What do you do when someone spills your secret...before you've had the chance to speak your truth?

That's exactly what happened to Leslie - a beloved, non-nonsense leader known for her compassion and integrity - when her boss found out she was planning to leave... from someone outside the company.

In this episode, Velma walks you through a career moment that could've shattered trust - and how consistent authenticity turned it into a bridge, not a breakdown.

You'll hear:

A story that hits close to home - awkward meetings, honest words, and leadership grace.

The science behind why authenticity creates psychological safety.

A big idea to reshape how you show up - especially when the stakes are high.

🎁Plus: Grab your free download with: 8 Ways to Handle Workplace Conflict Without Losing Your Cool (or Your Mind) ➡️Available now at LeadersPathway.com

If you're leading people - or preparing to - this episode is for you.

Because surface-level leadership is out... and real connection starts with real you.

Struggling to lead a team member who shuts down, pushes back, or seems impossible to reach? You’re not alone—and this episode delivers the breakthrough you’ve been craving.

In this high-impact episode of Leaders Pathway, Velma Knowles doesn’t hand out fluff—she delivers a laser-focused painkiller for one of leadership’s most emotionally draining challenges: disconnection.

💥 Discover the second secret in Velma’s five-part blueprint to build stronger connections at work: the power of a specific, well-placed compliment.

Forget generic “good jobs.” This episode reveals how a single, honest compliment—rooted in precision and truth—melted years of tension for one coaching client named Susan. What happened next was nothing short of a workplace transformation.

🔍 Learn the neuroscience of appreciation vs. recognition, and why your team craves one far more than the other. You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to speak to your team’s deepest emotional drivers—without manipulation, fluff, or forced cheerleading.

❤️ Want to go deeper? Explore the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace and learn how to personalize praise so it actually lands. Click here to unlock the series »

🔥 Velma leaves you with a bold, actionable challenge that could flip your workplace dynamic in just 24 hours.

If you’re ready to turn cold, resistant relationships into collaborative, trust-filled partnerships, hit play now.

Your next promotion might just depend on it.

Struggling to connect with someone at work? You’re not alone.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing up, or collaborating with colleagues, better workplace relationships start with one simple but powerful shift: finding common ground.

In this episode, I share a personal story—how a migraine patch, of all things, helped me build a meaningful connection with someone I once avoided.

💡 You’ll learn how this moment turned a frustrating relationship into a productive partnership—and how you can do the same.

✅ Discover the first of 5 simple steps to strengthen your workplace relationships

✅ Learn why connection is the secret ingredient to better communication, collaboration, and trust

✅ Hear how leaders like YOU can turn everyday moments into breakthroughs

✅ Get real-world strategies to stop being a headache… or getting one from someone else

👇 Ready to level up your leadership communication?

🎯 Book your FREE leadership coaching call now at LeadersPathway.com

Let’s uncover the roadblocks holding you back and build the connection strategy that fits your leadership style.

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned—more powerful connection steps are coming your way to help you build stronger workplace relationships that last.

#leadership

#communication

#workplacerelationships

#leadershipdevelopment

#leadershippodcast

#emotionalintelligence

#teamleadership

#connectatwork

#LeadersPathway

Join Velma as she reveals her greatest leadership challenge and how overcoming communication struggles transformed her career. Learn how you can identify and tackle your communication blindspots, enhancing both your leadership and personal growth.

Grab your free resource: Reveal Your Communication Blind Spots here: https://www.leaderspathway.com/resources

#leadershipblindspots #communicationskills #leadershipchallenges #overcomingcommunicationbarriers #personalgrowth #leadershiptraininganddevelopment

What You’re Not Saying Might Be the Key to Your Next Breakthrough.

In this short, personal episode, I’m asking just one honest question:

👉 What’s the biggest struggle you’re facing right now?

No fluff. No filters. Just a real check-in to help me understand how I can support you with future content, tools, and encouragement.

💌 Email me directly at velma@leaderspathway.com and share what’s been holding you back—big or small.

Your story is safe with me. And your voice? It matters more than you know.

🎧 Tune in. Reflect. And if you’re ready—reach out.

We’re just getting started.... velma@leaderspathway.com

#leadership #careerstruggles #personaldevelopment #emotionalhealth #lifecoach #leadershippodcast #leaderspathway

In this episode of Leaders Pathway, host Velma Knowles explores the barriers we often place on ourselves, preventing us from seizing new career opportunities.

Velma shares her personal story from 2013, where a downsizing event challenged her identity and forced her to redefine her value beyond job titles.

She emphasizes that true leadership is about influence and self-worth, not merely holding positions or receiving applause.

Velma introduces her new course, "Discover the Valuable Leader in You," designed to empower individuals to apply practical steps in real-life leadership moments.

Enroll in the course: Discover The Valuable Leader in You for $47. https://www.leaderspathway.com/uncovering

This episode encourages listeners to find and nurture the leader within themselves, highlighting the significance of personal growth and transformation over external validations.

Enroll in the course: Discover The Valuable Leader in You for $47. https://www.leaderspathway.com/uncovering

Welcome to the Leaders Pathway podcast with your host, Velma Knowles. In this episode, experienced leader Velma shares her personal journey of feeling stuck in her career and underappreciated at work. She reveals the transformative steps she took to overcome these challenges and offers practical advice to help you do the same.

Explore three key actions from Velma's signature seven-step system designed to expand your influence, deepen your impact, and ensure you are valued for all your worth. From listening inward to owning your voice and shifting focus from tasks to transformation, these strategies are essential for any leader feeling the weight of being undervalued.

This episode also introduces Velma's new online course, "Discover the Valuable Leader in You," a practical and concise program packed with real-world tools and strategies to help you move from feeling stuck to being truly valued. Join us now and uncover the most valuable leader you'll ever meet—the one inside you.

Enroll in the course: Discover The Valuable Leader in You for $47. https://www.leaderspathway.com/uncovering

Join host Velma Knowles in "Leaders Pathway," where she explores the transformative power of self-empowerment in leadership. Discover why great leaders focus on developing others, not just climbing the corporate ladder. Dive into Velma's insightful story about Marcus, a leader who coaches rather than controls, tapping into the hidden potential of his team.

Learn practical strategies to empower those around you by coaching, spotting strengths, and letting others lead. Enhance your leadership influence and create a legacy through the growth and success of others. Velma also introduces her new online course, "Develop The Valuable Leader In You," designed to help you transition from success to significance.

Start building your leadership legacy today by empowering others and changing lives.

🌱Enroll Now in the Course Develop The Valuable Leader In You at: LeadersPathway.com

Want access to more on leadership and personal growth?

🌱 Book your free call with Velma at: LeadersPathway.com

Get the book: The Valuable Leader, 7 Steps to Greater Growth, Value, and Influence. Click here: https://amzn.to/3FiUR3k

Subscribe to the podcast show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify and give us a rating and review.