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.
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
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Retain your future managers by training them now!
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
What if you could invest in your future leadership team by inviting them to make impacts on your business today? Introducing a case study: The Future, a workshop series that combines a "Capstone Project" with training, a book club, discussions with experts, and more. Hear how it is helping our clients.
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 Apr 14, 2026
The 300 Spartans: Three Lessons from the Battle of Thermopylae
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
We made it to 300 weekly episodes!
Join us to hear about another 300 (made popular in modern times by Frank Miller's graphic novel that inspired a film of the same name).
We learn about one of the most storied battles in history. Leadership and culture were the real winners--and can be for your workplace.
Or, 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 Apr 07, 2026
Was Socrates the original coach?
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Plato's "Meno" gives some clues on how Socrates used a coach approach--in some ways--and predicted the content of the bestseller "Crucial Conversations." How can you use elements of the Socratic Method?
Our "Crucial Conversations" resources can be found here.
Or, 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 Mar 31, 2026
The criteria for Best Dealerships to Work For--would your team pass or fail?
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Six criteria ... six pass-or-fails ... and it applies to any industry. Would your workplace be a best place to work for?
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 Mar 24, 2026
So what exactly IS coaching?
Tuesday Mar 24, 2026
Tuesday Mar 24, 2026
Last episode, we discussed the scientific evidence that coaching really works. So what exactly is coaching? What does it look like? Is it OK to want training and advice from a coach? How do you pick a good one? We answer these questions and more.
Want a copy of the white paper we mention?
Or, 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 Mar 17, 2026
Scientists prove coaching works--in a certain way
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Recent scientific analysis shows that coaching works! But mainly in a particular way. If you partner with a coach or use the coach approach with others, this episode will ensure you are focusing on the right areas for true growth.
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 Mar 10, 2026
We can’t believe we haven’t shared this “ask more/share more” tool yet …
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
We recently decided to dust off an old tool ... and were surprised to find most of the room declaring it the most useful part of the day.
If you care about relationships with customers, coworkers or kin, you'll want to learn the Johari Window.
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 Mar 03, 2026
Eliminating friction in your customer experience
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
A thought-provoking Substack article argues, "We had overestimated the value of 'human relationships'. Turns out that a lot of what people called relationships was simply friction with a friendly face."
Where is the friction showing up in your customer experience?
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 Feb 24, 2026
Are you guilty of people triangles? They're making things worse. ...
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
Have you been outsourcing the hard work of addressing employees directly? Triangles are draining your team--but there are simple techniques to solve them.
(The excellent "Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart" was a source for 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 Feb 17, 2026
It's a myth! "Praise in public, criticize in private."
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Welcome to our Myth Busters series! Is it really true you should praise in public, criticize in private?
Tune in to find out how you might be emphasizing psychological safety to the expense of culture, standards and performance.
Interested in coaching or training on these topics for you or your team? We'd love to hear from you! Email Mike and Mark.



