Houston We Have A Problem…with Employee Engagement
In 2013, Gallup undertook a massive effort to study the current state of employee engagement around the world. After surveying 73,752 employees in 141 countries, Gallup found that 24% of employees are actively disengaged, 63% are not engaged, and 13% are engaged. You will find that when an employee is disengaged with their work environment, […]
Johnny Appleseed – The Ultimate “Party Keeps Going”
Unless you’re in second grade, you probably don’t know this, but today, March 11, is Johnny Appleseed Day! Yes, I was seven the last time I talked about him. But I did some research for this post, and I realized that he is a great example of the following Dance Floor Theory tip: The (Apple) […]
Going Solo: 3 Ways to Push Your Team Past Stage Fright
“You should do pageants,” a family friend said. All I could think was, “Yeah, right. Be on stage all by myself. Absolutely not.” Since the age of 12 seconds old, I have been performing. I’m not kidding. There is a picture of me being born, arm first. Some see jazz hands and others see my […]
Serving by Example: Why Volunteering Can Change How You Lead
When I worked at Georgian Court University, we had four “floating holidays” where the university was open, and it allowed for staff to stagger time off. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day happened to be one of those days. Except in my position. Each year, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., we would coordinate a […]
[BONUS Episode] Feed Your Butterflies – The Swift Kickin’ It Show
Feed your butterflies! No, not the ones you raised from larvae in 3rd grade. We are talking about the butterflies you get when you stand on stage or decide to try something brand new. Instead of running away and calling your mom, what if you turned that feeling into an accomplishment? This episode of the […]
The Camino Way: Finding Leadership in a 500 mile walk across Spain
“Regardless of a pilgrim’s background, though, it is a deeply spiritual experience as you learn to connect on a new level with yourself, with others, with nature, and with whatever higher powers may be. Most importantly, though, it is a deeply HUMAN experience.” -Martine De Matteo, Swift Kick family member & El Camino pilgrim Whenever […]
3 Signs Your Team Culture is Rotten
The team had nicknamed their boss “Lunch Box” so they could talk trash about him in the company chat room without him noticing. As if that’s not sad enough, what’s even sadder is that Lunch Box didn’t even know his team had nicknamed him Lunch Box. Sometimes he’d jump in on the conversations, thinking they […]
How Effective is Your Virtual Team? Take the Test!
I have attended video meetings while in the basement of Grand Central, on a train, walking down the street, in a car, and in a coffee shop. We live in a world where we can be at work without actually being there, and it’s awesome. Sometimes, members of your team are only “virtual” because they […]
[Video] Emotional and Cultural Intelligence for Your Team – The Swift Kickin’ It Show
You’ve probably heard of emotional intelligence. But what about cultural intelligence? Do you have it? Does your team? If you ever interact with humans, you should probably level up on these skills. This episode of the Swift Kickin’ It Show is for team leaders who wonder about how to encourage higher emotional and cultural intelligence […]
Under Pressure: Staying Cool When It All Seems to Go Wrong
Incorrect audio supplies…check. Main point of contact not in the office…check. Audience is less than a third of what was expected…check. Clicker sensor is too far to reach my position at the front of the room…check. Are you sensing a theme here? Sometimes, (all of the) things go wrong. As a leader of the team, […]