality. She will present the essential secrets and strategies every entrepreneur must know to be successful at doing it yourself. Being "totally in charge" certainly has its ups and downs, but with the right attitude and skills you can handle it and exceed your wildest expectations.

• F. What Psychology Can Teach You that Sales Training Will Not

  YOU CAN close more deals, keep customers happy and returning for business, increase and (no excuses needed) even make even more money. Doing so requires that you go beyond the age-old sales approach: assessing a customer's needs, overcoming objections, and moving in for the kill...
  
  Connie Podesta will demystify the psychology of buying and selling. She'll help you move into the subconscious minds of buyers and teach you how to quickly figure out what they need from you and exactly how they want to experience the buying experience. You'll receive insights into the core differences between selling to men and women, why certain people are NEVER going to buy until one significant change in your technique is made and how to reach an emerging generation of buyers that have their own set of buying patterns. Get ready to discover how adjusting your selling techniques can quickly and dramatically change your close rates and earn you the respect, customers, and profits you so deserve.

• E. The Boomers Want to Know

  YOU CAN communicate across generations and inspire people of all ages to work toward common goals. Since the very beginning, workplaces have been a conglomerate of all ages... Yet, it now seems that the expectation is to adapt strategies, work ethic and expectations depending on the age and generation of the employee. Really? When so many have fought to achieve equal rights for gender, race and culture, should age/generation be any different?
  
  Connie Podesta gives a refreshingly candid perspective, believing that there are some basic rules of fair play and work standards that apply to everyone. Punctuality, customer service, productivity, exhibiting strong leadership qualities, courtesy, commitment to company and product/service—these aren't age requirements—they are prerequisites to doing a job and doing it well. It's surprising just how much the generations have in common when the stereotyping stops. Young or old, Boomers or Y's—everyone's in the workplace to conduct business, make money and satisfy customers. No age can cop out on that!

• D. Business as Usual is Over

  YOU CAN survive in a highly competitive market IF you understand that business as usual is over. The game has changed and the rules are different. Are you ready to lead the competition? Today, the norm is for things not to trend the way the business plan predicted they would... And that's when the true character of an organization shows up. While change has always been inevitable, these days it's happening at the click of a mouse. Creativity is replacing complacency. Reinvention is eliminating the status quo. And resiliency and optimism are turning obstacles into opportunities.
  
  Connie Podesta will help your organization radically transform its thinking. In an environment when dramatic change and organizational realignments are "just another day at the office," it's time to discover a renewed fortitude that showcases why you are the kind of person your organization absolutely must fight to keep. Get ready to be the "voice of choice and reason" in the midst of significant change. If there is anytime you need to stand out from the crowd, it is NOW!

• C. Never Waste a Good Crisis

  YOU CAN thrive in the midst of uncertain and stressful times. Life and business are certainly full of surprises and change happens at the click of a mouse. Being able to communicate effectively during stressful times and unforeseen events can make or break a deal, determine outcomes and results and affect the ability to work as a team and be productive. A shift in attitude and behaviour can make all the difference in the world.
  
  Connie Podesta will demonstrate how even in times of stress and crisis you can rediscover a sense of purpose and empowerment. Get ready to uncover the tools and motivation you need to turn any crisis or time of significant change into a breakthrough... rather than a breakdown.

• B. Sensational Leaders = Sensational Results!

  YOU CAN inspire your team to WANT to be productive and engaged. Just imagine what your office would be like if all your employees were responsible, hard-working, honest, positive and self-motivated. Sounds good, right?
  
  Connie Podesta will show you how to communicate, inspire and lead each individual on your team (as well as colleagues, managers and customers). You'll learn how to go into the minds of your employees by looking at the psychology of recruiting, retaining, leading, coaching and training your team. Get ready to achieve sensational results by changing the way you relate to your staff, coworkers and customers. The definition of a good leader? Someone others WANT to follow. When employees "buy in" to their management team, it's amazing what can be accomplished.

• A. Spotlight Leadership: The Performance of a Lifetime

  YOU CAN set the stage to positively influence people. Leadership is not about a title or a corner office. Leadership is a personal choice to live one's life honestly, compassionately, productively and respectfully in the context of the world and all its demands. Shakespeare had it right when he said, "All the world's a stage..." and the people you know, meet and communicate with are "your audience". The choices you make, what you say, how you ACT or REACT, has the potential power to influence the thought, behaviours, and attitudes of the people around us, at work and home, in either a positive or negative way. With humour, substance and style, Connie has motivated millions of people to be the kind of leader that they themselves would choose to imitate, follow or respect—the kind of leader that deserves a standing ovation.

• Everyone loved you! After one session, I felt like a rock star! I got so many positive comments that I not only can't remember them all, but to put them in perfectly paragraphed and punctuated prose is not possible. But I did keep hearing she was the best we ever had and let's have her again next year!
  Tasca Lincoln-Mercury, Inc.
• You were the highlight of the conference - even better than George and Barbara Bush or Kenny Loggins!
  American Express
• Just a brief note to Thank You for the great presentation at our Annual Management Retreat - you were sensational! As you were aware, your audience consisted of our top NASA management together with the senior managers from our larger support contractors at Stennis, Lockheed Engineering, and Sverdrup Technology.
  NASA
• Connie received the highest rating on our post-meeting survey that I have seen in 24 years!
  Western Southern Financial Group
• Based on the overwhelming responses from the participants, it is safe to say that you were the best speaker in over 14 years!
  University of Delaware

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  October 2010

  Stand Out From The Crowd

  STANDOUT FROM THE CROWD begins with a choice - and a change. Podesta has helped more than two million people out-perform the competition, out-think old ideas, past performance and out- maneuver anyone who says it can’t be done. If there was ever a PERFECT time to stand out from the crowd and create an amazing future for yourself - it’s NOW!”

  
  
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  April 2009

  Make a Fortune Selling to Women

  In Make a Fortune Selling to Women, Connie Podesta combines psychology and sales tactics to create a how-to guide for closing sales with women. With a lively voice and no-nonsense tone that both men and women will appreciate, Podesta offers specific tips for overcoming the big five Deal Breakers. Riddled with revealing anecdotes, Podesta describes the male and female approach to the buying experience--without being condescending to either gender. And both salesmen and saleswomen will rely on this book to help them secure more sales with women.

  
  
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  May 2001

  Self Esteem and the 6-Second Secret

  This delightful, easy-to-read book is the perfect tool for anyone who wants to build, reinforce, or revive that all-important sense of self-esteem. Especially helpful for teachers, counsellors, and administrators working with students and parents, this updated edition reinvigorates licensed counsellor and trainer Connie Podesta?s original bestseller with new stories, new insights, and an even greater energy.

  
  
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  April 1999

  Life Would Be Easy if it Weren't for Other People

  This book will help the reader recognise and correct patterns of communication and behavior which, left unchecked, can be very destructive to relationships with family, friends, children, co-workers and bosses. The authors outline the four basic communication//behaviour patterns: aggressive, passive and passive-aggression; and describe in detail what each 'look like' in the home. Workplace with children.

  
  
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  July 1998

  How to Be the Person Successful Companies Fight to Keep

  Here is the inside scoop on what employers are really looking for in an indispensable worker. Providing you with the key high-performance traits that really count in the workplace, HOW TO BE THE PERSON SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES FIGHT TO KEEP takes you behind the scenes, into the boardrooms and offices of more than 300 business owners, CEOs, managers, and human resources directors, revealing why you must: Find ways to demonstrate value added Identify your competition - both inside and outside your company