Closing the Confidence Gap: Leadership, Values, and Empowerment | Kelli Thompson

Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

What if your internal conflicts are the very signals pointing you toward personal growth and success? Join me as I sit down with Kelli Thompson, a dynamic keynote speaker and women’s leadership coach, to discuss her latest book, Closing the Confidence Gap. This episode promises to equip you with strategies for overcoming societal "shoulds" and identifying the barriers that hinder your confidence, especially for women balancing an unpaid workload alongside professional responsibilities.

Together, we unpack the intricacies of people-pleasing tendencies in leadership and the pitfalls of overcommitment and perfectionism. Through introspective exercises, you’ll learn how to align your commitments with your values, define what "good enough" means, and delegate tasks that don't align with your strengths.

Explore the powerful intersection of empathy, confidence, and negotiation as we navigate the art of salary discussions. Kelli and I discuss the importance of self-compassion as a means to bolster confidence and overcome internal doubts. Kelli also shares actionable advice on identifying personal and organizational values and how operationalizing these values creates an engaging work environment. Through thought-provoking discussions, this episode invites you to transform reflection into action, empowering you to lead with authenticity and confidence.

What You’ll Learn:

• Overcoming internal conflicts and building self-trust

• The impact of societal pressures on women's confidence

• Strategies for aligning commitments with personal values

• Navigating overcommitment and perfectionism

• The art of empathetic and confident salary negotiation

Podcast Timestamps:

(00:00) - From Aspiring TV Meteorologist to Top Women’s Leadership Coach

(11:00) - Identifying and Overcoming Internal Conflict

(22:43) - Navigating People-Pleasing in Leadership

(27:13) - Identifying and Defining Your Values

(32:21) - The Purpose and Power in Implementing Organizational Values

(45:11) - Empathy, Confidence, and Salary Negotiation

More of Kelli:

Kelli Thompson is an award-winning leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck, which was named a "Must Read" by the Next Big Idea Club, curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. With over 10 years of experience in financial services and technology, Kelli has coached and trained thousands of women leaders to lead with clarity and confidence through her compassionate yet no-nonsense approach. Her thought leadership has been featured in top publications like Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Business Insider. Holding an MBA and recognized for her impactful programs, Kelli is a sought-after speaker known for delivering practical, insightful strategies. Fun fact: she’s also a trained storm spotter and aspiring storm chaser.

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

Mentions:

Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck by Kelli Thompson

The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence by Tara Jaye Frank

Key Topics Discussed:

Positive Leadership, Empowerment, Women, Women’s Leadership, Self-Confidence, Values, Self-Trust, Minimizing Resentment, Avoiding Overcommitment, The Perils of Perfectionism, Organizational Values, Salary Negotiation, Empathy, Self-Compassion, Personal Growth, Introspection, The Power of Delegating, Behavioral-Based Interviewing, CEO Success

More of Do Good to Lead Well:

Website: https://craigdowden.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/