Coach Joyce Talag

09/07/2026

If you’re an immigrant or multicultural professional who wants to feel more confident speaking and leading in English, this is exactly the kind of work we do at The Leadership Voice Studio in Chicago’s The Loop.

👉 Visit leadershipvoicestudio.com
👉 Book an exploratory call
👉 Come experience the Studio in person

You do not need to sound less like yourself to become more effective.

You may simply need the right space to practice.

08/13/2026

A promotion can change much more than your title.

You may suddenly be expected to influence across teams, manage competing priorities, communicate difficult decisions, or lead people who once worked alongside you. The questions become more complex as the consequences of your decisions grow.

These are some of the moments when professionals begin considering leadership coaching.

At The Leadership Voice Studio, we see coaching as dedicated space to think through these transitions: to examine what the role now requires, understand your impact on others, and make more intentional choices about how you want to lead.

Our latest article explores when leadership coaching may be useful, what happens during coaching, and what to consider when choosing an executive coach.

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Leadership Coaching in Chicago: When Is It Time to Work With an Executive Coach?

https://www.leadershipvoicestudio.com/blog/2026/7/28/leadership-coaching-in-chicago-when-is-it-time-to-work-with-an-executive-coach

Wondering when to work with an executive coach? Learn how leadership coaching in Chicago can support growth, transitions, communication, and complex decisions.

06/16/2026

Experts and many other highly intelligent professionals often struggle with executive presence for the very reason that made them successful in the first place: they know *too* much.

When presenting to senior leaders, they feel compelled to share every data point, explain every caveat, and demonstrate the depth of their expertise. The result is often the opposite of what they intended. Instead of appearing more influential, they make it harder for others to identify the key message.

Executive communication is less about demonstrating what you know and more about creating clarity.

Senior leaders rarely need all the details. They need enough information to understand the issue, evaluate the options, and make a decision. Every unnecessary detail competes with the main message.

This doesn't mean reducing the rigor of your thinking. It means doing the harder work of distilling complexity into something others can understand and act upon.

What helps you decide what to leave in and what to leave out?

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P.S. These are the kinds of leadership and communication conversations I have with my clients at The Leadership Voice Studio, which I explore in my weekly newsletter, Unmuted.

SUBSCRIBE at the link in the comments.

06/11/2026

A mid-year check-in should be more than a performance review. It should be a reality check.

Many high performers are taught to focus on goals, metrics, and ex*****on. Those things matter. But after more than 5,000 coaching sessions, I’ve noticed that growth, influence, and leadership are often shaped by something less obvious: the conversations we choose to have—or avoid.

A conversation with your manager that clarifies expectations. A conversation with a stakeholder that strengthens trust. A difficult conversation you’ve been postponing for months. An honest conversation with yourself about whether you’re still headed in the direction you want to go.

The second half of the year will arrive whether we’re ready for it or not. The question is whether we’re willing to address the conversations that could change how the rest of the year unfolds.

Swipe through for five conversations worth having before the month is over.

Which one feels most relevant to you right now?

06/09/2026

Pleased to share some great news: I’ll be part of the International Coaching Federation – Chicago Chapter’s inaugural DEIB speakers program.

This opportunity opens another avenue to fulfill my Chicago mission—conceived back when I first visited the city—of helping others find their voice through The Leadership Voice Studio. I’ll be expanding my reflective paper on multilingualism in the coaching profession, which I submitted as part of my Mentor Coaching programme course work.

As I work towards acquiring a Mentor Coaching Specialization, I hope that this effort scales my impact now that I am working through coaches with their own clients. 🫶🏽

*TLVS is the Chicago-based division of Joyful Transformations.

05/27/2026

Good leaders work hard. Great leaders know when to push back.

One thing I’ve noticed from years of coaching high-performing professionals is that many capable people wait too long before they say something.

By the time they finally push back, they’re already overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or quietly resentful.

What’s interesting is that these are often some of the smartest and most dependable people in the room.

They’re used to being the person others can count on. Many grew up learning to be hardworking, adaptable, humble, and “easy to work with.” Some come from immigrant or second-generation backgrounds where creating friction felt disrespectful or risky.

So instead of questioning unrealistic expectations early, they absorb more.

They overprepare.
Overdeliver.
Carry more than they should.

At first, workplaces reward this.

But over time, people can start associating them more with ex*****on than leadership.

The leaders who create the most impact aren’t always the loudest. But they usually know how to raise concerns earlier, clarify priorities sooner, and speak before burnout speaks for them.

That’s not negativity.

That’s leadership.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on how much leadership communication is not just about confidence or polish. Sometimes it’s about learning how to create clarity — even when it feels uncomfortable.

What might become possible if you pushed back more? ☕️

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If you’re navigating executive presence, visibility, or leadership communication in high-stakes environments, my Strategy Sessions are designed for these kinds of conversations.

DM me “STRATEGY” for details.

05/26/2026

Most difficult conversations don’t go according to script anyway.

That’s why confidence in communication isn’t about memorizing the “perfect response.” It’s about staying grounded, present, and adaptable in the moment.

Your presence matters more than sounding rehearsed.

Follow for more insights on leadership, communication, and executive presence.

05/24/2026

Good leaders work hard. Great leaders know when to push back.

One thing I’ve noticed over years of coaching high-performers is that many wait too long before they push back. By the time they finally say something, they’re already exhausted, resentful, or emotionally checked out.

What’s interesting is that these are often some of the most capable people in the room.

They’re smart, reliable, adaptable, and used to being the person others can count on. Many grew up being rewarded for being hardworking, humble, grateful, and “easy to work with.” Some come from immigrant or second-generation backgrounds where creating friction felt risky, disrespectful, or selfish.

So instead of questioning unrealistic expectations early, they absorb more. They overprepare. They overdeliver. They quietly carry the emotional and operational weight of teams.

At first, organizations love this.

But over time, something subtle happens: people begin to associate them more with ex*****on than leadership.

The senior leaders who tend to create the most impact aren’t necessarily the loudest or most dominant. But they do know how to surface concerns earlier, clarify priorities sooner, and challenge assumptions before things spiral into burnout or confusion.

That’s not negativity.

That’s leadership.

I think many high performers underestimate how much leadership communication is not just about sounding polished or confident. Sometimes it’s about being willing to introduce tension early enough to create clarity for everyone else.

I’ll unpack this more deeply in this week’s Unmuted newsletter—especially why pushing back can feel disproportionately difficult for highly adaptable professionals.

SUBSCRIBE here:
https://theleadershipvoice.kit.com

05/21/2026

Stop overachieving for more work.

A lot of capable professionals were taught that being valuable meant being endlessly useful. However, leadership also requires the ability to speak up before burnout speaks for you.

What’s one thing you need to speak up for to be seen as someone who leads? ☕️

05/20/2026

Executive presence is often framed as a communication or confidence issue.

But after more than 5,000 coaching sessions, I’ve noticed that for many leaders — especially those navigating multiple identities, cultures, or high-pressure environments — the real challenge is often cognitive load.

The invisible mental bandwidth spent on adaptation, perception management, and self-monitoring beneath the surface.

My latest issue of Unmuted on LinkedIn explores:
• the hidden psychological cost of executive presence
• why some leaders experience “presence” differently
• and 3 practical ways to reduce cognitive load while building executive presence more sustainably

I’m also opening a limited number of complimentary focused office hours during Mental Health Month for leaders navigating visibility pressure, burnout, communication anxiety, and demanding workplace environments.

Read here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-ways-reduce-cognitive-load-building-your-executive-joyce-talag-pcc-j2c8c?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via