Personal development enables us to identify our beliefs, articulate our values, and develop greater confidence in being ourselves. Then we can confidently articulate our values, reconnect with our beliefs, and increase our credibility.
Lillian Zarzar is an international speaker, author and coach who specializes in helping you to overcome the barriers that block you from self-expression. Lillian believes that the ability to communicate effectively is the foundation of personal growth. Without it, you can neither express what you want nor can you offer others your wisdom.
Jim Canterucci’s Three Essential Change Communication Tools
This episode is filled with insights and practical advice, and I’m excited to help you discover new ways to lead—and manage—change with confidence and clarity.
I’m joined by Jim Canterucci, the author of Personal Brilliance (https://a.co/d/j2o0uyl), past president of NSA Ohio, and founder of Transition Management Advisors. Jim and I explore the heart of change leadership and uncover the tools that truly help organizations—and individuals—navigate change successfully, both in major initiatives and in the day-to-day decisions that keep us growing.
We discuss why it’s crucial to start any communication with a clear "why," how to build ownership and engagement among teams, and the emotional side of change that touches us all.
Jim shares breakthrough strategies for moving from resistance to creativity, and together we highlight actionable steps that anyone can use, whether you’re leading a team, working on the front lines, or aiming to bring more brilliance into your everyday life.
Moments
00:00 "Foundation for Everyday Change"
03:44 "Defining and Communicating the Why"
08:30 "Evaluating Change Leadership Capacity"
11:16 "Meaningful Feedback Over Surface Questions"
15:14 Engaging Solutions Through Collaboration
17:49 Building Habits for Everyday Engagement
20:18 "Lessons from WWII Leadership"
26:22 "Leading Change Breakthrough Together"
28:25 "Everyday Tools for Change"
31:59 Questioning Change with Purpose
34:10 "Four Catalysts of Personal Brilliance"
37:44 "Mindset for Adaptability and Productivity"
Here are 3 key takeaways that stood out to me:
Start with "Why": Jim Canterucci emphasizes that every change effort—big or small—should begin by communicating the "why" behind it. When people understand the reason for a new direction, they're far more likely to embrace it and contribute creatively to its success.
Move from Emotion to Logic: Change triggers emotions and uncertainty. The "change breakthrough analysis" tool helps teams move from emotional reactions to logical understanding, ensuring everyone feels heard and supported while focusing on solutions and innovation.
Empower Frontline Leaders: The most effective change messengers are supervisors—your organizational "sergeants." By separating supervisor and employee communications initially, you empower supervisors to lead and support their teams with genuine ownership and engagement.
Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/) is an international speaker, author and coach who specializes in helping you to overcome the barriers that block you from self-expression.
Lillian believes that the ability to communicate effectively is the foundation of personal growth. Without it, you can neither express what you want nor can you offer others your wisdom.
Lillian's desire is to help you tap into your wisdom and follow your purposeful course. With belief and dedication, you enhance your personal growth, you engage with others meaningfully, and you embark on your road to self-mastery.
Connect with Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/#connect)
lillian@lillianzarzar.com
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianzarzar/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zarzargroup)
Copyright 2026 Lillian Zarzar
2 Apr 2026
Empowering Leadership: Own It, Win It, Crush It with Ash Seddeek
Join me as we explore what it truly means to become a great leader and unlock the potential within ourselves and our teams!
I’m thrilled to welcome bestselling author and leadership expert Ash Seddeek as my guest. As the co-founder of the Executive Greatness Institute (https://executivegreatness.com/) and the founder of the Top 1% Sellers Academy, Ash brings a wealth of knowledge about how leaders can create clarity and meaning, especially during challenging times.
In our conversation, we talk about Ash’s experience with renowned organizations like Cisco and Oracle, and we discuss his philosophies on leadership, communication, and empowering teams to perform at their very best.
Whether you’re interested in developing your own executive presence, building a strong leadership brand, or learning practical strategies for inspiring others—even in the midst of crisis—this episode is full of insights and actionable advice.
Moments
00:00 Leadership Clarity in Crisis
03:51 "Transforming Leaders Through Communication"
08:27 "Ownership: Be Your Own CEO"
12:28 Unlocking Organizational Alpha Potential
13:46 "Step Back to Move Forward"
19:26 Own It, Win It, Crush It
20:35 "Leadership Wisdom and Clarity"
Key Takeaways:
Clarity is King in Times of Crisis: Leaders must address the three big questions on everyone’s mind – Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? This has a huge impact on reducing anxiety and bringing stability to teams.
Empowerment Drives Excellence: Ash stresses the importance of seeing yourself as the "CEO of your role," fostering ownership and initiative at every level. When employees own their space, they act with more confidence and create greater impact.
Executive Presence is Human: True executive presence isn’t about flawless presentations–it’s about authentic, human conversations and connecting through storytelling and vulnerability. The goal isn’t just to communicate, but to inspire.
Connect with Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/#connect)
lillian@lillianzarzar.com
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianzarzar/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zarzargroup)
Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/) is an international speaker, author and coach who specializes in helping you to overcome the barriers that block you from self-expression.
Lillian believes that the ability to communicate effectively is the foundation of personal growth. Without it, you can neither express what you want nor can you offer others your wisdom.
Lillian's desire is to help you tap into your wisdom and follow your purposeful course. With belief and dedication, you enhance your personal growth, you engage with others meaningfully, and you embark on your road to self-mastery.
Copyright 2026 Lillian Zarzar
12 Mar 2026
Stop Announcing, Start Asking: The Key to Accountability
Why do you think people are less likely to take action when they hear a general announcement versus a direct request?
The Accountability Gap in Leadership Announcements: "If you don't indicate the person who is assigned the responsibility, then you've made an announcement and hoped for the best." - Lillan Zarzar
Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone nods in agreement about what needs to be done, only to show up a week later and realize… absolutely nothing happened? You’re not alone.
The Problem with Announcements
We’ve all heard it: someone at work (or home!) says, “We need to do this,” everyone agrees, and then… crickets. Lillian shares that making an announcement isn’t enough—it’s not action, and it’s not accountability.
One-Way Communication Doesn’t Get Results
Without assigning specific responsibility, announcements often leave everyone thinking someone else will take the lead. This is true whether you’re running a meeting, leading a team, or just wanting the dishes washed at home.
How to Move from Idea to Action
Take my advice...
Stop just announcing—start asking.
Clearly delegate and spell out who will do what by when.
Use phrases like “I have a request,” or “Please take care of this by [date/time],” to hold people (and yourself!) accountable.
Make It Happen
If you want things checked off your list (and not just talked about), it’s time to switch from vague announcements to clear, actionable requests.
Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/) is an international speaker, author and coach who specializes in helping you to overcome the barriers that block you from self-expression.
Lillian believes that the ability to communicate effectively is the foundation of personal growth. Without it, you can neither express what you want nor can you offer others your wisdom.
Lillian's desire is to help you tap into your wisdom and follow your purposeful course. With belief and dedication, you enhance your personal growth, you engage with others meaningfully, and you embark on your road to self-mastery.
Connect with Lillian Zarzar (https://www.lillianzarzar.com/#connect)
lillian@lillianzarzar.com
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianzarzar/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zarzargroup)
Copyright 2026 Lillian Zarzar
Who has been a guest on Conversations with Lillian Zarzar
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Rachel Brooks
Jim Canterucci
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