I had just closed a car dealer on working with me for a second year. In the work I do, there are no salaries or benefits. You work gig to gig, retainer to retainer. Every gig was a big deal for my wife and me–nothing, including income, is guaranteed. (Actually, nothing is guaranteed even for the salaried. We all work …
Would Mother Teresa have approved of coaching?
If you are like most people, you probably want clarity in some aspect of your life. But maybe you shouldn’t, unless you spend time answering two questions. Do not pray for clarity I think there is a healthy skepticism of businesses that go to market as a faith-based or social cause. It can feel like a rubber stamp: “We care …
Podcast 68: Dignity, Part 3: How-to and why it’s good for you
When dignity isn’t honored, people suffer! After episodes describing dignity and the temptations to violate it, Mike and Mark get down to describing HOW to honor it in practical terms–and why that’s such a big deal. References: The Donna Hicks book that inspired this series can be found here. We also reference “the Chick-fil-A video” and “The Five Dysfunctions of a …
Simone Biles and our podcast
I have tried to stay away from topical, current-events content here. But I couldn’t let this one pass. Many have posted about Simone Biles and her withdrawal from competition at the Tokyo Olympics. This particular post went viral on Facebook, and it’s worth a read. The short version: We all need to be careful about valuing our entertainment, a gold …
Why you must be a farmer
(Many thanks to a potential new client last week for this post. She asked a question that led to the following revelation–funny how questions do that. …) Last week I was surprised to realize that most of my really engaged clients, the ones who make the most of the coaching relationship, are young … on a fast track for management …
Podcast 67: Dignity, Part 2: What happens when you violate dignity?
Honoring dignity can transform your workplace–and you. But there are at least 10 ways to violate dignity … what happens when you do? Donna Hicks’s work on dignity inspired this series. Learn more here. In this episode we also reference “the Chick-fil-A video” and “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” Our final episode in the dignity series will cover how …
Advice from CEOs to parents (or managers)
My colleague and friend Mike Marshall has pointed out that there is a big difference between parenting and babysitting. Which is a more effective lens through which to view your relationships with direct reports? Meanwhile, along comes this Harvard Business Review article: “Tough Parenting Decision? Take a Page out of the CEO’s Playbook.” The author suggests several behaviors and structures …
Socrates on feedback
My translation of Plato’s Republic includes the Cleitophon, a tiny little document that scholars doubt was written by Plato. But it is a dialogue like many of Plato’s works, and it reads as a reaction to the Republic. The student, Cleitophon, has questions and concerns about the teachings of Socrates. We talk about feedback (including in podcast form) quite a …
Podcast 66: Dignity, Part 1: What is it? Why is it so crucial?
We launch our series on dignity with this double-length episode. Honoring dignity can transform your workplace–and you. Donna Hicks’s work on dignity inspired this series. Learn more here. And stay tuned for our future episodes about what happens when we violate dignity–and how to overcome it. We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. …
Podcast 65: Special Episode: Coaching Mark on seeing his tribe
Another live-coaching example! Periodically Mike and Mark provide examples of what coaching looks like. Tune in to hear Mike coach Mark on the teams-vs.-tribes principle from Episode 64. What is the tribe for Mark’s classics-focused business, Hip Socket? We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify.