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Boost Academy of Excellence

Have you ever known someone wasn't really listening?

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Hello Reader,

A lot has been happening in my world lately - a new corporate program in the works, Season 2 of Boosted has officially launched, and our Gen Z meetup series is back for another round. Here's what's inside.

Have you ever been presenting something to someone - or even just having a conversation - and you can tell, instantly, that they're not really listening? I think we've all been on both sides of that.

I know I have. Someone walks into my office while I'm deep in something, and I find it hard to snap out of it. My mind is still on the meeting that afternoon, or the email I was halfway through writing. It takes real effort to ground myself, let my mind refocus, and actually be with the person in front of me.

Being present to someone is a gift. For that split second, it tells them they're the only one in the room who matters - and in a professional setting, that's rarer, and more powerful, than most people realize.

That idea is at the heart of a new custom workshop I'm building right now for a client-facing team here in Toronto - a team of account managers and directors who spend their days in front of clients. We're working on things like how to pitch with authority, how to close the gap between being competent and coming across as competent, and how to bring energy and conviction to every recommendation. But it all starts with presence.

When I say presence, here's what I mean:

  • Actually listening - not just waiting for your turn to talk
  • Looking someone in the eye, not your phone, your notes, or the door behind them
  • Letting a silence sit for a second instead of rushing to fill it
  • Asking a real follow-up question because you're curious, not because it's your turn to speak
  • Noticing when your mind has wandered off to the next meeting, and gently bringing it back

None of these are hard, individually. But together, they're the difference between someone feeling heard and someone feeling handled - and in client-facing work, that difference shows up in every relationship you build.

More to come as this one takes shape. If your team could use a version of this, hit reply. I'd love to talk.

This Week on Boosted - Season 2

You already heard the news last week, so I'll keep this short: Boosted is officially into Season 2, and for the first time, I'm bringing guests onto the show. The season builds directly on my recent CIBC keynote, "Where Are You From?" - now live as Episode 1.

If you haven't listened yet, start there. It's the foundation for everything we explore this season.

Upcoming Event: Gen Z Meetup: Hosting, Revisited

Our next Gen Z professionals meetup builds on last month's session on hosting as a leadership skill - how the communication, adaptability, and hospitality you practice as a host translate directly to the boardroom.

If you're a Gen Z professional in the workforce (up to age 29), RSVP below. And if you know a sharp Gen Z colleague who'd be into this, send it their way.
​
​SPECIAL THANKS TO: Joanne Sparrow, Career Ambitions, our Food & Beverage Sponsor.

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If you're not already following along outside of this newsletter, I'd love to have you there too:

That's everything for this round. Thanks for reading, and for being part of this community.

Warmly,

Trina Boos
​
Founder & CEO
Boost Academy of Excellence
​boostacademyofexcellence.com​

200 Fuller Rd, Unit 15, Ajax, Ontario L1S 7G9
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