My farewell episode...but actually we are moving this podcast over to our sister station HR Oxygen!  Join us there at HROxygen.com or just subscribe to it on any major podcast app.

Thanks for listening and we'll see you over at HR Oxygen!

We expect our leaders to guide us in navigating the pandemic and life after it is conquered, but how can we support them?  Our guest on this episode, Lori Ermi, is a coach, speaker, and consultant who works with leaders, coaching and training them.  Lori has some great tips for moving teambuilding events virtually as well as identifying ways we can all be more effective at communicating virtually.

COVID has disrupted most of 2020.  As we transition into the last part of the year, many businesses and schools are making the move back to the office and classroom.  This can cause a great deal of anxiety in your employees.  Our guest today, Natasha Fletcher is a therapist who specializes in helping people through anxiety.  She offer practical tips on getting YOU and your team ready to make this move.

Greetings!  Today we answer your questions again.  We talk about the idea that some people appear to have no common sense.  Then we deal with the problem where employees bring their "baggage" with them into work.  You may find the answers useful and somewhat provocative so please tune in!  Leave us a review and comments too.  We really appreciate it!

Some more questions from email!  On this episode we look at how to measure performance when you're measuring intangibles (like values).  We then look at how to prioritize time, particularly if you want to build in time to develop direct reports.  Finally, I'll give you a strategy to delegate more effectively.

Keep you questions coming!  Email them directly to me at Mack@TheBossBuilders.com!

Hey Folks!  We're back to the mail bag today.  Three questions:  

• How do I Manage Former Peers
• How Do I Get Respect from More Experienced Direct Reports
• How to Pass Along Bad News (Even if I Think it's Bad Decisions or News)

These are three really common issues bosses face so listen in for some options!

For those of you who think you have it tough being The Boss, imagine if you couldn't afford to pay them anything.  Our special guest for this episode is my Director of Marketing and Administration, Lisa Young.  She managed several volunteer teams and has three really helpful techniques she'll share with you on how to get people to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.  And imagine how well they'll work when you can pay them too!

Another episode made up from questions from the mailbag.  I'm using a tool called the SWEAR script for this one so be sure to download the document HERE.  AND, if you have a question for the show, just email it to me at Mack@TheBossBuilders.com.

Another question from the mailbag for this episode.  How are we supposed to be a great boss when we have all of these multiple generations in the workforce?  I'll answer that question with an answer that might surprise you.   Be sure to download the handout for this one and get ready for an interesting history lesson too!

From the mailbag:  How do you motivate an unmotivated employee.  I have a great model that I'll talk you through that gives you lots of options when working through this problem.  Here is a hint:  NOBODY is UNMOTIVATED.  Be sure to download the handout HERE.

Hey if you're an HR professional or training manager, this episode is for you!  We'll look at the idea that great bosses are MADE, not BORN.  I'll show you what three elements must be in place for a boss to be successful and I'll let you know the Top 5 biggest mistakes companies make when putting in management training programs.  Finally, I'll share the three areas that make up an effective program.  Be sure to download the handout for this one HERE before listening to it!

Bosses are often compared to leaders and when this happens, the boss usually comes out as the bad guy (or gal).  I disagree.  On this episode of the Boss Builder Podcast, we'll take a look at the 3 traits of a great boss and the 7 most common traits of bad bosses.  Which list will you be on?  Listen in and find out.  Be sure to download the HANDOUT for this one!

Have you ever had an aweful boss?  I'm sure you have!  I've had more than my share and that's the inspiration for the BossBuilder Podcast!  On this show, you'll hear from me, Mack Munro, an author, speaker, and consultant as well as some of my favorite Boss Builders, those folks who like me, are committed to building the next great generation of bosses.  You'll also hear from folks I consider to be great bosses themselves and we'll explore their techniques and background.

It's important to be intelligent.  There's nothing worse though than being "book smart" but having no people skills to speak of.  Our guest today, Margi Bush, makes the case that by understanding your EQ, not just your IQ, you'll be more effective in your role and be a better human to interact with.

COVID-19 has challenged us in every way, but particularly in the way we are forced to now communicate with each other.  To be successful, we have to improve our methods and ways of communication.  Our guest on this episode, Chad Littlefield makes the case that "connection before content" is the key.  He gives us some actionable steps to take if you want to build up your team even in these challenging times.

COVID-19 changed all the rules, norms, and expectations for 2020.  As The Boss, you're probably dealing with individuals who are struggling with this and are looking for comfort and help.  Our guest today, Michael Diettrich-Chastain has some great advice, tips, and techniques for helping you help others through these times of change.

Most of us have transitioned to a virtual environment.  Rather than a long drawn-out process, it probably happened quickly which means right now you might not be operating as well as you could be.  Our guest today, Kristina Walters is a professional organizer that gives us tips on how to set up the ideal home-based workspace AND gives us some strategies on decluttering while we're at it!

It's the halfway point of 2020 and it looks like the second half will be as bumpy as the first!  Our guest today, Michael Diettrich-Chastain has some solutions.  Michael is an author, speaker, and executive coach who works with individuals helping them become more effective personally and professionally.  His CHANGE strategy is a great framework for leaders to use as they help their organizations through this crazy year!  Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a special offer Michael has for you!

As a great Boss, you have valuable knowledge and skills that your employer needs to recognize.  If this isn't happening, you need to negotiate your way into professional success.  This applies to many areas of our personal lives as well.  Our guest today, Donna Hughes of Launch Negotiation is an expert negotiator and makes the case that to be successful, you have to master the techniques of negotiation.  Forget about any stereotypes you have about negotiation because Donna will help you revisualize everything you think you know about this topic! 

This has been a year of radical change.  This is causing a ton of pressure and anxiety as all of us have to figure out where to go.  In other words, it's a time of transition.  As a leader, it's your job to get people to a good place so you can get them through it.  Our guest today, executive coach and leadership consultant Dennis Volpe gives us actionable, practical strategies to embrace the uncertainty and lead your team through this challenging year.

Virtual meetings, conferences, and training sessions are now the norm.  And frankly, as they normally exist, they SUCK!  Our guest on this episode, Heather Archer, disagrees.  She has a proven 5-Step Process that will help you engage your audience, get your points across, and provide a much better experience for your virtual attendees.  

Today, more than ever, we need LEADERSHIP and POSITIVITY.  What if we could put those two concepts together?  Fortunately, my guest today helps leaders do just that!  Mark Stephens is a speaker, teacher, and coach who specializes in helping leaders lead more effectively.  Mark takes us through the concepts of positive leadership and gives us practical tools to become the leader that is most needed today!

As The Boss, you'll have many difficult conversations with employees.  It's one of the toughest parts of the job.  Knowing how to do it properly and legally is key.  Our guest today, Amanda Haddaway, is an award-winning HR consultant and corporate trainer. In her role as the managing director of HR Answerbox, she specializes in conducting workplace investigations, solving complex employee relations issues, leading interactive and engaging training sessions, and serving as an advisor to small business owners and leaders. In this episode, Amanda gives up practical techniques on how to plan out and deliver these uncomfortable topics.  

With a pandemic and a stressed-out workforce, we may be tempted to take it easy on our workforce and relax our standards.  That, according to our guest Kate Vendemio of Mount Vernon Consulting,  is the wrong answer!  Kate talks to us today about the power of a concept known as radical candor.  It's based on a book by Kim Scott and offers a powerful new model on holding people accountable while demonstrating that you care deeply about them.  

Remote workers are now the rule rather than the exception.  In some cases, companies are finding this trend to be more effective but like anything, there are some challenges.  What do you do when some of your remote workers are failing?  Well, our guest today, Jennifer Leake of Assessment Pros has some practical tips for keeping the workforce engaged and preventing them from being left behind.  Lots of practical tips so be sure to take notes!

Difficult conversations were always difficult, but now, in a more stressful and often virtual environment, they're even harder.  That doesn't mean you ignore them, just be better at it.  Our guest today, Deb Cohen, will give us practical and tactical strategies for getting over the fear of doing these and offer up skills and techniques to do it better!

Conflict is one of those things we'll face on a regular basis.  In a normal environment it's challenging enough, but when you put people in a virtual environment and combine that with stress, fear, and anxiety, it gets a lot tougher.  Fortunately, our guest today, Natalie Garramone has some tips to help us identify signs of brewing conflict and strategies to overcome them.

As The Boss, you've had to adapt to a virtual workforce and a pandemic.  You're probably getting comfortable with that new normal.  Things will eventually go back to what they used to and that is a transition you'll need to be ready for.  Thinking about a post-COVID-19 world at work can be daunting so you need as much info as you can get.  Our guest today, Yolanda Hunter of WorkPlace HR has some important information and things to consider as you navigate this important task.  Be sure to take good notes.  There is a lot to know!

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it's that we never really have a clear answer for the challenges we're facing.  As The Boss, that's difficult considering management expects you to have a plan for everything from remote work to reconvening the workplace when this is all over. Fortunately, our guest today has some advice for us. Mike Staver is the author of Leadership Isn’t for Cowards and an internationally respected speaker and coach. Mike takes noisy, often complex, leadership content and makes it immediately useful, digestible and entertaining.  He's just the guy we need for times like today!  I hope you enjoy our conversation!

There's a ton of uncertainty around what COVID-19 will mean for us, our health, our families, our stock portfolios, and our future.  We also need to figure out what it means for the future of work and the workplace.  Nobody has real answers, but maybe the best thing to do is ask and consider better questions.  Our guest today, Ken Schlechter and I discuss what questions to ask and what impact COVID-19 might have for the workplace of the future.  Join us for this important topic!

When I started this podcast, there were two individuals I knew I needed to interview.  Our guest today is one of them.  Keppel Bharath is one of the smartest people I know and brings 40+ years of management and technical expertise to the show.  I met Keppel several years ago and was impressed just in our short interaction.  After spending an hour with him, I'm even more in awe.  If you are new in the role of the Boss or just want to get better, please get out some paper and take notes as you learn from Keppel.  At the end, he even gives his personal email address out to anyone who would like to connect.

Project management and project managers are very different things.  Project management is a science unto itself, part science, part psychology.  Having our current virtual business environment presents new challenges to that already difficult business.  Fortunately, our guest today, Ken Schlechter has a ton of experience in this and shares his tips on being an effective project manager in this episode.

2020 is a tough year for businesses.  Many are forced to lay people off.  How you do it is important not only to the individuals affected, but to your organization as well. Our guest today is Iris Culp of IC-Growth. Iris helps individuals in career transition and also partners with organizations, helping them provide services to employees who have to be let go due to economic conditions.  Iris has actionable strategies for you to use if you have to do the tough job of letting employees go.  Be sure to listen at the end for a very special offer.

Aside from police officers and proctologists, HR professionals have the BEST funny and weird stories about human behavior in the workplace.  Our guests today, Cornelia Gamlem and Barbara Mitchell talk with us today about their latest book They Did What?  Unbelievable Tales from the Workplace.  We talk about why strange and mischievous behaviors happen in the workplace and some of the details behind the research for their book.  

It's not often you run across someone who has the perfect blend of personal and professional success and when you do, you HAVE to interview them!  I had the privilege of interviewing David Roger, Co-Founder and CEO of Felix Gray. His company makes eyewear for people who spend a lot of time online and complain about strained eyes, headaches and blurry vision - all symptoms of too much Blue Light!  I love the technology, but David is a very interesting guy and has also developed a company culture that most would envy.  In our wide-ranging interview, we talk about his journey, his vision, his company, his culture, and also his message to young people who have been affected by COVID-19.  Enjoy!

In times of uncertainty, people handle the changes very differently.  If you're The Boss, you have to be the one to make sure your team is ok.  Our guest today is Jeremy Evans, Principle Consultant at Constant Consulting LLC.  Jeremy is an expert in helping companies deal with significant changes.  In this episode, we talk about what makes any type of change uncomfortable and what strategies leaders need to take to get their people through it.  This topic is very relevant right now so be sure to take good notes!

Right now scientists are waging a war against Covid-19.  As The Boss, you need to be in the fight too.  Your enemy though is against the psychological effects this virus is having on our team.  Our guest today is Dr. David Clayman, an Award-Winning clinical and forensic phycologist.  David talks about how the virus and the fear and anxiety it causes affects us and our team and gives us actionable strategies on winning the many battles and the war against Covid-19.  

As The Boss, you have to be a master communicator. If you think you can do this with a busy PowerPoint deck, you're sadly mistaken!  Our guest today, Jill Greenbaum argues that by using visual facilitation techniques, you can engage your audience and get your message across.  Jill is a great teacher and facilitator and I've really enjoyed using the techniques she's taught me!  

2020 will forever be known as the year of Coronavirus.  As of publication day, there is lots of uncertainty, particularly in the world of business.  As a leader, it's up to you to provide some comfort in times of chaos.  Our guest on this episode, Margi Bush, President of Wisdom Tree Coaching and MBTI expert talks to us about how to leverage the power of Temperament to engage your team and bring out their very best.  You'll learn a lot about yourself in this issue and get actionable strategies so listen carefully and enjoy!

This podcast is dropping on St. Patrick's Day, 2020.  Yet, nobody is celebrating.  Right now the world is struggling with the Coronavirus and businesses, other than retail, have either shuttered or are going remote.  There needs to be some guidelines for remote work in order to stay successful. Our guest today is Alexa Beavers, CEO of the Axela Group.  Alexa brings us practical, actionable strategies for navigating the world of remote and/or virtual work and the dynamics it brings.  She has a webinar that takes her strategies a step further.  It's being held on Friday, March 20, 2020. To register for this free webinar, click HERE.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking, finding a job, building a reputation, and establishing yourself as a thought leader.  Done correctly, a LinkedIn profile builds trust and credibility. Done wrong, and you'll display your incompetence for the world to see!  Fortunately, we have an expert on this episode that will help you do it the right way!  Kelly Leonard is a consultant, speaker, trainer and D&I expert who developed a really cool methodology to shape your LinkedIn persona and profile.  Kelly shares some great, actionable tips that will help you get your LinkedIn HOUSE in order!

As The Boss, do you ever feel like no matter what you do, you're not getting ahead?  If so, then this episode is for you!  My guest is Visa Shanmugam, a mindset coach with some great information on how to tame your "inner bully," create a practice to de-stress and re-energize, and to help you achieve the success that you want.  Visa is a lot of fun and I learned a lot on this one so be sure to take good notes!

As The Boss, you can view HR as your trusted companion or the enemy.  If you're of the latter persuasion, maybe it's time to see it from their perspective.  My guest, consultant, author, and speaker Ed Krow and I talk about strategic HR.  This interview was done for our sister station, HR Oxygen but we thought it would be good for you to hear.  After listening, I hope you'll be more supportive of your HR and do what you can to help them and your department be successful.

Are you tired of employees screwing up and then blaming everyone else, then tell you you're picking on them because they aren't as bad as the rest of the team?  Well, I have an answer and a strategy for that!

How authentic should you be as a leader?  According to our guest Minter Dial, author of You Lead: How Being Yourself Makes You a Better Leader, very authentic.  Minter is an author, speaker, and well-traveled consultant who advocates bringing  self-awareness into your leadership.  This episode gives you practical steps in discovering and leveraging your true SELF to build your leadership credibility.

Our question on this episode comes from Sid of Florence, AL.  He wants to know if he should be taking feedback personally.  Tune in for my answer.

As The Boss, you've probably tried some sort of teambuilding training for your team.  You probably discovered that it didn't stick.  Our guest on this episode of the podcast looks at teambuilding much differently.  His name is Lance Loya and he's an author, speaker, and master teambuilder.  He's got some great tips on being a better teammate which is the key to being a more effective team.  Great stories and tips from Lance so be sure to take good notes!

If you've been The Boss for any length of time, you probably realize that there are some folks that work for you who have the ability to make you succeed or fail.  We call those Informal Leaders.  Our guest today, Harold Hall, tells us how to leverage them for success.  Harold is an old friend who has forgotten more about being a great Boss than I'll ever know.  He's going to share his life lessons from the University of Hard Knocks and from 60+ years as a leader.  

"Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it." - Unknown.

I learned this phrase in high school in American History.  I agree with it, as does our guest on this episode, Tom Coyle, co-founder of Adventures in Leadership and the author of the book, Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Gettysburg.  Tom is a West Point graduate and a historian who leads tours of Gettysburg giving leadership lessons along the way.  He makes the case that the successes and failures of leaders long ago have relevance today.  Tom is a great storyteller so get ready to enjoy this episode!

Unless we have the ability to read minds, there's no way employees can possibly know your expectations.  This episode discusses how to communicate those expectations.