A general manager made an observation, and maybe you’ve seen it too. Some employees are rude–or the opposite, fawning. Is it possible that it’s just a lack of self-worth? Tune in to learn the symptoms that point to an employee self-worth issue–and what a manager can do about it. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or …
A man who studied great men: 4 qualities of leadership
Hilaire Belloc was a dynamic leader–a historian who became part of history himself. He studied the Duke of Marlborough, a commander who lost ZERO battles. And it convinced him that there are four qualities of a leader. How do you measure up? Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love to hear from …
Mark’s safety razor: our authentic episode about authenticity
Safety razors, old coffee-making methods, vinyl records and the Squirrel Nut Zippers have something to say about what kinds of customers and employees you are seeing. Special thanks to 4th Level Roasters … D&V Barbers … and Mark’s blog where these kinds of thoughts have been percolating for a while. (This wasn’t meant to be an episode. But an off-the-cuff discussion of …
“Declarative questions”–an oxymoron or a Jedi-level move for hiring, coaching & sales?
Instead of asking direct questions, you make confident, open-ended statements that invite response, insight or clarification. Isn’t that breaking the rules? No! And it has a particular set of advantages–tune in for more. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. Spotify Apple Amazon
Your organization is leaking workers in these two career paths
Fascinating research from Decision Dynamics reveals why some employees seem to lose motivation after a while–and why great employees become mediocre managers. Are you leaking solid talent? Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. Spotify Apple Amazon
The Inquiring Leader: How five managers asked employees questions and avoided the exit interview
From Mike and Mark’s new book, “The Inquiring Leader:” How five different leaders used questions—not counteroffers—to retain employees ready to resign. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. (And buy the book here!) Spotify Apple Amazon How to retain employees without a raise Coaching …
Better at being better: Continuous improvement culture is a habit, not a finish line
We conclude our series on fostering a culture of continuous improvement by talking about how it needs to be … continuous! You need regular check-ins that look at progress through three different lenses. And there are pitfalls to avoid when you do that. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love to hear …
Better at being better: Too many ideas? Not enough time? We can help.
In our ongoing series on developing a culture of continuous improvement, it’s time to start filtering all of those ideas you’ve collected. If you are overwhelmed, take a pruning lesson with this episode: There are many prioritization techniques and time management strategies, such as the Eisenhower Matrix and the MoSCoW method. Improve your strategic decision-making by focusing on high-impact activities …
Put your ego aside: Your people can help you “be better at being better”
In our series on developing a culture of continuous improvement–as Seth Godin says, “being better at being better”–it’s time to share how you FIND those improvements. How do you create an idea bucket … with a tap? Mike has lots of experience getting teams to share their ideas. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your …
Beyond words on the wall: We get better when we align with our values
If talking about corporate values makes your eyes roll, this episode is for you. A culture of continuous improvement requires that you uncover your DNA: your values. Defining them–and the stories behind them–lead to an organization that can live them out. The hosts share several exercises you can use to uncover those values. Hat tip to “Co-Active Coaching,” “Start with …