Can organizations care?

Skyline Chili is legendary (at least to Mark’s family). A home-run performance by a Skyline employee begged the question: Can a company actually care?  Mike and Mark share the simple secret to employee (and customer!) engagement.  Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes … or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark. 

Innovation occurs on the edges

Lego saw it … Toyota seems to always see it … GM didn’t see it … and the bigger or older your organization is, you might not see it either.  Innovation occurs on the edges. There are things you have to do to  leverage it. (Check out this excellent Harvard Business Review article for some related thoughts and a printable …

What do you want from your people? What do you want FOR your people?

A surprise resignation causes Mike to take a client through an exercise that changes everything. If you have valuable team members that you want to keep working with you, “Don’t wait for the funeral!” Suggested resources: The simplest feedback method around Just-in-time feedback: why, what and when Marcus Buckingham on effective feedback Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes … or interview …

Labor leads to love

The Ikea Effect: Mike shares Harvard research that explains why some projects and initiatives get buy-in and some don’t. Have you involved your team in the work?  Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes … or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.  Listen here … subscribe on Spotify, Amazon or Apple … or watch below the text.

Beyond the Golden Rule: You don’t lead a room full of you

The cross country meet ended in tears–and a reminder that people have incredibly different preferences for how to interact with the world and think.  For the first time on the podcast, we discuss the timeless DISC model for behavioral styles. Are you coaching, recognizing and training in a way that meets your team members’ preferences?  The Hip Socket site has …

Don’t be the employer who is surprised by this news

From the Wall Street Journal: “Workers Are Happier Than They’ve Been in Decades.” I’m surprised that it’s a 36-year high. But the fact that job satisfaction is higher is not a shock. A tight labor market has led to employers making themselves more attractive: more pay, sure, but also more flexibility–including when and where the work occurs. During the pandemic, …

Just a few small words

My post encouraging people struggling with mental health inspired a reader to send this article: “Small acts of kindness matter more than you think.” Backed by tons of research, the article argues, “Text a friend, write a thank-you note, compliment a stranger — people appreciate these gestures.” Boy do they. If you give yourself a moment, you’ll be able to …