Discover more: YouTube · All videos

In this episode, Sophie and Menno discuss the journey to become our authentic self, the learnings Menno brings from war zones to board rooms, authentic leadership and what we can learn from counterespionage on lie detection.

Menno Bakker
Menno Bakker MA. MBA is a military officer, diplomat and leadership trainer. Currently he works as a diplomatic attaché at the Dutch embassy in Madrid in the area of international organized crime. Due to his military missions, he experienced extreme crisis situations. This instilled a deep awareness and strong sense of responsibility. He feels at home in war zones and crisis situations, whether it is in Afghanistan, a classroom or inside your head.For over a decade he educates, trains and coaches CEO’s, directors, consultants, ambassadors, students, law enforcement and military personnel. His focus is on negotiation strategies, leadership development and improving communication skills. The purpose of his work is to empower leaders.In order to maintain the balance between the brain and the body he does triathlon, CrossFit and occasionally jumps out of an airplane.
‍
Resources
LinkedIn
Mpower Executives website
· When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress, by Gabor Maté
· Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain by Antonio Damasio
· Emotions Revealed: Understanding Faces and Feelings by Paul Ekman
· Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

‍Timestamps‍
‍00:02:30 From war zones to board rooms
‍00:04:40 Cultivating authenticity
‍00:07:35 The public, the private and the secret persona – what we can learn from the world of counterespionage
‍00:09:10 Becoming real is a journey
‍00:10:43  Killing the authentic self or the person you want to create
‍00:12:45 The need for authentic life - what we can learn from Silvester Stallone, Lady Gaga and David Beckam
‍00:15:05 Do you want your children to be like you?
‍00:18:05 We are being lied to almost 200 times a day
‍00:19:43 Detecting lies: learnings from interrogating suspects
‍00:29:14 Can we be authentic when mirroring or manipulating others?
‍00:30:55 What kind of person surfaces when you are present?
‍00:31:35 The art of listening genuinely: asking questions, mirroring and labelling
‍00:33:35 The test of fire and the price of becoming authentic
‍00:38:55 Becoming the person you want to be
‍00:40:44 About charisma
‍00:43:22 Love yourself first
‍00:44:10 What’s next for Menno