Episode Details

You’re sitting across from a potential client or a new acquaintence at a networking meeting when they make the most casual invitation: “So, tell me about yourself.” And your mind goes blank. Not because you lack accomplishments. Not because your life hasn’t been full, complex, and worth talking about. But because somewhere along the way, you stopped knowing how to answer that question without listing your roles, your résumé, or what you do for others.

Dr. Dianne Olvera has spent decades studying why so many people, especially women who’ve spent years filling a variety of supportive roles, struggle to define themselves in midlife. What she’s discovered and shares during our interview will make you rethink everything about how you communicate with others AND yourself.

Show Notes | Transcript

This episode is about reclaiming your voice that has gotten buried under decades of being told what to do, how to respond, and who to be. Dianne shares the subtle communication patterns that either drain your energy or fill your cup. And why the words you use (and the ones used on you) have shaped your reality more than you may have realized.

You’ll discover:

• Why self-awareness isn’t selfish, and how asking yourself simple questions can rebuild confidence that external achievements never could
• The eye contact technique that shifts power dynamics instantly, whether you’re dealing with a difficult person or standing up for yourself
• How the words you heard as a child are still running the show in your business, your relationships, and your internal dialogue
• Why “people become our words” and how to use this knowledge to transform the way you show up for clients, partners, and yourself
• The generalist vs. specialist framework that will help you stop butting heads with people who drive you crazy and start leveraging their strengths instead
• How to have empathetic conversations with teens (or anyone, really) that don’t devolve into lectures or door-slamming by flipping the script on who does the talking

Dianne doesn’t deal in spiritual bypassing or toxic positivity. She’s spent years as a diplomat navigating volatile conversations with controversial figures, raised a family across continents, and built a practice helping everyone from toddlers to executives learn how to define themselves, instead of being defined by others.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling smaller or caught yourself apologizing for emotions you have every right to feel, this episode might just be the permission slip you didn’t know you needed to start speaking differently. To yourself, first and then, to everyone else.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women’s Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

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Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Dianne

Website: drdianneolvera.com
Book: “The Power of Connection: Understanding Individual Differences to Uplift and Empower”

Connect with L