Lead like a band competition judge

Lead like a band competition judge

Last week, my daughter, Maggie, performed in the middle school band solo/ensemble competition. Having never experienced this type of event, I figured I’d be watching three young people perform pretty well, in spite of their extreme nervousness. That definitely...
The best gift for your people

The best gift for your people

It’s not a plant, gift basket or commemorative plaque. The best gift you can give your employees this year is to help them make progress in their work. You might have thought that the key to motivating people is a heartfelt and specific “thank you.”...
It takes time to motivate

It takes time to motivate

It’s official. A recent McKinsey  & Company report reviews best practices for motivating great performance. Numerous studies show that as long as people have adequate salaries, financial incentives don’t improve performance over more than a very short...
Increase MQ

Increase MQ

You know the feeling. You’re on fire at work – moving from one priority to the next, and so in the groove that it doesn’t even feel taxing. You are in that mental state that is both energized and focused and your productivity is at its max. Susie...
What is stopping you?

What is stopping you?

In an effort to be the best performer and leader, we often expend a lot of time and energy seeking the next great idea. However, sometimes it’s better to put down that business book and act on what you already know. You know what you need to do. Why don’t...
Way to go!

Way to go!

My daughter Shannon works in customer service, and she is cursed, screamed at and verbally abused on a daily basis. One day, however, the clouds parted and sunshine came in the form of an extremely happy customer. This person was delighted with Shannon’s speedy...