Speaking With Confidence

Ever found yourself promoted to a leadership position and suddenly realizing you have no idea how to build authority without losing the respect of your team? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I tackle one of the most challenging transitions you can face at work: moving from peer to manager.

I'm Tim Newmana recovering college professor turned communication coachand today we're diving into what really happens when you go from being "one of the team" to leading the team. There’s no guest joining me this week; it’s just you and me unpacking the real obstacles and actionable solutions for new leaders navigating this tricky shift.

We all know that being promoted is exciting but it can also be disorienting. One day, you’re sharing complaints over drinks, the next, you’re the one in charge, trying not to repeat the mistakes of managers you once criticized. I break down the hard truth: many companies get management promotions wrong 82% of the time, leaving you with the title, a small raise, and very little guidance on how to actually manage people without damaging relationships. That tension between being accessible and asserting real authority gets new managers stuck in what I call the “access trap.”

In this episode, I share the three pillars of real authority, clarity, consistency, and accountability and explain why they matter more than being liked. I walk through four transformative shifts every new manager must make: setting and respecting boundaries, giving honest and direct feedback, using confident language, and tackling conflict early. Each shift comes with clear examples and advice for how to break out of the habits that quietly erode your credibility and relationships.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why pretending nothing has changed after your promotion only creates confusion

The data behind why promoting top performers doesn’t always make sense for leadership roles

How to avoid the “access trap” and be more than just a buddy with a title

The three foundational elements of real authority (and what it’s not)

The four skill shifts every new manager must practice: boundaries, feedback, language, and conflict

Practical steps for having honest conversations that set a new tone for your team

Why consistency is more important than charisma for building trust

How to start small choose one shift and put it into practice this week

If you’ve just made the leap into management, or you want to support someone who has, I promise this episode will leave you with clear, actionable steps you can use immediately. Remember, your former peers don’t need a friend wearing a manager’s badge, they need a leader who sets the standard with courage and clarity.

Listen in and take the first step toward building authority that truly holds.
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How much does the way you dress really impact your confidence and the way others see you? That’s the question we dive into in this episode of Speaking with Confidence.

On today’s show, we’re tackling one of the most overlooked yet transformative aspects of communication: your appearance. We often talk about content, delivery, and presence when it comes to confident communication, but what about the impact of what we wear? Whether you’re stepping into a new job, leading a meeting, or just trying to level up your everyday look, your wardrobe can be a powerful ally in building your leadership perception and feeling your absolute best.

Joining me for this conversation are Caden Broussard and Jinny Chen, co-founders of Cello, one of the largest styling companies serving professionals especially men during big life transitions. Their team of stylists partners with clients to help them dress with both confidence and executive presence, demystifying the connection between clothing, self-image, and professional results.

We kicked things off by reflecting on a big realization: so many people struggle with style not because they lack fashion sense, but because it feels like a confidence problem. Caden Broussard shared how, despite working hard and achieving corporate success, feeling uncomfortable or inappropriately dressed could undermine their belief in themselves. Jinny Chen pointed out that most people reach for the same clothes because comfort breeds confidence, something confirmed by research, including fascinating studies on how what you wear can affect your performance and self-perception.

Here’s what we covered in this conversation:

Why style is really about confidence, not just fashion

Instant first impressions, the “halo effect,” and scientific studies on performance and clothing

Cultural challenges men face around asking for style advice

Why transitions like promotions or new jobs often spark the need for a wardrobe rethink

The three key elements anyone can adjust right now for a better perception

How clothing fit impacts confidence more than you might think

Why self-expression matters, and how to sneak it into a professional wardrobe

The hidden challenges of dressing appropriately post-pandemic and in hybrid workplaces

Psychological barriers to cleaning out your closet and why this step is crucial

How Cello uses technology, including AI and professional stylists, for effortless, confidence-boosting style

Tips for building outfits for every occasion, from formal to casual, and why “uniforms” can work both for and against you

Whether you’re someone who’s always in a blue shirt (guilty as charged!), or you’re just looking for ways to feel more confident and make a positive impression, this episode will give you plenty to think about and some simple steps to act on right away.

Connect with Caden & Jinny:

Caden LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-broussard-90985a90/

Jinny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinnychen/

Website: https://cellocloset.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellocellocloset

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Have you ever wondered why things never really seem to get easier, no matter how much you improve? Why does every step of progress seem to bring a new kind of challenge? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I dig into the real role of difficulty in growth and communication and challenge the myth that hard things are just barriers standing in our way.

I’m Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and today I want to let you in on a lesson that took me much longer to learn than I care to admit: hard isn’t the enemy. It isn’t something to run from or wait out. In fact, hard is the very thing that filters out the competition, exposes what we really know, and drives the lasting growth we all want.

Today we’re pulling wisdom from thinkers like John Maxwell and even some military wisdom to unpack how our mindset about challenges determines whether we stall or move forward. I open up about my own history of waiting for the moment when things would stop being difficult and how everything changed when I realized that comfort doesn’t arrive on schedule, and that growth lives inside the struggle itself.

In this episode, I cover:

Why most people treat difficulty as a bad sign and the mindset shift to seeing it as a filter, not a barrier

The military’s “embrace the suck” philosophy and why the difficulty never really ends (it just changes shape)

John Maxwell’s ideas about evaluated experience and how simply enduring hard things isn’t enough you have to reflect

The danger zone: what happens when difficulties pile up and why most people fall apart not because things get harder, but because their relationship to hard doesn’t change

The real perspective shift: seeing difficulty as proof you’re in the arena, not as something that’s being done to you

Why growth only happens in discomfort and how to train yourself to look for the lesson instead of resenting the pain

Three practical ways to change your relationship with hard things right now, from reframing setbacks to learning how to welcome discomfort as a signal you’re on the right track

If you’re tired of waiting for things to get easier or wondering if you’re doing something wrong just because you’re struggling, this episode is for you. Let’s shift your mindset, reframe your experience with difficulty, and get you confidently moving through the hard stuff, not around it. Remember: the people who win aren’t the ones who found a shortcut they’re the ones who got comfortable being uncomfortable. Progress, not perfection. Let’s get to work.
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What if the secret to real confidence in communication isn’t about having all the right answers, but about asking better questions?

Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence! I’m Tim Newman, your host and a recovering college professor turned communication coach. In this episode, we dig deep into the misconception that confidence means certainty and flip the script to show how the best communicators are defined not by what they know, but by how curious they are.

Joining me today is Michael Ashford, a dynamic communication and leadership coach, longtime marketing executive, and two-time TEDx speaker. Michael Ashford is passionate about empowering people to communicate in ways that traditional education rarely touches, helping us inspire change, drive action, and resolve conflict more effectively in our lives.

Together, we explore Michael Ashford’s journey from nearly failing out of college as an engineering major to finding his true path in journalism, a shift that taught him the importance of aligning passion, curiosity, and personal fulfillment. He shares how letting go of other people’s expectations and finding his own voice became foundational to his confidence and success.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:


The false belief that confidence requires always being right and what true confidence really looks like


Michael Ashford's honest story of personal and academic failure, and how curiosity led him to a career aligned with his values


The pivotal role of communication skills in every aspect of life and leadership


Why the education system fails us by prioritizing certainty over curiosity and the ability to ask better questions


How to break out of the sunk cost fallacy in careers, relationships, and heated debates


The impact of information overload and social media on our ability to trust, listen, and connect


The practical power of curiosity how asking more questions shifts conversations, builds trust, fosters empathy, and increases genuine confidence


Tips for anyone wanting to be a better communicator today: ask more questions, get curious about your own motivations, and embrace the “power of the pause” before responding


How true introspection and questioning our own beliefs lays the foundation for alignment, fulfillment, and lasting confidence

This episode is packed with real talk, actionable strategies, and stories you can relate to whether you want to communicate better at work, defuse conflicts at home, or just find your own unique voice. Dive in, and discover how you can become the curious, confident communicator you’re meant to be.

Connect with Michael:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldashford/     

Website: https://michaelashford.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldashford  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldashford   

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Have you ever sat through a meeting and wondered why the loudest voice in the room seems to dominate yet rarely drives any real influence? In this episode of Speaking With Confidence, I’ll answer a question that impacts every professional gathering: If it’s not the loudest voice that wins the room, what actually does?

I’m Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and today I’m pulling back the curtain on what really makes someone the most influential person in the room. Spoiler: It’s not volume, and it’s not vocabulary. After years in boardrooms, classrooms, and meetings of every kind, I’ve seen firsthand and struggled through myself the pitfalls of overcomplicating messages, hiding behind jargon, and talking just to fill the silence. The result? You risk becoming background noise, no matter how many slides or big words you pack in.

Today’s episode is all about becoming the person who can say the one thing everyone is thinking but can’t quite put into words. I’ll walk you through research-backed truths on attention spans, the brutal math of memory retention, and the real cost of poor communication in the workplace. We’ll talk about why clarity is the most valuable currency you can bring to a group, and how being a clarifier trumps being the show-off or the non-stop talker every single time. I’m sharing the three habits that will make you the clarifier in any room, and you’ll walk away with tools you can use in your very next meeting.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:


Why the loudest person is rarely the most influential and what actually creates influence


The attention span cliff: what happens at minute 15 and why 18 minutes is a magic number


The science of memory retention and why going long costs you credibility


The “8th grade rule” for simplifying your message


The staggering cost of poor communication in organizations


Three habits to make you the architect of any conversation: the two second pause, the one sentence summary, and the clarifying question


Practical examples and questions you can use to shift from noise-maker to problem-solver instantly

If you’ve ever left a meeting frustrated because you didn’t feel heard or wondered why your great idea didn’t seem to stick, this episode is for you. Join me to learn how being a clarifier, not a commentator, will make you the most influential person in every room you enter. And remember: You don’t need a new personality, just a handful of simple tactical switches to start commanding attention and guiding conversations with confidence.
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