Clik here to view.
Two Powerful Questions to Reveal Your True Values
My good friend, hairstylist Deborah Knight, and I often laugh about an idea she came up with for evaluating potential online dating candidates. She says, “I wish I could just ask them for their credit...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Do I Incentivize My Employees to Stay?
A leader seeking advice from a business expert in a global magazine, wrote, “How do I keep people from leaving if I cannot pay them huge salaries, bonuses, or regular raises?” The columnist advised...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Am I So Excited to Blog for The Huffington Post?
I fell into the trap I consistently warn you to avoid. When I learned The Huffington Post selected me as a blogger, I found myself excited for all the wrong reasons: power, status, and image. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is My Feedback Motivating Part 1
Does giving feedback cause you to toss and turn at night, procrastinate on delivering it, disappoint you when it doesn’t make a difference, or frustrate you because it instigates an argument? No...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is My Feedback Motivating? Part 2
You might be feeling sad or even angry if you read Is My Feedback Motivating? Part 1 of this three-part series. You may outright disagree with the assertion that personalized feedback is risky and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is My Feedback Motivating? Part 3
Posting this series of blogs scared me a bit. The value of using pure informational feedback* over other forms of feedback almost always triggers an emotional response. Over the past five years,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Does This Baby Make You Smile?
Join me at the front of the room during a business presentation when this photo of Braelyn pops up on screen and you will witness a fascinating phenomenon. Leaders in the room have no idea who Braelyn...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Watch a Master Guitar Class if You Don’t Play Guitar?
Celine walked up on stage as his brother Pepe was playing the guitar. “Notice how relaxed his shoulder is, but if he tenses it, his sound becomes thin.” Pepe tensed his shoulder and the tones coming...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Can You Explode Debilitating Beliefs That Create a False and Undesirable...
Let’s start with a little fill-in-the-blanks pop quiz. Finish these sentences: A. It’s not personal, it’s just ________. B. The purpose of business is to _____ _______. C. Leaders are in a position of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What if Terrorists Understood the True Nature of Motivation? Part 1
Some might argue that terrorist groups, specifically ISIL, know all too well how to tap the true nature of human motivation. I argue the opposite. This post explores the truth about human motivation...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What if Terrorists Understood the True Nature of Motivation? Part 2
We know human beings (that includes terrorists) want to thrive. We know how to promote thriving through the satisfaction of three basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Three Words for the New Year
At the beginning of each New Year my step-daughter, Lisa, encourages us to proclaim three words that represent our aspirations for the upcoming year. The catch is that the words need to be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Resent Valentine’s Day? Read This
If you resent Valentine’s Day, you might appreciate Mark’s story. It began over a decade ago… I described the Spectrum of Motivation model* in a training session, when Mark raised this question: “My...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who Are Your Employees Playing For?
As the young man ducked his head getting into the elevator, I recognized him immediately as a new face on my favorite pro basketball team. I don’t seek out celebrity sightings and have never asked for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Top Performers May Have In Common With Rowdy Ronda
If you don’t know who she is, take a moment to look up Ronda Rousey. Even if you’re not a sports fan, Rowdy Ronda has been hard to miss—U.S. Olympic medalist in Judo, UFC Women’s Bantamweight...
View ArticleClik here to view.
5 Tips to Stop Driving People Crazy
If you want to drive yourself crazy, notice how often you hear the word “drive” in workplace conversations. Drive for results. Drive for performance. Drive ____ (fill in the blank with your...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What to Do? My People Lost Their Spark
A high-level sales manager (we’ll call him Joe) challenged me — taking exception to my statement that incentives, rewards and prizes are not optimal tactics for motivating his sales reps. Joe was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It’s Not About Records — Why Steph Curry Inspires Me
Even if you are not a basketball fan, you are probably aware of the Stephen Curry phenomenon. If you are a fan, you admire Steph not only for the sheer fun and excitement he brings to basketball but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eating My Words on Praise?
I have been on my soapbox for years warning you to stop saying the words: “I’m proud of you.” Do I need to eat my words? Last week I delivered my first-ever academic paper at an international...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Where Values Come From
Have you thought about how you got your values? You need to investigate where your values come from for three important reasons. Values influence your motivation to lead and ultimately the legacy you...
View Article
