Cindy Esliger talks about the inner dialogue we all have that is often driven by stress, fear, and anxiety, and why we shouldn’t believe everything it says. The things we tell ourselves are shaped by past experiences, current fears, and future worries and the stress we carry can make these inner voices very unreliable. So how do we start believing a better story about ourselves? While our inner narrative can sometimes be encouraging, it is more often negative and self-sabotaging. It combines a series of conscious thoughts, unconscious beliefs, and personal fears into a dialogue that keeps us stuck in unproductive patterns. Cindy advises awareness as the first step in combating these negative inner thoughts. Becoming aware of our thoughts allows us to replace some of them with more positive ones consciously.Cindy discusses four strategies to help us become more aware of our thoughts in order to kick the unhelpful self-talk out of our heads: 1) Monitor our thoughts, 2) Notice patterns and identify self-sabotaging behaviour, 3) Challenge our inner critic, and 4) Replace negative thoughts with empowering beliefs. As she delves into each point, she offers insight into how the limiting narrative forms and why it’s so important to disrupt it so we can live our fullest lives.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Imagining a Better StoryAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger explores the idea of putting ourselves to the test and stepping outside our comfort zones in this episode. There’s an allure to sticking to what we’re good at but if we only do what we’re good at, we don’t get challenged. When we accept a challenge, we trust ourselves more and build greater self-confidence. But how do we take those first steps? When we master something, we feel good about ourselves because it’s safe and we have a niche. But eventually, it feels like autopilot. The thing about comfort zones is that they feel like we’re progressing in what we’re already good at but in reality, we’re just spinning our wheels. What if there’s something else we should be doing or could be good at? Cindy talks about what happens when we take a risk and try something new. Something unfamiliar.Cindy describes what it looks like to push ourselves and the potential successes and personal gains we could realize. But she also acknowledges the societal and workplace barriers that contribute to our self-doubt. Four big barriers come to mind: 1. Imposter syndrome, 2. Double standards, 3. Perfectionism, and 4. The glass ceiling. So how do we overcome these barriers to take a chance to develop our skills in a new area? Cindy talks about exactly how to confront self-doubt and barriers to see what we’re actually made of. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Boosting Your ConfidenceAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about reinvention and asks the question “What if who we are not isn’t who we need to be to achieve our dreams?”. Reinvention may be more a necessity than a possibility when we consider that in a changing world, we need to continue growing, thriving, and finding fulfillment. But exactly how do we do that? Cindy shares her guide to reinventing yourself with us. Reinvention challenges us to step beyond the boundaries of our old selves and explore the potential that lies beyond our comfort zones. When we find ourselves in a state of dissatisfaction or desperation with our careers, getting out of the stagnation sometimes requires that we embrace change despite how scary it feels. Reinvention is a process we should embrace and Cindy details exactly why it’s the key to advancement.Cindy outlines the three key phases of reinventing ourselves: 1) Laying the foundation where we recognize where we’re starting from, 2) Creating the plan where we take dreams and identify the gaps in our knowledge, and 3) Putting the plan into action. She explores exactly how to lay the right foundation to support reinvention and how to commit to stepping outside our comfort zones. Her advice on how to not backslide into our old identities includes 1) Staying vigilant, 2) Surrounding ourselves with support, and 3) Celebrating our progress. This is an essential episode for learning what reinvention requires so we can finally achieve our dreams.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reinventing YouAstronomic AudioConfidence CollectiveEpisode 35: Job Crafting—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger explores the difference between acting tough and demonstrating strength. They’re not the same thing, though women in male-dominated fields often put up a facade of invincibility in an attempt to appear strong. True strength is in our ability to confront challenges and make decisions that align with our values. Cindy breaks down exactly what a tough exterior prevents that true strength cultivates. Showing off mental toughness with a gritty exterior and emotions in check is not strength, it’s just an exhausting show that ultimately wears us down and keeps us anxious and in check for fear of seeming weak. True strength lies in recognizing struggles and admitting them, at least to ourselves, and in cultivating the ability to be honest. Cindy counters the tough exterior messages we get from the world at large with detailed examples of what real strength actually looks like. When we show true strength, we are prioritizing our well-being and following things that align with our values and passions. The tough act does not allow us to change direction or admit burnout which is why it ultimately leads to unsustainable demands. Cindy understands how we’ve been conditioned but she explains exactly how true strength flies in the face of this societally expected toughness. Strength is in knowing when to ask for help, finding balance, and embracing the growth that comes only from our imperfections.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Demonstrating Your Strength of CharacterAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses change in this episode. Change is necessary to alter our career trajectories and meet our goals. But change also demands more than just ambition: it requires intention, perseverance, and the non-linear reality of doing things differently. It also requires facing things like systemic challenges and internal obstacles. Cindy offers guidance through the difficult, messy, and powerful subject of change.One of the important points Cindy stresses is that change isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something we must actively pursue. It’s more than simply moving from point A to point B, it’s about taking control of our career and steering it ourselves. To help illustrate how to make significant life changes, Cindy explores the Stages of Change model developed in the early 1980s as a tool to describe behavioural change for addiction. It names the six stages of change as pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse, which Cindy unpacks.Making a lasting change often feels like being in a labyrinth without a clear view of the exit. We will hit dead ends, take wrong turns, and sometimes find ourselves back where we started. However, none of those setbacks mean we’re on the wrong path. It’s just that setbacks are part of the process of change. Cindy shares four strategies for navigating change, how to accept that the decision to change will require sustained and flexible effort, and why it will be worthwhile in the end. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Embracing the Power of ChangeAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about conquering the voice in our head that tells us we’re not ready for the career spotlight or big goal we’ve been working towards. Those excuses, while comforting in the short term, ultimately just hold us back from reaching our potential. But how do we confront those fears and step out of our comfort zones to claim the career success we know we actually deserve? That’s what Cindy will guide us through today.There are a lot of reasons we have for not achieving our career ambitions at the moment. The excuses are plentiful and there’s always something we can point to that’s keeping us static. But the truth is that those excuses are what we use to protect us from the potential judgment or failure that stepping out on a limb may bring. Cindy knows we’re ready for the career spotlight and it’s time for us to take action to reach it. Time to meet the challenge and do something a little bit uncomfortable.Cindy lists the four most common excuses for avoiding growth: 1) Comfort in familiarity, 2) Fear of rejection and failure, 3) The need for external validation, and 4) Waiting for the perfect moment. She then details three tips to help us break free from these excuses: 1) Do a self-assessment, 2) Take the first step, and 3) Make it about others. She elaborates on each step with sound advice. Our dreams are valid and we have every right to pursue them. Cindy wants to guide us into stepping up to achieve them instead of holding back out of fear.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Eliminating Your ExcusesAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the transformative power of vulnerability that we often find difficult to embrace in this episode. Our natural instinct in the workplace is to keep our guard up, to protect ourselves from judgment and criticism. But vulnerability is not a sign of weakness, it’s a key to growth and connection. Cindy outlines how to start seeing vulnerability in a different light so we can unlock that growth in our careers. It’s understandable that in a world seemingly thriving on jumping on exploiting our missteps we’d be guarded and protect our self-worth. But paradoxically the natural reaction of being wary and guarded to make ourselves feel secure is the same thing holding us back in our efforts to protect ourselves from judgment. Vulnerability builds trust. And trust is the key to a workplace where everyone can contribute and grow together. Cindy describes just how vulnerability can unlock our greatest potential with advice on how to be vulnerable with awareness.  Guardedness is skepticism. The skeptic in our lives may convince us to stay home Friday night to avoid anything bad happening. And sure, we’re safe, but we also don’t get to do anything. We don’t have any adventure. Curiosity, on the other hand, isn’t about reckless abandonment but rather opening our minds to exploration and seeing questions as opportunities. Curiosity lends to vulnerability and is a great asset in the workplace. Cindy unpacks all the ways in which being too protective limits us and shares four tips for embracing vulnerability in our professional lives. Her guidance will help us become more open to the growth potential around us.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Embracing VulnerabilityAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger explores the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. The right relationships can fuel growth, support, and challenge you to reach new heights, while the wrong ones may hinder your progress. Being selective in professional relationships requires choosing quality over quantity. Cindy encourages listeners to consider who they allow into their inner circle. She encourages finding trusted truth-tellers who offer honest feedback and alternative perspectives. She also highlights the importance of finding those people who share a growth mindset and are invested in your success.While the topic of ending relationships can bring up anxiety and fear, Cindy examines the positive impact of distancing yourself from problematic people. This doesn’t mean throwing aside commitments or cutting people out cold turkey. Instead, thoughtfully pruning relationships that no longer serve a purpose can break the cycle of having them drain your energy or stagnate your growth. Cindy also warns against the lingering influence of negative voices from the past, advocating for discernment when it comes to whose advice you follow. Ultimately, Cindy advises being mindful of the people you allow into your life, ensuring they inspire growth and align with your personal and professional goals. Resources discussed in this episode:Building your inner circleAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses difficult conversations in this episode: those dreaded conversations that involve challenging subjects or conflicts that need resolving. We would often prefer to avoid them but they’re necessary for preventing larger difficulties and problems down the road. Hard discussions are a part of growth and resolution and can’t be avoided forever. So learning to navigate difficult conversations like a pro is the easiest way to deal with their inevitability.  Avoiding difficult conversations will only make the issue worse in the future and addressing things early can prevent a much larger blow-up later. But broaching the subject is tough. We’re often afraid to address the problem and initiate the hard talk out of fear that we may make things worse. Cindy shares five tips for approaching these situations without making them worse: 1) define the problem, 2) identify what is wanted before starting the conversation, 3) decide how to address it, 4) stick to the facts and feelings, and 5) use the power of validation. Cindy explains that while not every problem has a solution, addressing the tension is still important. She advises asking ourselves “Do we need to solve this problem or do we need to solve how we feel about this problem?”. Shifting perspective from finding a resolution to managing emotions and reactions to the problem can sometimes be more productive. Regardless of solutions, starting a difficult conversation is the most courageous thing we can do and will put us on a path towards fixing certain issues and forging stronger relationships. Cindy is here to shine a light on exactly how to navigate this rocky terrain.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Finding the Courage to Address Any IssueAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger discusses closing the gap between where we are in our careers and where we want to be in this episode. She looks into using the discontent we can feel in our careers, sometimes unsettling and distracting, as a catalyst for advancement. Harnessing our professional discontent requires a careful strategy so we can use it to strive for a higher standard of excellence. Cindy breaks down exactly what is needed to channel it properly and guides us through how to bridge the gap we see.It may be surprising to learn that the discomfort we feel when looking at the gap between where we are and where we want to be is natural. It’s actually necessary to keep us striving for excellence. But Cindy cautions that there is a balance between unhealthy anxiety and healthy discontent. She urges us to challenge the traditional narratives of success and define what is important to us. Setting a deliberate pace to cross the gap will change the trajectory of our careers more than a grand gesture. And there are three main types of gaps to close: 1) the effort gap, 2) the skill gap, and 3) the quality gap.Cindy explains what it takes to close each gap and what to expect in terms of overcoming complacency and feeling discomfort. Finding balance and making strategic choices is key. We will hit obstacles as we move towards our goals and sometimes will feel stuck. When we are, Cindy unpacks five strategies for getting unstuck: 1) divide and conquer, 2) set micro-goals, 3) seek feedback, 4) focus on learning, not failure, and 5) assess progress. Join Cindy as she sets out a plan for how to bridge the gap on our career paths to success. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Propelling Yourself ForwardAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses the arrival fallacy in this episode. That belief that once we reach a certain milestone in our careers everything will fall into place, as if by magic, and we will arrive in perpetual happiness. We will have “made it” into the mythological destination where we enter reward and leave the struggle. This fallacy doesn’t actually work because rewards, experiences, professional growth, and fulfillment only occur as part of the journey, not as an arrival bonus. Cindy breaks down how to see the journey as fulfilling and abandon our obsession with instant gratification. When we are only focused on the destination, the goal, and the end result, we tend to miss the transformative work in between. We tune out more, we rush things, we don’t want to learn. We simply want to arrive and be recognized. Cindy describes how to view the process of working as a reward in itself because of how it enriches our lives. She explains why going through the trials and grind of daily work to learn and flourish is ultimately better for our careers than immediate reward.  It’s difficult to shift out of the finish line mindset, so Cindy has three tips to make shifting into enjoying continual improvement easier: 1) Set process goals, 2) Celebrate the wins and learn from the losses, and 3) Reflect regularly. Cindy wants us to recognize that satisfaction in our career journey is kind of the point of our work. Fixating solely on the destination means we are never living in the now and are not learning how to grow beyond expectations. Join Cindy as she breaks down exactly why the arrival fallacy is exactly that, a fallacy.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reshaping Your Career OutlookAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explores the messiness of life and how what appears to be a series of obstacles is an integral part of our career journey. Navigating life’s messiness isn’t just about bouncing back but about embracing the new opportunities the experience may offer. It’s our reaction to the chaos that matters and Cindy is here to guide us on how to embrace the unexpected.Rolling with life’s punches and working through life’s chaos can feel like a disheartening setback. But resilience is connected to confidence, so when we endure, our confidence grows when we realize we can survive whatever happens. Confidence is vital for career survival and Cindy has three strategies for maintaining confidence in the workplace: 1. Know our stuff, 2. Celebrate the wins, and 3. Speak up in meetings. Confidence and resilience are interconnected and we’ll need both to succeed.  It can still be difficult to embrace life’s messiness, however, and Cindy understands the struggle. Telling ourselves to enjoy the ride even if the journey is chaotic is one thing, but actually doing that is another. So Cindy offers three strategies for embracing the possibilities within the mess: 1. Look for opportunities in the unexpected, 2. Make flexibility our new best friend, and 3. Embrace the learning even when it’s tough. Cindy unpacks her strategies and lays out a solid plan for surviving and thriving through life’s messes, guidance useful no matter what stage of career we’re in.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Embracing the MessinessAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about the stroke of brilliance ideas we sometimes have that we dismiss because it’s something that came too easily to us. Our sudden insights that we feel are too obvious to be of real value. It’s that self-discounting tendency that Cindy examines in detail because the truth is that what comes easily to us can be a genius revelation to someone else. We don’t all share the same skills. So what we think is simple may be a monumental insight to another person. Cindy wants us to start sharing those ideas instead of dismissing them.Part of the complexity of human cognition is this belief that what seems effortless to us is of no value to anyone else. We fail to recognize that things we find obvious and easy may in fact be groundbreaking and valuable to someone else. Because we are all born out of different environments and experiences that shape us into being adept with some things and not others. We’re all different. So how do we overcome the paradox of thinking things that are easy to us are useless? Cindy says 1. Acknowledge that what’s obvious to us is not obvious to everyone, 2. Cultivate an environment that encourages the sharing of ideas, and 3. Challenge the desire for complexity. Not everything valuable must be challenging. And not everything we innately understand is obvious to everyone else. Cindy urges us to start sharing those simple ideas to further our careers and our representations of our unique qualities. What we need is to learn how to communicate effectively so our ideas are received well. So Cindy unpacks how to speak up, why complacency is a dream killer, how making a mark involves breaking away from the status quo, and why our unique insights have immense power. This episode is our guide to learning not to stifle our individual gifts.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Recognizing Your Obvious BrillianceAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger examines the trifecta of our work, our identity, and our self-awareness, breaking down where they complement each other and where we should define boundaries. Self-awareness allows us to distinguish between who we are and what we do. The value of our work is different from our worth as a human being. The distinctions between our professional and personal identity require a deep dive into self-awareness, a journey Cindy is here to guide us through. Part of self-awareness is understanding ourselves on a deeper level, and one of the great influences on our journey is how we respond to stress. Cindy asks four questions to help us gauge our stress response: 1. When things get tough, do we step up or step back, 2. How do we handle criticism, 3. Do we reach out or shut down when the going gets tough, 4. What’s our conflict style? She then offers four strategies to help us manage those knee-jerk stress reactions. With introspection of this type, we raise our self-awareness. That, in turn, allows us to define exactly who we are. It shapes our knowledge of our personal identity. Understanding who we are can then reflect positively on our professional identities, creating more opportunities for challenge and growth. Cindy highlights that our developed personal identity prevents us from over-identifying with our work. If we allow work to define who we are, we put our self-worth in the hands of a business decision or a boss. Cindy guides us through the perils of allowing work to become our identity and offers keen insight to aid us in self-awareness in this episode.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Your Work and Your IdentityAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses the inevitability of workplace conflict by differentiating between using discernment over judgment to navigate the tension. Since workplaces are comprised of people and people each have their own struggles and lives going on unseen, tension is inevitable. Not taking things personally and approaching conflict with a desire to listen and get to the core issue are some of the strategies Cindy encourages us to adopt. As strange as it may seem to the conflict-avoidant, challenges aren’t just inevitable, they’re necessary. Challenges drive us to push the envelope, innovate, and keep the office interesting. It’s how we go about disagreeing with each other that needs attention, not the fact that we do disagree. Cindy offers advice on how to step back from reacting personally to things that simply aren’t personal and instructs us on how to approach healthy conflict that seeks true resolution. Leadership requires dealing with storms head-on. Tension must be acknowledged and the root cause must be unearthed so the tension can ultimately become a tool for growth. Leaders must learn how to address issues rather than letting them fester but also how to work for truth in resolution rather than rush to smooth things over with false comfort. Cindy guides us through learning discernment in conflict and holding back judgment until we can truly understand what a conflict is about. Her advice makes conflict less of a terrifying notion and more of an opportunity to learn. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reckoning With TensionAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about how to break free of mediocrity and create a personal through line of success in our careers. Settling for good enough is the easy choice but it won’t lead to the career we dream of. We need to craft that career by defining our goals and taking risks. Cindy examines how to move past adequate into extraordinary in our journey. We can feel like a cog in the machine at times, just checking off boxes and tasks to embrace the illusion of progress. But if we don’t understand where we personally want to go in our careers, this mediocrity cycle feeds itself through increased demands and our inability to imagine doing more than the bare minimum. Cindy urges us to push past our comfort zones to understand our mission and shares insight on how to define what we truly want to start working towards that goal. The path to success is not a straight linear line or a single corporate ladder. Cindy points out that it involves zigzags, meanderings, and bold choices that may not seem connected to a goal but that we know are right for us in the moment. She offers three questions to ask ourselves to determine our next career steps: 1. What are we genuinely interested in? 2. What unique skills do we possess that are in demand? and 3. What emerging opportunities or trends excite us? With Cindy’s guidance in this episode, we may find a way to shake ourselves off a mediocre path to embrace a new through line.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Not Settling for AdequateAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger explores the fear surrounding taking risks in our careers in this episode. Our perception of risk is deeply personal, informed by our experiences, biases, and the professional landscapes we navigate. Since our perceptions of risks are colored by our self-confidence, how do we assess the actual risk? And what is the right amount of risk to take? Assessing and moving past the fear of risk in all its variations is what Cindy unpacks today.  When we’re new to a situation, a career or a job, we tend to be more willing to take risks due to an overabundance of confidence. With experience comes the knowledge of consequences and memories of times when risk-taking pushed us backwards instead of propelling us forward into success. Our self-confidence takes a hit and we become more risk-averse. Cindy explains that the key is not to avoid risk but to learn how to assess it properly, gather as much information as possible, and understand the risk we’re facing as well as the gains it could deliver. Cindy shares three tips to boost our confidence and help us get comfortable with taking a bit of a risk. 1) Become informed before leaping, 2) Make a few small bets on ourselves, and 3) Cultivate a growth mindset. She illustrates the value of sharing the knowledge gained from risks taken with those coming behind us, becoming a source of information for those facing similar situations. She reminds us that each of us has an individual threshold for risk that we need to both understand and challenge as we grow. There is a way to face the fear of risk not by shying away but by informing ourselves and preparing for the best approach to the risk.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Balancing Risk and RewardAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses changing our negative mindset about work to one of appreciating small victories and noting positive experiences. We’re often pushed hard in the daily grind and aren’t encouraged to stop and note what’s going right. When we focus only on the negative, we lose sight of how far we’ve come and what possibilities exist in the future. Cindy has advice on how to change our mindset to one of appreciation.  This isn’t advice to slap superficial cheerfulness or false positivity on top of things, rather Cindy is encouraging us to take the time to notice every small thing that goes right. She notes the difference between gratitude and appreciation to demonstrate the foundational quality of appreciation. We tend to skip over positives in favor of highlighting errors in ourselves and each other which makes us feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Noting and appreciating things gives us space to celebrate achievements and feel valuable which in turn leads to more job satisfaction and openness to accept new challenges.Cindy shares four tips on how to take notice of and appreciate something positive today. 1. Start the day with a positive inventory, 2. Pause any interaction or accomplishment, 3. Create a brag folder for compliments, and 4. End the day on a high note. Cindy explains why these tips are beneficial and what outcomes they can lead to. We need to understand that starting to appreciate things in ourselves and others is like a pebble in a pond: the ripples extend far beyond us and improve everyone’s experience. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Appreciating the GoodAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about making a major career change in this episode. When do we decide to change course in our career path, quit our job, or move to a new endeavour? How do we know if it’s the right choice? Cindy examines what to evaluate when making career direction decisions, from how to gauge our current job satisfaction to what aligns best with our values and future career goals. The desire to alter our current job situation is one that requires careful consideration. Sometimes the choice is between staying or jumping ship, but before we make such an enormous choice, have we really evaluated our current job satisfaction level? What if there were other things we could change to improve our current job and align it more directly with our overall career ambitions? Cindy asks us to consider small-scale changes to improve things in the present. She offers three steps for evaluating what changes to make. If a complete job change is what is needed, oftentimes it’s fear that holds us back from making the choice. Fear of quitting, of losing the time already invested. Cindy explains how to navigate that fear and how to prepare for the extra work that creating new opportunities brings. Ultimately, the decision to stay put, implement smaller changes, or leave for a new job altogether should be made out of a position of strength, not desperation. Cindy’s advice lays out all the reasoning to work through to make an informed and empowered decision.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Considering A Bold StepAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses the self-care craze that has become less about caring for ourselves and more of a quick-fix industry. She explores setting healthy boundaries to reclaim our power and encourage us to manage life’s stresses. Self-care is important but it means more than a scented candle or something we can buy. Part of self-care is doing internal work to determine what we want and need, and what limits we have to set. The rage and frustration we can feel while pushing back against an oppressive or toxic work culture while balancing too many stressors is what leads to burnout. An externally applied fix, something we buy or a ritual we perform, may make us feel slightly better in the short term but does nothing to protect us from future harm or continued stressors. Cindy’s definition of self-care is a process, not a product. It involves setting limits and prioritizing personal well-being over productivity.As Cindy points out, true self-care is not always comfortable. It can be challenging and messy as we work through emotional upheaval to change our life situations in order to thrive. She offers insight from her own experiences with change, boundaries, and reclaiming our power as a survival skill. What she shares explores how boundaries safeguard mental and emotional health and lead to long-term shifts that bolster self-care and create sustainable relationships in the future. Boundaries aren’t as easy as a bubble bath but they’re much longer lasting in their effects.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reclaiming Your PowerAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger explores the necessity of emotional intelligence in leadership, delving into why responding to challenges with calm and kindness promotes a healthy work environment. It also paves the way for both leader and team to achieve more sustainable success and growth. But how do we learn to avoid volatility in the face of struggle and what strategies promote quiet strength? Working our way up the corporate ladder isn’t just a series of milestones but a transformative experience that shapes us both professionally and personally. With that growth, it’s inevitable to experience both trepidation and excitement as horizons broaden. Uncertainty and self-doubt can take hold. It’s in learning to battle this imposter syndrome and seek assistance that we discover how to treat ourselves with grace and extend calm and kindness outward. How to lead not with emotional turmoil but a steady hand.  Cindy discusses all the ways in which grappling with ourselves is necessary in order to advance and also lead effectively. She notes that we aren’t born being strong, calm and kind but that we learn through experience and practice how to cultivate those traits. She lays out six strategies for harnessing inner strength: 1. Confront imposter syndrome, 2. Cultivate inner confidence, 3. Manage emotions, 4. Let go of baggage, 5. Take responsibility, and 6. Replace fear with learning. As she unpacks each step, she imparts a clear path forward through emotional resilience instead of volatility. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Being Strong, Calm and KindAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the art of communication in today’s episode. If people aren’t listening when we speak, it’s time for a self-assessment. How are we presenting ourselves? Speaking isn’t just saying something, it’s about presenting a message in a manner that engages the audience. So if we aren’t being listened to, are we the problem? And if so, how do we become a compelling speaker?The first step in getting others to listen to us is believing what we’re saying. If we don’t believe our own message, how can we expect others to? People are drawn to confidence and clarity, both of which are signs that the speaker knows what they’re offering. Having confidence in our message is vital so Cindy offers four tips for helping us communicate confidently: 1. Know the topic, 2. Practice, 3. Anticipate questions, and 4. Visualize success.The art of effective communication requires preparation, identifying a main message to build supporting points around, and then understanding how to present it engagingly. The tone of voice, body language, and clear speech, all of these factors combine to help draw audiences into what is being said. Cindy notes that “effective communication is not just about what you say, but how you say it” but acknowledges that it takes practice. She shares five tips for conveying confidence through body language and solid advice on how to demonstrate authenticity, connect with an audience, and prepare the message being conveyed.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Improving Your Communication StyleAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger examines how the scarcity mindset, which seems prudent to adopt in today’s competitive market, can negatively impact our worldview. Adopting a mindset of generosity instead paves the way for more fulfilling relationships and potentially a more successful career trajectory. But sincere generosity is different from the self-serving kind that seeks to manipulate with kind gestures. How are they different? How can we shift our thinking to generosity while avoiding manipulation? The scarcity mindset operates from a place of believing there isn’t enough to go around and sparks fear of losing what we have. It can lead to excessive caution and to a competitive environment where our success must be at the expense of others. Generosity, however, doesn’t simply mean financial giving but encompasses sharing knowledge, time, and expertise. It views resources as expansive, rather than finite. Manipulation lies in bending this generosity into one defined by its intent, such as exploiting another’s weakness.  How can we integrate encouragement, a type of generosity, into our everyday lives? Cindy has three ways: 1. Be specific, 2. Recognize effort, not just achievement, and 3. Encourage peer recognition. Celebrating the success of others can not only enhance a career but enrich emotional well-being. Cindy explains the many ways generosity can be expressed without manipulation or self-interest and breaks down why generosity is so important in succeeding both personally and professionally.   Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Unlocking Your PotentialAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the detrimental effect of rising stress levels and changing workplace priorities on our interactions with others. In these days where stress is an inevitable part of our daily lives, it’s more important than ever to maintain positive relationships with colleagues. Our stress affects our patience, making us assume the worst of those we work with when we need to learn how to assume the best. Juggling multiple tasks, looming deadlines, and the demand for high-performance standards all increase our stress levels while simultaneously wearing our patience thin and causing us to misinterpret simple things like a missed email or misunderstood directive. We assume that the other person is ignoring us, or worse, attacking us in some way. We never stop to consider that they may simply be as stressed and busy as we are and that the missed email was a simple mistake. Assuming the worst leads us to say things we regret and erodes the important trust we need to maintain with our colleagues.How can we break the cycle of negativity? We need to strive to assume the best of each other. Cindy shares five practical steps designed to aid us in assuming positive intent: 1) Pause and reflect, 2) Communicate openly instead of jumping to conclusions, 3) Practice empathy, 4) Focus on solutions, not blame, and 5) Celebrate contributions. In this episode, Cindy breaks down the steps in detail and instructs us on how to handle difficult managers and personalities, control our emotions, and look at things objectively. Her advice paves the way for assuming the best, not the worst, from those we work with. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Assuming the BestAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses the phenomenon known as expectation escalation in today’s episode. Expectation escalation is the subtle challenge of incrementally increased demands and responsibilities placed on employees. It expands our work exponentially without associated time or monetary increase to accommodate the new work. What does it look like? How can we identify it? And better yet, how can we politely and professionally turn down these escalated expectations? Cindy unpacks these questions with salient answers. The escalation starts innocently, with an additional responsibility here and there added to your workload as a testament to your capabilities. And certainly, professionals thrive on challenges. A certain amount of natural job expansion is to be expected. But the problem with expansion expectations is the lack of stability, resources, or systems in place to manage the new challenges effectively. The first consequences are usually emotional ones, as we feel overburdened and undervalued. Cindy walks us through how the expectations affect us and how we can rebalance our workload.If rebalancing the workload isn’t available or the expectations have risen to a degree that no amount of balance will alleviate how over capacity we are, Cindy explores how we can say no without jeopardizing our careers and current job status. She offers examples of pocket phrases to prepare in advance so we can easily sidestep requests to take on more and counsels on the mindset shift necessary to perfect the art of saying no. Her guidance directs us to evaluate our feelings and capacity, how to have difficult conversations with supervisors, and ultimately why unaddressed expectation escalation can damage our well-being.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Keeping Things ManageableAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the art of negotiation and how frequently we approach it with uncertainty despite how much negotiation infiltrates our daily lives. To assist in feeling confident in a negotiation, Cindy discusses how to establish a walkaway point as a strategy for reaching an outcome we can live with. She guides us through making a negotiation plan that will empower us. One of the reasons we tend to fear negotiation is the fear of confrontation and not achieving an ideal outcome. This is increased by the common misconception that negotiation is only for executives closing multi-million dollar deals. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Negotiation is a fundamental life skill encompassing everything from sharing household chores to getting a child to eat their vegetables. And like children, who are innately brilliant negotiators, we should approach negotiation with the same tenacity. Cindy shares some of the psychology behind negotiation and how to use that to improve the quality of our interactions. Knowing when to push and when to walk away is a key strategy in negotiating. Creating a plan beforehand is vital, as setting realistic expectations and a minimum baseline are what imbue us with confidence. Cindy describes the process of making such a plan, how to determine strategic concessions, and how to create a plan B. Hearing Cindy’s advice and putting it into action for our next negotiation will give us a sense of power and transform how we approach the discussion. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Approaching a NegotiationAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today's episode, Cindy Esliger examines our careers and career satisfaction. Are we simply adhering to the conventional benchmarks that society labels as success? Or are we pursuing personal fulfillment and doing what genuinely motivates us? To reevaluate how we define success, Cindy dives into our inspirations, where we find courage, and how to assess our emotions. We might be ready for a shift that takes us away from the corporate ladder but closer to our personal satisfaction.Cindy asks if our careers should focus on crafting an impressive resume, following a linear and logical career path, or if we should examine what truly energizes us when decision-making. It is possible to hold a senior position or be at a high level in a career yet feel stagnated. So how do we define career success? Is it time to reevaluate those metrics with Cindy’s help? Conforming to a traditional career path for the sake of external rewards can be exhausting if our emotional well-being isn’t satisfied by our work. We need to move away from the approval of others and nurture a sense of personal fulfillment. Cindy pulls on her own experience with a major career shift to illustrate how sometimes the dictated path isn’t the one that breeds satisfaction. She offers insight on how to reflect on our journey, how to make decisions that steer in the right direction, and why aligning work with inner self is such an important thing to do.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Assessing Your Next MoveAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today's episode, Cindy Esliger unpacks the adage “How you do anything is how you do everything”. How we approach all tasks, big or small, demonstrates our consistency and our broader values. We can be in charge of how we are viewed by consciously deciding what we want to be known for and how we want to show up in the workplace. Cindy guides us through how to approach making that decision. The first step is to identify our professional identity. Cindy says whether it’s our leadership or reliability, whatever it is, make sure it aligns with our values and goals. When unplanned things happen, as they always do, how we respond should be intentional and align with what we’ve chosen as our professional identity. Cindy discusses practical tips for determining our professional identity based on five key characteristics of successful people.  Cindy examines and connects the areas of effective communication, active listening, continuous learning, seeking feedback, integrity, adaptability, and more to building our professional identity. She also guides us through developing productive work habits. What do we procrastinate on? How do we approach meetings? There are many ways we can improve our work patterns through small changes and overall transform our professional reputation to align with our goals.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Being More Intentional in the WorkplaceAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today's episode, Cindy Esliger examines the differences between boldness and bravery. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are different and understanding the distinction between them is important for navigating workplace culture. Cindy defines each and offers insight on how to foster what is needed for career success. Boldness and bravery appear the same at a surface glance. However, as Cindy explains, boldness pushes boundaries and often leads to the pursuit of visionary ideas. However, it can also mask vulnerabilities and is more reactive than reflective. Whereas bravery is marked by a deep engagement with reality, including acknowledgement of fears and limitations. It involves risk assessment and the willingness to make hard choices.  How do the differences between boldness and bravery play out in a workplace setting? That’s what Cindy explores, unpacking how the use of each results in a different impact on self and others. Learning to identify boldness in others allows us to understand when the limitations of boldness arise and gives us insight into how to foster bravery instead when needed. Cindy offers guidance and practical advice on five ways to use both boldness and bravery to our advantage at work. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Being Bold and BraveAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change” by Stephen R Covey—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today's episode, Cindy Esliger challenges the myth that all successful people have everything figured out. The belief that at some point in our career, we will cease to struggle and achieve clarity on every front is a narrative that distorts our perception of success. Cindy debunks the notion of a one-size-fits-all path to professional success and explores how continuing experiences contribute to wisdom. Believing in a secret blueprint, precise formula, or hidden manual for success creates unnecessary pressure and unrealistic expectations for us. Instead, what truly matters is our own journey and the adaptation and self-discovery we navigate along the way. Cindy discusses the relationship between experience and wisdom, promoting the necessity of striving and lifelong learning to attain career success. Cindy believes we must challenge ourselves at every stage of our careers and embrace the complexity of what achievement requires. She explains why the journey outside our comfort zone opens us to opportunities and knowledge. How do we embrace this uncertainty and retain optimism? She outlines three practical steps: 1. Set achievable goals, 2. Develop a flexible mindset, and 3. Visualize success and plan for challenges. This episode will challenge our ideas of unlocking a secret formula to success that negates challenges and shows why the continuing journey is so vital.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Figuring It OutAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger challenges the belief that achieving future success will be what makes us happy. Achieving a goal is a milestone but if we don’t value the journey along the way as much as the end result, we won’t be happy when we get there. Cindy examines why the journey, especially the first part of a journey full of obstacles, is important to our career development and success and how determination factors in. Determination is a life skill that’s key to overcoming challenges and obstacles in our paths. Since it’s through adversity that we more clearly understand our strengths and potential, determination is a skill we should look to cultivate. Cindy discusses why the discouragement of mistakes and fear of failure instilled in us in youth follows us into adulthood and robs us of our determination. She has advice on how to regain that determination. Fostering determination is what aids us in pushing through adversity and adversity is what teaches us, shapes us, and builds our strength throughout our journey. Appreciating this journey is key to appreciating our experiences and potential, and discovering who we really are. Cindy explores the many setbacks and failures that are inevitable as well as how our determination drives us toward our goal. Her advice is vital to acknowledging that success lies as much in the journey as in achieving the goal. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Developing Your DeterminationAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger examines how our patterns of behavior and decision-making are ingrained along the course of our lives and can influence outcomes on our journey. How do we recognize these patterns that are often deeply ingrained and subtle? Identifying them will help us single out limiting behaviors and free us to achieve greater success. Cindy guides us in finding and working on our innate patterns. There is a direct relationship between patterns and possibilities. When we can understand what our habits are and how those habits and decision-making processes operate, we can start to anticipate what comes next and steer our futures. Cindy sets us the challenge of recognizing our patterns. In women especially, there are often two limiting patterns in the workplace that we need to single out. Change is difficult so Cindy offers advice on how to overcome our comfort in habits and resistance to change. Part of it is building resilience to setbacks and finding the stepping stones in failure that drive us forward. Her three tips for enhancing an ability after experiencing a setback are 1. Content learning, 2. Flexibility and planning, and 3. Developing emotional intelligence. Cindy discusses the importance of self-compassion, cultivating pattern recognition skills, and finding ways to adapt when challenging the patterns holding us back. Learn how these skills can free us from limiting behaviors and propel us to success.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Noticing Your PatternsAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger introduces us to the notion of the productivity illusion in today’s episode. The productivity illusion is the mindset that says the primary goal of work is to increase output and gather a list of accomplishments. However, productivity should exist in a balance between being productive for its own sake and harnessing efficiency as a tool to reclaim time for other things in life. Cindy explores productivity and how to make our days more fulfilling.  The drive to push, do more, be more, and achieve more is largely fueled by the productivity illusion which equates being productive with the ultimate goal of happiness, success, and fulfillment. It celebrates being busy as a badge of honor. Cindy unravels the productivity illusion to show how it can be misleading and discusses productivity as a purposeful journey instead of an endless chase.  She explores the need to delegate and deprioritize tasks that don’t contribute to our career objectives, rather than simply chalking them up as things to do. She explains the concept of the 80/20 rule, or the Pareto Principle, and identifies how the greatest achievements often come from the least amount of tasks. Cindy offers the idea of personalizing productivity, simplifying our approaches, and enjoying free time guilt-free as part of her explanation of how to break the productivity illusion. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Intentional ProductivityAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective“The 80/20 Rule And How It Can Change Your Life” by Kevin Kruse for Forbes.com (Pareto Principle)—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today’s episode, Cindy Esliger talks about fear, specifically the fear that can hinder career growth. It may appear as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or questioning self-worth, but it can take a toll. Sometimes it can be overcome by reframing it. Words have power and Cindy explains why the way you talk to yourself matters.  The three major fears - imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and questioning self-worth - can impact success in professional settings. Cindy offers a three-step process to help overcome them: 1. Name it, 2. Tame it, and 3. Claim it. She discusses each step in depth, exploring where each of the fears stems from, their impacts, and why the power of words can combat the fear. A shift in language encourages a mindset of progress and resilience.  Cindy’s advice identifies where the pain points in our professional lives arise. We tend to let the fear take over, internalizing it instead of reframing it. The power of language, using words to acknowledge our fear and address the feelings surrounding it, can make a difference and spark self-confidence in us. This is what Cindy talks about, where within ourselves the transformative key lies and how to access it. Overcoming fear means harnessing power and overcoming obstacles and both are required to achieve successful career growth. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Overcoming Your FearAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In today’s episode, Cindy Esliger addresses the subject of gaslighting. Gaslighting is a term that’s used a lot because it is a prevalent form of undermining and manipulation that often exists in professional environments. Why do people employ the use of gaslighting? How can we recognize it? And what long-term impact does it have on us? Cindy dives into the explanations and advice surrounding gaslighting.  Gaslighting can take various forms, from dismissing or trivializing our concerns to denying facts or events that have happened. People use gaslighting to maintain or advance their own position in the workplace and it’s effective because it sows doubt in the target and disempowers them. Cindy explains how gaslighting works to erode confidence and details the ways it can cause cumulative stress and an emotional toll that can contribute to mental health issues.  Cindy’s advice for counteracting gaslighting partially involves conducting a self-assessment that builds belief in ourselves that is independent of the opinions of others. Relying on external validation can open the door for gaslighting to be effective. Cindy’s five tips and strategies for building that belief are, 1. Self-reflection, 2. Constructive feedback, 3. Setting personal goals, 4. Self-compassion, and 5. Developing our skills. She shares warning signs, advice for empowerment, and ways to restore lost self-confidence in this necessary and important episode. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Break the SpellAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about two challenges commonly faced in the workplace, burnout and feelings of betrayal, and explores the distinctions between the two. Each has unique characteristics that are important to recognize to protect ourselves from their detrimental effects. Cindy carefully defines burnout and betrayal with advice on how to identify symptoms and contributing factors. Cindy details three characteristics of burnout: 1) exhaustion, 2) cynicism and detachment, and 3) feelings of ineffectiveness. She then discusses four distinct characteristics that differentiate burnout from feelings of betrayal: 1) origin and focus, 2) internal versus external factors, 3) physical and emotional impact, and 4) responsibility and blame. Understanding the differences is key to promoting a supportive and healthy work environment.Trust is one of the fundamental elements forming the groundwork for all successful professional relationships in the workplace. Cindy explains why trust and trust violations profoundly impact us and how the erosion of trust leads to toxic work environments that include burnout and feelings of betrayal. She highlights ways for us to express our concerns and take proactive steps to protect ourselves and offers advice on how not to give in to feelings of helplessness. This episode is an important resource for finding our footing through deliberate action and setting boundaries against burnout and betrayal.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reclaiming Your PowerAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger discusses office politics and the necessity of engaging in them with integrity. While the term often carries a negative connotation, office politics can positively impact your career and recognizing the dynamics of office politics is crucial for anyone with ambition. It is possible to be strategic and ethical and Cindy shares exactly how to do this within your organization. Right away Cindy lists four benefits of engaging in office politics with integrity: 1. Builds trust and credibility, 2. Enhances political reputation, 3. Strengthens interpersonal relationships, and 4. Mitigates risks and challenges. Maintaining ethical standards allows us to form positive connections without getting entangled in behaviors that lead to damaged reputations or unpleasant consequences. Cindy details the behaviors we want to avoid engaging in as they are likely to contribute to a toxic workplace. Genuine relationships are always preferable and those are founded by seeking common ground and showing sincere interest in colleagues. When conflicts do arise, however, Cindy has advice for how to handle them: 1. Actively listen, 2. Choose the right place and time, 3. Focus on the issue, not the person, and 4. Involve others in finding a solution. Cindy’s experience shows how to have a proactive approach to prevent misunderstandings and forge a supportive network. Following her advice will aid in becoming more politically savvy. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Fighting FairAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the pivotal role asking open-ended questions and keenly listening to the answers plays, not just in effective communication, but in navigating office politics. Why should we learn to listen better and why would we want to keep colleagues talking? As Cindy points out, learning more about people’s views and motives leads to understanding what drives them and being able to connect.  Cultivating active listening skills is how we elevate our communication strategies. Active listening is not just hearing the words being said but involves a genuine effort to understand the speaker’s perspective and message. Coupled with reflective listening, summarizing what was said to ensure you understand, this is a powerful tool for improving office politics. Cindy explains all the nuances of engagement, including focus and body language, that improve our listening.There is so much more to listening than simply not talking. Cindy lays out all the tools at our disposal, all the ways in which we can school ourselves to listen openly, ask open questions, reflect the speaker’s words to ensure understanding, and move the listening into a collaborative conversation. She narrows in on how to teach ourselves to modulate our voice and tone while also interpreting the tone others use and picking up subtle communication cues that allow deeper insight into a colleague’s stance. These are the ways in which we make progress through office dynamics and form valuable connections to aid in our growth.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Becoming A Better ListenerAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about the pivotal role feedback plays in professional growth. However, while constructive feedback is important, it’s equally important to learn how to navigate the critiques and understand who is offering the feedback. Not everyone will have our best interests at heart, so how can we learn to be more self-reliant and critical in assessing feedback?  The mutual exchange of constructive feedback is key to innovation and collaboration in the workplace. It lays the groundwork for growth and success. The challenge lies in distinguishing between well-intentioned feedback and feedback that has ulterior motives behind it. Cindy discusses the importance of trusting our instincts and learning not to constantly need external validation to make our decisions.When we receive unwarranted negative criticism, it’s key not to internalize that negativity. Cindy shares five tips for navigating harmful criticism: 1. Pause and reflect, 2. Seek clarification, 3. Focus on the constructive elements, 4. Engage trusted advisors, and 5. Learn to disregard. She elaborates on how to put these tips into action and discusses how to develop a strong positive self-image, one that bolsters confidence. Learn how to seek and respond to the right feedback with Cindy.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Considering the SourceAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the work that still needs to be done by women to improve their experiences in the workplace. Though workplaces have evolved and strides have been made, things are changing very slowly so for true change to happen, women need to focus energy on what is within their control. What behaviors and attitudes will positively impact what is experienced at work? The road to change is not a comfortable one. Shifting your mindset involves looking inward to acknowledge the internal work that must be done to affect external issues. However, Cindy stresses that the long-term benefits will be worthwhile. She also identifies five ways to improve your experience at work: 1) Assessing your mindset, 2) Owning your achievements, 3) Setting boundaries, 4) Embracing challenges, and 5) Advocating for yourself.As Cindy goes through each of the five points, she explores how positive influences are required, stresses that you need to stop downplaying your accomplishments and experience, and examines how a change in perspective about setbacks and challenges will result in growth. The work everyone needs to do internally holds the power to change workplace experiences. Cindy illustrates how changing mindsets will shape professional encounters for the better and pave the way for greater success.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to The Work Still To Be DoneAstronomic AudioConfidence CollectiveCarol Dweck, PhD—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger tackles the issue of negotiation in this episode. Negotiation is a part of life, it’s a skill we all engage in and one which allows us to navigate through different perspectives to reach mutually satisfying agreements. But there is a disconnect between the way men and women view negotiations in professional capacities and many of us lack negotiation skills. How can we learn the art of negotiation?Negotiation involves a multitude of different views and skills. Confidence becomes of paramount importance to successful negotiations and part of that confidence can come from understanding the nuances of communication styles. We need to learn to break free of societal expectations, the fear of being demanding, and our innate struggle to assert our needs. Cindy shares how to prepare for negotiations in mindset and willingness to collaborate. Cindy also has three steps on how to deal with dirty tricks during a negotiation: 1. Recognize the tactic, 2. Raise the issue, and 3. Question the legitimacy and desirability of the tactic. While she breaks down each of these steps, she reiterates the best way to approach a negotiation and how to keep our calm and maintain emotional control throughout. Navigating negotiations takes practice, but with advice, Cindy makes it achievable.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Taming Tough NegotiationsAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about the cost of attempting to succeed in our chosen professions. Women in male-dominated fields feel this especially acutely because visible ambitions can negatively impact the speed of a woman’s advancement. We become hesitant to set lofty goals or pursue what we want in order to make others feel less threatened. But that costs us. And the price is too high. There are so many things we do to fit in, find approval or not impact the status quo that take a toll on our careers and ambitions. Things like resistance to change once we’ve established security in our role. The inclination to be everything to everyone, thus burning ourselves out. Allowing others to dictate our opportunities to avoid conflict or discomfort. These behaviors may seem easier in the moment but they cost us career satisfaction, personal growth, and upward trajectories.  Cindy’s advice, in part, is to “get comfortable with making other people uncomfortable”. We need to start vocalizing our career aspirations and desire for new challenges. We need to stop accepting subpar compensation. The direction Cindy urges us to take is one of self-confidence and internal validation. External validation keeps us trapped. The reasons for breaking free of the manipulations of others are many, especially in the professional world. It’s time we examined the true cost of giving in for the sake of ease.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Determining What's At StakeAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks about our conscious and sometimes unconscious tendencies to self-sabotage our own success. When we begin engaging in things that hinder our success, such as procrastination, lack of confidence, or self-doubt, we tend to behave in ways that support those feelings and prevent us from succeeding. Why is this? And how do we break out of the cycle of reinforcing our doubt through self-sabotage? We first need to take responsibility for the self-sabotaging behaviors. We need to acknowledge and identify the specific things contributing to our self-sabotage. We need to learn how to advocate for ourselves and create a strong support system around us. Who are the people encouraging our personal growth and who are toxic and reinforcing self-sabotaging thoughts? Cindy explains why addressing behavior and beliefs is so vital to growth.  Cindy also details six things we commonly do to sabotage our success: 1. Focus on the past, 2. Focus on what we don’t have, 3. Compare ourselves to others, 4. Focus on things we can’t control, 5. Get discouraged, and 6. Get distracted. Cindy gets into detail about these habits and how we can recognize and disrupt them. She offers real insight into the mindset changes we need to embrace to break free of self-sabotage and increase our personal success.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging BehaviorsAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger addresses navigating life authentically in this episode. Being unapologetically ourselves is difficult when we crave acceptance and learn to conform or apologize for our natural selves. But living life being dimmed down by social expectations doesn’t allow us to live free from the weight of the other’s opinions. So just how do we start to live unapologetically? There is often negative backlash surrounding those who live unapologetically. Labels like “selfish” or “arrogant” get applied. While it is important that authenticity co-exist with respect for others, that’s not the same as trying to please everyone and tamping down our self-expression to suit everyone’s needs but our own. Cindy states five ways that being ourselves improves our lives: 1. We get braver, 2. We live according to our own rules, 3. We realize how toxic people can be, 4. We’re no longer trying to impress everyone, and 5. It becomes harder for people to bring us down.Real satisfaction comes from impressing our toughest critics: ourselves. When we live authentically, we are empowered to care less about the opinions of others. Cindy offers a four-step process for becoming unapologetically ourselves: 1. Embrace the real us, 2. Stop apologizing for who we are, 3. Set healthy limits, and 4. Tackle our fears. She explores each step in detail and explains the power of boundaries, communication, and honing the art of respectful confidence. Join Cindy to learn how to be unapologetically individual.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Being Unapologetically YouAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about how the natural human tendency to compare ourselves to others can become a trap. Comparison can be a helpful guide but these days it has become a way to diminish ourselves and something of a harmful habit. So how can we identify it and break the cycle? Comparison isn’t limited to quick moments of self-judgement. It can become a shadow hanging over every aspect of our lives, a deep psychological phenomenon that damages relationships, self-confidence, and mental well-being. Social media and constant access to the carefully curated lives of others have spiked comparison that turns into diminishing ourselves. Cindy explains how we need to understand that it’s happening and offers ways to counter it.Cindy shares information about the links between negative self-talk and stress, anxiety and depression. Comparison can be at the root of this. So she offers eight practical tips for rewriting the self-sabotaging narrative to focus on our unique journey: 1. Practice gratitude, 2. Name your inner critic, 3. Be your own best friend, 4. Unlock the power of contentment, 5. Keep a record of achievements, 6. Celebrate other people, 7. Keep the comparison within, and 8. Look, notice, appreciate. Join Cindy as she lays out a plan to free us from diminishment.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Stop Diminishing Your WorkAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger talks about setting goals, both short and long-term, and the necessity of also having a plan for achieving them. January is a time when we traditionally make resolutions that we often fail to keep. We don’t want career goals to be the same. So how can we set goals and not give them up along the way? It’s important to note that goals don’t have to be set on January first. We can set goals any time we like, at the start of June or on a random Tuesday. What’s important is having a starting point so we can then plan a strategy. Cindy shares five tricks to help us develop effective strategies for goal setting and achievement: 1. Find our why, 2. Visualize the future, 3. Make the process of change more attractive, 4. Understand the power of emotions, and 5. Applaud our efforts. Cindy unpacks each of those five tricks to reveal roadblocks we encounter and ways to combat procrastination. She talks about setting realistic timelines, letting go of perfectionism, and maintaining new daily habits that help us progress. Her advice will shed light on why goals are so important to set, but why having a solid strategic plan for achieving them is possibly even more important.  Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Achieving Great ThingsAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

In this episode, Cindy Esliger explains the idea of solving for happiness. Solving for happiness as a concept has gained increasing attention in recent years. It involves identifying factors that contribute to our well-being and taking action to cultivate more of these things in our daily lives. Cindy shares how to go about ensuring this happiness. We spend a significant portion of our lives at work or working so the quality of our professional lives can have an impact on our overall happiness. In the stress and challenge of the work environment, it gets hard to remain positive. But if we’re happy at work, we’ll experience improved health and performance. We will never be happy every single moment at work, that’s not realistic, but it’s important to identify all the factors, not just pay, that contribute to our happiness and ensure they’re present.Cindy identifies all the factors that can affect job satisfaction, positively and negatively, and encourages us to assess our workplaces to ensure they are aligned with our values. Happiness is largely something cultivated within which is why solving for happiness involves self-assessment and intentionally promoting the things that fulfill us. Cindy offers six tips for creating happiness in our careers and reminds us to take charge of our own happiness.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Solving For HappinessAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email

Cindy Esliger talks all about boredom in this episode. Often viewed as a negative, research actually suggests that boredom can have some surprising benefits. Experiencing boredom is a necessary part of growth. Cindy unpacks what causes boredom, the problems and perks that can come of it, and ultimately how to handle it. When we’re bored, we’re more likely to engage in divergent thinking. That’s important for generating multiple solutions to a problem, sparking creativity, and inspiring growth. Whether bored at work or in our personal lives, boredom is often a catalyst for exploring new career options or skills and trying a new hobby. Not all boredom is beneficial, though, so Cindy explains the differences between good and harmful boredom. Frequently, how we combat boredom can make it more or less useful. Our unoccupied minds demand entertainment but if we just idly distract ourselves with our phones, we miss opportunities to take a break, look for novelty and unique solutions, or pick up a new skill. Cindy offers five ways to embrace boredom and overcome the discomfort it can bring. Cindy will inspire you to view boredom in a whole new way. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Using Boredom As a Catalyst for GrowthAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email