Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

Success in business and appreciation

Have you ever volunteered at an activity, and come away with a positive feeling for what you have done? You feel good about yourself and for having made a positive difference in someone else’s life. Have you noticed that the leadership was extremely appreciative and gave you many kudos at the beginning, during the activity, and at the end? Learn from this and treat your employees as volunteers. Provide authentic appreciation at work on a timely and regular basis for something specific. This will enhance collaboration, engagement, and a sense of belonging. Side benefits are better productivity, more revenue, and more profit. These are not the goals, but these are the tangible benefits by taking these proactive, positive, engaging, appreciating actions when genuinely and authentically applied.

Apply generational and appropriate types of appreciation for enhanced collaboration

As a successful management mantra the following has been found to be very useful. Catch your employees doing something right at least once a week and thank them for it Thank them for something specific. Get your employees the resources they need from their perspective and don’t micromanage. Give your employees a chance to shine in leadership and achievement. This commentary is going to focus on how to show appreciation from the first of the three points from above.

Suggestions to live by for collaboration

Recently I was struck by comments made by a friend of mine with four points he made about how he had taught his children to get along with others. I was so impressed with these four suggestions that as I consider how to collaborate with others, I wanted to share them with you. You can think how you may apply these suggestions to promote understanding and collaboration at work and at home.  Perhaps you may want to share these with others. Let me know what you think. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

These are the top ten skills for 2025

What do you think? What are the top ten skills for 2025?

The best way to thank someone and promote authentic appreciation

What do you think? To promote listening, empathy, collaboration, and your own leadership what are the keys to providing an appropriate thank you with authentic appreciation? Sharing a study from neuroscientists you may be surprised at their findings. Knowing the results of the study, what can you do to promote even better collaboration. Read on.

Here are three rules on how to lead tough, unavoidable conversations

To hear the expert or read the transcript from an expert in the field check out this 15-minute Ted Talk by Dr. Adar Cohen on “3 ways to lead, tough, unavoidable conversations”.  Having watched the video and read the transcript I wanted to share with you his three rules, but also add some additional information based on over 2,500 mediations and negotiations coupled with over 25 of years of management experience at all levels.  

Do your homework, be patient, build relationships, listen actively, and success will follow

All to often when you are in a negotiation, conflict, or mediation with someone else you would li

Do’s and Don’ts with tough Conversations

A difficult conversation can be something that makes you anxious or gives you stress. Everyone has difficult conversations The question is, what should you not do and what should you do when faced with a tough conversation. This could be personnel matter, a conduct issue, a reprimand, a transfer, a termination, or any of a host of difficult conversations. As an author that specializes in conflict resolution and collaboration, here are some observations to help you.

Explaining four “E” words associated with Collaboration

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at the photo above. It speaks volumes. To develop leaders, promote collaboration, overcome conflict, address disputes, and promote healing for the betterment of your organization. Words matter. This article looks at four words that begin with the letter “E” that have to do with The Collaboration Effect. These are equality, equity, empathy, and educate. A closer look at each indicates why each is important for collaboration. Let us begin with equality.

This is how to neutralize negativity for collaboration

How can you neutralize negativity where you work?