I just had a phone call with my mom. (Note to reader: If your mother is still on this earth, call her today.) She has had people apologize to her recently, and she told me she says this to them: I decided a while back that I just would not take anything personally or get my feelings hurt during covid. …
Podcast 70: Seven of the very best coaching questions
Mike and Mark recently discussed three things you must have to successfully coach. Now they return with seven of the very best coaching questions. These are simple and worth memorizing. To go deeper, see “The Coaching Habit” by Michael Bungay Stanier. We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. Subscribe …
Podcast 69: No one is the bad guy in their own movie!
No one is the bad guy in their own movie! Mark and Mike provide examples of people convinced that they are the heroes in their story. They also discuss how this mindset impacts how you approach and coach these people. This podcast actually raises more questions then it answers. Check it out! We would love your questions and comments for …
The one skill you must have to sell
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
How to prioritize employee retention strategies
Remember when companies were hellbent on getting foosball tables and other Fun Activities in order to keep employees motivated and employed? It was nice, but as employee retention strategies go, it was pretty weak. Some employees really believed this would help employee retention. But not a single employee stayed for games. (If they did, they might have been the wrong …
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.