We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melinda Burrell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melinda below.
Hi Melinda, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I’m naturally optimistic, always seeing the best side of a situation or a person. However, this attitude was challenged once I started working in Bosnia-Herzegovina after their civil war. I was in my late twenties and newly managing a team in an environment in which many people were pursuing agendas of personal gain. After a few months, I realized I had become suspicious of everyone. I didn’t like this jaded version of myself, so I made a conscious decision to return to my former, trusting ways. I flipped a switch and was at peace with myself again – with no bad consequences.
Learning to choose optimism is helping me now, in these challenging times. I make choices every day about what news sources to follow and how to interpret events. I deliberately surround myself with people who are creative and solution oriented. I deliberately spend my time on fostering community, offering kindness and respect, and taking action. In other words, I’ve learned to buttress my natural optimism with deliberate choices to center that optimism.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I train, speak, and write about the neuroscience of communication and conflict. I help people understand what’s happening in our brains and bodies as we process information, build trust, and navigate conflict. I love giving people the tools to turn conflict into an opportunity to deepen relationships and solve problems together. These skills personally serve me so well that I am driven to share them. I’m expanding from working with individuals and nonprofit organizations to also working with businesses, universities, and elected officials.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My journey has been positively shaped because of two attitudes and one skillset. The first attitude is respect for everyone. Individuals relax, open up, and become motivated when they feel you respect them. They also tend to pay it forward, showing respect to others, creating teams that work smoothly, creatively, and effectively. The second attitude is empathy. Empathy helps me understand and appreciate different perspectives, which not only wins me others’ trust but also gives me insights into aspects of problems and solutions that I might have missed otherwise. Third is the skill of teaching and facilitation, which draws on the attitudes of respect and empathy. After I graduated, I signed up for a course on teaching English as a Second Language. It was the best investment I’ve made in myself because I learned how to teach. I use this both when I train but also in everyday teamwork. I know how to meet people where they are and then break concepts down into manageable steps so you both can move somewhere together.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents believed in me and taught me to trust myself. They gave me confidence to have and pursue my dreams. They also gave me confidence to try new things and take risks. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized that trusting myself also kept me safe. It meant that I had an inner confidence that helped me navigate away from negative situations. I am so grateful for this gift my parents gave me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melindaburrell.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-burrell-3b24371b/
Image Credits
All images were created by myself.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
