employee retention story

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 …

New book "The Inquiring Leader"

The Inquiring Leader: How curiosity saved $1.2 million

From Mike and Mark’s new book, “The Inquiring Leader:” The real-world story of a general manager who slashed “time-to-line” from 38 days to 5—and saved $1.2 million—because of a single question. 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 …

Better at being better: Your idea needs an owner–who isn’t punished

Champions: It’s a corporate buzzword … and it is a crucial element for anyone hoping to develop a culture of continuous improvement.  3M, Pixar and Intuit all have lessons for us to learn about how to–and how NOT to–engage champions for your initiatives. Are you punishing your champions?  Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your …

Vision: See the future so you can be the future

If you want to “be better at being better,” you need a vision. Mike and Mark share tools they use to help individuals and organizations develop a culture of continuous improvement. All you need is a penny, a blank sheet of paper and some crayons. … Herb Mast’s “Intentionality for Leaders.”  Interested in coaching or training on these topics for …

Transitioning from Go-To Person to Empowering Leader!

Your boss was incredibly successful because he or she had you! What happens after you get promoted and the team you are now leading no longer has a “you?” Recreating yourself as a leader means shifting focus from personal achievement to team empowerment. Your new role is about creating opportunities for others to shine, building trust and independence. Interested in …

Are you guilty of LCD Management?

Do the rules not apply to you? No, really: Have you ever been with a company that announced new rules that seemed completely unneeded? You might have been a part of LCD Management.  It happens to the best of us in leadership–and there are simple methods to avoid all the problems it causes.  Interested in coaching or training on these …

Dignity and Excellence: The West’s culture code

Do you strive for Excellence? Do you honor Dignity? If you don’t have both, you’re missing out on what made the West so successful. Enjoy some ideas from Mark’s upcoming book, “The Lost Tools of Business.”  (Mark’s podcast interview on Refining Rhetoric is found here.) Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We’d love …