Great listening often involves stepping away, reflecting on what was said, and returning later to deepen the dialogue. This approach shifts the focus from immediate reactions to considered responses. Communication is about so much more than talking and listening. It’s about two human beings connecting. The kind of connection that turns surface-level conversations into moments of clarity, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Read MoreSome things are meant to be done with subtlety and finesse, and some are best played really loud. They sound okay if we constrain them for fear of what others might think, but they only sound truly awesome when you pump the volume up way past 10.
Read MoreReflecting on the Jenny Lawson book, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things. The stories unravel her journey with depression, marriage, and life in a quirky and funny way. Among the stories is a beautiful anecdote that gave me a phrase that’s been echoing in my head ever since, ‘easier, but not better’
Read MoreEver wondered how so many incompetent men get to the top?
McKinsey researched the question of what propels people to the top. Gender was one of the strongest predictors. Qualities such as empathy, self-awareness, integrity and humility are not rated as highly as overconfidence and narcissism, and competence didn't even come into the picture
Read MorePurpose has replaced mission statement, but it’s still important to have both a vision and a purpose. When so many people talk about purpose-driven businesses, it’s fair to wonder about the difference between purpose. I take a very simple approach: the vision is our business goal. In our case, we want to provide the best leadership development in the world.
Read MoreEver caught yourself thinking, “What are we doing here? Why are we here?” It’s more than just boredom – it’s a red flag for toxic culture and poor leadership. If your team is stuck in monotony, it’s time to rethink your approach. Learn how to reignite curiosity and engagement, transforming mundane tasks into opportunities for development.
Read MoreDiscover strategies for retaining star performers and reducing turnover. Dr. Mike shares insights on effective coaching and management. Read more at The Breakthrough Co.
Read MoreUnleash the potential of your managers with our Active Manager Program, designed for immediate impact. By focusing on core leadership skills, it helps managers save time and drive business improvement, addressing underlying issues like high turnover and team stress.
Read MoreDr Mike explains what a breakthrough is and how valuable they are for managers. He explores how when a whole group of managers are experiencing them, the effect is literally transformational for the entire business.
Read MoreLeadership teams in the productive sector are facing a tough challenge: walking the tightrope of how to keep our teams firing on all cylinders without burning them out.
Let’s talk how your people can be more productive with less resources using AI as an example.
Read MoreAnyone who can demonstrate a financial Return on Investment on leadership development is making it up.
Anyone who asks to see the ROI on leadership development is asking the wrong question.
Mike discusses the challenges faced by organizations in retaining employees while maintaining high work quality in the post-COVID era. After talking to a leadership team he works with, Mike reviews some of the problems and solutions that emerged from the discussion, namely, that leaders need to be more courageous in providing opportunities for self-selection.
Read MoreWorkforce development has two approaches to training: skills-based and knowledge-based. Dr. Mike questions the conventional technique of the knowledge-based training, because it goes against how adults learn new skills - we learn by doing. To improve our learning, we need to start questioning our default approaches.
Read MoreThe debate of remote working has intensified; as it gets safer to work in-person again, companies are itching to get their workers back in the office. Dr. Mike shares his feelings on remote working and tips on how to connect with your workers in a post-pandemic world.
Read MoreQuiet quitting has become more pronounced in the wake of the Great Resignation and pandemic burnout. Mike shares what exactly quiet quitting is and why he thinks this is a growing trend amoung people in the workplace.
Read MoreMike reflects on delivering papers as a kid in the frosty South Island mornings and how his footprints were always the first in the snow. Being the first at anything is hard work, whether it’s pushing through the cold to deliver papers or being the first in your field to achieve something. Problems present themselves along the way, but at least you can say they’re higher-quality problems on the snowy road to discovery.
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