Blogs
Listed as one of the Top-30 Workplace Blogs in the world!
Conversations for Uncertain Times
During this remarkable time in history, perhaps we need to change the phrase "candid conversations" to "Covid conversations"? Regardless, during this unprecedented time of uncertainty, anxiety and change, you absolutely need to be having candid Covid conversations now...
11 Ways to Improve Your Workplace Culture
I often get asked what a company should focus on if they want to shift their culture. Where could they best put their time and energy to get the biggest return? Depending on your particular circumstances, this answer might vary from organization to organization. But...
What Are You Meeting For? Creative, Focused Workplace Meetings
Single-focus meetings can be an effective way to dive deeper into an issue. When you have one central purpose, theme or goal tied to a meeting, chances are you’ll have a more effective meeting and achieve better results. Too often teams try to cram too many issues into their meetings, yet different topics often require different forums and different types of conversations to address them successfully. Here are a few different types of meetings you might want to try on for size in your workplace:
– Daily Team Huddles: A great way to improve communication and strengthen your culture. No chairs, short and sweet. For more details visit Huddle Up!
– Oops Meetings: Centiro Solutions, a Swedish software company, has a “failure club” that holds humorous meetings where people share their mistakes and what they learned in the process. By making the meetings very fun, they create an environment where people feel comfortable admitting their blunders so everyone can learn from them.
What Stops Employees From Speaking Up…and What Helps Employees Speak Up
A few weeks ago in my weekly e-zine Inspiring Workplaces I raised the issue of employees not speaking up in their workplaces. I was flooded with responses from subscribers adding to the list of reasons employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up to their senior managers. Some told stories of how they were fired for speaking up too often at work, while others had been demoted or reprimanded for speaking up. And one person shared how she was let go for not speaking up enough at work!
Customer Service: Would You Like a Side of Empathy With That?
Do your employees understand the importance of expressing empathy to your customers when required?
My wife and I just returned from a speaking trip in another country. The trip turned into an epic adventure involving delayed flights, missed connections, missing baggage, and yes, more delayed flights. Some of it was weather related, some issues were mechanical, sometimes we were waiting for the “paperwork”. At one point we had a pilot but no plane, then later on we had a plane without a pilot.
Videos
Why Clients Book Michael
Some clients bring me into their events simply because they want to celebrate a great year, cap off a busy season, or recognize their amazing employees. Other clients work with me because they’ve lost their mojo, they’re wrestling with unprecedented change, or they need help forging a stronger and more inspiring culture.
Why Choose Between Content and Humor?
For more than 25 years I’ve embraced the mantra: “Why choose between content and humor when you can have both?” In this short video, I share what I think my job as a professional speaker is and how I will work with you to exceed your expectations.
Michael in Action
Why choose between content and fun when you can have both? For a sense of my presentation style, grab some popcorn and enjoy this sampler video of Michael in Action. Whether I’m delivering a full-day workshop to senior executives, or a keynote to an audience of 3,000+, I deliver relevant content in as memorable a way as possible so those inspiring ideas stick!
BOOKS
The Humor Advantage
Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank
The Humor Advantage is packed with ideas on how you can create a more innovative, collaborative, service-driven culture that drives outrageous results! It delivers a firehose of information that will turn your culture upside down (in a good way!).
The Jerk-Free Workplace
How You Can Take the Lead to Create a Happier, More Inspiring Workplace
This isn’t just about giving jerky work behaviors the boot. The Jerk-Free Workplace offers up an inspiring roadmap on how to take the lead when you’re not the boss – although you’ll definitely want your boss to read it, too. If you want to work in a happier, more inspiring workplace, this is the book for you!
Small Moments, Big Outcomes
How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results
It’s about the small things you can do as a culture leader to intentionally build a more collaborative, compassionate, and inspiring workplace culture. Packed with practical ideas based on real world examples, Small Moments, Big Outcomes will help you lead with greater confidence and purpose.
