It doesn't take a genius.
Employee engagement, customer experience and more from two business coaches. Mike and Mark turn business trends, research and theory into practical actions you can apply at work.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Mike and Mark have heard it before: "We're always coaching around here." What if we told you that talking isn't necessarily coaching? And that there are five different types of talks you must have in order to drive performance?
Your hosts reveal Gallup's clear findings in this episode.
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
You should tell your people before "the judge" does
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
Mark's kids experience that rite of passage for swimmers everywhere: the DQ judge.
It's a reminder that "clarity is kindness." It is too late when your people are facing the judge. If you don’t hold your people to the standards, the judge will.
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
George Carlin and the Bible agree with Ted Lasso: Be curious, not judgmental.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Mike learns the long history of a quote often attributed to George Carlin. There are lessons here for anybody who judges. (Hint: That's you and me. We're all judging. So do it well!)
Want more? See this Forbes article and "The Art of Powerful Questions: Catalyzing Insight, Innovation, and Action" (it's out of print--read it 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.
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
It's not a problem to solve, it's a tension to manage
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Have you ever found yourself torn between two options? Whether it's goals, priorities, paths, values or something else, maybe you need to stop choosing and start living in the tension! Mike and Mark share success stories from individual clients all the way up to global corporations who manage tension. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
AI's advice to new managers: Did it get it right?
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Mike asked our AI overlords, "What advice would you give a new manager?" Do the answers line up with Mike and Mark's coaching?
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
The intern who figured it out: Be open to learning
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Mark shares the story of what happened when an intern opened up to a room full of professionals. Are you willing to say you don't have it figured out? Your future growth--and success--may depend on it.
We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Winners and losers: Both have goals ... what separates them?
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
If you are trying to reach a goal, congratulations! Now let's talk about your activities, habits and lead measures--which are all the same thing.
Learn more about "Atomic Habits" by James Clear here. (And here's a documentary short about Mark's papaw, country and bluegrass artist Red Harrison.)
We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
Booker T's ancient secrets to communicating
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
What if you could always effectively communicate and persuade employees, customers and leadership? Our special double-length episode celebrates one of America's most successful communicators, Booker T. Washington. His method illustrates one of the world's oldest communication methods: the "five canons" of classical rhetoric.Click here for our episode on the first canon's tool, the "common topics."Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes ... or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Hey Boomer: Don't tell your hard workers McDonald's is hiring
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Mark shares a true story about Baby Boomers misunderstanding Millennial hard workers, and the disastrous results of not addressing negative feedback. If you care about employee retention, this one's for you. Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes ... or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Booker T: Mistreating others hurts YOU
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Mark is still fired up about Booker T. Washington. His take on his slaveowner father blew us away. Washington has something to teach us about how we handle mistreatment of people in the workplace. Resources mentioned:
Donna Hicks and her dignity books
Crucial Conversations resources
Our podcasts on dignity (parts one, two and three)
Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes ... or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.
Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes ... or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.