Michael Lee Stallard

One practice to help unite your team is to read a book then gather together to discuss its ideas and how they might apply to your business.  Here are a few books that I recommend for that purpose:  Read more »

Michael Fitzgerald who writes for The Economist, The New York Times and other thought-leading publications just published in Japan’s Shukan Diayamondo an interview he did with me about Connection Cultures.  Michael posted the pre-translation English version on his Archimedes’ Hot Tub blog.  

When I worked for Morgan Stanley in the late 1990s, I spent some time in Japan analyzing the market to determine if it made sense to build or buy a Japanese investment trust business.  I concluded that Japanese stock brokers’ culture was so different from Morgan Stanley’s that any acquisition would unwise.  From my brief exposure to Japan it seemed to me that employee engagement was low, at least in the securities business.  It may have been different in the automotive and other industries. Does anyone have any experience working in Japan and would share their thoughts with us about employee engagement in the country? 

Check out a wonderful column in today’s The New York Times written by one of my favorite journalists, Joe Nocera.  The column is entitled, “The Sinatra of Southwest Feels the Love.” In it Nocera contrasts the sober atmosphere at American Airlines annual meeting in Dallas this last Wednesday morning to the lovefest at Southwest Airlines annual meeting that commenced a couple hours later across town.  The article focuses on Southwest’s co-founder Herb Kelleher and his belief that treating your employees well provides a competitive edge.  Nocera shares his observations about Kelleher and explores other possible reasons for Southwest’s success.  Like everything Nocera writes, it’s an enjoyable read with thought-provoking observations and insight.   

Over at Steve Roesler’s “All Things Workplace” blog, he posted a wonderful video about the power of connection to heal. Check it out.

This week I was the guest of Stephanie Weaver, the customer experience consultant and host of the Experienceology podcast.   We discussed Connection Cultures and how they increase employee engagement and customer engagement to improve the customer experience.  Stephanie is a connector, a wonderful interviewer and creative thinker. Click on the player below to hear the interview. 

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For additional information on Stephanie check our her website, blog, podcast and book.

Award-winning, veteran journalist William J. Holstein has written a little gem of a book filled with wise advice for CEOs about how to manage today’s media. Manage the Media is one of Harvard Business Press’s new “Memo to the CEO” series.  It’s a quick read and to the point which should be perfect for time-starved executives. I highly recommend it for CEOs, board members, members of senior management and anyone interested in media coverage of organizations.  Read more »

 




Recently it was my privilege to be the guest of host Peter Clayton on Total Picture Radio. Peter is a well-respected thinker as well as an outstanding and insightful interviewer.  In the interview we discussed how Connection Cultures increase employee engagement.   You can access my interview with Peter by clicking here.

Recently I spoke with Kelly Spors of The Wall Street Journal about what potential business partners should consider before forming a partnership. As you might expect, my comments focused on issues where connection is most often as risk. Here is a link to her article entitled, “OK, Partner, We Better Sign a Prenup.”

Earlier this month I spoke with Erin White of The Wall Street Journal about how Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences influenced my work at E Pluribus Partners. Here is a link to the article entitled, “Quest for Innovation, Motivation Inspires the Gurus.”

Over at David Zinger’s blog you’ll find a fun and thoughtful list of ideas related to employee engagement from some top thinkers and consultants in the business. Although I don’t know all of the participants I have great respect for the participants I know including David Zinger, Robert Morris, Terrence Seamon, Steve Roesler and Tim Wright.  I’m certain the others are top rate too.  The free e-book is available at this link.

In honor of Mother’s Day tomorrow, I am taking a break from writing about connection at work to focus on connection in families. Each of us experience times in life when we feel disconnected from family members. The lack of relational intimacy with the people we love can be especially painful. It often contributes to unhealthy behaviors as a means to cope with the pain. In the stories of individuals who break their addiction, you will nearly always find one person or a group of people who helped heal the wounds of the addicted with love and encouragement.

Lost & Found is the poignant story of Kathryn Slattery, a contributing editor of Guideposts magazine and author of several books. In the book, Kitty describes her disconnection with her mother and father, the onset of bulimia, how her husband Tom’s love and encouragement helped her overcome bulimia, and finally how Kitty reconnected with her parents.

I enjoyed this book. Read more »