Welcome to The Impostor Syndrome Files! Join Kim Meninger and Kristy Olinger as they talk about how to master spontaneous communication. In this episode, Kristy shares how she struggled with communicating and sharing her ideas with others when she took a role in strategy. She also shares what she did to overcome that obstacle and provides strategies that worked for her so others can accelerate that learning curve. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, so stay tuned! Soft Skills are the Hardest!Communicating clearly and professionally requires dexterity, and it is one of the essential soft skills needed in any work. But, while it is already ingrained in each individual, articulating ideas well is also one of the hardest to master, according to Kristy. The only way to get better is to practice. Kristy acknowledges that there are different approaches and that we all need to decide to decide for ourselves what works best. To some people, realizing they can build their communication skills with other people is empowering, and to some, it is a daunting task because it takes effort. Communication is a complex issue, but building confidence and learning how to navigate the conversation works.About Kristy Olinger:A 20-year career in the banking industry has taught Kristy Olinger that even the most innovative ideas are useless until you can communicate them in a way that inspires others into action. Her ability to tell the business story became the differentiator that propelled Kristy to lead the credit card product strategy of some of the country’s largest banks. For over a decade, she had been teaching these skills and mentoring individuals.Kristy teaches communication strategies that help people build relationships and expand influence so they can crush goals. She hosts a bi-weekly podcast, called The Opposite of Small Talk, for curious people interested in self-awareness and self-development. Kristy lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania, with her husband Brian and her two daughters, Mary and Bree. She is an active community member and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Radnor Memorial Library.~ Outline of the Episode: [01:24] Kristy’s struggle with communication and how she coped[05:20] Some steps to start solving the problem in communication[10:19] Pay attention closely – it’s all about intentionality[20:26] Spontaneous speaking can be practiced to get better at it[26:50] Know people and their perspectives to position your message well[31:04] Be your authentic self to communicate comfortablyAnd many more!~More from Kristy Olinger:Website: https://www.kristyolinger.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyolinger/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ko.communication/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC28t8dT8fafkdfUsYN9WE4gPhrase Bank: https://kristyolinger.ck.page/b13c48205eGrowth Mindset Challenge; https://kristyolinger.com/growthmindset~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ExecCareerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.meninger