Michael Stallard writes, gives keynotes speeches, and teaches seminars and workshops on leadership, teams and organizational culture. He is the author of Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy and Understanding at Work and Fired Up or Burned Out: Reignite Your Team’s Passion, Creativity and Productivity.
April 13, 2020 9:00 am
Published by Michael Stallard
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the need for social distancing, quarantine and isolation so that vulnerable individuals are not exposed to the virus and healthcare systems are not overwhelmed. Collectively, we understand the goodness of “flattening the curve” by each of us doing our part to slow the spread of the virus. COVID-19 is not the only epidemic we are facing. Separating ourselves because of COVID-19 comes at a time when America and many other nations are in the midst of an epidemic of loneliness whose antidote is greater positive social connection. Our current situation—the simultaneous need... Continue reading...
July 19, 2016 2:00 am
Published by Michael Stallard
Employee engagement is a big problem for organizations today. Research has shown that the vast majority of employees are not engaged, thus they aren’t giving their best efforts or aligning their behavior with organizational goals. A helpful way to understand how to engage employees is to consider the six universal human needs to thrive at work: respect, recognition, belonging, autonomy, personal growth and meaning. These are needs that people long to have met. And even if people are not consciously aware of them, subconsciously our human bodies are wired to have these needs met. When they are not met over time, it... Continue reading...
June 1, 2016 10:35 am
Published by Michael Stallard
While actively showing appreciation to colleagues helps create a more positive workplace, creating a workplace culture involves additional components. Creating a workplace culture where people truly feel valued also involves eliminating behaviors that make people feel devalued. One of the worst culprits for making people feel devalued is disrespectful, condescending and rude behavior. Obviously, physical aggression is wrong. Less obvious is verbal abuse, especially if it is not clear that the instigator intended to harm the target. Remember the childhood phrase “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me?” The truth is, words can and... Continue reading...
May 2, 2016 1:02 pm
Published by Michael Stallard
The rock band U2 has had an extraordinary run, as evidenced by a remarkable 22 Grammy awards, more than any band in history, and album sales topping 170 million. Its worldwide 360 Degree Tour was the highest revenue producing tour ever. How has U2 been able to achieve sustainable superior performance for more than 40 years now? Examining U2 provides insight into the factors that make groups of all types and sizes thrive for sustained periods, from committees and teams to organizations as large as Fortune 500 companies. Several elements of U2’s culture are consistent with the elements that our research has... Continue reading...
April 18, 2016 2:01 pm
Published by Michael Stallard
Definition of Gratitude Gratitude is being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks. Why Gratitude Matters The word gratitude is based on the Latin root gratia which means “grace,” “graciousness,” and “gratefulness.” Religious thinkers and moral philosophers throughout history have long appreciated gratitude. Only recently, however, have scientists come to appreciate the positive influence gratitude has on human and organizational performance. Neuroscience research has shown that positive environments improve the human brain’s ability to solve problems and think creatively. An environment where people possess the character strength of gratitude tends to be... Continue reading...