It doesn't take a genius.

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 team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Better at being better: Be like Elon and experiment responsibly!

There are four things you need to have for a pilot to be a success--even if it fails. In our ongoing series on creating a culture of continuous improvement, we discuss how to pilot your innovative ideas. Google, HubSpot and SpaceX have lessons for all of us. 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Better at being better: Too many ideas? Not enough time? We can help.

In our ongoing series on developing a culture of continuous improvement, it's time to start filtering all of those ideas you've collected. If you are overwhelmed, take a pruning lesson with this episode:
There are many prioritization techniques and time management strategies, such as the Eisenhower Matrix and the MoSCoW method. Improve your strategic decision-making by focusing on high-impact activities to achieve long-term success.
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Put your ego aside: Your people can help you "be better at being better"

In our series on developing a culture of continuous improvement--as Seth Godin says, "being better at being better"--it's time to share how you FIND those improvements.
How do you create an idea bucket ... with a tap? Mike has lots of experience getting teams to share their ideas. 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Beyond words on the wall: We get better when we align with our values

If talking about corporate values makes your eyes roll, this episode is for you. A culture of continuous improvement requires that you uncover your DNA: your values. 
Defining them--and the stories behind them--lead to an organization that can live them out. The hosts share several exercises you can use to uncover those values. 
Hat tip to "Co-Active Coaching," "Start with Why" and two-time guest Chris Hunsicker. 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

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 you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Resting is rusting! Be like Buc-ee's and be better at being better.

Are you improving your organization? Not good enough! You have to, as Seth Godin says, "be better at being better." Continuous improvement, kaizen, is the name of the game. We talk about the signs that you're settling for less than that--and habits to improve your continuous improvement culture. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

People should NOT be well-rounded: Mark's brother the Strengths Coach

Discovering and developing your strengths is the best path to reaching your potential--and there is a powerful way to use them with a team. 
Mark's brother joins the podcast to explain CliftonStrengths, a.k.a. StrengthsFinder. Luke Ramsay was Gallup's third certified Strengths Coach in the state and has given more than a thousand assessments. 
Email Luke here. Purchase "Born to Build" here. 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

My Favorite Martin: Mike interviews Mark's dad

A high-school drop out who became a chemistry major ... who had a career in IT ... which led to a long, successful career in training and development? Meet Mark's dad, Martin Ramsay of CEATH Company. 
Mike and Martin have a wide-ranging discussion about how Martin combined so many streams, found clients, used experiential learning, and traveled the globe using innovative tools that helped clients address systems, vision and people. 
Interested in a free tool from Martin's collection? Email us for the "tennis ball exercise." 
Martin's latest book: "The Possum Principles"
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

Want engaged employees? You need "Growth."

The Gallup Q12, as it’s commonly called, is a set of 12 questions designed to measure employee engagement. Not satisfaction. Engagement. Why is that distinction important? Because satisfaction is surface-level—think free snacks in the breakroom—but engagement digs deeper. It’s about your team’s emotional connection to their work and their belief in the purpose of what they’re doing.
These questions came from years of research by Gallup, particularly detailed in their book "First, Break All the Rules" by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, which examines what makes employees thrive. And guess what? Engaged employees don’t just work harder—they work smarter, stay longer and bring their A-game to your organization every day.Part 4,  "Growth" - Questions 11 and 12:
11. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.
12. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow.
 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.