Confidence Classic: How to Face Your Worst Fear and Still Say YES with Heather Monahan
In this episode of Creating Confidence, HR expert Jathan Genove and host Heather Monahan explore how HR departments can move beyond compliance to build workplace cultures centered on trust and respect. Genove explains how people-centered hiring practices and an emphasis on civility can reduce workplace harassment while building stronger teams.
The episode also delves into Monahan's experiences as an author, from her self-published debut "Confidence Creator" to her work with HarperCollins Leadership. She shares practical tools for building confidence, including a simple yet effective technique suggested by her son, and discusses how facing uncertainty—such as accepting a major speaking engagement in London—can lead to personal growth despite initial fears.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jul 22, 2025 episode of the Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan
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1-Page Summary
Transforming HR Practices to Create Human-Centered Cultures
Jathan Genove discusses how HR leaders can evolve beyond traditional compliance roles to become champions of human-centered workplace cultures. He suggests that HR departments can foster environments of trust and respect through people-centered hiring and promotion strategies. By focusing on civility and respect over mere legal compliance, Genove explains that organizations can reduce workplace harassment while creating more cohesive and motivated teams.
The Host's Personal Journey as an Author
Heather Monahan shares her evolution as an author, beginning with her 2018 self-published book "Confidence Creator." Despite initial fears about potential legal action from her former employer and concerns about sales, the book reached number one on Amazon's business biography list in its first week. Her second book, "Overcome Your Villains" (2021), represents significant personal growth and features a stronger, more confident voice. Working with HarperCollins Leadership, Monahan now feels supported by a professional team, enabling her to take bigger risks with her book launch.
Mindset and Confidence In Facing Fear and Uncertainty
Monahan reveals how a simple suggestion from her son—writing encouraging messages on shoe bottoms—became a powerful confidence-building tool that she and others have adopted in various forms. When faced with a major speaking opportunity at a CEO event in London, Monahan demonstrates how embracing uncertainty, despite initial hesitation, can lead to growth. She emphasizes that while taking risks remains challenging, her experience has shown that continued exposure to fear makes the process more manageable and ultimately leads to personal development.
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Counterarguments
- While human-centered workplace cultures are ideal, some industries or roles may require a stronger emphasis on compliance due to regulatory demands, which could limit the extent to which HR can prioritize civility and respect.
- People-centered hiring and promotion strategies are beneficial, but they must be balanced with the need for technical competence and business acumen to ensure organizational effectiveness.
- Reducing workplace harassment is critical, but focusing solely on civility might not address systemic issues that contribute to harassment, such as power imbalances and lack of diversity.
- Self-publishing success stories like Heather Monahan's are inspiring, but they may not be representative of the average author's experience, as the market is saturated and success often requires significant marketing and platform-building efforts.
- Achieving a number one spot on Amazon's business biography list is impressive, but sales rankings can be influenced by promotional tactics and timing, and may not necessarily reflect long-term success or impact.
- Professional support from a publisher can be advantageous, but it can also come with trade-offs in terms of creative control and financial returns compared to self-publishing.
- Confidence-building tools like writing messages on shoe bottoms are creative, but they may not be effective for everyone, as individuals have different methods of finding motivation and overcoming fear.
- Embracing uncertainty can lead to growth, but it is also important to have strategies in place to manage potential negative outcomes, as not all risks lead to positive results.
- While exposure to fear can make the process more manageable over time, it is also important to recognize and address the potential for burnout or negative psychological effects from continuous exposure to high-stress situations.
Actionables
- You can create a personal "culture manifesto" for your workspace that emphasizes human-centered values. Start by writing down the core values that you believe contribute to a respectful and supportive work environment, such as empathy, open communication, and collaboration. Share this manifesto with colleagues or display it in your workspace to encourage a culture shift towards these values.
- Develop a habit of sending "kudos" emails to colleagues who demonstrate civility and respect. Make it a weekly practice to acknowledge at least one coworker's positive behavior via email or a company communication platform. This not only fosters a culture of appreciation but also reinforces the importance of respect over mere compliance.
- Start a "confidence journal" where you document instances where you embraced uncertainty or took a risk, no matter how small. Reflect on these experiences weekly to track your personal growth and to identify patterns in your behavior that lead to increased confidence. This self-reflection can help you become more comfortable with taking risks over time.
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Transforming HR Practices to Create Human-Centered Cultures
Jathan Genove provides expertise to guide HR leaders in evolving their roles from being focused on compliance to becoming champions of building human-centered workplace cultures.
HR Must Evolve From Compliance to Culture-Building Roles
Human resources departments traditionally focus on compliance with laws and regulations. However, Genove suggests that HR leaders have the opportunity to foster environments marked by trust, respect, and appreciation. This shift moves HR from compliance gatekeepers to culture-builders within organizations. Essential to this process is the implementation of people-centered hiring, promotion, and change strategies.
HR Leaders Can Foster Trust, Respect, and Appreciation Through People-Centered Hiring, Promotion, and Change Strategies
HR leaders are in the unique position to influence organizational culture through the ways they approach hiring and promotions. By concentrating on people rather than policies, HR practices can be designed to cultivate a sense of belonging and value among employees. Genove advocates for HR strategies that are inclusive and affirming, ensuring that employees feel their voices are heard and respected.
Unlock Potential Through Improved Hiring and Promotional Practices
Innovative HR strategies, as advised by Genove, allow for unlocking the potential of employees. By prioritizing civility and respect, HR can help minimize workplace harassment and create an environment where employees are motivated and empowered.
Focus On Cultivating Civility and Respect
A people-centric HR approach means creating workplaces that emphasize civility and respect over merely adhering to the ...
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Transforming HR Practices to Create Human-Centered Cultures
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Counterarguments
- HR's focus on compliance is critical to protect the organization and its employees from legal risks, and this role should not be undervalued or neglected in the pursuit of culture-building.
- The shift from compliance to culture may require additional resources and expertise that not all organizations have, potentially straining HR departments.
- People-centered strategies, while ideal, may not always align with the broader strategic goals of an organization, especially in highly competitive or cost-sensitive industries.
- There is a risk that emphasizing culture-building could lead to subjective decision-making in hiring and promotions, which could inadvertently introduce biases.
- The idea of HR as a driver of transformative change assumes that HR has the influence and buy-in from all levels of management, which may not always be the case ...
Actionables
- You can start a peer recognition program at work to foster appreciation and trust. Create a simple system where colleagues can nominate each other for small rewards or acknowledgments when they notice helpful and collaborative behavior. This could be as straightforward as a shared document or a dedicated email address where employees send their nominations, and at the end of each week or month, the contributions are recognized in a team meeting or internal newsletter.
- Volunteer to organize a 'get to know you' series in your workplace to promote inclusivity. This could involve setting up casual lunchtime meetings or coffee breaks where team members share about their backgrounds, interests, and experiences in a structured way. This initiative helps break down barriers and allows people to connect on a personal level, which can lead to a more inclusive and affirming environment.
- Advocate for a 'civi ...
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The Host's Personal Journey as an Author
Heather Monahan shares her personal journey as an author, starting with her self-published book, "Confidence Creator," in 2018, and leading up to the publication of her second book, "Overcome Your Villains," in 2021.
Host's Experience Publishing Her Book, Confidence Creator, In 2018
In 2018, Heather Monahan self-published her first book, "Confidence Creator," amidst fears and uncertainties that stemmed from being newly fired and having no experience with self-publishing. She feared potential legal action from her former employer and was scared that the book wouldn't sell. Despite these concerns and acknowledging it as the scariest thing she'd ever done, "Confidence Creator" performed extremely well, becoming number one on Amazon's business biography list in its first week. She includes a chapter about her son and something he taught her, underscoring the personal nature of her work.
Host Faced Fears and Uncertainties Self-Publishing First Book
Heather discusses her fear during the launch of her first book, stating that it limited her from going as far in her writing as she could have. Her fears were multifaceted, including getting sued and concerns about the book's commercial reception.
Book Became #1 On Amazon
Despite these fears, her first book did well, achieving notable success like becoming number one on Amazon. This accomplishment suggested that her risks were worth taking.
Host's Experience Publishing Overcome Your Villains (2021)
Heather Monahan has worked on her second book, "Overcome Your Villains," for almost two years, describing the process as long, painful, and character-testing, given her admitted lack of patience. On receiving a mailed paperback version of the new book, she was excited but also reminded of the risks and fears associated with launching a product deeply tied to her own personal growth.
Host's Voice Stronger and More Confident in New Book
Compared to her first book, "Overcome Your Villains" represents a new and different piece of work with a voice that is "so much stronger and more powerful." Monahan's growth in the years since "Confidence Creator" was published has deeply influenced her writing, as noted by her and her friend who reviewed the book, feeling it was ...
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The Host's Personal Journey as an Author
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can document your personal growth journey by keeping a journal where you write down your fears and uncertainties as well as your achievements. This can help you track your progress over time, much like an author might see their voice develop from one book to another. For example, if you're starting a new job or project, note your initial concerns and how you address them, then revisit these entries after a few months to see how your perspective has changed.
- Create a "risk-taking" plan where you identify a goal that feels slightly out of reach and then break down the steps needed to achieve it, including any potential risks and how you might mitigate them. This could be anything from starting a side business to learning a new skill. The key is to push your boundaries and build confidence through taking calculated risks.
- Encourage personal growth by setting up a pre-order system ...
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Mindset and Confidence In Facing Fear and Uncertainty
Heather Monahan shares valuable insights on how embracing fear and uncertainty can foster personal growth, confidence, and an empowering mindset.
Host's Son Taught Her to Create Reminders to Boost Confidence
Son Suggested Writing Encouragement on Shoe Bottoms
Heather Monahan's interaction with her son, Dylan, during a moment of nervousness before basketball, led to a shared strategy for boosting confidence. Dylan suggested writing the phrase "you can do all things" on the bottom of his basketball shoes as a "confidence safety net." Heather found his idea supportive and adopted it herself by writing her own reminders on her shoes for support during challenging moments, such as speeches and meetings.
Host's Reminders Had a Lasting Positive Impact
This practice had a lasting positive impact on both Heather and others. After sharing the story during a speech, she received emails from friends and coworkers who had also begun writing positive messages on their shoe soles. Heather continues to use these reminders, now writing them on her computer, iPhone, and around her house for self-support.
Embracing the Unknown: Exciting yet Scary
Heather acknowledges the trepidation that comes with major opportunities, yet she leans into the risk, driven by the potential for growth.
Host Hesitant About Major Speaking Opportunity, Ultimately Takes Risk
Upon receiving an invitation to speak at the largest CEO event of the year in London, Heather was initially unsure about the legitimacy of the opportunity. However, when she realized its significance and alignment with her new book launch, her interest piqued. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, international travel issues, and the need to leave her son, Heather accepted the speaking opportunity.
Friends Urge Host to Pursue Long-Sought Challenge
Although not explicitly stated in the content provided, Heather received overwhelming encouragement from her social media followers, which served as a modern-day equivalent of friends urging her on. She compares her initial hesitancy to a puppy peering over the edge of a couch, curious yet cautious.
Reflecting On Growth Offers Perspective and Motivation For Progress
Heather's journey emboldens her—and her audience—to value the learning that comes from taking chances and contending with fear.
Ho ...
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Mindset and Confidence In Facing Fear and Uncertainty
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While writing positive messages on shoe soles can be a helpful reminder, it may not be a universally effective strategy for everyone, as different people have different methods of boosting confidence.
- The impact of such practices as writing reminders on shoes might be subject to a placebo effect, and their effectiveness could vary greatly from person to person.
- Embracing major opportunities like speaking events is commendable, but it's also important to acknowledge that not everyone has the resources or support to take such risks.
- Social media encouragement can be a powerful motivator, but it can also create pressure to perform and may not always reflect genuine support or the reality of the challenges involved.
- Personal growth and evolution are not solely the result of taking risks; they can also come from consi ...
Actionables
- You can boost your daily confidence by setting a reminder on your phone that displays a positive affirmation every time you unlock the screen. This digital twist on the shoe sole messages ensures you're frequently exposed to uplifting words, reinforcing a positive mindset throughout the day.
- Create a "Challenge Jar" where you write down various tasks that push you out of your comfort zone, ranging from speaking to a stranger to trying a new hobby. Draw a challenge weekly and commit to completing it, mirroring the idea of embracing opportunities despite hesitancy, which can lead to personal growth.
- Start a "Fear-Facing Journal" where you doc ...
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