It doesn't take a genius.

Mark's safety razor: our authentic episode about authenticity

Safety razors, old coffee-making methods, vinyl records and the Squirrel Nut Zippers have something to say about what kinds of customers and employees you are seeing. Special thanks to 4th Level Roasters ... D&V Barbers ... and Mark's blog where these kinds of thoughts have been percolating for a while. (This wasn't meant to be an episode. But an off-the-cuff discussion of authenticity is pretty authentic. ...) Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.

The five words you need to envision your future

Have you struggled to make a change because you weren't clear on what you actually wanted to accomplish? This easy exercise helps you gain meaningful clarity on what the future should look like. (Mark learned it from Master Certified Coach Bryan Brown of Coaching To Lead. Check him out!)Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. 

"Declarative questions"--an oxymoron or a Jedi-level move for hiring, coaching & sales?

Instead of asking direct questions, you make confident, open-ended statements that invite response, insight or clarification.Isn't that breaking the rules? No! And it has a particular set of advantages--tune in for more. Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. 

Dom Genova: How a creative survived a bureaucracy

Guest genius, Dom Genova, returns to explain how a creative entrepreneur survived a stifling culture to launch a successful car dealership that won awards for ethics. 
Dom’s success as a car dealer boiled down to ensuring his customers didn’t get taken advantage of by the car biz. Now he has a book to help others. 
Also check out Dom's podcast and radio show, the No-Nonsense Roundtable. His guests range from YouTube's best rock music interviewer, Rick Beato, to a member of the Rascals, to Garrison Keillor himself, to the man who bought a laptop for Ringo. 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. 

Dom Genova: Don't be taken for a ride!

Sometimes, it DOES take a genius. Meet our friend, Dom Genova. He is an expert at customer experience, marketing and entrepreneurship. 
Dom’s success as a car dealer boiled down to ensuring his customers didn’t get taken advantage of by the car biz. Now he has a book to help others. And it’s good! 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. 

Your organization is leaking workers in these two career paths

Fascinating research from Decision Dynamics reveals why some employees seem to lose motivation after a while--and why great employees become mediocre managers. Are you leaking solid talent? 
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark. 

The Inquiring Leader: Embracing the awkward (golden) silence

From their new book: Silence is golden--and awkward. But do it anyway! Mike and Mark explain why silence works, why it's hard to practice ... and how you can break through to using this key skill for the inquiring leader. 
This episode is from Mike and Mark's new book, "The Inquiring Leader"--buy 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. 

The Inquiring Leader: The myth of the natural leader (Inquiry is a skill, not a personality)

From their new book: Mike and Mark take aim at one of the biggest lies in leadership: "Great leaders are born, not built." Learn how to flex your leadership muscles of inquisitiveness in this episode. (Want more articles? Here are a scholarly explanation of dialogic leadership and a short piece from Mark explaining how slowing down leads to learning.)This episode is from Mike and Mark's new book, "The Inquiring Leader"--buy 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. 

The Inquiring Leader: The Magic Accountability Question

If your team always agrees with you--but never takes action--this episode's for you. It's time to stop settling for input ... and start asking for ownership.From Mike and Mark's new book, "The Inquiring Leader"--buy 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. 

The Inquiring Leader: Five downsides to being the Answer Guy

From Mike and Mark's new book, "The Inquiring Leader:" It's easier, more efficient, to be the Answer Guy--the leader who gives all the direction and tells people what to do.
Or is it? There are limitations to directive leadership. ... 
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!)