Mike’s Blog

Rosie and I have started looking at the impact of the pandemic on our lives. Most notably, I’ve significantly lowered my revenue forecast for the year. It’s not what we wanted as we had plans for the year. Given this isn’t what I wanted, it would be easy for me to sit...

Sometimes, I find myself unhappy with the progress I’m making in business. I want something, but I don’t seem to be able to get beyond the current state. It can be frustrating as I’m going in circles for extended periods. Then I have thoughts like, maybe I’m not good...

In coaching, clients will often bring career challenges to their sessions. They may feel unappreciated or tell me how bad things are at work. Often, with a little coaching, they find a path forward. However, when someone is still stuck I tell them they have three...

“Ballpoint” is one of my favourite exercises for illustrating iterative improvement to teamwork. The exercise involves passing as many practice golf balls as possible through a team in two minutes. There are a few rules, but generally, the team is free to organize...

The other day, I caught myself in an old habit. I was annoyed with myself as I worked hard to change the habit. Yet, here I was doing the same thing again. The habit had been a significant burden in my life for many years. Four years ago, I decided it was time to shed...

Covid-19 is having a significant impact on the world. The economy is slowing, which is causing companies to be wary about spending. Travel and events are being cancelled. Schools are closing. People are quarantined for weeks at a time. As difficult as this is going to...

You and your team may soon find themselves working from home. It will be tempting to focus on productivity during these strange times. However, don’t forget to look after the social glue that strengthens your team. There are many things you can do to encourage your...

It's a bad idea to speed along a highway while staring in the rear-view mirror. Yet, every day good people focus on what's in their past, telling themselves stories that have them stuck. When the people you lead seem stuck, it might be that they're spending a little...

Lately, I've been re-imagining my personal goals. While I love doing this, I often dream up and get passionate about big goals I want to achieve. These goals are so big, though, that I have found myself stuck. The path between where you are and where you want to be...

Carrots and sticks are the worst motivators for creating the right behaviours. Yet, in many workplaces, they continue to use these tools, as if they’re somehow different. You don’t need to lead with carrots and sticks, even if that’s the way your employer wants it....

The other day I found myself upset with a big problem. I wasn't blaming myself for having the problem, but I was upset about having to deal with this problem. Getting upset with a problem is a choice you can make. However, no amount of upset will make the problem go...

The other day I found myself wondering if I'm making a big enough difference in the world. For example, do I touch enough lives with this blog, or do I need to invest my time in something more significant? You only control the impact a stone has when you throw it into...