What a Litter Campaign Can Teach You About Employee Engagement
“Don’t mess with Texas” didn’t just fight litter—it sparked a movement. Back in the early 2000s, 95% of Texans could instantly recognize that slogan. It wasn’t just a clever tagline. It was cultural. It was tribal. And it worked. Within one year of launching the campaign, Texas saw a 29% drop in roadside litter. Six […]
How I Helped a 100% Remote Company Build a Stronger Team Culture
Company culture didn’t die with the office—leaders just stopped trying. I was brought in by a CEO who ran a fully remote company and was in full-on “culture panic mode” because people were quitting without much of a reason. “We’re getting the work done,” she told me, “but the team feels… off. Disconnected. Like everyone’s […]
11 Creative Ways to Celebrate a Birthday via Zoom: Building Human Connection in a Digital Workspace
When our team closed our physical office during the COVID pandemic and first transitioned to remote work, our birthday celebrations became an afterthought as a quick message in the group chat or a shout out during the virtual daily team huddle. Overall it lacked the kind of love, care, and appreciation that came from in-person […]
Stop Blaming Your Team, You Might Be The Issue
The dude was sleeping… right there in the front row of my keynote speech! After over 20 years of professional speaking and 1000s of programs, I’ve never seen someone pull a full-on nap during one of my talks—especially in the front row! My first reaction was to call for a bucket of cold water. For […]
Save your money: Build a strong team culture with Micro-Actions
Take a moment and look at this table with marbles on it. Do you see over 50 marbles or less than 50 marbles? When it comes to engagement and building a Culture of Connection™, it actually doesn’t matter which answer you choose. The simple act of picking a number and potentially finding others who share […]
The Peter Principle might be why your leaders keep failing short
I once saw a squirrel try to climb a greased pole. In fact, I see squirrels trying to climb greasy poles all the time. For example, I was recently working with a company that was struggling with a high turnover rate among its managers. As an engagement specialist, they brought me in to fix their […]
Act Your Wage
“You’re being childish for not Acting Your Wage.” I was recently working with a manager who was brilliant, capable, and completely devoted to his team. He was the kind of leader who would roll up his sleeves and do whatever it took to get the job done. But there was one problem: his team was […]
Level 5 Leadership at a Red Cross CPR Training
I didn’t realize how exhausting it was to give CPR. I learned this lesson recently while taking a Red Cross CPR and First Aid certification class. The 30-2 cycle of chest compressions is no joke. It’s like doing pushups while simultaneously trying to remember if you left the stove on – both physically and mentally […]
Don’t Hide Your Scars: How Leaders Can Inspire Hope by Sharing Their Past
The Best Leaders Don’t Just Share Their Successes; They Share Their Scars I was recently keynoting at a university, sharing my story of academic struggles and eventual triumph with a group of students on academic probation. My goal? To inspire them with my journey and offer strategies for turning their academic careers around. After my […]
The Power of Proximity: Why Showing Up Still Matters in a Remote World
Want to get ahead in your career? Get off Zoom and into the office. I was giving a keynote speech to a group of college seniors recently, sharing tips on how to accelerate their careers in today’s increasingly virtual world. But before I gave them my top tip, I offered some perhaps surprising advice: slow […]