‘Tis the season. The holidays are creeping in, and managers everywhere are placing bulk orders for $10 coffee gift cards. They’ll hand them out with a forced smile, check "employee appreciation" off their to-do list, and wonder why nobody seems all that motivated. Let’s be blunt: that $10 gift card isn't a gesture of gratitude. It's a symptom of lazy leadership. It’s a transaction. It’s the bare minimum. It’s a quiet, corporate way of saying, “I am required to give you a token of...

People ask me all the time: "Why leadership training? What made you do this?" The truth? For years, I was a solution without a problem. I went to radio school, became an announcer. The job was fun, but it didn't pay the bills. I graduated with a speech communication degree. I loved speaking, but I had nothing meaningful to say. Then, about 30 years ago, everything changed. The Three Hours That Changed My Life I met Ross Reishus. Brilliant communicator. For three hours, he delivered specific,...

The fourth quarter is a unique time of year. The finish line for annual goals is in sight, but so are the holidays, shorter days, and the natural fatigue that comes after a long year of hard work. For leaders, this period presents a critical challenge: how do you keep your team energized and focused to finish the year strong? It’s tempting to assume your team will just push through, but a proactive approach to leadership is what separates a frantic, stressful quarter from a successful and...