If you’re leading global or cross-functional teams and finding your meetings fall flat, with cameras off, periods of silence and little interaction, this episode is for you.

In today’s podcast, I look at the culturally-driven behavioural preferences that could be silently shaping the level of your meeting engagement. Whether you're hearing from only one or two dominant voices, or struggling to encourage participation at all, this isn’t only a communication issue, it’s a cultural one.

I share how understanding and applying your Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can transform your meetings from disengaged to dynamic.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why silence in meetings doesn’t always mean disinterest.
• Which behavioural preferences shape who speaks up in the meeting.
• The impact of power distance and hierarchy on meeting dynamics.
• The behavioural preferences that can cause friction or frustration.
• Practical ways to design more engaging meetings to encourage contribution and participation.
• How to use Cultural Intelligence to build team connection and collaboration.

Reflection Questions:

• Which of the behavioural preferences do you recognise in yourself?
• What preferences might be influencing your team’s meeting dynamic?

To go further and explore more of the communication skills every global leader needs, download my free resource: Global Leader Impact. It’s designed to help you lead with clarity and cultural intelligence: https://culturecuppa.com/leader

Resources:

• Access my free resource: Global Leader Impact: https://culturecuppa.com/leader
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: victoria@culturecuppa.com
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com

In this podcast episode, I’m tackling one of the biggest time drains for global leaders: ineffective meetings.

We’ve all sat through meetings that drift with no clear outcome. But with the right communication strategy, your meetings can become high-impact spaces that drive action, connection, and leadership growth.

In this episode, I share my practical 5 Ps framework for meeting clarity, a tool I use with my clients who want to lead with purpose and build connection. This is how to stop wasting time and start getting results.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The real cost of ineffective meetings, and what to do about it.
• Why clarity is essential for leadership communication and global team impact.
• The 5 Ps and how to use them.
• Simple strategies to put them into practice.
• How to prepare quickly and effectively, even when time is tight.

Reflection Questions:

• How much clarity do your meetings currently have?
• Which of the 5 Ps could help you shift from drift to direction?
• What will you do differently to make your next meeting count?

For more on developing the communication skills every global leader needs, explore my free training resource Global Leader Impact. Download it now at: https://www.culturecuppa.com/leader

Resources:

• Access my free resource: Global Leader Impact: https://culturecuppa.com/leader
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: victoria@culturecuppa.com
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com

In this podcast episode, I’m diving back into a crucial but often overlooked communication skill: active listening.

It sounds simple, but in reality, truly listening, especially in fast-paced, distraction-heavy environments, is far from easy. Whether you're in a virtual meeting or face-to-face, your ability to listen well is a key part of your global leadership impact, helping you build trust, demonstrate emotional and cultural intelligence.

We explore what it means to make a conscious choice to listen, how to manage the distractions that pull your attention away, and why showing you’re listening (even without speaking) is essential for career growth and leadership development.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why active listening is a cornerstone of effective communication.
• The three types of distractions you need to manage.
• How to show you're fully present, through body language and non-verbal cues.
• What “intelligent listening” looks like, and how to read between the lines.
• Simple techniques to bring your focus back when your mind drifts.

Reflection Questions:

• How intentional are you about listening in meetings and conversations?
• What distracts you most, and how could you manage that better?
• Which strategy will you try first to strengthen your listening skills?

For more on developing the communication skills every global leader needs, don’t forget to explore my free training resource Global Leader Impact. Download it now at: https://www.culturecuppa.com/leader

Resources:

• Access my free resource: Global Leader Impact: https://culturecuppa.com/leader
• Sign up to receive future episodes of the podcast as soon as they are released: https://culturecuppa.com/get-free-insights
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
• Email me: victoria@culturecuppa.com
• Website: https://culturecuppa.com