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Turn Missteps into Meaningful Conversations with Dr. Victoria Stakelum

We all hate being wrong. It feels uncomfortable, sometimes even threatening. But what if being wrong wasn’t something to fear but an opportunity for connection, learning, and deeper conversations?

In this episode, Dr. Victoria Stakelum, a psychologist and NLP Master Coach, joins us again to unpack the complexity of wrongness - why it triggers such strong emotions, how societal norms shape our ideas of right and wrong, and what to do when we (inevitably) get something wrong.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why wrongness is often subjective and why that matters.
• The emotional weight of admitting you’re wrong (and how to handle it).
• How curiosity can turn disagreements into meaningful discussions.
• The best way to challenge someone else’s wrongness - without making them defensive.
• Why separating identity from opinion makes for better conversations.
• Practical strategies for handling workplace disagreements, difficult conversations, and public missteps.

Whether you’re navigating a tough conversation at work, dealing with differing worldviews, or just trying to be less reactive when someone calls you out, this episode will help you reframe wrongness and use it as a tool for better communication.

Find Dr Victoria Stakelum at thesuccesssmith.com or on LinkedIn.

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How to Read the Room and Communicate Better at Work with Dr. Victoria Stakelum

Ever wish you could read minds in meetings or knew what someone else was thinking? While telepathy might be out of reach, understanding emotions, body language, and unspoken cues is a skill you can develop - and it can completely transform your workplace interactions.

In this episode, Dr. Victoria Stakelum, a psychologist and subconscious mind specialist, reveals the science of mind reading - or rather, how to truly read the room, anticipate responses, and adapt your communication for better results.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why mind reading starts with understanding yourself.
• How to spot the subtle nonverbal cues that reveal what people are really thinking.
• The hidden emotional undercurrents in workplace conversations (and how to navigate them).
• Why people rarely say what they mean - and how to uncover their true concerns.
• How self-awareness helps you filter out biases and avoid misreading situations.
• Practical techniques for improving emotional intelligence and workplace communication.
• The work of Marshall Rosenberg - a clinical psychologist who pioneered this approach to promoting empathic dialogue and understanding among all parties. His book is called Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.

Whether you’re negotiating with your boss, leading a team, or just trying to work out what’s really going on in a meeting, this episode will give you lightbulb moments that will change the way you interact at work.

Find Dr Victoria Stakelum at thesuccesssmith.com or on LinkedIn.

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How Listening Can Transform Your Conversations with Jessica Ball

We like to think we’re good listeners—but are we really? Too often, we drift in and out of conversations, half-hearing what’s being said while planning what to say next. So how do we shift from passive hearing to deep, intentional listening - the kind that transforms relationships, builds trust, and even changes lives?

In this episode, we’re joined again by Jessica Ball, a meetings facilitator who knows that listening is more than just hearing words—it’s about creating connection.

Together we explore:

• Why most of us default to “social listening” (and how it’s holding us back).
• The three levels of listening - to yourself, to others, and to a group.
• How our biases, emotions, and assumptions shape what we hear.
• Why no one is truly boring if you know how to unlock their story.
• How listening can be the antidote to polarisation, judgement, and disconnection.
• Simple techniques to sharpen your listening skills - for richer, more meaningful conversations.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling unheard - or realised too late that you weren’t really listening - this episode is for you.

Find Jessica Ball at www.creatingmeaning.club or on LinkedIn.