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Our family just went on a vacation to Alaska. (Well, 7 of the 8 of us did. The 4-month-old granddaughter stayed back with her other Grandma.) The trip could be summarized in two ways. I think I will just sit here and wait. If you have been out to eat at a sit-down...

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation from a class we developed at Willmar Electric. I outlined a five-step process.   This is the fifth and last installment. If your job is to manage people and help them grow professionally, you need to give them...

Last month I blogged about the five-step process for productive confrontation. I have already outlined the first three steps of trust, respect, and self-awareness.  Step four is keeping your focus. If your job is to manage or lead people and help them grow...

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process. In my last two blogs, I talked about trust and respect. The background for the series is that if your job is to manage people and help them grow professionally, you need to give them...

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process. I would like to expand on each step. The background is if your job is to manage people and help them grow professionally, you need to give them feedback. Of course, feedback should...

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process needed in any feedback loop. Of course, how you give feedback makes all the difference in the world.  So, I came up with a 5 step process.  I hope I'm not plagiarizing.  But if you...

I recently finished reading "The Art of Neighboring" by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.  The book hit home with me on two fronts. I could relate to the book's theme of building genuine relationships right outside my front door.  I also notice how much being a good...

Last week I was tasked with doing training on productive confrontation to our field leaders. So, I researched the topic and reflected on things I had learned about the subject previously.  One of the first places I started was with Kim Scott's book, Radical Candor. In...

I was lucky enough to have the honor to serve as the 2016 National Chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  When you research ABC on their website, you will notice their mission statement is: ABC will continually strive to be the leading voice...

Yesterday a coworker, Sylvia, asked if I knew what muddy rain was and if I had ever seen it.  I told her I didn't, and I hadn't.  She explained that "muddy rain" is when high winds kick dirt into the air, creating a dust storm aloft, rain passes through the dust...