Mike’s Blog

Do you have moments where you're ready to give up on something? Where you just want to walk away and go do something 'easier'. I've had these moments, and it sucks when it happens. When I find myself going there, I know it's time to remind myself about what's...

The problem with words is how each of us can interpret them differently. The problem is the unintended impact the misunderstandings have. To catch a misunderstanding sooner, establish a feedback loop. Find a way for you to be able to see the impact your words are...

It can be challenging to receive criticism. You did your best, and yet apparently, it wasn't good enough. You might find yourself getting a little defensive, or even angry about hearing a criticism. Unless you plan to sit still, criticism is a normal part of life....

The world is pretty screwed up at the moment with climate change, struggling economies, the threat of war and more. It's easy to become discouraged by all of it. After all, how can one person make a difference, right? Truthfully, you can make a difference in someone's...

According to Dictionary.com, the word problem, " originally denoting a riddle or a question for academic discussion." Through time the definition evolved to be, "a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome." I'd...

I remember when I signed up for my first leadership program. It was 2012, and I signed up to get the knowledge I thought would help me be a better leader. I wanted people to view me as an expert and, as a result, follow me. While the knowledge has been helpful, the...

We knew a dog obedience instructor who would say, "You can teach a dog to do anything, just be careful what you teach your dog to do." This bit of wisdom holds for teaching and coaching a team a new way of working. If you ask them to be more transparent and...

Throughout history, people have gotten excited about miracle cures. The desire for an easy cure, that likely led to the rise of the 'snake-oil salesman.' Of course, the desire for an easy cure has an accompanying desire for easy money. This search for miracle cures...

I read a post recently, which says there are now 200 Agile-related certifications available. Has the obsession with certifications gotten out of hand? My problem with certifications starts when people equate them with someone being the expert. The reality is, what...

I dedicated the first days of 2020 to the topic of feedback, as it is an important topic. Without feedback, you might see a version of reality but might struggle to see things for what they are. We, humans, are pre-disposed to evaluate our world. You will evaluate...

When you want to help someone grow from an experience, a vague statement like "good job" isn't overly helpful. Vague comments might leave them feeling good, but it will be challenging for them to find ways to continue improving. There is no prescription for effective...

Sometimes feedback can leave a person feeling attacked. When this happens it's too easy to dismiss the feedback as unwarranted or uninformed. You will not agree with all the feedback you receive, but to ignore it means losing the potential for growth. I don't believe...