It doesn’t take a genius.

97: ”Just because you can ...” - How delegation is development

Mark needed help with plaster. Mike wanted toast. The endings of both stories are examples of how managers can employ the link between delegation and development.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

96: The Workplace Book Club - ”Nothing beside remains”

What will be your legacy? Your organization's legacy? On this week's Workplace Book Club, we look at a poem. (Just like AMC did for the sake of a hit TV show.)
Even in the workplace, are there things that last? Mike and Mark are #twoguyswithoutlookswithbooks. 
The excerpt and study guide for this episode, "Nothing beside remains," is available for free download.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

95: The Workplace Book Club -- No shame in tears

Charles Dickens has some thoughts on crying. He makes some blanket statements about the three ways expressing negative emotions improves you.
Does it apply to the workplace? Mike and Mark are #twoguyswithoutlookswithbooks. 
The excerpt and study guide for this episode, "No shame in tears," is available for free download.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

94: The Workplace Book Club -- Clothes make the man

Should looks matter?
Do they? 
What about criticism? What's the appropriate response to getting it? 
Shakespeare gives his 2 cents via Hamlet, and Mike and Mark are #guyswithoutlookswithbooks. 
The excerpt and study guide for this episode, "Clothes make the man," is available for free download.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

93: The Workplace Book Club -- Conviction vs. Friendship

What's more important, logic or relationships? Truth or friendship? Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" has something to say about that--yes, even at work. 
Another episode of #guyswithoutlookswithbooks, where we bring the book club to the workplace. 
The excerpt and study guide for this episode, "Conviction vs. friendship," is available for free download.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

92: Introducing the Workplace Book Club -- #guyswithoutlookswithbooks

Mark puts his money where his classical educated mouth is: He and Mike read and discuss a bit of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." 
What in the world does this have to do with the workplace? A lot, it turns out. Do you know anybody who is proud of their defects? 
Welcome to #guyswithoutlookswithbooks. 
The excerpt and study guide for this episode, "Proud of your defects," is available for free download.  
We would love your questions and comments (and book ideas!) for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

91: How do you handle toxic high producers?

From our case files: dealing with THPD (Toxic High Producer Dilemma).
How do you measure someone's negative effects on your culture against their positive effect on your bottom line?
What options do you have?
What will you have to commit to to handle it?
All this and more on today's episode.
We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

90: What does coaching look like? Mark coaches Mike

What you're about to hear is real. It is a recording of a live coaching session between Mike and Mark. 
Managers are supposed to coach. But what does it look like? Sound like? 
We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

89: Listener request: Leading emotionally charged team members

At the request of a listener, we're addressing a specific situation that many of us have experienced. How do you lead a team where some members are prone to outbursts or other signs of disrespect?
To further complicate the subject: It's a manager recently promoted from that team! 
If you have additional suggestions for the manager, please comment below. And as always, we would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark. 

88: Stay curious: the key to a growth mindset

Our last episode suggested you "ask one more question." That habit is built on the foundation discussed in this episode. The humility to stay curious and confess "I don't know" is the key to growth.
 
We would love your questions and comments for future episodes: Email Mike and Mark.