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Build Culture · Develop Your People · Grow Your Business
Are you consistently connected?
On a hill overlooking the ocean in Otsuchi Town in northeastern Japan is a phone booth known as the “Telephone of the Wind”. It is connected to nowhere, but people come to “call” family members lost during the tsunami of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Many visit the phone booth including a mother and…
Are you polite?
If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything. It’s not what you say it’s how you say it. Once you’ve said it you can’t take it back. You can disagree without being disagreeable and on and on it goes. There are many, many clichés. Many wise words of counsel speaking to the need…
What energy do you create around you?
As I write this, I am on a plane flying to Chicago. The reason I am going there is to do the first phase of a three phase series on leading. This first phase, or pillar as we call it, is about culture and how culture drives results. At the core of that is a…
How are your relationships?
Relationships matter. All relationships matter. While many overuse the term it is a fact that they matter all the time. Most importantly who you are in relationships with and then how you RELATE to them. The primary issue facing relationships today is focus. Focus of time and energy has a direct and lasting impact on…
Are you hesitant to make a change?
This morning I read a quote: “That which we settle for takes up space for what we really want in life.” Pretty powerful, right? When we resist change, it is usually because of fear. Fear and anxiety are ALWAYS created because our minds create a scary story about ‘THE FUTURE’. Contrary to popular opinion, we…
How do you deal with change?
Many have said, “Change is difficult.” Here is something I want everyone to remember: Change is NOT difficult…unless and until we equate change with something dangerous or bad. Once your mind is convinced that it is going to be bad or dangerous, your brain literally triggers an alarm that causes you to repel the thought…
How do you make sense of the senseless?
I waited a long time this month to write this newsletter. I was very ambivalent about what to share with you. Now I am clear. I found myself watching the Today show this morning with shock and sadness as student after student recalled the tragic events on the Virginia Tech campus. Reggie, my business partner,…
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MONDAYS WITH MIKE POST ARCHIVE
How to Hold People Accountable Without Micromanaging
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses a common leadership challenge: what’s the best way to hold someone accountable without resorting to micromanagement? Drawing from his coaching expertise, Mike explains that true accountability is not about enforcement or constant checking in; rather, it’s about clear expectations…
How to Handle People With Low Emotional Intelligence
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a practical and common leadership challenge: how to deal with individuals who demonstrate low emotional intelligence. Mike explains that the first step is to identify the specific area in which emotional intelligence is lacking—whether it is self-awareness or social awareness.…
How to Give Feedback That Motivates
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the challenge of giving feedback that motivates teams rather than deflating them. He offers practical advice on how leaders can structure their feedback conversations to inspire and energize their teams, particularly when discussing areas that need improvement. Mike suggests that…
Leading Teams That Do Not Listen
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver responds to a common leadership dilemma: what to do when a leader feels their team just doesn’t listen. Mike re-frames the issue, suggesting that communication breakdowns are often driven by lack of clarity rather than unwillingness to listen. He highlights…
Are There Uncoachable People?
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses a direct and often debated question: “Is there such thing as an un-coachable person?” Drawing from his experience as an executive coach, Mike explains that un-coachable individuals do exist, and he defines clear signs that indicate someone may not…
How to Help Leaders Shift From Reactive to Proactive
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver explores a fundamental leadership challenge: how to help someone shift from a reactive mindset to a proactive one. Mike responds to a listener’s question by breaking down practical strategies for fostering proactive thinking, both for individuals and within organizations. Drawing…
How to Help a Client Improve Self-Awareness
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver explores the delicate process of guiding someone to the realization that their actions, not their character, may be causing problems. Drawing on his coaching experience, Mike explains why it’s crucial to uncouple a person’s behavior from their identity. Rather than…
How to Address Toxic Behavior in a Defensive Employee
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses a common leadership dilemma: how to confront toxic behavior without triggering defensiveness. Drawing from his personal experience working with defensive individuals, Mike Staver shares the practical techniques he’s found most helpful—while acknowledging that no approach is foolproof. He emphasizes…
How to Use Questions to Diffuse Tension in a Meeting
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver delves into the art of defusing tension during meetings—a critical leadership skill for maintaining a constructive environment and fostering effective collaboration. Responding to a viewer’s question about coaching techniques to ease tense situations, Mike stresses the first essential step: acknowledging the tension in…
How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses a common personal development question: “How do I set boundaries without feeling guilty?” Drawing from his coaching expertise, Mike Staver explains that guilt stems from the belief that you’ve done something wrong, whereas shame comes from believing you are bad. He emphasizes…
How to Help a Coaching Client Identify Their True Priorities
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver answers the question: How do I help someone identify their true priorities? Drawing on his experience as a coach, Mike Staver discusses the foundational steps to guiding individuals, whether personally or within organizations, to recognize and align with what matters most. For personal…
How to Change the Energy of a Resistant Team
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses the challenge of changing the energy within a team that persistently resists their leader’s suggestions. Mike uses a real-world approach, recommending that leaders foster open conversations rather than playing the authority card. He shares the importance of surfacing and addressing the root…