ILV Consulting

You’re exhausted, aren’t you? Exhausted from the anger. Exhausted from the pain. Exhausted from hurting the people who actually care about you. Exhausted from waking up every day feeling like you’ve already lost. I'll say it for you... You hate who you’ve become. You feel stuck. You keep saying, "I can't help it," knowing deep down you’re lying to yourself. Every time you swear you’ll change, you end up right back in the same damn place. So then you start blaming everything and everyone else. It’s killing you inside. It's making people around you feel small. You snap at people because it feels like the only way to release the pressure. But then the guilt eats you alive, and you spiral deeper into hating yourself. You don’t have to live like this. I know what it’s like: → Screaming at the people who are just trying to help → Spitting out words you can’t take back → Feeling like you’re drowning in your own bullshit And the worst part? Knowing you’re the one causing the pain. Sometimes, the first step is simply admitting that the problem is YOU. The good news? You’re also the solution. It’s like being chained to a nightmare you can’t wake up from, with every attempt to break free reminding you of how many times you’ve failed. And you keep asking yourself, “Why me?”—believe me when I tell you that you will die before answering that question. A problem doesn’t have to feel like the end of the world when you realize it’s just an opportunity in disguise. Do yourself a favor and ask instead, “What can I do to get better?” Because truth be told... → The pain you’re burying isn’t going to vanish just because you ignore it. → The anger isn’t going to magically disappear. → And nobody’s coming to save you from yourself. What patterns are you repeating that keep you stuck? What’s really driving your anger? What do you think might happen if you actually change? This is it. This is your life. Right now. And you have two choices: 1. Keep letting this sh*t control you, or 2. Face it head-on and start clawing your way out. It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to hurt like hell. If you don’t? I promise this will swallow you whole. People will disconnect from you. So, what’s it going to be? → Keep drowning, or start living? → Keep hurting the people who love you, or become the awesome person you know you can be? → Keep repeating this toxic cycle, or break the damn chain? No one can do this for you. It’s all on you. But if you’ve made it this far, it means you’re ready to take the first step. And that’s enough for today. "It's okay to fall apart. It's not okay to take it out on the world." P.S. You’re not alone, but you’ve got to do the work. 💗

You Thought Empathy Is the Key Strategy? You’re Wrong! Leading a team is hard. Keeping them engaged? Even HARDER. (Save this post so you can reference it later!) Imagine you’ve got an amazing idea to boost your team's engagement. You present it, and... crickets. No excitement, maybe even criticism. Why? Research shows that "cognitive perspective taking" delivers greater results than any other strategy, including empathy. 76% of "perspective takers" in a negotiation study developed deals satisfying both sides. And of course, cognitive perspective taking and empathy both win over the controlling groups. Here’s the real deal: You might be selling them “Venice,” but your team might be seeing "butts". Yes, that's right BUTTS! This is what Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva calls "The Venice Principle." Your team sees things from their own viewpoint, not yours. Four strategies to get you started: 1. CONDUCT Regular In-Depth Interviews: Ask your team directly why they feel disengaged. Don't guess. 2. VISUALIZE Your Team’s Needs: Check your engagement strategies against their needs and priorities. 3. RUN Regular ONE QUESTION Micro-Surveys: Quick, non-intrusive surveys provide valuable insights. 4. LISTEN to Your Team’s Language: How we talk reveals a lot about our perspective. Pay attention. Knowing your team’s needs is crucial. In today’s uncertain times, seeing the world through their eyes is just as essential as humans needing air to live. 😮 How often does this happen to you? P.S. Check out Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva's Forbes article for more details. (It'll be available in the comments section shortly.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I’m Isabelle 😎 ✌ In a world full of pretense and constant disruption, the only way to truly thrive is through authentic living and our ability to reinvent. I share thought-provoking and unfiltered insights to help you unmask your true brilliance, whether it's in your life, work, or leadership journey. You matter to me. ♻ Repost or tag someone who would love to join this conversation. 👋 Follow me for more at Isabelle LaCroix Vienneau 🎭 My kind unfiltered "PRETENDING SUCKS" newsletter is launching on Sept 7th. Head over to my profile and subscribe under my headline!

Heads up for anyone freaking out… The worst thing you can do is ignore that disruption is real and then lose it when it happens. Do yourself a favor: - Expect disruption. - Expect life to throw curveballs. - Expect sh*t to get messy. - Expect plans to go off the rails. And then? Take a deep breath. Tell yourself "I got this" and do something about it. I'm rooting for you! 😎 ✌ P.S. (there's maybe a little surprise in the comments!)

Ever noticed how much energy we spend on distractions? People talking behind your back? It happens. Pretending to be inclusive while not addressing your own biases? It's more common than we think. Listening to employee concerns while being mentally checked out? We've all been there. Thinking everyone needs to love each other to succeed? A common belief. Faking sick to avoid another workday? Sometimes, it feels like the only option. Pretending to enjoy every moment with your kids when they sometimes drive you nuts? You're not alone. Distractions don't build you up. They slowly bring you down. What if we shifted our focus? ✨ Accountability. ✨ Purpose. ✨ Discipline. Trust can be fragile and often gets broken. Over-relying on it can paralyze productivity. People are unpredictable, but there's one person you can always rely on—yourself. Start believing. Can we stop people from gossiping about us? Probably not. Can we control what others do? Hardly. Imagine shifting your focus. Being accountable, purposeful, and disciplined. What could happen? Increased productivity and a cohesive team. It’s possible. We fuel what we feed. Maybe it’s time to stop worrying about distractions and start focusing on being go getters. Or, you can just keep doing what you're doing. Your choice. Trust might be built more through consistent actions than through just words and labels. While we work on building our muscles, we must also keep delivering business outcomes. Whether we like it or not, it's part of the business game. Sometimes, it's about less talking about it and more about doing it. Focus on getting it done, and the results will follow. ♻️ Repost this to help others reflect and refocus. _______________________________________________________ How I Can Help: Reinvention Tools: - Book your power hour in my featured section to explore these tools and how to apply them. Personal and Team Coaching: - Interested in shifting your focus and cutting through the noise? DM and let's chat.

Why are women getting 22% more personality feedback than men? 🤔 Is it fair? Is it helpful? Or just plain bias? Let's talk about it. 👇 (Source: Textio)

I had bosses who used me as their personal toilet. I was scared to speak up when they dumped their 💩 all over me. I didn't want to lose my job or be on the "hit list" of people who don't get promoted. That "I'm alive and proud of myself" feeling dimmed. I felt trapped and overwhelmed. I realized I had to make a choice: 1. Be courageous and speak up (despite not knowing the outcome it would land) 2. Keep going the way I was (100% BS guaranteed!) So, I reached out to a former boss for advice on how to approach the situation (that alone was intimidating. They were friends). I chose courage and spoke up. I prepared for the conversation and had it. Fast forward 15 years, I now coach this boss on how to be an authentic leader. Courage is the antidote to fear. Speaking up is the antidote to misery. Turning fear into courage is powerful. Turning silence into having a voice is game-changing. It transforms your life and opens doors you never imagined. Remember, people don’t know what they don’t know until you make it crystal clear for them. This isn't some fluffy, feel-good story. This is about doing the hard sh*t. It's about facing your fears head-on and saying, "I want respect more than I want to keep getting disrespected." Take a stand for yourself. Be your own biggest advocate. 🤝 If this hits home for you, or you know someone who needs to hear it, share it. P.S. Comment or DM "GUIDE" if you want a free copy of my exclusive guide on preparing for tough conversations. I’ll send it to you via DM! 😎 ✌

Tired of Letting Others’ Drama Control Your Life? Here’s How to Flip the Script and Become Unstoppable. I used to get hung up on what everyone else was doing and all the drama around me. I was burning energy on bullshit—gossip, mistakes, judgement, and constant changes—things I couldn’t control. It was killing my drive and holding me back. I was reacting to everyone else’s nonsense instead of making things happen. I finally woke up and realized I was wasting time on things that don’t matter. I started expecting the BS—gossip, f*ck-ups, curveballs—and put my focus on what I could actually control. ME. Now, I’m a machine. I choose NOT to entertain judgment and failure. I’m too busy getting sh*t done. Stop letting the noise and bullshit drag you down. Expect the crap, focus on your own hustle, and become unstoppable. It's a skill that you can build. Who's building it?

Ever had one of those moments where you just need to vent and not be judged? (You’re not alone—most leaders feel this way at some point). Leaders are often expected to have it all together, but sometimes, we just need to let it all out. In a recent #BSBeGone episode with my partner in crime Dan Stowell, I shared a raw, unfiltered moment where I spoke about my two cents on venting. I asked for understanding, not judgment despite what's coming out of my mouth. Why? Because even the best leaders face doubt and frustration. It's human and necessary for mental health. We need spaces where leaders can express themselves openly and authentically. When leaders feel supported, they lead more effectively, building stronger, more resilient teams. It's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to need a moment. Asking for support is more than okay—it's POWERFUL! ➡ Which one of you needs this space? Let’s hear it in the comments! I’ll go first.

When I stopped waiting for approval, everything changed. Those people who tried to control my decisions? They started spreading doubts about my judgment, trying to undermine my self-trust, confidence, and autonomy. But guess what? They couldn’t succeed. They didn’t succeed. Here’s the deal: ✅ Trust your own instincts and make decisions based on your values. ✅ Build relationships with mentors and peers who respect your autonomy. ✅ Support and uplift others, sharing your journey to empower them. People began to see the truth: a self-assured individual who doesn’t need external validation. Their attempts to erode my confidence only highlighted their own insecurities. Depending on others for validation? That’s a trap. One of the most limiting experiences you can go through. I thrived by connecting with those who believed in self-empowerment. So, how do we cultivate self-trust and break free from needing others' approval? Let’s dive in the comments. 👇

Building a standout culture? It’s not rocket science. You say you care about your team? Let’s see it in action. When a team member is struggling, and you’re headed into a crucial meeting or working on a tight deadline, do you drop everything to support them? That’s how you build a culture that truly thrives. The foundation is not built on perks and annual trips (though they’re cool & fun!). It’s all about showing up when it matters. Culture isn’t built by sending a few emails or organizing pizza parties. It’s about genuinely caring and making a consistent effort to know them. Every single day. Not once a year. Some of your people want more money, others need peace, some are after promotions, family time, or travel. Remember, people’s needs evolve. What mattered to me at 20 is different from what I want at 42. Pay attention to these shifts. It's simple. Connect with them. Talk with them. Share stories. It’s this deep understanding of human dynamics that will take your business to the next level. So, stop being distracted and start paying attention. Get real, show up, and make it happen. 😎 ✌ #Culture #Leadership #GetReal