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Build Culture · Develop Your People · Grow Your Business
How do you make difficult decisions?
All of us have times when we are faced with difficult decisions. The reasons for the difficulty are as varied as the decisions each of us faces. Perhaps the difficulty is because it might have financial consequences or maybe someone’s feelings are going to get hurt. Maybe the difficulty is because, regardless of the choice…
Sale or customer – what’s more important?
Seems like an obvious enough question, doesn’t it? My buddy called a Harley Davidson store to find out if they have a leather jacket exactly like the one he has (his has worn out.) The salesperson at the Harley store says, “We don’t have it in stock, but I would be happy to call around…
Are you creating a world-class customer experience?
Please read the headline carefully. Then read it again. When all extraneous issues are stripped away, the customer experience is the single most critical factor in determining your success. In a very real sense, nothing else matters. How that experience is defined is your key to continuing to prosper. I sometimes hesitate to speak of…
Do you find fault or favour?
I know, I know, you are probably thinking you find both fault and favor. Admittedly, some people are balanced in their view of people and events but for the most part everyone has a bias.Everyone tends to lean one way or the other. Everyone, that is, that has any real interaction with people or life…
Dealing with conflict
Conflict is a fact of life. I have spent the majority of my life in conflict…well not actually IN conflict, but at least helping people through it. Even though I know how to handle conflict, it is not always easy. It is important to remember that you aren’t supposed to enjoy it. But there are…
Do you understand people?
I was listening to a couple of people in a conflict the other day. As I listened, I noticed something so glaringly obvious that I had to make this month’s RESULTS about it. As the two struggled to communicate, the conflict seemed to get more frustrating for both of them. It’s not like the conflict…
What is going on?
This month I want to share a brief message that my friend sent to his staff after the Dallas shooting. Leo Ardine is the CEO of United Teletech Credit Union in New Jersey. His daughter sent him a text expressing her sadness about the recent tragedies going on in our country. His response moved me…
Are you ‘out of the box’?
Those of you that have been reading this blog for a while realize that I really dislike clichés. In fact, I dislike them so much that I regularly make fun of them. So you may be puzzled as to why I chose the first comments of 2013 to have a cliché at their core. The…
Do you jump to conclusions?
A few days ago, I was having a conversation with a friend who was very upset about a text message she received from someone she was dating. On and on she went over what it said…..and the “attitude and emotion” of the text. Clearly there is no emotion in a text, and people certainly can’t…
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MONDAYS WITH MIKE POST ARCHIVE
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…
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…
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…
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…