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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

How to Address Toxic Behavior in a Defensive Employee

By Staver Group | February 23, 2026

” 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

By Staver Group | February 16, 2026

” 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

By Staver Group | February 9, 2026

” 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

By Mike Staver | February 2, 2026

” 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

By Mike Staver | January 26, 2026

” 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…

How to Balance Coaching and KPIs

By Mike Staver | January 21, 2026

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses the practical challenge: How do leaders balance coaching their direct reports with achieving key performance indicators (KPIs) when time is short? Using the relatable analogy of car dashboards, Mike clarifies that KPIs are simply tools to measure the performance and progress…

How to Encourage More Authentic Feedback in the Workplace

By Mike Staver | January 12, 2026

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver tackles the important question: How do you encourage more honest communication? Drawing from his coaching experience, Mike Staver explores why fostering authenticity and openness is critical, yet so often lacking in organizations. He begins by emphasizing that creating a safe environment is the single…

How to Coach the Constantly Overwhelmed

By Mike Staver | January 5, 2026

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver tackles the question: “How do I coach somebody who’s always overwhelmed?” Drawing on his experience coaching within organizations, Mike emphasizes that the first and most important step is diagnosis—understanding exactly what is causing the overwhelm. He outlines that overwhelm can stem from too…

How to Help Clients Discover Their Blind Spots

By Mike Staver | December 8, 2025

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver tackles the practical question: “What’s a simple way to identify blind spots in a person?” Drawing from his coaching experience, Mike shares a straightforward approach—don’t accuse, but rather invite awareness by gently asking if someone has noticed a particular behavior. For example, he…

Your Obligations as a Coach

By Mike Staver | December 1, 2025

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver answers a nuanced question about obligations as a coach when supporting both a direct report and their supervisor—especially if the direct report is unhappy and considering a career change, but hasn’t disclosed this to their boss. Mike clarifies that as a coach,…

When to Consider Coaching

By Staver Group | November 24, 2025

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver answers a common leadership and personal development question: When is the right time to consider coaching, either for yourself or for someone you manage? Mike provides a straightforward guideline: coaching is valuable when the results you’re getting don’t align with your intentions.…

Coaching for Accountability

By Mike Staver | November 17, 2025

” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>   Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver answers the question: How can I coach my team to take more ownership? Drawing on his coaching expertise, Mike explores the foundational elements of fostering true ownership within a team. He emphasizes that the key is to clearly define expected outcomes, then empower…

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