There is a way of looking at the world that can severely hamper your ability to successfully navigate work life, let alone life. Its opposite can unlock new levels of not only success but fulfillment. Let me illustrate with a couple of word pictures, one true, one fairy. “What do you mean you can’t sleep?” Last spring, my eldest got …
Training employees classically … like Mr. Miyagi
In training your people, have you skipped one of the three main steps? I’m referring to the ancient method of classical education known as the Trivium, the “three roads.” You might call it the Karate Kid method. The Three Roads You know what society called classical education as late as the 1800s? “Education.” It’s just how education was done. Modern …
The two questions
In the last post, we tackled the fact that many modern employees are “depraved on account they’re deprived.” They don’t know how to do some things you thought they would as an adult: have difficult conversations, make small talk, dress professionally, etc. This is the hand a manager is often dealt. A lack of socializing and civilizing on the part …
Depraved because you’re deprived
It’s an anecdote I found completely bizarre. Until I heard it from multiple clients. I suspect you have experienced it, too: There are employees who simply walk out of the room when conversations with bosses or customers get the least bit tense. If they are criticized in any way, they literally stand up and walk out. When they walk out, …
Eight ways to ask a question well
As coaches, Mike and Mark spend a lot of time teaching clients how to coach their teams. You can learn powerful questions … you can master frameworks for the conversation … but how do you ask the question? This episode borrows liberally from Mark’s training with the International Coach Federation and from Michael Bungay Stanier, who we think is the bee’s …
Podcast 114 – Crucial Conversations: Take action–and follow up!
That high-stakes, emotional conversation you just had? The one where you finally had a resolution to a big issue? It’s all for nothing if you don’t complete this final step. This episode is part of our series on “Crucial Conversations.” The first episode is at this link. We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and …
Beware fogging the mirror
A short and true story for today: I just heard from a firefighter friend that his station used to buy a lot of pizza from a nearby pizzeria. They have since stopped. One of the problems was that the understaffed restaurant couldn’t get their pizzas ready in time. For firefighters, that’s kind of important. But the straw that broke the …
If you measure happiness, what are you measuring?
Happiness and engagement go hand in hand for employees. An influential business book, “The Happiness Advantage,” has suggested that for over a decade now. Last week we talked about surveys to measure happiness and how dialogue gets to the heart of things more effectively. Talk with your people. But just what is happiness? What is engagement? Enter this article: “In …
Podcast 112 – Crucial Conversations: Make it safe
There is one more thing to do before you actually have that high-stakes, emotional conversation: ensure you make it safe. Whatever “safety” means to you, there are multiple perspectives to consider, which are all addressed in this episode. This episode is part of our series on “Crucial Conversations.” The first episode is at this link. We would love your questions …
Podcast 111 – Crucial Conversations: Master your story
Have you ever had an argument that turned out to be just a misunderstanding? If you’re going to have a high-stakes, emotionally charged conversation, you need to look hard at the story you are telling yourself. Learn more about this powerful and challenging exercise. This episode is part of our series on “Crucial Conversations.” The first episode is at this …