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Can you admit when you are wrong or don’t know what you are doing?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

I had an issue with my new laptop. I accessed the Dell customer service chat feature only to be told 10 minutes into the chat that my problem had to be handled by a live person and should only take 10 minutes. I called. I was rerouted to the Philippines. The gentleman was nice and…

How effective are you at handling change?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

“Change is difficult” may be one of the biggest lies people buy. If you won 100 million dollars in the lottery, your life would probably change, and you probably wouldn’t find that change difficult. Change is only difficult when you believe that the change is going to produce negative or undesirable results. “People are afraid…

Have you ever gotten really good bad news?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

2014 was (to put it mildly) a very difficult year. Then, in January 2015, I got a call sharing some bad news. It struck me how relieved I was to hear this bad news. When I thought about why I felt so relieved I realized that, compared to the news I actually expected and was…

Are you kidding me?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

If you have been reading this blog for any time at all, you know I think that a constant need to feel comfortable limits our potential and the results we create. Every major or minor accomplishment that has meant anything to you in your life has required that you work through discomfort. Yet for some…

Are you playing to win or playing not to lose?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

In many ways, we have let the pendulum swing too far in the “can’t we all get along” direction. While I think it’s a good idea to look out for each other and to live in alignment with our values I think it’s not a good idea to play things too conservatively. The papers this…

Are you optimistic?

By Mike Staver | January 22, 2019

Recently I was giving Harrison feedback (the predictive selection and development assessment I use). I shared the feedback with the client that their Harrison indicated they had a tendency toward optimism. They said, “I think that’s true, I am usually positive and happy.” There are many who believe positive and happy is optimistic. While optimists…

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MONDAYS WITH MIKE

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MONDAYS WITH MIKE POST ARCHIVE

Change Management

By Mike Staver | August 11, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver tackles the challenge of coaching individuals who resist change. He debunks the myth that people inherently resist change, asserting instead that people resist change when they don’t perceive a personal benefit. Mike advises painting a clear picture of how the change will…

Working Harder Than Your Team

By Mike Staver | August 1, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a common concern from managers: feeling like they work harder than their team. He explains that it’s often normal for leaders and owners to work harder due to higher responsibilities for driving strategic results. Mike emphasizes that while working harder might…

How to Stop Procrastinating on Important Work

By Mike Staver | July 28, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the pervasive issue of procrastinating on important work. He suggests that procrastination often stems from deeper concerns, such as fear of failure or perceived lack of resources. Mike, acting as the viewer’s coach, would first ask what they believe is at…

What to Do When a Capable Employee Underperforms

By Mike Staver | July 21, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the common problem of an employee who is capable but consistently underperforming. He suggests that this issue often stems from a lack of clarity regarding what high performance truly entails from the employee’s perspective. Mike advises evaluating whether the employee understands…

Coaching Clients Through Tough Decisions

By Mike Staver | July 14, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the common challenge of clients who freeze when faced with tough decisions. He suggests that this hesitancy often stems from fear of negative outcomes or concerns about impacting others. Mike proposes starting by asking what the client is most concerned might…

How to Hold Someone Accountable Without Micromanaging

By Mike Staver | July 7, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver tackles the common challenge of holding people accountable without resorting to micromanagement. He redefines accountability not as a weapon, but as “a promise kept.” Mike emphasizes that true accountability hinges on clarity of expectation and mutual agreement. He provides clear examples to…

Why Your Feedback Isn’t Landing Right

By Mike Staver | June 30, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the common excuse for not giving feedback: “it never lands right.” He firmly states that avoiding feedback for this reason is a “terrible idea” and that feedback must be given regardless. Instead of avoidance, Mike advises a diagnostic approach. He prompts…

Emotional Intelligence

By Mike Staver | June 23, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses the question of how to deal with individuals who have low emotional intelligence. He explains that the approach depends on the specific area where their emotional intelligence is lacking. If they exhibit low self-awareness, Mike suggests kindly making them aware of…

Coaching vs. Giving Advice

By Mike Staver | June 16, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver clarifies the crucial distinction between coaching and simply giving advice. He explains that great coaching often involves very little advice-giving. Instead, it’s about the intersection of being directional and conversational, with the best coaches asking good questions to help individuals uncover their…

How to Give Motivating Feedback

By Mike Staver | June 9, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver tackles the challenging but crucial topic of giving feedback that genuinely motivates a team rather than deflating them. He shares two key strategies. The first involves clearly stating the desired outcome, such as “flawless execution,” and then providing feedback within that framework,…

What to Say When Your Team Doesn’t Listen

By Mike Staver | June 2, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a common leader’s frustration: “My team just doesn’t listen.” He explains that often, the issue isn’t a lack of listening, but a lack of clarity in communication. Mike advises leaders to emphasize and expand on what they are saying, then verify…

How to Communicate Assertively and Respectfully to Leadership

By Mike Staver | May 26, 2025

   Episode Summary In this episode of Monday’s with Mike, Mike Staver answers the question: “How can I effectively communicate my ideas and concerns to upper management in a way that is assertive but still respectful?”. Mike discusses the true meaning of assertiveness and provides key strategies for communicating effectively with upper management. Key…

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