One of the most common things that we hear after we lead a workshop or training seminar is, "I have to be honest. I was really dreading having to come to this class. But I think I had more fun and learned more in this session than I have from any other training program."

The reason why we get such good results is that we learned early on that people learn by doing -- not by hearing and seeing. So, boring lectures with a ton of bullet points don't typically work very well.

On this episode, I'm going to pull back the curtain a little and share with you how to make your training sessions more interactive -- really how to make them more fun.

In the first part of the episode, I'll also show you scientifically why the traditional way that we teach people usually bombs. Interestingly, we've know that this teaching method fails for over 100 years, but most trainers still use this method.

So stick around until the end, because I'll give you five secrets to making any training that you deliver more compelling, more interactive, mor fun, and more memorable (in a positive way)!

Show Notes: Learn by Doing: Make Work Learning More Interactive

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/learn-by-doing-make-work-learning-more-interactive/)

I was traveling recently, and the person sitting next to me on the plane asked me what I did. I mentioned that companies hire me and my team members to come in and make meeting more fun and interesting.

She said, "Give me your card. I just left one of the most boring and taxing meetings ever organized."

And actually, that happens a lot. When event planners organize meetings, their time is limited. And they want to maximize the time they have available.

So, the technical, business related topics take priority and the person, fun stuff sometimes has to take a back seat.

So this week, I want to give you one of my favorite and absolutely most versatile team games. This is the one that we teach to our brand-new presenters to let them cut their teeth on because it is very easy to deliver and it has a ton of different takeaways.

So, you can use this as a meeting icebreaker at your normal weekly staff meeting or as a warm-up activity for 1000s of people.

We call it the Tennis Ball Team Building Game, but I've heard it called The Cycle, the Ball Circuit, and a bunch of other names.

Show Notes: Tennis Ball Game – A Fun Team Building Game

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/resources-tennis-ball-game/)

When people hear the phrase “corporate team building event”, they usually think of outdated or awkward activities. Maybe it’s trust falls, a pizza party, or that cringeworthy moment when everyone shares “something interesting about themselves.” In other words, not exactly exciting.

But team building doesn’t have to be cheesy. They can be fun. They can be powerful. And most importantly, they can make a real difference in how your team members work together.

Choosing the right event is easier than you might think. You just need to follow a simple, three-step framework.

Show Notes: 3 Steps to Choose the Best Corporate Team Building Event

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/3-steps-to-choose-the-best-corporate-team-building-event/)

Learning how to develop a growth mindset can transform a businessperson’s career from good to great. The Growth Mindset person sees every challenge as a chance to grow, not as a dead end. For example, they turn a botched deal into a lesson that lands bigger clients.

In this episode, we cover what a Growth Mindset is (and why we should even care about it). Then, I give you a bunch of real-world examples of the difference between a Growth Mindset person and a Fixed Mindset person. (Hint: one typically makes a lot more money than the other.) Then, finally, I share a proven four-step cycle to build momentum for success. So, if you are a manager or leader who has Fixed Mindset people on your team, this is a great way to help them accomplish more and grow.

It’s a roadmap to boost income, happiness, and impact. Dive in to master how to develop a growth mindset and crush it!

Full Show Notes: Change Your Mindset: How to Develop a Growth Mindset

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/change-your-mindset-how-to-develop-a-growth-mindset/)

With all the challenges going on in the economy right now, as a business owner or team leader, it's real easy to focus on the challenges and not your team. As human beings, we have a natural talent for reacting to situations versus planning for potential situations that may occur.

However, if you do the latter, you can capitalize on these challenges. The company or team that adapts first always has an advantage in the marketplace.

So, on this episode, I've going to show you how to make strategic planning a part of your team culture. This will help you and your team not get blindsided when all your competitors do.

Full Show Notes: Make Strategic Thinking Part of Your Team Culture

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/strategic-thinking-make-strategic-thinking-part-of-your-team-culture/)

Happy Memorial Day, everybody, and thanks to all those families whose loved one paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

On this episode, I'm going to show you how to handle difficult employees. There will always be difficult employees in any organization. Even Fortune 500 companies have rotten tomatoes in them. As a leader, your job is to lead a team. Encourage them to do their work. Do their performance reviews, and talk to them when things go wrong. But how can you do that when you don’t even know who you’re dealing with?

This applies to everyone in your team, but more so to the difficult employees. This episode is a Leader’s Guide to common trouble makers in the office and was designed to help you understand your team members, especially the trouble makers.

In many cases, your challenging employee isn’t just trying to make your life more difficult.

Their difficult behavior often reflects strengths you saw when hiring. But some are simply problem employees, and keeping them due to staffing needs is a management mistake. Your first step as a new manager is identifying which is which.

These five common types can disrupt the whole team with negative attitudes or disruptive behaviors. Yet, many bring unique talents that drive success when guided properly. Their bad attitude might stem from passion or ambition misdirected. A clear plan with specific examples can channel their energy into positive change. Not every tough case is a toxic employee waiting to implode.

But some employees consistently show problematic behavior that hurts morale. Retaining them out of desperation risks poor performance across the board. Disciplinary action becomes necessary when efforts to redirect fail. Good management separates those with potential from true troublemakers who harm the team.

You’ll learn to spot these behaviors and act decisively. This episode breaks down the five types, their quirks, and how to handle difficult employees effectively. With the right approach, you turn challenges into wins for the whole team.

Our topic today is Complacency in the Workplace. Specifically, I'll cover seven ways that past success can limit future growth. 

This is one of those topics that many leaders and business owners overlook. But those who have their pulse on their own complacency, and more importantly, the complacency of their team, can keep their business growing.

I'll explain this in the episode, but just as an overview, when we get to a point where we think we've "made it," strange things start to happen. Arrogance can set in. And we will start to miss opportunities that are obvious to hungrier business people.

So in the episode, I cover how to get to the top in any field. And then, I cover how to stay at the top as well.

Full Shownotes: Complacency in the Workplace 

Our topic today is about how to improve interpersonal relationships in the workplace. 

Strong connections with team members make work a happier, more rewarding place. This episode shows you why and how, with practical steps to boost job satisfaction and maybe even your paycheck.

Workplace friendships spark joy, reduce stress, and open career doors. I’ll share my story of how avoiding coworkers cost me a job, but building bonds led to my first professional career success. Then, we dive into five easy ways to build those interpersonal relationships in the office. Each tip is simple, actionable, and proven to make work more enjoyable (and more lucrative for you).

If you’re a team leader, we’ve got you covered with interpersonal skill workshops to inspire your team to connect. These strategies create a positive work environment and set both you and your team up for success.

Shownotes: Improve Interpersonal Relationships in the Workplace

(https://www.leadersinstitute.com/improve-interpersonal-relationships-in-the-workplace/)

Happy Halloween week everyone! Since the holiday season is right around the corner, I thought it might be a good idea to cover a few Christmas team building ideas. We are just a few weeks away from Thanksgiving here in the United States. And then, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas and Hannukah season will sneak up on you if you aren't careful.

A lot of team leads and small business owners want to do something special for their team this time of year. But what types of things will really build teamwork?

On this episode, I'm going to give you a few Christmas and Holiday team building ideas that won't break the bank and that will build morale and teamwork!

By the way, if you like the content of the podcast, make sure to leave me a review on your podcast app and make sure to subscribe to the podcast so your phone automatically downloads each episode.

This is part three of a three part series on how to know if someone is manipulating you. 

In the first two episodes, I talked about the three steps of manipulation. 

Step one is to put the person being manipulated into an emotional state. Typically, the manipulator will get you angry or create fear in the victim.

Step two is to create both a villain and a victim. And in many cases, the villain and the victim are switched during the manipulation. What's right is wrong. What's up is down.

This week, we talk about the final stage which is to create the narrative. The manipulator figures out your innermost desires and promises to make those things happen -- if and only if the vague villain is stopped.

And, of course, the villain always pops back in to ruin the plan. So, the victim is always responsible to do more and more. 

This week, I also cover the seven signs of a con artist. These are the specific things you can look for to find out if what you are being told is true or if it is just a narrative created to get something from you.

And just like in the last few weeks, I'm giving examples from popular news stories. If, as I'm giving examples and explaining them, you find yourself getting angry, pause the recording. Or, from the opposite perspective, in situations where you totally agree with the example I give, pause the recording.

Ask yourself, "Why am I reacting this way?" 

There is a good chance that somewhere along the way, the people you are interacting with, the politicians that you are listening to, or the media where you get information has been using these techniques on you.

So, don't shoot the messenger. The goal of the series is to encourage you to see and hear the techniques while they are happening to you so you can make better decisions.

So enjoy the episode... And if you start to get angry as you listen, guess what? You are probably the mark.

By the way, if you like the content of the podcast, make sure to leave me a review on your podcast app and make sure to subscribe to the podcast so your phone automatically downloads each episode.