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Thought for the Week – I Was Still Learning, Still Becoming

still-learning-and-growing Last time, we explored “Let Them Adjust” about allowing for those around us to adjust when we grow or change. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Yes, there are moments from my past – choices I made, ways I showed up – that I now look back on and wince. Sometimes, people remember us for who we were, not who we’ve become.

And that stings.

Now, here’s what I’ve come to understand:

I was still learning.

Still growing.

Still figuring it all out.

I still am.

We all have chapters that we would write differently today. Yet those chapters shaped us, are part of our growth, our story – and often, our greatest lessons. Not something to be erased.

So, if you’re holding onto regret about your past self, I want you to know that growth isn’t a straight line. It can be messy, unpredictable, and profoundly human.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself feeling embarrassed or ashamed of an earlier version of you, I invite you to pause and remember:

You were doing the best you could with what you had – and you’re not standing still.

And look at you now – you’re not stuck. You’re moving, learning and evolving!

Here’s a question for you to consider over the next week:

What have you learned to forgive yourself for? Or maybe you’re still working on it?

“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”

– Maya Angelou –

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – Let Them Adjust

let-others-adjust-to-the-new-you Have you started saying “no” more and noticed who doesn’t like it?

Last time, we explored “The Invisible Communicator”. This was about how many professionals can feel unseen, unheard, even when they’re saying all the right things. Often, the issue isn’t about you, it’s how others have been conditioned to hear (or ‘unhear’) your voice. If you missed it, you can catch up here

As we constantly develop and evolve, here are some of the shifts we have to navigate along the way:

What happens when you start showing up differently?

You start saying “no” to things that no longer fit or overstretch you.

You say what you mean.

You drop the ‘qualifiers’, the ‘softeners’, the over-explaining.

And suddenly, the dynamic changes. You might notice:

– Raised eyebrows
– Subtle resistance
– Silence or guilt trips
– Or even your own moment of self-doubt

It can feel unsettling – it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong though.

People get used to a version of you that makes them comfortable – not necessarily the version that reflects who you are now.

If you’ve always been the reliable yes-sayer, the fixer, the one who keeps the peace – then becoming more direct and having firmer boundaries will feel unfamiliar to them. And maybe even to you.

Here’s what’s important to remember:

That’s their adjustment to make. Not yours.

Yes, if we have been conditioned not to upset anyone, then this will feel uncomfortable – at first. Here’s the thing …

Clarity creates discomfort – before it creates respect.

So, if you’ve recently started owning your voice more clearly – and things feel a bit off – it might just mean that you’re disrupting old dynamics and narratives.

You’re not losing your voice – you are using it! You have discovered that it is much easier and less stressful using it in an authentic way.

A few reflections for this week:

I invite you to ask yourself:

Who am I showing up differently for – and how can I reintroduce myself?
Where am I being pulled to shrink back into old roles for the sake of harmony?
Can I hold my ground while others adjust?

You’ve done enough adapting – you are choosing to remain calm, respectful and assertive in all of your conversations. Let them adjust.

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

– Wayne Dyer –

With quiet strength and warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – The Invisible Communicator

invisible Ever feel like you’re being overlooked – even when you’re speaking up?

Last time, we explored “Are We Really Having a Conversation?” This was how, when we shift from broadcasting to connecting, we change the dynamic of relationships – at work, at home, and in ourselves.

If you missed it, you can catch up here

You prepare, contribute, show up with ideas… and yet it feels like you’re invisible.

Many professionals feel this, and yet rarely articulate the subtle, frustrating experience of not being taken seriously, even when they’re saying the right things.

It’s not just frustrating. It’s demoralising.

And you start to question yourself:

“Am I unclear?”
“Am I lacking confidence?”
“Is it because I’m not senior enough?”

Here’s the hard truth:

It’s not always what you’re saying – it’s how others have already decided to hear you.

Possible Reasons:

Somewhere along the way, professionals were taught to:

– Shrink their voice to sound “non-threatening”
– Add softeners to avoid sounding “too confident”
– Wait for space instead of taking it

We don’t always notice how we’ve been trained to disappear.

Could some of the following invisible habits be undermining your credibility:

– Are you using softeners and filler words such as: “like”, “actually”, “just,” “maybe,” “kind of” etc?
– Are you speaking in an apologetic tone in some way without realising it?
– Are you over-explaining things?
– Could your body language be saying something different to your message?

Feeling invisible isn’t a personal failure. It’s often the result of invisible dynamics – and learned and habitual communication patterns.

If this is happening to you, I invite you to ask yourself:

“What do I unconsciously do that might make my voice smaller than it really is?”

If you are a leader and you want to encourage others to speak up more, you could ask them that question.

And a gentle reminder…

Being overlooked doesn’t mean you’re not worth listening to. Sometimes it just means it’s time to reclaim your voice.

Now, here’s the thing …

It is not about turning up the volume or quickening your pace! It is not the loudest person in the room who is being taken seriously either.

It is all about how you influence others i.e., by actively listening, asking relevant and powerful questions, remaining calm and assertive and owning your own views as you present them.

“You can influence people without being the loudest voice in the room.”

– Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Peace Prize Winner) –

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Leadership #Listening #FeelingInvisible

Thought for the Week – Are We Really Having a Conversation?

are-we-really-having-a-conversation How do we know if we’re truly having a conversation – or just broadcasting our thoughts?

Last time, we explored “Listening Between the Lines” and how communication isn’t just what’s exchanged in words, it’s how we show up for each other when words fall short. If you missed it, you can catch up here

We live in a world of constant updates, opinions, and noise. From meetings to messages, social posts to performance reviews – communication is everywhere.

How do we know if we are really having a conversation?

It’s easy to mistake talking for communicating. But what if, more often than we realise, we’re just broadcasting?

This week let’s pause to consider the difference between real dialogue and performative exchange – the kind of surface-level interaction where we speak at each other, rather than with each other.

Real dialogue asks something more of us. It asks us to:

Listen with curiosity instead of waiting to speak.
Stay open to being changed by what we hear.
Ask questions not to confirm our assumptions, but to deepen our understanding.

So, here’s a gentle reflection for the week ahead:

“How often do you invite – rather than simply allow – others to influence your perspective?”

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation or meeting feeling flat, one-sided, or disconnected, you’re not alone. Sometimes we’re so focused on what we’re contributing that we forget to truly receive what’s being offered.

This week, see what shifts when you approach conversation as co-creation rather than performance.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

– George Bernard Shaw –

There’s more! If you’re not on the list yet, Subscribe to Thrive to receive the full post and reflection prompts directly to your inbox.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Leadership #Listening

Thought for the Week – Listening Between the Lines

listening-between-the-lines What if the real power in communication isn’t what you say … but what you’re willing to hear?

Last time, we explored “From Tension to Trust” – the art of repair and how to rebuild trust when connection breaks down. If you missed it, you can catch up here

We can spend so much energy trying to be clear, clever, or correct in what we communicate. However, deep trust isn’t built on how well we speak – it’s rooted in how fully we listen.

So, this week, let’s turn to something quieter, yet just as radical: The kind of listening that makes people feel safe, seen, and truly understood.

It’s the kind of listening that hears what’s said, what’s meant, and even what’s unsaid. And it doesn’t come from technique. It comes from presence.

When was the last time someone listened to you without interrupting, fixing, or rushing to respond?

That kind of listening is rare – and unforgettable, right?

It’s not passive. It’s not silent agreement.

It’s a courageous choice to:

Put your agenda to one side for the moment.
Resist the reflex to defend.
Make room for the other person to find their words, even if they’re messy or slow.

This kind of listening doesn’t mean you agree with everything – it signals care, and opens the door for collaboration, empathy, and yes, repair.

This week, I invite you to reflect on:

Where might deeper listening shift the energy of a relationship?
What gets in the way of your ability to be fully present?
How might you listen – not to respond, but to understand?

Because communication isn’t just what’s exchanged in words, it’s how we show up for each other when words fall short.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

– Winston Churchill –

If you’re not yet on the list, Subscribe to Thrive to receive the full post and reflection prompts directly to your inbox.

See you inside!

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Leadership #Listening

Thought for the Week – From Tension to Trust

tension-to-trust (Kintsugi) When was the last time you truly repaired a relationship rather than just moving on?

We’ve all been there.
You speak with care. You stay present with someone.
And yet somehow … the other person hears something completely different.

It’s frustrating. Disorienting. Even painful.

Last week, I wrote about how being misunderstood is part of real human connection – and how we can respond with curiosity and grace rather than defensiveness. If you missed it, you can catch up here

That’s only the beginning …

Because true communication doesn’t end at talking and understanding.
It goes one step further – into the brave and transformative territory of repair.

What happens after the misunderstanding is what matters most.

How do we come back into connection when there’s been a misunderstanding?
What does real repair sound like?
And how can we do it without shame or blame?

This week’s “Thought for the Week” dives into these questions – with practical tools and a fresh way to think about relational resilience.

Because communication isn’t just about what we say.

It’s about co-creation.
It’s about the courage to stay in the room – and find our way back to each other.

When we learn the art of repair, we move from transaction to transformation. We cultivate a field of trust where people feel safe enough to be real – even when it’s messy.

This week, I invite you to reflect on a conversation or connection that felt strained.

Is there a thread you might gently pick up again?
What would it mean to repair, rather than retreat?
Where could you lead with grace, even if you weren’t “wrong”?

Because regenerative communication isn’t about perfection.
It’s about staying in connection – and finding our way back to harmony.

“A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books.”

– Chinese Proverb –

If you’re not on the list yet, Subscribe to Thrive to receive the full post and reflection prompts directly to your inbox.

See you inside!

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Leadership #Misunderstanding

Thought for the Week: Misunderstood – Now What?

misundertstanding Misunderstood? It’s more common than you think.

Last time, we explored “The Energy of Presence – Are You Really Here?” – how showing up fully and attentively is often more powerful than words. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Now, one thing that many of us struggle with is being misunderstood – even if we are being truly present and are great communicators. It happened to me this week.

How often have you found yourself in a conversation where you believed that you were being clear, open, present and showing care, and yet the other person walked away with a completely different impression than intended?

Yes, it can be confusing and frustrating, and we have to remind ourselves that communication isn’t just about how we deliver; it’s about how it’s received. It is the space between intention and interpretation is where misunderstanding lives.

So, this week, let’s unpack the nature of misunderstanding – why it happens, how to handle it without defensiveness, and how to respond with grace when our best efforts still miss the mark.

Why Misunderstanding Happens – Even When We’re “Good” Communicators:

Everyone hears through their own filter – shaped by past experiences, fears, perceptions and assumptions.
Presence doesn’t override perception – even the most grounded delivery can be misread.
Tone, timing, and context all carry weight – and sometimes they say more than our words.

How to respond to Misunderstandings, gracefully:

Don’t Rush to Defend: Your instinct might be to explain or justify. Instead, pause. Take a breath. Respond, don’t react.
Get Curious, Not Combative: If appropriate, you could try asking something like this: “Can I ask how that came across for you?” You might uncover a blind spot – or an emotional undercurrent that needs tending.
Clarify, Gently: Once you’ve listened, reframe your intent. “Thanks for sharing that. What I meant to say was …” (Not to prove yourself right, rather to re-align the connection).

Being misunderstood doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re in a real human interaction / relationship – one that involves risk, repair, and growth.

Connection isn’t built through perfect communication – it’s built through the willingness to stay in the room when things go a bit pear-shaped!

“Whenever you feel misunderstood, remember that every person you meet has a different internal dictionary.”

– Haemin Sunim –

[Korean Buddhist teacher, author of ‘The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down.’]

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With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Leadership #Misunderstanding

Thought for the Week: The Energy of Presence – Are You Really Here?

leadership-presence We live in a noisy world – and yet the loudest thing in any room isn’t always someone’s voice. It’s their presence.

You’ve felt it. That unmistakable calm when someone is fully with you – not rushing to fix, perform, or speak. Just being truly present.

It’s rare. And that’s what makes it powerful.

Here’s a thought exercise you can try:

Mini Self-Check – Presence in Practice:

Body: What’s your posture saying in most of your interactions lately – open or guarded?
Mind: Are you running an inner script when others speak, or genuinely tuned in?
Energy: Are you in a rush to fill the silence, or comfortable holding space?

Each week, I offer more insights, exercises and tips to those on my list. If you would like to Subscribe to Thrive, click here.

Being Heard Without Saying Much:

So, you don’t have to say a lot to have impact. You just have to be there.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Presence is how you guide others without speaking a word.”

– John Maxwell –

[New York Times Best-selling Author – he wrote many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ and ‘The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader’.]

This week, I invite you to practise not just listening better more about being better at being present.

In conversations. In meetings. With loved ones. And maybe most importantly – with yourself.

Because presence is the true language of trust.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #RegenerativeThinking #Leadership #Presence

Thought for the Week – When Words Aren’t Enough

when-words-are-not-enough Have you ever said all the right words … yet felt totally misunderstood?

Words Matter of course – they’re just 7% of the story though!

Communication is more than what we say.

In fact, research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian suggests that in our face-to-face communication:

Only 7% is about the actual words.
38% is our tone of voice.
And a powerful 55% is body language – facial expressions, posture, gestures, even the quality of our presence.

That’s staggering.

It means we could be saying all the “right” things … and still creating dissonance if our energy tells a different story.

Changing the narrative on how we communicate recognises this deeper truth.

It calls us to connect not just from the head, also with the heart and body.

It’s not just about being articulate – it’s about being aligned.

This week, I invite you to ask yourself:

Where are your words coming from – head, heart, or gut?
Is your tone reinforcing or contradicting your message?
How are you being in the spaces between when you speak?

When we show up with coherence – words, tone, and body in alignment – we create trust, safety and connection.

Because the most powerful language we speak is who we are when we walk into the room.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou –

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #RegenerativeThinking #Leadership

Thought for the Week – The Space Between Words

The-Space-Between-Words When was the last time you let silence do the talking?

Last time, we explored Beyond the Buzzword – What Does “Connection” Really Mean? This was about how real connection happens, when both inner understanding and outer acknowledgement happen in synch with each other. If you missed it, you can catch up here

In a world that rewards fast replies, constant updates, and high output, silence can feel like a threat. A lost moment. A missed chance.

Yet what if silence is the moment when real communication actually begins?

We often think of communication as what is being said. What about the pauses though? The breath before a response? The moment someone hesitates – or chooses not to speak.

To take communication to the next level, we’re not just exchanging information – we’re cultivating presence. And in that presence, silence isn’t empty. It’s alive.

Why Silence Matters

We’re taught to listen for words, and yet the nervous system listens for more:

The pause before someone answers.
The breath between thoughts.
The moment someone doesn’t say something – and everything that still speaks – our facial expressions, gestures etc.

Silence can signal thoughtfulness. Respect. Emotional safety.

Or it can bring up discomfort, impatience, even fear – not because it’s bad, but because we’re not used to it.

In Indigenous and wisdom traditions, silence is often sacred, such as within the peoples of the Northwest Coast in North America. It’s where the unseen becomes felt. Where stories gestate. Where truth surfaces without being forced.

Deeper Listening

Of course, deeper listening comes hand-in-hand with silence. To practice regenerative communication is to recognise silence as a co-creative space.

Just as soil needs rest between seasons, so too does speech need space to breathe.

Try this:

After someone finishes speaking, count to three before you respond.
When you feel tempted to fill a pause, ask: What wants to emerge here if I wait?
If you’re unsure what to say, honour that. Let the silence speak for you.

What Becomes Possible in the Pause?

When we stop filling every space with sound, a few surprising things start to happen:

People say more meaningful things – because they feel listened to.
We notice more – tone, emotion, body language.
Conversations slow down – and often go deeper.

Silence can also be a form of invitation. It allows others to reflect, to speak from a truer place, to feel held without pressure.

Reflection for the Week

Where in your life are you rushing to fill the silence?
What does silence feel like in your body?
How can you practice listening beyond words this week?

“Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything.”

– Gordon Hempton –

[Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton collects sounds from around the world.]

In communication, silence is not a lack – it’s a doorway.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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#Communication #ThoughtForTheWeek #ThriveCoachingTraining #Connection #Silence #Leadership