Salespeople have been doing this for years and we don’t blink an eye. Now more than ever, companies are being forced to consider allowing people to work remotely on a permanent basis, but why not do this proactively instead of reactively? Why do we readily trust salespeople more than everyone else? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how the perceived cause of this slow transition is less due to a lack of trust in the workplace, and more about unclear expectations, poor training, misguided performance evaluations, and change management.

Drawing from 30 years experience as an educator and 31 years as an NFL referee, Jim Tunney works with Fortune 500 companies for team building, leadership, peak performance, motivation, customer service and wellness. Tunney’s book, Impartial Judgment, “The Dean of NFL Referees” Calls Pro Football As He Sees It chronicles his career in the NFL. Other recent titles include Speaking Secrets of the Masters, The Winning Spirit, You Can Do It, Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul. His most recent work is It’s the Will, Not the Skill, outlining principles and philosophies of success.

We are all familiar with the expression Rush to Judgment because it happens so often. The question is why and how is it hurting us in the workplace and in our relationships? On this week’s show, Mark discusses the consequences of lumping people together, labeling, and how to avoid falling into the judgment trap. Stop letting judgment separate you from your goals, limit your thought process, and create an atmosphere of ongoing distrust.

What does it really mean to work hard? What does it mean to work too much and when do the physical and mental sacrifices take their toll? Mark talks about quality vs quantity when being recognized for work ethic, taking initiative, associating your worth with your work and the difference between working too hard and working too much. Imagine if there was an effort honor roll. What categories in the workplace would be included and what are the bare minimum standards that you must meet to say you are a hard worker?

Do you know hard it is to get a customer said the salesperson? Do you know how hard it is to maintain those customers said the customer service representative? The answer is it is incredibly hard to do both. But what about the unpopular question about firing customers? On this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses these questions and how to deal with unrealistic demands, irrational customers, and how to replace them when its time.

On this week’s podcast episode, Mark explores how the difference between reacting and responding comes down to assumed intent. He discusses how our default situational reactions often have nothing to do with the person we are reacting to, moreso cultural influences, life experiences, and emotional baggage. Mark shares ways to remain emotionally and conversationally intelligent when understanding peoples’ decisions based on their intent. Why do people do what they do? We are often disappointed in the workplace based on decisions others make; how can we utilize a curious mindset to get to the root causes? It is important to avoid assumed or negative mindsets when promoting behavior change. You can’t change how other people think but you can control how you interact with them!

This week’s podcast is all about habit change, feedback, culture, time management, mindset, intrinsic motivators, and extrinsic motivators. As an authoritative figure in the workplace, how do you maintain respect? What are the ways in which you can effectively ask questions and listen? Every communication situation is wrapped up in situational awareness. What does it take to be a leader who has situational awareness? Making sure your team is conversationally intelligent leads to accountability and an excuse-free environment in the workplace. What is the importance of follow-ups and how do you make sure they are effective?

Rivalry and competition are found in many aspects of life including sports, the workplace, and school. Is a sense of rivalry and competition a self-motivator an innate quality or is it something that can be learned or produced artificially? How do you stay confident even after failure? Being able to identify when your own self-motivation is declining is a key to staying motivated. Learn the ways in which you can motivate people through compliments and support. Self-motivation and support are qualities of strong leadership.

Conversational, emotional, and multi-generational intelligence are keys to effective customer service. What does it mean to go the extra mile in service? How does this add to a lasting impression and one of trust and care? There are so many factors that affect good communication in service. Why is your smile so important to communication? What are the key phrases that must be avoided in service to establish a sense of care? One must be engaging, empowering, and influencing for effective customer service. Listen to mark discuss these topics and common service situations that exemplify this.

Productivity is key for establishing an efficient and successful workplace. But sometimes employees’ lack of motivation and drive gets in the way of productivity. What are the ways in which you can affect your employees’ mindsets and senses of purpose in order to achieve a more productive workplace? Mark explores the different types of employees, including millennials, and characterizes them into three categories: finders, minders, and grinders. Find out the relationship between these three and the differences in their self-motivation and sense of purpose.