Suzanne F. Stevens's Blog, page 2

What I had to UNLEARN about Persuasive Presenting: The UNRULES of PRESENTING

What I had to UNLEARN about Persuasive Presenting:
The UNRULES of PRESENTING

You know, I spent years—years—training leaders across five continents on how to persuade any audience.

And they did.

They won business, transformed cultures, and inspired action.

But those same techniques? They’re no longer the quintessential approach to influence and inspire.

 

 

Persuasion has shifted

We’ve seen a shift—one that can’t be ignored.
An awakening to consciousness, to diversity, to difference. And yet, so...

The New Rules of Persuasion: What I Had to Unlearn About Presenting

The New Rules of Persuasion: What I Had to Unlearn About Presenting

You know, I spent years—years—training leaders across five continents on how to persuade any audience.

And they did.

They won business, transformed cultures, and inspired action.

But those same techniques? They’re no longer the quintessential approach to influence and inspire.

 

 

Persuasion has shifted

We’ve seen a shift—one that can’t be ignored.
An awakening to consciousness, to diversity, to difference. And yet, some are st...

Silence Nights, Not Silent Fights: Turn Holiday Hurt into Healing

Silence Nights, Not Silent Fights: Turn Holiday Hurt into Healing

Ah, the holidays—a time for mistletoe, merriment, and Aunt Carol’s unsolicited career advice. It’s also the season when hurt shows up uninvited, like that neighbor who double-dips in your cheese fondue. But before you let those emotional bruises ruin your eggnog, let’s unwrap the layers of hurt and see it for the weirdly wonderful gift it is.

Hurt—it’s as universal as holiday fruitcake and just as difficult to digest. Maybe it’s y...

Impostor Syndrome: Turn Your Doubts into a Catalyst for Confidence

Silence Your Inner Critic: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

Do you ever feel like a fraud? That nagging voice whispering you’re not good enough, despite your accomplishments? This is imposter syndrome, and there are strategies to silence it and reclaim your confidence.

Imposter syndrome. It’s the shadow that looms over even the most accomplished among us, whispering doubts and insecurities. While it can be crippling, imposter syndrome doesn’t have to dictate your narrative. Instead, it can be a sign...

Is Worry Preventing You from Consciously Leading?

From Worry to Wonder:
Five Steps to Transform Your Anxieties into Action

Let’s get real. Worry. It creeps in like an uninvited guest, sets up camp, and before you know it—bam—you’re stuck in a cycle. Sound familiar?

Worry has this sneaky way of paralyzing us. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, juggling your social impact business, or just trying to keep your head above water, worry isn’t just draining—it’s distracting. And, honestly, you don’t have time for that. I mean, you didn’t step into le...

The Eyes Have It: Elevate Your Impact with Conscious Eye Contact

The Eyes Have It:
Elevate Your Impact with Conscious Eye Contact

When you’re standing in front of a room—whether pitching funding for your next big initiative, rallying support from stakeholders, or captivating a conference audience—it’s not just your words that move people to action. One of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in your influence toolkit?

In this edition: Eye Contact The Importance of Eye Contact in Creating a Culture of WE. The Power of Eye Contact (and Its Absence)
Three St...

Curb Guilt to Amplify Your Authentic Essence

Where Would You Be Without Guilt?

I have the pleasure of interviewing accomplished women on YouMeWe Amplified Podcast who have transformed companies, communities, and countries with their conscious leaderships and social contributions. No matter their success and impact, many are plagued with guilt.

Let’s talk about guilt. Ah yes, that nagging, unnecessary passenger so many women carry around. Ever wonder why we’re so prone to it?

Here’s the thing: Guilt is a sneaky thief. It steals our joy, u...

10 Strategies to Weave Social Solutions into Your Business DNA

Growing with Purpose: 10 Strategies to Weave Social Solutions into Your Business DNA

Let’s address a typical response I hear from entrepreneurs:

“When I’m profitable, I’ll make a social impact.”

I get it. Businesses need to be sustainable. But here’s the truth bomb: integrating social solutions from the start won’t just build goodwill—it’ll fuel your growth.

Here’s why: Purpose-driven businesses attract value-aligned clients, retain motivated talent, and create a deeper connection with their co...

Unlock This Powerful Attribute to Maximize Your Leadership Potential

Unlock This Powerful Attribute to Maximize Your Leadership Potential

 

I often get asked, “What is conscious leadership?” The quickest way to describe it is this: Does life happen to you, or do you create your life?

In this edition:

5 Ways Leaders Avoid Responsibility
5 Ways Conscious Leaders Take Responsibility
Conscious Leadership in Action
Make Your Contribution Count Now

If you’re creating your life, you’re living at cause—taking control, making choices, and adapting with intention. If ...

Body Language: The Fine Line Between Authentic Leadership and the Illusion of Power. The Harris vs Trump debate.

Body Language: The Fine Line Between Authentic Leadership and the Illusion of Power

 

Conscious leaders know that communication is more than just words (because let’s face it, political debates often say nothing). What truly speaks volumes is body language. By observing the non-verbal cues of US presidential nominees during the debate, we can learn a lot about who we’d want to follow—or even emulate as leaders.

Body language cues from each candidate offer insights into their leadership style. Th...