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Mike Figliuolo's Blog, page 2

May 8, 2025

How fearful are you of losing your high-performers to other companies?

Our reader poll today asks: How fearful are you of losing your high-performers to other companies?

Extremely � their departure would be devastating 9.28%Very � I’d hate to lose them and it would be hard to replace them 51.00%Somewhat � it would hurt but I can backfill for them 27.15%Not very � they’re all going to leave at some point anyway 7.28%Not at all � I have a lot of talent waiting to step into their role 5.29%

Build Your Bench.

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Published on May 08, 2025 10:00

May 7, 2025

The High Road and the Low Road of Analysis

If you’re mindful about the way you spend your time when you’re doing analysis, you’re going to be able to solve more problems more effectively and more efficiently.

Critical thinking doesn’t just applyto the analysis you do,it applies to the way you do analysis.Choosing which analysisto do and how to handle the results that come out.I encourage people to take the high road and the low road when they’re thinking about analysis:

The High Road

On the high road, always step up to the high level problem that you’re trying to solve and ask, “How does the analysis I’m doing tied to that problem?

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Published on May 07, 2025 03:30

May 5, 2025

4 Questions to Make Difficult Switching Decisions Much Easier

In an age of too many options, four simple questions can provide a clear approach to making those frequent decisions in a way that saves us time.

Today’s post is by Jack Quarles, author of Expensive Sentences

We live in a time of unprecedented options. Those of us in developed economies of the 21st century, even with average incomes, have more choices than ever before in what we eat, what we wear, our jobs, where we live or travel, our entertainment and education� and the list goes on.

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Published on May 05, 2025 05:02

May 1, 2025

How do you handle “gatekeepers� at work?

Our reader poll today asks: How do you handle “gatekeepers� at work?

I work directly with them to persuade them to “open the gate� 59.68%I find other ways to get the information I need 25.81%I work around them to force them to work with me 9.68%I give up when they provide too much resistance 4.83%

Collaborate with the Gatekeepers.

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Published on May 01, 2025 10:00

April 30, 2025

Use the 80/20 Rule to Think Critically

Using the 80/20 rule can help you spend your time and energy more efficiently.

Critical thinking doesn’t only applyto coming up with recommendations.You need to think critically about the wayyou’re going to spend your time and energy.Those things are limited.You have too many problems to solve and not enough time.

I encourage people to follow the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle.

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Published on April 30, 2025 03:30

April 28, 2025

The Awareness Gap: Why Smart Leaders Miss the Real Problems Hurting Their Teams

Smart leaders fail when they chase symptoms, not root causes. Discover how awareness helps teams solve real problems and boost performance.

Today’s guest post is by Sean Glaze, author of What Effective Leaders DO.

Even the most intelligent and well-intentioned leaders can get stuck.

They work hard. They respond quickly. They troubleshoot constantly. But despite their effort, their teams still underperform, communication breaks down, and morale dips.

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Published on April 28, 2025 05:02

April 24, 2025

How do you manage allocating new work to your team members?

Our reader poll today asks: How do you manage allocating new work to your team members?

I allocate work fairly and evenly 38.16% I allocate more work to higher performers 29.61%I let team members volunteer for work 11.19%I give new work to whomever is available at that moment 14.47%I rely way too heavily on high performers 6.57%

Don’t Burn Out High Performers.

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Published on April 24, 2025 10:00

April 21, 2025

A Tale of Two Retailers and Trust

Leaders who empower their team members get better results. They make faster decisions, have the ability to act, and create dramatically better experiences for customers. Here’s how you can empower your teams.

Today’s post is by Dianna Booher, author of What MORE Can I Say?

“Happy families are all alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,� observed the Russian philosopher and novelist Leo Tolstoy.

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Published on April 21, 2025 05:02

April 17, 2025

What is your reaction to a team member asking you for a raise?

Our reader poll today asks: What is your reaction to a team member asking you for a raise?

I’m happy to discuss it and am impressed by their self-advocacy 85.17%I don’t like it at all. I’ll let them know when they’re due a raise 14.83%

Listening to your team members� needs. While the vast majority of you say you’re welcoming of team members asking for a raise, for the 15% of you who are against it, ask yourself why.

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Published on April 17, 2025 10:00

April 16, 2025

Answer the Seven So-Whats?

A great tool for thinking through the consequences of an action is the Seven So-Whats.

Good critical thinking processes don’t just look at causes, they look at consequences as well. A great tool for thinking through the consequences of an action is the Seven So-Whats. The Seven So-Whats force you to go from an early answer to think through all the possible implications and future consequences of your action.

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Published on April 16, 2025 03:30