When headlines have your team on edge, the energy you carry into a room sets the tone for everyone in it. Speaking with confidence in a politically charged environment starts with knowing whether you are steady enough to lead the conversation at all.
Karin Reed welcomes Tinna Jackson to Speaker Dynamics – Own the Room. Tinna is President and CEO of Jackson Consulting Group and author of The Power Play Journal. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she built a career in politics, including work on Capitol Hill and in the U.S. Senate, before moving into executive coaching and leadership development.
Tinna explains how the energy leaders bring into a room shapes the way others respond. She shares why leaders should sometimes postpone a meeting rather than walk in emotionally unprepared. She also discusses three factors she believes influence promotion decisions, including one that often sparks disagreement. Tinna explains why insecurity can follow you into a new leadership role, why learning to delegate is part of the adjustment, and how a lack of self-awareness can undermine even the strongest message.
With politics affecting workplaces in different ways, Tinna offers advice on when leaders should address political issues at work and how to keep personal emotions from driving business decisions.
Press play for practical advice on speaking with confidence, leading difficult conversations, managing your emotions, and communicating clearly under pressure.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Politics Feels Impossible to Avoid at Work
01:18 From Southeast DC to Capitol Hill
05:33 Why Ego Keeps Your Message From Landing
07:34 Speaking with Confidence Starts With Your Energy
08:44 Skip the Meeting When You’re Not Regulated
09:45 The Three Real Reasons People Get Promoted
13:43 Why You Don’t Outgrow Insecurity
15:58 Should Leaders Address Politics at Work?
21:02 Building a Leadership Program for Women
22:47 Permission to Put Yourself First