We were lucky to catch up with Diane Darling recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission stems from a lifelong journey of adaptation and connection. As someone who attended 15 schools before college and navigated various cultural landscapes from rural Indiana to Bangkok, I learned early on the art of making connections. This experience taught me the emotional intelligence needed to thrive in new environments and sparked my passion for helping others bridge communication gaps. Whether it’s through one-on-one coaching or workshops, my mission is to empower individuals and organizations to harness their networking potential and communicate effectively, turning these connections into meaningful relationships.

Diane, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Diane Darling, a consultant, keynote speaker, and leadership coach specializing in professional networking strategies. My journey into this field began with my unique childhood experiences, where frequent relocations taught me how to connect with new people quickly. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve developed and refined strategies to help individuals and organizations leverage networking for career growth and business success. My services include virtual and in-person speaking engagements, one-on-one coaching, and strategic consulting.

In order to overcome my fear of public speaking, I took acting and standup comedy classes. That out-of-the-box and strategic mindset has been a contributing factor to my success and is incorporated into my teachings, especially for introverts (like me!). Indeed, through this journey I was even a commencement speaker at MIT Charm School (yes, there is such a thing). I’m particularly proud of my book, “The Networking Survival Guide,” which was commissioned by McGraw-Hill and became a hit long before the rise of LinkedIn or Facebook. I’m also passionate about creating inclusive environments, which led me to develop workshops like “Watercooler Football” to help individuals feel more included in conversations. My goal is to help people realize and utilize their unique talents, fostering stronger professional and personal networks.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team and keeping morale high is all about clear communication and genuine appreciation. Be open with your team about any challenges and changes; it helps build trust. Regularly recognize their achievements and give constructive feedback. Create opportunities for professional development and foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. A positive, supportive atmosphere will help keep your team motivated and productive.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One major pivot for me was during the COVID-19 pandemic. With in-person events and workshops canceled, I had to quickly shift to virtual platforms. This meant rethinking how I delivered content and engaged with participants online. It was a challenge, but it also allowed me to reach a wider audience and innovate my services. This shift was a great opportunity to adapt and continue providing valuable support during a difficult time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dianedarling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianedarlingspeaker/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianeDarlingSpeaker
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianedarling/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeDarling
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DianeDarlingSpeaker