Motivation. The elusive Holy Grail of managers around the world. “Why aren’t my employees motivated?” “How can I motivate my employees?” “Why can’t I keep motivation going?” At least once a week I’m asked one of these questions by a caller, client, or workshop participant. The Gallup organization estimates that disengaged, unmotivated workers cost businesses about $300 billion […]
If you’ve ever seen one of those “When Animals Attack,” reality television shows, you know they’re based on stories and sometimes graphic video footage of animals attacking people. Sometimes the result is humorous, with the human simply being embarrassed by the encounter. Other stories end in tragedy. Many who watch these shows walk away concluding that the animals were […]
As far as I’m concerned, communication is the key to success in everything we do. From our relationships to our work, communication is what keeps us moving forward, learning, growing, overcoming obstacles, and it’s what makes life worth living. The abundance of quotes on the topic proves to me that I’m on to something, so […]
Sometimes I feel like a social media lurker. I know I’m supposed to be actively posting on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., and I’m supposed to also be commenting on others’ posts, liking posts, and responding to questions others pose. Here’s the problem. When I have an idea or opinion and am just about to hit […]
Today I facilitated a workshop for one of my favorite AND my longest- running client, Harris County Texas! It was a great group and our topic was dealing with difficult customers. One of the “difficult types” that resonated with so many people was the “Blamer,” that person who doesn’t see their role in situations, doesn’t […]
Right now, I’m writing this post from a hospital waiting room while my best friend is in surgery. Sitting with her in pre-op and listening to the doctors and nurses running through their “checklists” and explaining how her procedure would go, reminded me of this blog post I wrote in 2015. It’s as applicable now […]
It doesn’t matter if you’re a small business owner, department manager, or CEO of a large corporation, discipline is something that comes with the job. Unfortunately, too many leaders are untrained in how to provide discipline and unprepared for how often it is necessary. As a result, many weak leaders develop poor discipline practices that […]
As many of you know, I currently have 10 puppies living at my house. Now I will tell you, 10 puppies can be noisy, messy, and a bit of a pain sometimes. However, there’s nothing that brings an enthusiastic smile to someone’s face more quickly than puppies. Think about it. Have you ever heard anyone […]
Very often, when we’re driving in the car together, my daughter will suddenly ask, “Who are you talking to?” She does this because she can tell I’m having a conversation in my head because I’m making hand gestures with my right hand as it’s resting on the gear shift. I talk to myself a lot, and […]
“I’ll start on Monday.” How many times have you heard someone say this or said it yourself? How many times has Monday come and gone without anything getting started? This week, I’m challenging you to take, “I’ll start on Monday,” to heart and really begin to look at Monday as a new chance to get a […]
