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When is the low road the high road?
The fact is, if you live long enough, you are going to get betrayed, taken advantage of or treated unkindly. That’s life and if none of that ever happens to you then you just aren’t living large enough or far enough out on the limb. The question is how do you know which course of…
Ever had a great idea?
Throughout the course of our lives we come up with ideas, inventions, opinions, solutions etc, etc. If we really love the idea we enthusiastically share it and think about it. Has that ever happened to you? If you are like most people it has happened. What also happens is that there are varying degrees of…
Does your health matter?
I just completed my Mayo Clinic Executive Health Physical. Colonoscopy, endoscopy, full history and physical – the whole shooting match. Two days of being poked and prodded and examined and questioned. This is at least the fourth time I have done this. Fortunately, Dr. Rodriquez said that on almost every measure I am healthier than…
Do you make smart choices?
Sheena Iyengar, Ph.D., has done interesting research on choice. It is very American to desire choice; to believe that choice ultimately is the greatest freedom. Dr. Iyengar has found that the desire for choice is not always a constructive desire, and that when there are too many choices we actually begin to make poorer choices.…
Are you a ‘from scratch thinker’?
I often hear people say, “I have no regrets.” Really? Seriously? Then I am weirder than I thought, because I have some regrets. Not self-loathing, oh what a worm I am regrets, just some things I look back on and wish I would have done or not done. There is value in the question ‘if…
Is Osama Bin Laden’s death relevant to you?
He’s dead and there’s no doubt about that! Last Sunday night, as I was watching news coverage and the President’s brief speech, I felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t relief because I felt safer or because a dangerous person was out of the way. It wasn’t relief because I will sleep sounder as I…
What would you do?
Last night I was at a party of speaker industry people. A speaker who is a paraplegic wheeled up to the four seat table where a friend and I were seated and asked if there was a spot for him. Of course there was. During our lively conversation, the subject of disability came up and…
Are the rules always important?
I was sitting next to a woman on a four and a half hour flight the other day. Turns out she was 80 years old. Not a withering little old lady 80, but rather a smart, well-dressed, very healthy 80. She got on the plane with a very unhappy little 10lb dog in a carryon.…
How do you make decisions?
There are two factors in most decision making. Fact and Gut, when used together, lead to the best decisions. Sometimes they are in conflict, or one seems to be louder than the other. While many people seem to say, “just go with your gut”, others want all decisions to ‘make sense’. Which is better, smarter…
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MONDAYS WITH MIKE POST ARCHIVE
What to do When Your Top Performer Loses Initiative
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a challenging workplace question: what should you do when a top performer suddenly loses initiative? Drawing from his experience as an executive coach, Mike emphasizes the importance of proactive diagnosis and direct communication. He explains that a sudden decline in…
How to Help Clients Discover Their Blind Spots
” 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
” 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
” 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.…
How to Build a Coaching Culture
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver tackles a foundational question: what are the first steps to building a long-term coaching culture within an organization? Drawing from his experience as a coach to top executives, Mike emphasizes that creating a strong coaching culture starts with genuine buy-in…
What to do When a Team Member Constantly Plays the Victim
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this week’s episode, Mike Staver addresses a question from a listener frustrated by a team member who is constantly “playing the victim.” Mike acknowledges that without the full context, it’s important to consider whether the person may genuinely have reasons to feel victimized—such as being picked on or lacking…
Why You’re Not Getting Results and What to Do About It
” allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”> Episode Summary In this episode, Mike Staver responds to a common frustration: “I’m doing all the things, but I’m not seeing results. What should I ask myself?” Mike Staver challenges the assumption that someone is truly doing “all the things” if the desired results aren’t showing up. He emphasizes the need for…
How to Challenge Someone Who Shuts Down
Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a common coaching challenge: how to help an employee grow when they shut down every time they are challenged. Mike explains that the coaching approach itself often plays a central role, coaches must perform honest self-reflection to consider whether their style…
How to Coach a Team Member That Keeps Clashing With Others
Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses how to coach a team member who is clashing with others. He begins by emphasizing the importance of working on relationships and cultural dynamics as much as on work dynamics. Leaders should foster good relationships through socializations and team meetings where…
An Employee Who Keeps Missing Deadlines
Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a common management challenge: an employee consistently missing deadlines despite claiming they’re doing their best. Mike suggests starting by re-emphasizing the deadline and ensuring the manager was clear about expectations. He then advises discussing the downstream importance of meeting deadlines and…
How to Coach Those Who Resist Change
Episode Summary In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a common coaching challenge: how to help someone who resists change. He reframes the idea that people inherently resist change, arguing instead that resistance only happens when individuals don’t see a meaningful benefit for themselves. Mike Staver suggests that effective coaching…
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…
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