Podcast Summary: "Driving Impact: The Top 5% Method®" Episode: "You're sabotaging your career with the 'Resting Business Face'! And you don't even know you're doing it" with Lauren Kaylee Release Date: July 15, 2025

Introduction

In the July 15, 2025 episode of Driving Impact: The Top 5% Method®, host Katheline Jean-Pierre engages in an insightful conversation with Lauren Kaylee, author of "Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career." This episode delves into the nuanced aspects of personal and professional presence, career branding, and strategies to accelerate one's career trajectory in today’s dynamic work environment.

Understanding Resting Business Face (RBF)

The episode begins with a candid discussion about Resting Business Face (RBF)—a term Lauren coalesces to describe the neutral or serious facial expressions that can inadvertently convey disengagement during virtual interactions. Katheline shares her personal revelation:

Katheline (00:00): "I had a little bit of an aha moment because I realized two interviews ago I had a resting business face."

Lauren explains that RBF is common, especially in virtual settings where individuals might be more relaxed and less conscious of their non-verbal cues:

Lauren (00:42): "Resting business face happens a lot when we are, especially on virtual calls... not really paying attention to how we come across."

To mitigate RBF, Lauren recommends simple yet effective strategies:

• Smile to convey positivity and engagement.
• Vocal affirmations and positive body language, such as nodding or maintaining eye contact, to demonstrate active participation.

Building an Epic Career Brand

Transitioning to the concept of career branding, Lauren redefines personal branding as career branding, emphasizing reputation management:

Lauren (10:01): "A brand is your reputation. We all already have a brand. Now, you can either be intentional about it, develop it, grow it, strengthen it, or leave it to chance."

She introduces the EPIC framework for developing an epic career brand:

• Experiences: Highlighting both personal and professional experiences.
• Personality: Emphasizing inherent traits and soft skills.
• Identity: Incorporating cultural background and core values.
• Community: Ensuring alignment between personal brand and network perceptions.

Lauren underscores the importance of community alignment, stating:

Lauren (12:38): "You want the majority of the people who are important to you to see you a certain way."

Self-Advocacy and Promotion Strategies

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on self-advocacy—the proactive approach individuals must take to advance their careers. Lauren highlights common misconceptions and the necessity of advocating for oneself despite potential discomfort, especially for introverts and underrepresented groups:

Lauren (20:56): "There's a balance. You need to mention it more than one, right?... you need to make it known."

She provides actionable tips:

• Frame achievements as team learnings and successes.
• Use collaborative language to position oneself as a leader.
• Align achievements with company goals to demonstrate value.

Lauren emphasizes that self-advocacy should not feel like humble bragging but rather a demonstration of value and contribution.

Navigating Layoffs and Career Resilience

Addressing the prevalent issue of layoffs, Lauren shares her personal experience of being laid off in late 2022. She offers a structured approach to bouncing back:

1. Process Emotions: Allow time to decompress and acknowledge feelings.
2. Assess Career Goals: Reflect on what aspects of the previous job were fulfilling or not.
3. Targeted Job Search: Focus efforts on roles and companies that align with personal and professional aspirations.
4. Leverage Network: Utilize connections to find opportunities and support.

Lauren advises maintaining intentionality in job searching to avoid burnout and achieve more effective outcomes.

Maximizing LinkedIn Presence for Career Growth

A pivotal topic is the strategic use of LinkedIn to enhance career visibility and opportunities. Lauren recounts her journey from being a founding editor at LinkedIn to amassing over 300,000 followers. Key strategies discussed include:

• Consistency: Regular posting to build momentum.
• Quality Content: Focusing on valuable, high-quality posts rather than chasing vanity metrics.
• Engagement: Actively interacting with the community through comments and discussions.
• Gradual Scaling: Starting with manageable posting frequencies to build confidence and avoid burnout.

Lauren underscores that quality engagements often outweigh sheer follower counts, fostering a more meaningful and supportive network.

Maintaining Balance During Career Growth and Book Launch

Lauren candidly shares the challenges of maintaining personal well-being during significant career milestones, such as a book launch. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and prioritization:

• Say No: Learn to decline requests to protect personal time and mental health.
• Daily Routines: Incorporate stretching or yoga to stay grounded.
• Flexibility: Adapt to changing circumstances without being overly rigid.

Lauren (44:14): "For me, like I always will try to stretch, do a daily stretch... prioritization is so important."

Effective Meeting Management

Concluding the episode, Lauren offers practical advice on conducting effective meetings, a critical yet often mishandled aspect of professional presence:

• Preparation: Define clear agendas and objectives beforehand.
• Goal-Oriented: Ensure each meeting has a specific purpose to avoid unnecessary follow-ups.
• Leadership: Taking charge of meetings can significantly enhance one’s perception as a leader.

Lauren (46:44): "Prepare ahead of time and actually thinking about what you want to come to the meeting, about what the goal is, who to invite, having a clear agenda."

Conclusion

This episode of Driving Impact: The Top 5% Method® offers a comprehensive exploration of personal and professional presence, career branding, and strategic self-advocacy. Lauren Kaylee’s insights provide actionable strategies for listeners aiming to elevate their careers, navigate challenges like layoffs, and harness the power of platforms like LinkedIn. By emphasizing intentionality, consistency, and authentic engagement, the episode serves as a valuable guide for aspiring leaders striving to join the elite 5% in their respective fields.

Notable Quotes:

• Katheline (00:00): "I had a little bit of an aha moment because I realized two interviews ago I had a resting business face."
• Lauren (10:01): "A brand is your reputation."
• Lauren (20:56): "There's a balance. You need to mention it more than one, right?... you need to make it known."
• Lauren (44:14): "For me, like I always will try to stretch, do a daily stretch... prioritization is so important."
• Lauren (46:44): "Prepare ahead of time and actually thinking about what you want to come to the meeting, about what the goal is, who to invite, having a clear agenda."