Interview: How to Make a Difference, Not Just a Point...with Elizabeth Bachman

Send us Fan MailJoin our podcast with John and Greg as they interview Elisabeth Bachman.  Elizabeth Bachman is THE go-to person for advanced-level training in Speaking, Presentation Skills, Career Development, and Leadership. With a lifetime spent perfecting the art of presenting, she helps high-level clients get the promotion/job/recognition they deserve — within an organization and within an industry. “Change the way you are perceived by changing the way you communicate.”Drawing from her unique career in directing more than 50operas around the world and founding her own company, she now helps professionals overcome communication barriers that prevent them from being recognized and advancing in their careers.At the heart of Elizabeth's approach is a profound insight: men and women often struggle to communicate effectively because they're essentially speaking different languages while using the same words. She reframes this challenge by distinguishing between "single-focus thinkers" (traditionally men) who process one task at a time and "multi-focus thinkers" (traditionally women) who maintain multiple threads simultaneously and value relationships and context. This isn't about gender politics but rather understanding different communication styles to bridge the gap.The stakes are high—Elizabeth shares research showing organizations with diverse voices in leadership achieve up to 35% higher profits, yet many senior women become so frustrated at not being heard that they exit companies, creating substantial costs in lost talent and recruitment. Through her "Visible and Valued" program and upcoming book, she teaches professionals to adapt their communication style without losing authenticity, using the principles of "awareness, adaptation, and allies."One compelling success story involves an IT specialist named Janet who had been stuck at senior director level for 13 years despite consistently solving problems. After working with Elizabeth to frame her contributions strategically and engage stakeholders individually, Janet's company created a vice president position specifically for her, later promoting her to CIO.Whether you're a woman fighting to be heard, a man wanting to be a better ally, or anyone looking to communicate more effectively, Elizabeth's insights transform how we understand workplace dynamics. Her message is clear: strategic speaking gets results when you learn to translate your ideas into a language your audience can hear.Support the showPresented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell