MindsetGo iCommunicate Podcast

Getting people to the table: AI-powered conflict resolution with Mark Stiles

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:00:00 -0400

Founder conflict sits at the center of 65% of high-potential startup failures, and it's rarely about personality. In this episode of iCommunicate, Mark Altman talks with Mark Stiles about why so many hard conversations never happen, and how artificial intelligence is helping leaders and teams get the right people to the table for difficult conversations and negotiation.

After 30 years practicing law in Boston, Stiles saw the limits of the existing legal system firsthand and set out to widen access to conflict resolution at scale. He and Altman get into the psychology behind stuck negotiations, and how Joze.ai's AI-guided, asynchronous process helps people move from stuck to agreement, sometimes within 48 hours.

What you'll learn:

Why psychological safety influences whether the right people show up to a hard conversation at all
How theory of mind, what you think the other party thinks of you, shapes negotiations and where they typically break down
Why starting a negotiation with a finished agreement tends to create a power imbalance, and what creating one together looks like instead
How Joze.ai's AI-guided, asynchronous process moves a stuck negotiation to a shared agreement, without a lawsuit or a courtroom
Why founder conflict and workplace conflict are rarely the real problem, and how to spot what's driving them instead

Learn more about Joze.ai at joze.ai, or connect with Mark Stiles on LinkedIn.

Want help developing your own Culture of Excellence Blueprint©? For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

Why "High Standards" Fail without Deal Breakers (and How to Set Them)

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Most leaders say they have standards, until their best performer breaks one. In this episode of iCommunicate, MindsetGo founder Mark Altman unpacks deal breakers, the behaviors an organization won't tolerate from anyone, at any level, and explains why a standard that's only enforced against your weakest performers isn't a standard. It's a filing system for people you're already planning to let go.

Mark walks through why leaders end up enabling toxic high performers, how inconsistent standards create unfairness and erode trust across a team, and what it takes to hold people to a standard without immediately reaching for a write-up or termination.

What You'll Learn

How a story about his son's auto detailing business, and a car door closed, then opened again, became Mark's definition of a real standard
The 80-to-90-percent rule Mark uses to tell a genuine cultural norm from a single bad day
Why "dishonesty" and "disrespect" sit in a gray zone between tier one and tier two deal breakers, and the four specific actions that turn dishonesty into a fireable offense
The three-part test MindsetGo runs with clients (what it looks like, what it isn't, how we respond) to turn a value like "respect" into an enforceable standard
The three questions Mark asks in every coaching conversation before deciding whether a broken standard calls for coaching or a formal write-up
Why "poor communication" and "lack of accountability" got cut from one client's deal breaker list, and the specific behaviors that replaced them
The three choices every leader has when a standard gets broken, and why staying silent counts as one of them

Walk away with a clear process for identifying your own deal breakers, communicating them across your organization, and following through with consistency, so your standards protect your culture and your bottom line instead of sitting unenforced on paper.

Want help developing your own Culture of Excellence Blueprint©? For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

The Playbook Trap: How Extreme Ownership Scales, with John Brooks

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Most CEOs treat extreme ownership as a mindset: something a leader either has or doesn't. On this episode of iCommunicate, John Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels (WOW), makes the case that it's a system, and every system drifts the moment you stop auditing it. John discovered the idea before it had a name, sitting between two retired Navy SEALs at a dinner years before Extreme Ownership became a leadership staple. He's spent the years since turning that conversation into the operating system behind one of the fastest-scaling trailer rental companies in North America.

Host Mark Altman, founder of MindsetGo, sits down with John to unpack how he's scaled WOW from 2 offices to 37, with 100 in sight, without losing the culture that got him there. They cover decentralized command, psychological safety, and why measuring culture like a P&L, not a poster on the wall, is what keeps ownership from calcifying into bureaucracy as a company grows. Whether you lead a team of ten or three hundred, this conversation gives you a language and a system for turning ownership from a value into something your organization can actually measure.

What You'll Learn

How a chance dinner seat between two retired Navy SEALs, one of them Chris Kyle's direct chain of command, introduced John to Extreme Ownership before the book existed
Why John hands new hires an "ultimate expectation" letter on day one, defining ownership before any job training begins
How calling general managers "local market CEOs" changes the way they think, decide, and grow into larger roles
The three open-ended survey questions driving 100% anonymous participation across four consecutive culture surveys at WOW
Why a red flag, yellow flag, green flag system keeps leaders honest about which employee feedback gets addressed now versus later
How an AI meeting-transcript scorer gives John a weekly psychological safety and ownership read on every location, without sitting in the room
The 90-day wristband challenge that turned a peer-nominated bonus into visible proof of above-and-beyond behavior across the company
Why John still asks his leadership team what he should start and stop doing, every single year

About John Brooks

John Brooks serves as CEO of Warehouse on Wheels (WOW), a family of regional trailer rental companies serving customers across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Recruited as the company's first CEO, John has grown WOW from 2 offices and 4,000 trailers in 2018 to 37 offices and more than 36,000 trailers today, leading a team of roughly 300 people. Before joining WOW, he spent 28 years as a financial and operational executive across a series of private-equity-backed companies, including ATRG, NESCO (Energy Capital Partners), SENCO Brands (Wynnchurch Partners), and Kuhlman Electric Corporation (The Carlyle Group). He holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a BA in Accounting from Bellarmine University, and was formerly a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Kentucky.

Connect with John Brooks

Corporate site: www.warehouseonwheels.com
Corporate YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WarehouseOnWheels
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv
Personal site: www.jonathannbrooks.com

For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

Accountability vs. Ownership: The Leadership Difference That Costs You with Robert Hunt

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Accountability, responsibility, and ownership. Most leaders use these words interchangeably, and that's exactly where excuses take root.

In this episode, Mark Altman sits down with Robert Hunt, CEO peer group leader at REF Dallas and co-author of Nobody Cares (Until You Do), to unpack why accountability is proactive and responsibility is reactive. They get into why leaders unknowingly hold their teams to a standard they don't apply to themselves, and how the language written into a company's core behaviors quietly decides whether its culture executes or makes excuses.

What You'll Learn

The real difference between accountability, responsibility, and ownership, and why the word you choose changes what your team actually does
Why excuses get accepted more often than leaders realize, and what that costs a growing company
How to rewrite one core behavior to build proactive accountability instead of reactive responsibility
Why a Culture of Excellence depends on defined language, not values on a wall

About Robert Hunt

Robert J. Hunt is “The Accountability Coach” and the co-author of the book "Nobody Cares (Until You Do)." He is an Executive Business Coach in DFW and has been leading monthly CEO Groups since 2013. Robert will share his experience and wisdom from years of helping his clients remove the obstacles that keep them from reaching their goals.

Robert is a follower of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of all he does. He has been married 25 years to his beautiful wife Kathy and has two adult children also living in Texas. He is passionate about his faith, his purpose, his family, and his quest to help people live the life they really want.

Connect with Robert Hunt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthuntceo/
REF Dallas: https://refdallas.com/

For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

Why Change Fails at the Top: Executive Peer Groups with Tom Fafinski

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

What if the smartest move you can make as a leader is to become deliberately lazy? Host Mark Altman and Tom Fafinski, founder of EPiC Peer Groups, unpack why change fails at the top and how executive peer groups produce the growth most owners try to force by working harder.

Tom Fafinski has built and sold two law practices and now runs EPiC Peer Groups, where member firms have averaged 186% revenue growth and 634% profit growth over five years. His edge isn't working harder. It's giving up the parts of the business that define him, handing the wins to other people, and shifting from doer to reviewer.

Mark pushes Tom on the real reason owners can't let go; it's not time, it's identity. The fear that someone on your team will become better than you at the thing you've always been known for. The two unpack how to coach belief systems instead of tasks, why the best leaders look more like Bill Belichick than Tom Brady, and how to build a team that tells you the truth instead of feeding you an AI-style echo chamber of "great question!"

Inside the episode:

Niches to Riches: how Tom escaped a miserable 30-person firm by killing services and narrowing focus, then rode the hockey-stick growth that followed
The Do Not Do List: the one-page discipline he uses to stop spending time on work that doesn't move the business
The Spectrum Between Adventure and Fear: where every employee really sits, who you should never hire, and why your best people want ownership more than a bigger paycheck

Plus, the loneliness of the top job, why vulnerability and "laziness" are the same skill, and the science that says writing your commitments down is what stops you from rationalizing your way back to comfortable.

For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

Estate planning firm owners curious about EPiC Peer Groups can reach Tom at tom@epicpeergroup.com.

ROI of Reflection: How Executives Turn Self-Awareness Into a Strategic Advantage with Josh Feigelson

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Ask most executives for the ROI of reflection and you'll get a blank stare. Yet self-awareness is the one input you can't delegate, and the patterns you don't examine in yourself quietly become the operating system for everyone you lead. Treated as a discipline, reflection stops being downtime and becomes a strategic advantage.

In this episode of iCommunicate, Mark Altman sits down with Josh Feigelson, president and CEO of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and author of Eternal Questions, to unpack why high performers avoid sitting with their own thoughts, why inward accountability is harder than admitting you were wrong out loud, and how the "I'll just do it myself" script keeps leaders isolated and stuck.

You'll walk away with a working definition of reflection as preparation, a reframe of mindfulness as a discipline with real structure behind it, and the return most executives actually report once they start: clarity on the problems worth solving and the decisions in front of them. Josh closes with the smallest possible starting habit, one minute before you touch your phone, so building the practice doesn't require more time you don't have.

For leaders building a Culture of Excellence, this is a conversation about what reflection makes possible across an entire organization, not just a personal wellness tip.

For more information, visit MindsetGo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

Learn more about Josh's work at JewishSpirituality.org.

One Shift that Drives Accountability and Growth

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Most teams don't underperform because of a lack of effort. They underperform because no one defined what "excellent" actually looks like.

In this episode of iCommunicate, Mark Altman exposes one of the most expensive blind spots in leadership: the assumption that your team knows the standard. The gap, between what leaders expect and what teams understand is where accountability quietly collapses, communication breaks down, and execution becomes a coin flip.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How service norms directly drive team performance and execution
Why unclear expectations weaken accountability and trust
How small communication habits quietly erode credibility
How to define clear standards that strengthen organizational culture
A practical shift to improve leadership communication and team alignment

Additional insights:

Why most leaders overestimate how clear their expectations actually are
How misalignment shows up in subtle but costly ways across teams
The difference between activity and true execution
How to eliminate ambiguity without micromanaging
Why consistency, not intensity, drives high-performing teams
How to create shared definitions of “good” across your organization
The hidden link between clarity and executive presence
How to build a culture where expectations are understood, not assumed
Why unclear standards quietly slow down growth and decision-making

This episode is built for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who want to improve team performance, strengthen organizational culture, and eliminate the friction caused by unclear expectations. It’s especially valuable for anyone leading growing teams, managing change, or trying to create consistency without micromanaging.

The Future of Leadership: Thriving in Volatility, AI Disruption, and Workplace Anxiety with Phil Ianniello

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0400

In today’s volatile business environment, change leadership is no longer optional, it’s a core executive competency.

In this episode of iCommunicate, host Mark Altman sits down with Phil Ianniello, Managing Director at Bank of America Securities, to break down how C-suite leaders can shift mindsets, strengthen executive presence, and help their organizations move from surviving change to thriving in uncertainty.

If you’re a CEO, founder, or senior executive navigating AI disruption, economic uncertainty, organizational transformation, or large-scale workforce change, this conversation delivers practical, real-world leadership strategies you can apply immediately.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

How to reframe organizational change from threat to opportunity
The role of empathy in leadership and executive communication skills
Why “control what you can control” can undermine employee engagement
A practical framework for assessing change readiness
The difference between consensus leadership and the “disagree and commit” strategy
How to prevent failure during cascading communication
Why employee resistance to change often stems from indifference
How to inspire change using thought-provoking questions instead of persuasion

You’ll also gain insight into:

Leadership during uncertainty
Change management strategy
Building trust in the modern workplace
Navigating AI in the workplace
Strengthening organizational culture during disruption
Driving sustainable growth through mindset shift

This episode is essential listening for executives focused on strategic leadership, executive communication, organizational culture, and leading through change in unpredictable markets.

If you’re looking to improve leadership communication, build buy-in across teams, and create a culture that adapts instead of resists — this episode will give you a practical roadmap.

iCommunicate Radio Show #179 Conversation Execution: Root Cause of Resistance

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode of iCommunicate, Mark Altman examines the underlying drivers of resistance that quietly undermine performance, alignment, and execution. The conversation reframes resistance as a signal, not a problem, and challenges leaders to rethink how mindset, accountability, and organizational dynamics influence change. You’ll walk away with a sharper lens for diagnosing barriers, elevating dialogue, and accelerating sustainable transformation.

For more information, visit http://mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

iCommunicate Radio Show #178 A Coaching Plan for Progress

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode of iCommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman reveals why most coaching conversations fall short of creating real change. Mark challenges leaders to look beyond foundational alignment and recognize when developmental conversations are merely feel-good moments versus catalysts for transformation. You'll discover a practical framework for evaluating whether your coaching is actually effective and learn how to bridge the gap between intention and execution.

Visit Mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159 for more information.

iCommunicate Radio Show #177 How to Inspire Action

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode of iCommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman reveals the true power of inspiration and why it's not just a top-down responsibility. Mark challenges leaders to recognize that inspiration happens in everyday moments. You'll discover why inspiration can flow in any direction and learn the four foundational elements that transform routine conversations into coaching moments that genuinely inspire action. Gain practical insights on moving people from intention to execution and building a culture where development becomes inevitable.

Visit Mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159 for more information.

iCommunicate Radio Show #176 What Makes Someone Coachable?

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this episode of iCommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman reveals the three essential criteria for determining if someone is truly coachable. Mark challenges the assumption that unresponsive team members are simply difficult, showing how to surface the real barriers that prevent people from meeting expectations. You'll discover powerful open-ended questions that uncover root causes of the real problems. Gain practical strategies to inspire motivation and create the psychological safety necessary for genuine behavior change.

Visit Mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159 for more information.

iCommunicate Radio Show #175 What is and isn't Coaching Part 1

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman breaks down the crucial differences between coaching, mentoring, and consulting. Mark provides strategies to uncover fears and control myths that keep leaders stuck in advice mode and share the red flags that signal someone needs coaching. You'll discover powerful questions that surface hidden fears and obstacles and what it takes to facilitate behavior change.

For more information, visit mindsetgo.com, email info@mindsetgo.com or call 978-793-1159.

ICommunicate Radio Show #59: Progress vs Achievement

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:09:19 -0400

Congratulations, you’ve achieved a goal! But why should we be proud of ourselves? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman discusses how to accurately assess your progress, manage our self-esteem in challenging times, and utilize a mix of feedback and past experiences to construct a personal success template. Segment 1: All of the failure and success we’ve experienced over the course of our careers means nothing if we don’t seek to improve. How do we measure progress if there is no achievement? How can we alter our mindset to notice areas where we can improve?Segment 2:Stay interviews are a prime opportunity to garner a deep understanding of our employees, their goals, and their progress towards the company’s goals. How are we measuring performance reviews from one year to the next, and why is it so important that we keep track of that progress? What is “internal customer service,” and how can it be a major factor in shifting company culture?Segment 3: Process is not simply an agenda -- it’s a structure that’s meant to enhance efficiency, communication, and success. What are the components to creating an efficient process for ourselves and our team?Segment 4: We all have goals, but what’s the point in setting them? Where does our confidence come from, and how can that knowledge shape our approach to problem solving going forward? What are SMART goals, and how can we use this template to achieve tangible goals and recognize progress?

ICommunicate Radio Show #96: The Unfair Mindset

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 14:24:14 -0400

Why do we so often run into situations where either we feel treated unfairly or someone else feels as though they’ve been treated unfairly? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder and President Mark Altman discusses how to navigate “fairness” in all aspects – at home, in our personal lives and at work. Why do “unfair” situations arise in the first place? Can we get ahead of them? How can we rewire our mindset to overcome unfair situations? Segment 1: At work and in life, how do we cope with the feeling of losing control? How do we react when we feel as though we’re being treated unfairly? How can we manage when someone feels as though they are being treated unfairly? Are there steps we can take to prevent feelings of unfairness from festering and boiling over? Why do we feel as though we have to apologize for our emotions? Segment 2:How can we influence outcomes by reframing information and situations? What’s the deal with luck – is it necessary? Can we create our own luck? What leads to disappointment in life and in business? Can we separate our mindset from entitlement? Segment 3: Why do we perceive situations as unfair? How can we get past a negative mindset when it comes to fairness? Who do you go to when you want to vent about fairness or a frustrating situation? What role is that person playing? Why does gratitude sometimes feel disingenuous? Is there a productive way to complain? Segment 4:What’s the best way to express gratitude? How can we be more mindful with what we’re grateful for? How can we effectively evaluate ourselves? If I pitch my boss an idea and they shut it down – where do I go from there? How can I reframe that situation to produce success?

ICommunicate Radio Show #57: Unconscious Incompetence

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:03:32 -0400

How can we find out what we don’t know when it’s unclear how to seek the answers? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman discusses the stages of unconscious incompetence, how to remain confident and motivated in situations where you aren’t knowledgeable enough in a particular area, and how to seek the answers that you didn’t know you needed. Segment 1: Confidence can be the end all be all in a conversation in which somebody is aiming to gain influence, but how can we remain confident if we aren’t knowledgeable enough on the topic that is being discussed? What are the stages of unconscious incompetence, and how can we gain knowledge of things that we don’t know?Segment 2:In hindsight, there are many times in our lives where we wished that we had information that would have changed the outcome of an important situation. Are you aware of the skills, knowledge, and mindset that you are missing? How can we recognize what we don’t have so that we can work towards it? Segment 3: We wouldn’t expect it, but our peers can reveal our true potential through observation and feedback. How can a personal SWOT analysis reveal the truth about our skill set and knowledge? What are the fears and assumptions that get in the way of us maximizing our talent?Segment 4: Our life experiences have shaped our knowledge and confidence – but there is always an avenue for improvement. How can our confidence impact our self awareness? What is a skill or characteristic that you want to develop, and what steps can you take to achieve it?

ICommunicate Radio Show #71: Motivate Yourself Through Emotional Agility

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:27:05 -0400

Are motivational speakers overrated? MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman gets down to the roots of motivation. Is depending on other people the most effective strategy to motivate yourself? It’s one thing to know how to motivate yourself, but when leaders are promoted before they’re ready, do they know how to motivate and inspire others?Segment 1:What fuels rivalries? Why does anger escalate to regretful action? Why do athletes get more focused, intense, and ready for some games and not others? How does this relate to business? What goes into our response to failure?Segment 2:Who do we idolize as humans and why? Where does competitiveness come from? Is it artificial to manufacture motivation through competition? Is “cheating” to generate motivation effective? What are the best “cheats” to increase productivity and success?Segment 3:What goes into finding our “spark?” What are the various factors that innately motivate us? Is there a better way to find motivation? How can we leverage other people to motivate us? How can bosses, coworkers and rivals motivate us at work? How can we fix promotions at work? How should we evaluate people for leadership positions? What does lead by example really mean?Segment 4:How do people stay self-motivated? How can we easily motivate others? Is there an easy, straightforward strategy to motivate others? Do you really know how to motivate yourself? What’s stopping you?

ICommunicate Radio Show #92: Trust Can Be Fleeting

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 11:30:33 -0400

In a remote work environment, how can we build foundational trust and maintain productivity? In this episode, MindsetGo Founder and President Mark Altman and Melissa Glenny, CEO of Franklin Professional Staffing dives into the benefits, dangers, and best operational practices of remote and hybrid workplaces. Segment 1: Why is there a decrease in productivity when employees work remotely? Why are some leaders resistant to encouraging remote work? What is the relationship between trust and remote work? How can we effectively evaluate remote employees? Segment 2:How much of a problem are distractions for remote employees? How can we reach our company goals with remote employees? What does the process of setting realistic expectations look like? Why is reciprocity so important in a workplace? What does reciprocity look like in a successful work environment? Segment 3: What are the best practices for hiring and recruiting remote and hybrid employees? As workplaces evolve and transform, how can you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to hiring? Why do hiring professionals think remote workplaces are just as effective as in-person settings? How can setting expectations alleviate most concerns leaders have with a remote workplace? Segment 4:Why do salespeople get latitude at work that others don’t get? How can you gauge trust when hiring an employee? How does trust manifest in remote workplaces? Can we apply office norms to remote workplaces?

ICommunicate Podcast #110: Transparency - Pros and Cons

Tue, 02 May 2023 12:12:14 -0400

Why is transparency such a difficult line to toe in the workplace? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman discusses solutions to common problems relating to transparency. How do we know if we are oversharing? How do we know when we need to be more proactively communicative? What is the motivation behind transparency? How should we handle it internally compared to with our clients? Segment 1: When we decide to be fully transparent, what is our end goal? Why do we choose to be fully transparent sometimes and not other times? When should we employ authentic communication? If the stakes are high, how can we be authentic while still being empathetic?Segment 2:How do we navigate transparency with clients? How do we navigate internal transparency? When is being too transparent detrimental to our team? What is our process for making decisions regarding transparency? Segment 3: Why are we reacting to problematic situations instead of preventing them? Is your internal communication contributing to confusion? How can we make sure our internal communication delivers clarity? How can we nail down a return on investment for training when it comes to improving internal communication? Segment 4:What’s the difference between transparency and oversharing? It feels as though we’re riding a razor-thin line, how can we be successful with our levels of communication and transparency? How can you effectively communicate amongst various generations in your workplace?

ICommunicate Radio Show #56: Self-Advocacy

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 21:53:23 -0400

Know yourself, know your needs, and know how to get what you need. In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman discusses overcoming the fear of judgment and learning strategies to advocate for ourselves. Segment 1: We all know that advocating for ourselves can be beneficial, but what’s stopping us? What internal and external factors make us feel uncomfortable standing up for ourselves? How can we advocate for ourselves without worrying about judgment from others? Segment 2:Often when faced with conflict, we tend to react emotionally -- but what happens when we take a step back and break down the problem? What is the recipe for self advocacy, and how can I implement it into my own life? How can your internal voice make or break the process of self advocacy? Segment 3: Now that we’ve worked up the courage to have the conversation, how can we adapt on the fly to get what we need? How can lessening our ask increase our chances for getting leeway? Once you’ve advocated for yourself, what are the next steps to ensure that you get the results that you need? Segment 4: What’s the worst thing that could happen when we advocate for ourselves? We’re judged. How do we balance the risk-reward of asking for a second opinion? How do motivation, fears, and benefits factor into our decision to advocate?

ICommunicate Radio Show #174: Performance Reviews

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:57:24 -0500

How can we take the burden out of the performance review process? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman dives into the topic of performance reviews. If we’re assigned to give the reviews, how can we maximize their effectiveness and avoid resentment from the person we’re reviewing? Segment 1: What prevents a leader from giving effective performance reviews? Is our feedback and evaluation process feeding into a negative review experience? It starts with word choice. How can word choice and emotional agility transform our performance review strategy and results? Segment 2:Why do we have rating systems in performance reviews? What’s the point of a 1-5 scale if we can’t agree on what goes into it? How can we install a rating system that’s fair for both the leader and the employee? What are the best ways to get to the root causes of why an employee is struggling in certain areas? Segment 3: How can we proactively set expectations to ensure performance reviews don’t blindside anyone? What’s the key to preventing conflict, as opposed to resolving conflict? Why are misinterpretation, hurt feelings and resentment so common when it comes to performance reviews, especially surrounding compensation? Segment 4:Why do you care what your team members think of you? What is a “360” review process and why has it transformed these interactions for the better? How can we be more receptive to feedback? How can being more receptive to feedback transform our attitude and productivity?

ICommunicate Radio Show #173: Success Templates for Motivation and Confidence

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 19:42:09 -0500

What’s your template for success? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman and his 16-year-old son Cole Altman discuss why success templates are THE essential tool to help people of all ages build and sustain confidence and motivation. Segment 1: When you’re evaluating your performance, whether it be in the workplace or in personal projects, can you accurately identify what you did well? How can creating our own success template reshape the way we prepare for future challenges? How should we respond when we default to a negative response when evaluating ourselves?Segment 2:If we can’t establish standards and expectations when evaluating ourselves, how can we expect to properly assess the performance of other people? When we’re not meeting our own expectations, how can we pinpoint the root cause of the issue?Segment 3: It’s one thing to take a compliment at face value, but another to dig deep into why the person giving the feedback felt that way about your performance. How can we create a positive feedback process in order to give consistent and meaningful assessments? Why is it important that we understand the root cause of somebody’s feedback?Segment 4: Have you ever considered why we only seek feedback after doing something bad? How can asking for feedback in positive and negative situations improve your success template? What is the elephant in the room technique, and how can we use it to generate honest and meaningful feedback from our peers?

ICommunicate Radio Show #171: Conversation Expectations And Simultaneous Thoughts

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 21:15:41 -0500

Have you ever been disappointed by the outcome of a conversation? In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President and Founder Mark Altman, discusses the importance of setting expectations prior to conversations, confronting and managing our emotions, and the conundrum many human resources professionals experience when balancing the roles of advocating for employees and protecting their company from risk. Segment 1: Knowing what to communicate, when to do it, and how to execute the conversation should be the most honed skill in a leader’s toolbox. What is the most effective way for a leader to keep their teams and clients in the loop? What are the expectations that we subconsciously hold against somebody before we have an important conversation with them? Segment 2:Why is it worth speaking up or starting a conversation if I don’t get my way in the end? When you voice a concern with someone, or express a want or need, what are you expecting from that person in return? What is psychological safety and how can we maintain it in the workplace and everyday conversations? Segment 3: As leaders, we’re bound to be presented with an idea from our team that we don’t necessarily agree with or plan to act on. How can we express that without hurting your employee in a way that detriments future conversations? How can we make our emotions and expectations clear without making our employees feel as though they are not a priority?Segment 4:Leaders are often so busy worrying about their teams that they forget to make time for self-reflection. How can being kind to ourselves facilitate improvements professionally and personally? What does a kind conversation with oneself sound like, and what should we expect the outcome to be?

ICommunicate Radio Show #170: I Accept Change

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 01:41:43 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President and Founder Mark Altman is joined by Michael Ferguson to discuss how embracing change leads to a more positive and productive company culture, encouraging feedback from employees, and monitoring the engagement level of our teams.Segment 1: What can often prove more difficult than changing a habit is recognizing what needs to be changed in the first place. How do we know when something about our attitude or behaviors needs to change? What awareness can we gain from taking the time to self-reflect on our own actions and productivity? Segment 2:With only so much time in a day, we’re faced with the daunting task of deciding what takes priority and what gets pushed to the wayside. Where should team engagement be on that list of priorities, and how can we fit the time into our schedule to check in on them? How do we shift our attitude around team engagement check-ins from tedious and time consuming to productive and fulfilling?Segment 3: One of the most difficult aspects of change is embracing a new mindset rather than just viewing it as “necessary.” How can sharing challenges with our kids help to teach them about empathy and the process of problem-solving? Why should leaders be excited about the opportunity to meet with their teams and check in on their engagement?Segment 4: Far too often, company culture is an aspect of a leader’s job that isn’t prioritized nearly as much as it needs to be. How can we ensure that people within our teams are communicating and engaging with one another, including remote workers? How can productivity be negatively affected when we don’t prioritize company culture?

ICommunicate Radio Show #169: Speaking Your Truth: Quiet Quitters

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 15:30:50 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President and Founder Mark Altman, discusses the biggest boundary for leaders; Getting people to speak their truth. Learn how to have difficult conversations to truly understand and improve the engagement level of team members. Segment 1: What we’ve come to understand after living through a pandemic is that a leader’s greatest weakness is uncertainty. When we are feeling uncertain about a particular issue, how should we be shifting our mindset to meet people where they’re at and collaborating on solutions? What are the greatest core competencies of leadership, and how can we be certain that we possess them?Segment 2:Leaders -- how are you contributing to a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up for what they want and need? What process can we utilize when engaging in a conversation about feedback to ensure that expectations are clear and agreed upon? How can asking for permission to give feedback shift the culture of your workplace positively? Segment 3: Have you taken the time to consider the warning signs of a quiet quitter? Could you even recognize them if you saw them? Why should leaders be treating emotions as valuable information rather than simply an obstacle to productivity? What questions should we be asking our team to test their level of engagement?Segment 4: How do past life experiences factor into an employee’s ability to be honest with their leaders? How can we use empathy to confront our team on their comfortability within the workplace? Before we can have conversations with our team regarding their honest feelings and opinions about their experiences in the workplace, we have to dismantle the biggest boundary of them all: vulnerability.

ICommunicate Radio Show #168: Courageous Conversations

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 01:09:12 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President and Founder, Mark Altman, helps viewers navigate through the jungle that is conversation intelligence. Learn the art of setting expectations, creating channels to receive and deliver meaningful feedback, and responding to excuses or criticism.Segment 1: Assertiveness is a critical aspect of leadership communication when engaging with and influencing peers or direct reports. Learn the downside when leaders don’t take the time to diagnose problems correctly the first time? When your team falls short of expectations, what prevents you from approaching the issue from a different angle? How can we eliminate hesitation and fear, so we stop putting off difficult, but crucial conversations? Segment 2:Listening is constantly praised as a critical aspect in communication, yet we often only open our ears to what we want to hear. What’s the difference between listening to understand and listening to respond, and how can that impact our sphere of influence? What are the three necessary ingredients for productive, effective conversations? Segment 3: Without taking the precaution to ensure that you will have control over the flow of a conversation, the discussion could easily get derailed and end up becoming unproductive. How can we direct the flow of feedback in order to prevent ourselves from wasting time talking about things that needlessly extend conversations? Why is it essential to approach these conversations using empathy as a tool of influence?Segment 4: Leaders are put to the test when a conversation doesn’t go as planned based on their ability to respond and not react or get triggered. How should we respond to employees when they make excuses or deflect conversations?

ICommunicate Radio Show #167: Why Are People So Difficult?

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:55:15 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Company Founder Mark Altman discusses what traits we tend to associate with “difficult” people, as well as how we can approach these individuals with a lens of curiosity in order to suspend judgment, collaborate on agreeable behaviors, and create an inviting workplace culture. Segment 1: As a result of the pandemic, we’ve all developed our fair share of habits that we know to be counterproductive and inefficient. At what point do we consider our colleagues in the workplace to be “difficult,” and what stigmas surround that? How can we uncover the root causes of these behaviors and iron them out in a manner that isn’t accusatory?Segment 2:Complaints are often spurred by unfulfilled expectations -- but how often are those expectations clearly defined on all ends? How does our learned social etiquette alter our perspective on non-stated expectations? How can those expectations be helpful or harmful on a day-to-day basis, and how can we ensure that our team is aware of the standards that they are being held to?Segment 3: Leaders -- how often do you consider the qualities that make an effective coach? How do small details in communication, such as tone, word choice, and body language, make a difference in the way you are able to influence people when trying to change their habits? What is the difference between internal and external curiosity, and how can distinguishing the two help us to relay expectations in a clear and productive way?Segment 4: We don’t take enough time to consider the many components of a conversation and how to effectively control the flow of a dialogue. How can we approach conversations around habit or behavior change without coming across as judgmental or accusatory? How can we discern somebody’s motivation from their fear, and how do we educate them on the importance of that difference?

ICommunicate Radio Show #166: We Are All Salespeople

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 18:51:02 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Company Founder Mark Altman is joined by Chill Executive Officer of LEAD, Kyrah Altman, to discuss how nonprofits can generate leads through intrinsic motivators, differentiate from other organizations through vulnerability, and remain self-reliant for funding, all without diminishing their value or sacrificing their mission.Segment 1: When people think of nonprofit organizations, one of the biggest questions that come to mind is: how do we sustain success through self-reliance? How do we convince people that donating money towards a nonprofit is a worthwhile investment? How can salespeople serve human needs as opposed to selling a service?Segment 2:Every sale begins and ends with a story -- one of hope, determination, passion, and eventual triumph. How can we relay these stories to potential leads in a way that demonstrates the value of our product and our team, ultimately influencing their decision to do service with us? How does unconditional vulnerability affect a client’s perception of our business? Segment 3: Running a nonprofit organization becomes especially difficult given how rapidly employee wants and needs are developing -- nonprofits can’t always keep up with the benefits that people expect. What can nonprofits do to make potential employees understand the intrinsic value of working for them? How can nonprofits handle and build off of rejection without altering their mission? Segment 4: Although nonprofits tend to shy away from the same tactics that salespeople use, it is still essential for them to educate people on what makes them unique and valuable. How can nonprofits offering up free samples of their product or service generate clients without diminishing the value of the organization? How can we stay determined through failure and know when to adjust our differentiators?

ICommunicate Radio Show #165: What Does Commitment Mean Anyways?

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 19:33:17 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Company Founder Mark Altman is joined by fellow MindsetGo trainer Joseph Lyman to discuss the consequences that stem from a lack of commitment, how to recognize when people aren’t prepared or confident to give you commitment and how to get people to speak their truth.Segment 1: When somebody fails to follow through on a commitment, should we blame it on a lack of effort or is there something more to it? What goes through the mind of somebody who gives themselves permission to bail on a task or meeting? How can we discern between a breakdown in communication and an excuse?Segment 2:Even our most reliable and committed leaders have moments where they lack the self-awareness to be emotionally intelligent -- but how can they improve on that? When we fail to honor a commitment, how can we rebuild trust with the people we let down? Segment 3: Our internal motivation and values derive from our own perceptions; thus, it can be difficult to align our goals with those of another person’s whose goals and values differ from ours. In cases like this, where two people collaborating do not see eye-to-eye, how can both parties still make commitments, and both feel heard? How can leaders establish a culture of open communication around commitment? Segment 4: Telling our leaders that we will “try” rather than “do” a task assumes that failure is part of the plan, thus creating a preemptive excuse in case we fail to follow through. How can we ensure that, after giving somebody a task, that they are comfortable enough to tell us if there is a factor that they are uncertain about? How can a slight change in tone or word choice be enough to deter or open up a peer?

ICommunicate Radio Show #164: The Thoughtful Leader

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 17:57:28 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman is joined by Ben Brearley, a Leadership Coach, Trainer, and Consultant with over 15 years of leadership experience. They discuss what it means to be a thoughtful leader, in addition to the challenges that may impede long lasting influence and change. Segment 1: When can a leader be certain that they’ve made a lasting, positive impact on the person that they’re coaching? Why is it so essential that coaches avoid using the righting reflex when problem solving with a colleague? Segment 2:It’s one thing to consider ourselves a thoughtful leader, but another to embody what that actually means. What does it mean to be a thoughtful leader? What does a “thoughtful” conversation look like between a leader and their team, and how can it lead to necessary reform in company culture? Segment 3: There’s a huge difference between “communicating” and “communicating with intent” that not all leaders recognize. Where does the motivation to continue learning come from, and how do we fuel other people? What are some leadership tools that we may be overlooking?Segment 4: It’s inevitable that leaders will find themselves in positions that no toolkit can fully prepare them for. In those moments, how can we adapt and find new solutions on our own? What is the tall poppy syndrome, and how can it affect the morale and performance of your team?

ICommunicate Radio Show #163: Reading People's Hearts - Understanding Motives and Intentions

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 11:40:02 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman is joined by fellow MindsetGo trainer Joseph Lyman to discuss what it means to read people’s hearts and how understanding a person’s intentions and motivators sets a leader up to be in a better position to support and develop their growth.Segment 1: We all wish we could read somebody’s mind to dissect what their exact intentions are, but would the consequences be too much to bear? What’s the downside to quick-fix solutions regarding understanding somebody’s intentions, and how can it impact our confidence? What viable options do we have in a conversation that will allow us to uncover somebody’s motives in a non- threatening way?Segment 2:To be an effective leader and communicator, we have to distinguish when somebody is upset with us, personally, or if it’s their own circumstances. What ingredients of emotional intelligence do we need to consider before offering our advice or opinions to somebody in distress? Do emotions belong in the workplace? If so, why and when are they a valuable tool for communication.Segment 3: Are you aware of your behaviors that unintentionally impact your colleagues and peers negatively? If not, how can we identify those habits and gain a new awareness around how we subconsciously influence people?Segment 4: Oftentimes, the most important factors within a workplace are things that can’t be measured with an exact science, such as employee engagement and wellbeing. What aspects of an organization should be most important to us as leaders, and how can we prioritize those components within our team culture? What’s the value of collaborating on solutions, and why is it so important to be face-to-face with our colleagues when doing so?

ICommunicate Radio Show #162: Nature vs Nurture

Sat, 28 May 2022 20:13:07 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Founder of MindsetGo, is joined by Marlyn Feliciano, and they discuss how to shape team culture to promote vulnerability and collaboration without oversharing or crossing personal boundaries and how to hold people accountable in a constructive way, as opposed to making them feel guilty and embarrassed for their mistake?Segment 1: We’re more than leaders, we’re role models -- we should expect them to take our behavior to heart and hold us to our world. With that in mind, how can we shape our team culture to promote vulnerability and collaboration without oversharing or crossing personal boundaries? How can we turn around our workplace culture when people feel uncomfortable in that environment? Segment 2:When we’re not getting a productive response out of a coworker, a member of our team, or somebody that we’re trying to network with, the problem becomes managing our emotions and adapting to their preferred method of communication. How can we hold people accountable in a constructive way, as opposed to making them feel guilty and embarrassed for their mistake? Segment 3: Holding people accountable can be like walking around glass, given how difficult it is to avoid coming off as stern or demeaning. What strategies around mindset can we employ that will make delivering and receiving feedback feel as though it’s coming from a place of empathy? How can we be assertive by leading with curiosity, as opposed to leading with emotions? Segment 4: An underrated, but essential, habit of an effective leader is to employ proper selfcare -- we can’t expect other people to trust us until we first trust ourselves. How can we make ourselves aware of the value we add towards our team and the work we do? How can we create reasonable expectations for ourselves that promote self growth and empowerment?

ICommunicate Radio Show #159: Turning the Other Cheek

Wed, 25 May 2022 11:20:45 -0400

When you are criticized, how does that feedback affect your thought process and your choice of response? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Founder of MindsetGo, discusses the Will Smith Oscar incident and how to respond before we react to effectively manage our emotions and model the right behaviors.Segment 1: One of the most difficult skills to develop is responding rather than reacting. What are some key awareness’s whenever we feel overwhelmed with our emotions? How can we develop the patience to think before we speak, even when we feel especially compelled to lash out?Segment 2:Far too often, we make blanket-statement value judgements, which simply aren’t true, before realizing how those remarks may be a trigger for people. What should we be asking ourselves before offering a potentially harmful opinion? What strategies can we utilize to manage our emotions?Segment 3: When we’re being criticized by someone, our first instinct in many cases is to defend or explain ourselves -- but is that the best course of action? What other strategies can we rely on in the heat of the moment so that we manage discourse in an acceptable and productive way? How can we reel ourselves in when we feel that our emotions are getting the best of us?Segment 4: Have you ever considered how tied to your goals you are? Are you able to incentivize and motivate yourself, or are you driven by consequences? What are the setbacks of a consequence-driven mindset, and how does that affect the relationship between leaders and their teams? How can value judgements impact our relationships and the way we communicate with people?

ICommunicate Radio Show #161: Intention to Serve

Sun, 22 May 2022 20:48:47 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Founder of MindsetGo, is joined by Susan MacConnell, a LinkedIn lead generation strategist and creator of The Client Connectorᵗᵐ method. Susan is also the president of Diversified Sales Solutions, which compliments her sales career that spans over 20 years. They discuss strategies to leverage LinkedIn to make a good first impression and simple content strategy ideas on how to secure meaningful connections.Segment 1: Being self-enterprising through LinkedIn or other social media outlets is something we know we should be doing, but it often feels like a daunting task. What kind of first impression should we be setting for potential connections? What strategies can we use so that we’re getting the most out of LinkedIn and the connections we’re making?Segment 2:We’re often under the impression that engaging over messaging takes an incredible amount of skill -- but all it really takes are a few engaging questions. What strategy should we be entering conversations with over LinkedIn messages that will engage our connections? At what point during the conversation have we earned the right to sell our product or service?Segment 3: With LinkedIn, we only have one opportunity to make or break a potential connection -- so we better make sure we’re making the best first impression that we can. How can we gauge what the best approach is for a potential connection based on their profile and our toolkit? What parts of our LinkedIn profile should we prioritize when editing our page?Segment 4: We should be viewing our LinkedIn as a reflection of ourselves and our assets, creating a sales pitch all in one spot. How should we organize our profile to effectively build credibility and advertise our skill set in an engaging and seamless way? How can we create opportunities for interaction that don’t feel agenda-driven?

ICommunicate Radio Show #160: Setting and Crossing Boundaries

Sun, 22 May 2022 20:38:13 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Founder of MindsetGo, discusses three level of self-awareness around setting and managing boundaries, the importance of avoiding the righting reflex, and creating rules of engagement for your team and company culture.Segment 1: The most difficult part of preventing somebody from crossing a boundary is understanding the root cause of why they did so. How do we identify, for ourselves and for others, when a boundary is being crossed? What are the three levels of self-awareness and how do we apply them when we suspect that a boundary has been crossed?Segment 2:When approaching conversations around crossing boundaries, we get so hung up on potential negative outcomes, that we feel there’s no chance the conversation can be productive. Why should we still allow ourselves the opportunity to have these discussions, even if we think they’re futile? How can we understand the intent behind somebody’s decision to cross a boundary? Segment 3: Throughout our lives, authority figures have told us what we’re doing wrong and why it’s wrong -- far too often, there’s no room for dialogue. How can we, as effective and inspiring leaders, allow the floor to our employees in a way that is productive for both parties? What’s the difference between an assessment and an assertion, and how can they impact your ability to set the tone for a conversation?Segment 4: When somebody has crossed a boundary, we often see it as a one-sided problem. In fact, there are ways to turn the conversation so that both parties walk away satisfied with a fresh, valuable understanding of the issue. What is A-Prep, and how can it be an extremely valuable tool in garnering understanding from the person you’re talking to? Why are we so afraid to ask other people what they want and need from us?

ICommunicate Radio Show #158: The Ace Up Your Sleeve

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:59:47 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Tracy Burns, CEO of Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA), joins Kyrah Altman, Chill Officer of LEAD to discuss how to promote an environment that inspires vulnerability and collaboration as well as manage an employee’s recovery for setbacks like burnout and indecisiveness. In 2017, Tracy was featured in Boston Business Journal’s series “Women of Influence”. A sought-after expert in “all things HR”, Tracy is often quoted in local and national media outlets and has been featured on various industry-related podcasts, including The Hennessy Report and HR Rebooted.Segment 1: With workplaces needing to adapt to changing Covid policies, HR leaders have the opportunity to guide employees through difficult times. How can HR dissipate the fear of employees and feed into a transparent culture? What resources and tools can we offer employees to prevent burnout and increase engagement?Segment 2:In HR, it’s essential that we avoid blanket solutions for problems, and instead treat every employee as independent. How can we ensure that employees feel comfortable collaborating with HR on solutions to their problems? How can leaders help their team recover from burnout?Segment 3: With awareness of workplace culture and ethics increasing over the past few years, the job market is shifting in a way that allows employees more leverage. What’s the power in changing the language we use in our company culture, and how can that improve attitudes in the workplace? Why is it significant, now more than ever, that we allow employees the right to make mistakes?Segment 4: We’ve witnessed an unprecedented uptick in people questioning their satisfaction in the workplace. It’s time for leaders to help their teams find out what decisions are best for them. How can we motivate employees to feel as though they are making a significant contribution to the company as well as their own wellness? What behaviors should we be modeling to improve company culture?

ICommunicate Radio Show #157: The Obstacle is the Way

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 02:42:25 -0400

When leaders go into problem-solve mode with quick-fix solutions, they often end up solving the wrong problem. In this episode of ICommunicate, Founder of MindsetGo, Mark Altman, addresses how leaders can stop enabling and start empowering their teams to develop essential problem solving skills.Segment 1: When we’re upset about a circumstance that we feel is out of our control, the last thing we want to hear from somebody is how our misfortune is actually an unrealized advantage. However, that might just be the case. How can we adjust to an advantage mindset? How can we grow and truly see the benefit of mistakes?Segment 2:What’s the three-step formula to giving feedback that will empower and motivate your employees? What do our past experiences and downfalls have to do with how we support our team while they overcome their own problems?Segment 3: Far too often, we find ourselves blaming other people or circumstances for our own problems. How can a little self-reflection open our eyes to what’s really going on when we get upset over something? How can you empathize with somebody without agreeing with them, and how can that be a powerful tool of influence?Segment 4: One of the biggest compliments you can receive as a leader is when a team member feels comfortable sharing a grievance with you. What practices can we adopt to get to that point with our teams? How can we dismantle the illusion of a workplace hierarchy within an employee so that they feel comfortable being vulnerable with their leaders?

ICommunicate Radio Show #156: Facilitating Cooperation and Not Demanding Compliance

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:36:42 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Founder of MindsetGo, Mark Altman, discusses why leaders waste so much time having repeat performance conversations and how to problem solve while developing a team of critical thinkers. Listen and learn how to motivate people to change habits through cooperation and not compliance.Segment 1: When pushing for change in company culture, it’s essential that we’re able to influence other people by helping them recognize the need for change. How do we get cooperation from our team instead of just compliance, and why is it important to distinguish between the two? How can we inspire our team to want change, as opposed to it feeling forced upon them?Segment 2:The standard power dynamic in any workplace is: boss tells employee what to do, employee follows through -- but is that the optimal form of leadership? How do we shift the workplace culture in a way that promotes psychological safety and empowers our teams to speak up? What does it mean to be victimized, and why is it becoming an increasingly relevant topic?Segment 3: A key attribute that optimal leaders should strive for is the ability to empower employees enough to where they feel comfortable problem solving on their own. How can we frame feedback with our teams in a way that gives them the room to think critically? How can “asking for permission to help” in a situation give your employees the fuel that they need to advocate for themselves?Segment 4: What leaders often fail to recognize is that when their employees ask them for help, it’s because they’re striving for perfection. How do we construct conversations with employees to instill confidence as well as empowerment in them? How should we react to employees when they deflect a request of ours with excuses?

ICommunicate Radio Show #155: The Future of Flexibility Begins with Hybrid Workplaces

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:35:32 -0400

Shawna Rosenzweig, Chief Strategy Officer at Camp Fire HQ in Seattle, WA, joins Kyrah Altman, Chill Officer of LEAD and shares her experiences supporting teams in building trust, structure, rhythm, and resilience in a remote workplace setting. With employees all over the US, Shawna shares her communication, leadership, and managerial best practices and tips for fostering connection, inclusion, and trust-building in a remote workplace setting. Segment 1: Despite the normalization of remote work, we still call into question the efficiency of communication, and whether or not meaningful connections can be made. How does a hybrid workplace affect employee relationships as well as their sense of belonging? Should we feel threatened by the influx of employees shifting to remote workplaces, or are there opportunities that we have yet to uncover?Segment 2:As humans, we’re bound to slip up and cause somebody else discomfort. However, this problem can become even more complex when it comes to remote work. How can we create safe spaces for our team to speak freely about inclusivity, and how can that foster trust and empathy within your team? How can we create opportunities outside of work for our teams to celebrate each other, ensuring people feel appreciated and recognized?Segment 3:It’s ironic how one of the greatest benefits of remote work happens to also be an impedance; that being, employees have more freedom over their own schedules. What behaviors should leaders avoid doing that may be impeding the productivity and wellness of our teams? How can scheduled downtime lead to an influx of creativity and production? Segment 4: The online workplace is an ever-evolving landscape, where a variety of people, all under different circumstances, must choose to either adapt to or resist the inevitable. As leaders, where is our place in this equation, and how can we ensure all team members are accounted for? What advice should leaders offer their teams in regards to the often-messy communication of a hybrid workplace?

ICommunicate Radio Show #154: Point of No Return

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:28:06 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman, is joined by his daughter Kyrah Altman. Kyrah is the Founder and Chill Executive Officer of LEAD, which specializes in mental health and DEI based education for HR professionals and leadership teams. Mark and Kyrah discuss how to facilitate conversations where employees speak up for what they want and need and how to proactively prioritize mental health in the workplace.Segment 1: With mental health becoming a more critical component of workplace culture, it’s important to understand the factors that play into it now more than ever. What’s the difference between mental health and mental illness, and why is it crucial that we make a distinction between the two? How can being knowledgeable on the topic of mental health contribute to a more positive work atmosphere?Segment 2:We can’t change the culture of our workplace overnight -- it takes time, dedication, and most of all, vulnerability. How do we shift the priorities of ourselves and our team to embrace conversations about health and wellness? How do we set the stage for these conversations so that they benefit even the most stubborn employees?Segment 3:As leaders, one of our greatest fears is being presented with a question or request that we don’t have an answer to. Does admitting that we don’t have an answer always reflect poorly on our ability to lead, or is there room to flip the narrative? What makes being vulnerable so hard, and how can we surmount those mental and emotional barriers? Segment 4: What is arguably more important than the insight leaders can offer their teams is the perspective that employees share with their leaders. What steps can we take proactively to give our employees the opportunity to be vulnerable, so that they don’t harbor any grievances until they reach their breaking point? When in the heat of these conversations, what steps can we take to uncover the root cause of their frustration, and how can we address it?

ICommunicate Radio Show #153: Backed Into a Corner -- What Companies Can Do

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:25:59 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman discusses the critical first steps to retaining individuals within your organization and how to facilitate a conversation that gets people comfortable sharing their true feelings about their level of engagement and satisfaction.Segment 1: With no end in sight for the Great Resignation, it’s essential, now more than ever, that we communicate with our teams and set expectations. Have we improved our sphere of influence to the point where we can influence outcomes? If not, how can we get to that level? What are the fears that are preventing our employees from communicating with us?Segment 2:One of the best traits of a leader is the ability to provide our teams with the platform to speak freely and feel comfortable doing so. How can we shift our company culture so that everybody feels like their voice matters? Is there a tangible way to measure the productivity and engagement of our employees?Segment 3:When our teams raise a concern, we often deflect them with band-aid solutions that only fix the problem in the short term. How can we address the long term problem and create a process to ensure the problem doesn’t recur? How can we ensure psychological safety for our employees, so that they feel comfortable advocating for themselves?Segment 4: Leaders, why do we react to problems only when our backs are against the wall instead of tackling them before they get out of hand? Why should we consider “stay interviews” just as important as leave interviews?

ICommunicate Radio Show #152: The Empathetic Leader

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 14:42:56 -0500

Do you use empathy as a tool to retain employees? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman explains how utilizing empathy can be an essential factor to strengthening relationships and reversing “Great Resignation” trends.Segment 1: Not enough people take the time to reflect on how emotional intelligence, and especially empathy, can improve their abilities to sustain relationships and think critically, among other skills. What are the benefits to leading with empathy, and how can we prove that it’s working?Segment 2:When a team member doesn’t meet a leader’s expectations, there’s often a reason for doing so beyond that they’re just out to annoy you. Are you using empathy as a tool of influence, or a means to motivate people to act differently? Segment 3:In the heat of a conflict, how can we be self-aware enough to ask questions rather than accuse and deflect? What is “conversation stacking” and how can this technique bring out authentic empathy within us as well as lead to solutions? Segment 4: Too often, we allow ourselves to forget that in order to properly take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves. What are the benefits to empathizing with yourself, and how can doing so affect your ability to lead and influence your team? When our team envisions their ideal leader, what qualities come to mind?

ICommunicate Radio Show #151: Manage Yourself by Learning the Truth

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 14:41:27 -0500

Operational, finance, and sales goals aren’t enough. As we reflect on 2021, it’s time to set goals around habit development and mindset. In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman, discusses how to prioritize goals to manage yourself and in turn more effectively lead others.Segment 1: Are you going to let your New Year’s resolutions stay ambitions, or set tangible goals that are within reach? How can we seamlessly incorporate S.M.A.R.T. goals into our daily lives? What’s the benefit to setting goals around habits as opposed to outcomes?Segment 2:We can’t achieve a goal if we don’t take the proper time to reflect on the obstacles preventing us from reaching it. What is the danger of FOMO, and how can we turn that fear into opportunity? How do we get people to understand the benefit of reserving time in our day for self-reflection? Segment 3:Part of the process in habit change is asking for and reflecting on feedback from our peers but getting honest answers from them never seems easy. What are the consequences of not being aware of how others perceive us? What are strategies we can use to get genuine feedback from our team?Segment 4: What do we do when our peer’s perception of us doesn’t match what we want them to think? How can we recognize our blind spots and develop a roadmap to overcome them? What are our biggest fears headed into the new year, and how can we put ourselves in a position to best them?

ICommunicate Radio Show #150: It's Not Common Sense

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 17:48:50 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Founder of MindsetGo, discusses how the phrase “Common Sense” interferes with having an open-mind, problem-solving, innovation, employee engagement and psychological safety. Listen and learn how to use curiosity and emotional intelligence to improve your communication.Segment 1: Habits and behaviors that are innate to us may not be so obvious to people around us, which makes it so important for us to understand where people are coming from. What is the difference between societal etiquette and common sense? What is the mindset that makes up “common sense,” and how can we ensure that we’re making the best decisions that we can in a given situation?Segment 2:Although we’ve spent our entire career building up essential work and life skills, there are bound to be important things that we lack proficiency in. What skills should be “common sense” for us to know at this point in our lives? What makes a habit or behavior “common sense” to know? Segment 3:As leaders, we need to understand the weight and significance of telling our team “I don’t know.” Is it a detriment to tell that to our teams, or is there a benefit to admitting to our teams when we don’t have answers? What is the best way to motivate our peers into changing a habit or behavior?Segment 4: Empathy is an extremely powerful tool that can often be the deciding factor in whether or not we influence somebody else. How can our usage of empathy shape the way people interact with us? When we’re unsure what the level of experience is of the person we’re working with, how can we ask clarifying questions in a way that isn’t condescending?

ICommunicate Radio Show #149: Having Your Cake and Eating it Too

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 19:24:36 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman discusses barriers to advocating for yourself and your team, how to be assertive when setting boundaries and expectations, and the consequences of internalizing your emotions in the workplace.Segment 1: Do you have an open-door policy because you genuinely believe in it, or do you just think it’s necessary? How can we remove the open-door policy, but still be available and present for our team? What kind of boundaries should we be setting with people in and out of the workplace to ensure proper work-life-balance?Segment 2:Despite the positive intentions of an open-door policy, it can lead to a lot of wasted time between us and our teams. How can we provide our teams with the tools and knowledge to take care of their problems as they arise, so we have more time to focus on our own responsibilities? What strategies and processes can we introduce to our teams to ensure that our time is being used efficiently?Segment 3:We know that an open-door policy isn’t always ideal, but what other strategies or processes can we put into place as a substitute? How can setting levels of urgency and modes of communication make problem solving a much more seamless process for you and your team?Segment 4: As leaders and role models, we have to recognize that our behavior is infectious, which makes communicating effectively such an essential responsibility. What kind of culture are you creating for the workplace, and how can you adjust to ensure that everybody is in a position to succeed? What kind of input from our team should we be assessing in regards to our open door policy?

ICommunicate Radio Show #148: Acting on and Recognizing Your Choices

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:11:45 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman discusses barriers to advocating for yourself and your team, how to be assertive when setting boundaries and expectations, and the cost of internalizing your emotions related to your happiness, motivation, and engagement in the workplace.Segment 1: There’s a perceived thin line between “complaining” and “educating,” but can you say what separates the two? What’s the reward for speaking up against a decision that you feel is wrong? Why should we be treating advocating for ourselves like a personal sales pitch?Segment 2:We can’t control how other people are going to react to us, but we can control our ability to influence people. Can you identify what makes you unhappy about your work and personal life, and understand the root cause of those frustrations? What is the difference between being assertive and being aggressive?Segment 3:There are countless problems that could have been avoided if people had taken the time to stop, think, and ask meaningful questions. What internal and external obstacles are preventing us from having difficult conversations about advocacy? How can we discern when there is an opportunity to advocate for ourselves versus when there isn’t?Segment 4: If we want to communicate our thoughts and feelings in a way that changes the perspective of the person we’re talking to, we have to have a gameplan. How can we gauge the success of conversations about advocacy? What communication strategies should we have in mind heading into these conversations?

ICommunicate Radio Show #147: Reverse Influence

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:10:16 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman discusses what “Reverse Influence” is, the impact it has on yourself, your team and your company culture. Learn how to become a positive dissenter to disrupt thought processes in your environment.Segment 1: As role models, we must be aware of how contagious our attitude is, as it ultimately affects your team’s morale. What does it mean to be a “reverse influencer,” and how does it affect your relationship with your team? How can we use the elephant in the room technique to address reverse influencers? What behaviors should we be normalizing within the workplace, and what doesn’t belong?Segment 2:If a leader doesn’t have the right mindset, it could potentially be detrimental to the team’s productivity and engagement. How can we reverse engineer our mindset to remain positive even when the going gets tough? How can we change our mindset from being a “reverse influencer” to a “positive dissenter”?Segment 3:Our teams don’t always agree with our decisions, which makes communicating with our teams about them so critical. How do we discern our role and the role of our team in these discussions? How can we ensure that our team feels supported even when it’s a decision they don’t agree with? What is the risk of being a positive dissenter? Segment 4: As leaders, it’s essential that we maintain a positive working environment. How do you recognize when you are becoming a reverse influencer? What are some coping skills that you can model for your team to prevent a toxic work environment?

ICommunicate Radio Show #146: Your Sphere of Influence

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:31:19 -0500

You can’t control people, but you can influence their feelings, thoughts, and actions. In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo President Mark Altman discusses simple steps leaders and parents can take to influence people in their sphere of influence.Segment 1: We’ve all heard the phrase countless times now: “control what you can control, and forget about what you can’t,” but in reality, it isn’t as simple as that. What aspects of our lives do we really have control over, and what are areas that we don’t? How can we recognize what our sphere of influence really is, and what steps can we take to improve it?Segment 2:Oftentimes, when we can’t get our way in a conflict, we assume our backs are against the wall and we’re out of options. How can our tone and line of questioning increase our sphere of influence? What mindset should we have going into these difficult conversations? Segment 3: When having difficult conversations, it’s essential to have a process and template to use to measure your success. What does a “process” for these conversations look like? After having a conversation with an employee regarding habit change, how can you tell that it was successful? Segment 4: Having repeat conversations with somebody about habit change can be frustrating, but with the right plan, the process can be made much more seamless. How many conversations should we expect to have with someone before they change their habit? How should we be reacting to setbacks while they develop a new habit?

ICommunicate Radio Show #145: What it Looks Like When a Leader Knows How to Coach

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 15:17:56 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, new MindsetGo coach Patty Burke joins Mark Altman to discuss how leaders can become effective coaches, what gets in the way of being a good coach and how coaching starts with managing yourself.Segment 1: As easy as it sounds to put ourselves in another person's shoes, not all of us are prepared to put ourselves in the mindset to do so. What are the qualities that determine an effective leader and coach, and how do we know that we possess those qualities? Why is it so hard to put ourselves in another person’s shoes, and what can make it easier for us? Segment 2:“Be mindful” is a phrase we hear day in and day out, but what does that actually mean? What are the benefits of mindfulness, and how does it apply to different aspects of our lives? What questions should we be asking people who seek change in their lives to motivate them and get them to understand what the root cause of their insecurities or problems may be?Segment 3:Leaders, we have to stop expecting our team member’s habits to change after one, long conversation -- but what is the alternative to that? How can we make habit change manageable for our employees, so that check-ins don’t waste our time or theirs? Why is it important for us, as leaders, to get our employees to understand their own problems, as opposed to us spelling them out for them?Segment 4: We’re an outcome-driven society, where our priority by the end of the day is to hit our numbers -- but what about every other aspect of our lives? Why should we shift our mindset to prioritize processes and development instead of outcomes? Each and every one of us has some internal motivation that drives us to do what we do -- can you identify what those aspirations are in each and every one of your teammates?

ICommunicate Radio Show #144: Here to Stay

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 22:30:06 -0400

In the frantic need to hire more people, the group we often forget to attend to are the folks who stay — those showing up day-in and day-out shouldering the work that needs to get done. Think about what these people — the ones who are here, working for and with you — need now. In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to use “Stay interviews” and other retention strategies to assess needs and wants, engage, appreciate and recognize the loyal employees who have stayed.Segment 1: When we spend enough time and effort reacting to people who are in need, the people who have been most loyal to us can fall by the wayside. How can we show our appreciation to the employees who have been loyal to us, and why is it important that we consistently do so? What are “stay interviews,” and why should we be initiating them? Segment 2:Part of your job as a leader is to consistently check in on your team and gauge their engagement with the company. What questions can we ask members of our team to understand their values and how they align with the values of the company? If a team member has a concern about their future with the company, how should we address it?Segment 3:So much of leadership comes down to the mindset and behaviors that you’re modeling, given that your attitude towards work will be especially contagious? What strategies can we use to ensure that our team feels like they’re making significant contributions to the company, and that they’re meeting expectations? When somebody feels like they can’t be a part of the team anymore, how should we react to that?Segment 4: When somebody feels like they don’t belong in the company anymore, we have a few options at our disposal. What are those options, and how can we assess which one will work best in our given situation? What questions should we ask to understand the root cause of our team member’s concerns regarding their future with the company?

ICommunicate Radio Show #143- The Blind Leading The Blind

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 22:24:30 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Robert Bush, a Sales Leader from Connection, once again joins Mark Altman to discuss critical steps to be self-aware of heading into habit change conversations and how to get people comfortable sharing their truth about where they need help.Segment 1: Integrating learning and development training into our workplace culture is much easier said than done. How can we educate people about the importance of self-reflection and evolving from their mistakes? How can we make time in the day for learning and development, and how can we sustain a positive attitude towards it?Segment 2:Developing the skill set to self-reflect and accurately identify your strengths and weaknesses is a challenge in and of itself, let alone teaching someone else how to do it. As leaders, how can we identify trends in our employee’s behaviors that need to be addressed? When should we intervene and talk about habit change with them, and how can we facilitate change?Segment 3:As leaders, we understand that one of the most difficult challenges that comes with leading our teams is maintaining a positive outlook. How can we maintain a positive attitude without feeling as though we have to fake it? How can we adjust our mindset to look at difficulties as a metric of improvement rather than a hindrance? Segment 4: The unfortunate truth regarding conversations around habit change is that there’s not a single, sure-fire solution -- some people may be more resistant to change or admitting their faults than others. How can we prepare for these conversations, ensuring that our approach derives from a place of humility rather than authority? How can we adjust our mindset so that we have a proactive outlook on work/life, and how can we make that attitude contagious?

ICommunicate Radio Show #142: Personal Blind Spots

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 18:00:38 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to use a tool to assess yourself, compare yourself to your peers/competitors, and also to find career growth opportunities. Segment 1: If somebody were to ask you what your greatest strengths and weaknesses are, would you be able to tell them with confidence what those are? How can we determine what our greatest strengths and weaknesses are? Who should we be approaching to gather feedback?Segment 2:We all have unique strengths that differentiate us from our peers, but determining what those are is often challenging. What strategies can we use to generate feedback for ourselves? What questions can we ask to understand what our positive and negative blind spots are?Segment 3:In your process for determining success, are you identifying areas that you’re improving on, or just focusing on outcomes? What questions should we be asking ourselves to identify our weaknesses? How can we build confidence in areas of our personal and professional lives that we believe we struggle in?Segment 4: Often there are opportunities for us to take advantage of in our personal and professional lives that we don’t see as obvious. What questions can we ask ourselves to recognize the opportunities around us, even when it seems like there aren’t any? What is the difference between internal and external threats, and how can we identify and act on them?

ICommunicate Radio Show #141: Great Expectations

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:28:17 -0400

How can you set clear boundaries at work and still feel like you are a team player? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to recognize what you expect of your boss, your peers, your direct reports, and meaningful personal relationships. Learn how to differentiate between a request and expectation and how to get to the root cause of what you truly expect of others.Segment 1: We often create expectations for people that they are unaware of, and subsequently become disappointed when said expectations are not met. How can we clarify those expectations and avoid future let downs? How does detail orientated communication play into expectations?Segment 2:The breakdown of communication can be narrowed down to three factors: unclear expectations, core values, and ambiguity. When communicating with others, we must consider three questions: What expectations are we setting, and what are the rules for creating them? How do we clearly communicate our core values? And finally, how do we remove ambiguity and achieve clarity?Segment 3:Just because we believe we communicated our expectations effectively, doesn’t mean that the receiver of that information perceives it in the same way. How does setting and managing clear and attainable expectations impact the workplace? What are the two simple steps in eradicating the; “I told them what I want, but they don't listen,” mindset, and how do we benefit from correcting it?Segment 4: Think about how you define your expectations; Are you clear in what you want and need? How can we balance accountability and empathy in a conversation? How can we allow room for “effortless empathy” in conversation through the application of introspection?

ICommunicate Radio Show #140: Holding Salespeople Accountable

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:46:17 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Robert Bush, Senior Director of Sales for Connection, a Fortune 1000 company, joins Mark to discuss how to recognize complacency in salespeople, options to motivate and re-energize them, and how to hold your sales team accountable.Segment 1: Too often, salespeople become satisfied when they hit or exceed their quotas, causing a complacent mindset. Why can this mindset be dangerous, and how can we overcome it? Is motivation something that is inherent, or can we teach it? Segment 2:As salespeople we don't always have full transparency about how our customers feel about us, our product and our company. What strategies can we use to find out how our customers truly feel about us? What example should we be setting to ensure a culture of honesty in the workplace? What does it mean to “build a bank of equity,” and how will doing so benefit leaders and their teams?Segment 3:Sometimes certain members of our team may be hitting quotas, but fail to meet other expectations. Allowing this behavior can lead to a toxic workplace environment, as other employees may develop a resignation mindset. How do we determine creative rewards and consequences to motivate employees to strive for goals beyond the bottom line? What does it mean to “manage fearfully” and is it harmful or helpful to our team?Segment 4: Motivating employees who are sales-driven can be difficult, especially when they don’t feel incentivized to improve in other aspects of their job. What can we offer to these employees to encourage them to adopt emotionally intelligent habits and behaviors? How can employees who fall under this category hinder the development of the rest of the team?

ICommunicate Radio Show #139: How to Know if Your Job Has Become Your Identity

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:16:03 -0400

Can you distinguish your personal identity from your professional one? In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses the limitations that come as a result of having a resignation mindset as well as how to take control of the work-life balance issues that make your job feel toxic and overwhelming.Segment 1: For a lot of us, taking a 30-minute break every day is something that we can’t afford to do. How is it that shifting our mindset as well as reconsidering our priorities can lead to a healthier work-life balance? How can we reassess our schedule and set goals regarding how we manage our time?Segment 2:Think about how many times you’ve had a conversation with somebody new, and your career was a focal point of the discussion. At what point should we become concerned about our jobs determining our individuality? How much control do we have over our identity, and does it need to relate to our career?Segment 3: When we get out of the office, finish checking our emails, and go home, we can rest easy knowing that our work for the day is done… right? Why is it that our personal lives are so deeply linked to our careers? How can we gain the awareness to recognize when our work is taking over our personal lives to an unreasonable extent, and what can we do about it?Segment 4: If there was ever a time to reassess our identity and how it relates to our careers, it’s now. Have you taken the time to reflect on your identity, goals, and relationships, disconnected from work? How can we remind ourselves that our identity is not limited to our job, and discover that we have valuable qualities that would make us effective in other industries or hobbies?

ICommunicate Radio Show #138: It May Be the Right Time to Give Up

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:13:00 -0400

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark dissects the phrase “Never Give Up.” He discusses why that advice is often flawed, when it can be great advice, and what needs to accompany that advice to help develop the core competencies of resilience and grit.Segment 1: What kind of message are we sending to people when we tell them not to give up, and how does it affect their confidence and productivity? What strategies can we turn to when we feel the urge to give up on a goal that we’ve set?Segment 2:As leaders, it’s our job to model engagement and tend to the morale of our team. How can we ensure that our team is motivated and self-driven? If our team fails to meet its goals, how can we adjust without hurting the confidence of our team? Segment 3: Sometimes we’re faced with situations in which there are plenty of red flags that warn us to give up on something before proceeding with it. What red flags should we be looking for before making a decision and how do we know whether we should back out or follow through? Segment 4: When we get overwhelmed or stressed with our work, it becomes incredibly tempting to give up and walk away. When the going gets tough, what strategies can we use to pull ourselves back to reality and find the motivation to continue working? At what point, if any, should we give up on our goals and set new ones?

ICommunicate Radio Show #137: Is This Meeting Necessary?

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:01:10 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to determine if meetings are necessary, what makes an impactful meeting, how to make meeting or email communication relevant, and how to capture the attention of your meeting participants.Segment 1: When a meeting is called, the question on everyone’s mind quickly becomes: Is this meeting really necessary, or is this something that can be accomplished through email? How can we make meetings more productive and collaborative, ensuring that the meeting was well worth the time? How can we provide engaging and insightful emails that our employees are sure to read?Segment 2:Far too often, we hold meetings for things that could have been resolved through an email. How do we determine when it’s worth holding a meeting versus just sending an email? What are some other ways we can share information with our team either leading up to a meeting or in place of one, allowing us to make the most of our time?Segment 3: When calling a meeting, does everybody on your team understand their role in the conversation? What should we be including in an email to our team prior to a meeting? How can we set up our team in advance so that they come to the meeting prepared to contribute? Segment 4: Believe it or not, optimizing your meeting time frees up you and your team so that you can make the most of each and every day. How is it that creating a game plan for meetings can lead to an abundance of extra time to do other work? With all of this newfound time, what should we be prioritizing?

ICommunicate Radio Show #136: Gauging Emotional Intelligence When Interviewing Leaders

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 16:41:36 -0400

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to assess a leader’s level of emotional intelligence during an interview. He discusses what questions to ask to ensure that their core values aligned with the company, how they deal with change, how they respond to adversity, and what behavior they model.Segment 1: Before we can interview potential leaders about their value and emotional intelligence, we need to know what steps to take to ensure that our interviewee will be comfortable and transparent. How can we ensure that a candidate that we’re interviewing has a psychological safety net? How can workplace culture influence the outcome of an interview?Segment 2:Time is valuable -- and with only so much time to interview a candidate for a leadership position, we need to know what questions to ask to reveal the most we can about their level of emotional intelligence. How can we uncover their habits around dealing with setbacks or conflict? Segment 3: Leaders, it’s essential that we understand not only our strengths, but our weaknesses as well. How can a story about growth and self-awareness about your weaknesses prove a high capacity of emotional intelligence? What questions can we ask to gauge a leader’s core values around learning, growth, and relationships?Segment 4: At the end of the day, what we’re really looking for in a candidate is somebody whose core values line up with the culture of the workplace. Why is it important that our leaders value work-life balance? Why is it essential that we uncover what motivates a candidate and how it fits into their long-term development plan?

ICommunicate Radio Show #135: Changing Habits With Leader Danielle Lariviere

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 18:50:01 -0400

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Danielle Lariviere joins Mark to discuss how making incremental habit changes and setting boundaries drastically improves your productivity and the ability to effectively support your teamSegment 1: We often understate the impact that a coach can have on our development as leaders. How can admitting our flaws lead to growth -- not only within ourselves, but with the team we manage as well? How can we make employees feel like their role in the business is meaningful?Segment 2:Day in and day out, we’re knee deep in emails, frantically responding and reacting, causing our priorities to constantly shift by the minute. How can we manage our time and attention to allow us to respond to these emails without losing track of our own priorities? How can self-awareness provide us with the ability to structure our day around what really matters?Segment 3: You’d be amazed at the difference a daily 30-minute break can make for your team. How can hitting the “reset” button on someone’s brain lead to more relaxed and productive work? How can we change the narrative on daily interruptions so that they’re a scheduled event rather than something we’re reacting to? Segment 4: As leaders, our decisions regarding priorities sends a message to our team, letting them know whether or not they fit into our schedule. How can we establish a culture of understanding and accountability to ensure that everybody’s needs are tended to? Why is it important that leaders and their teams have the same standards for time and attention management?

ICommunicate Radio Show #134: Do People Buy You?

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 17:46:14 -0400

The problem with having a great product or service is that you believe it will do all of the work for you. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how knowing your Unique Value Proposition can be THE deciding factor in a client or company choosing your service or product over that of a competitor.Segment 1: At the end of the day, when we’re selling to a potential client, the most important factor in closing the deal is the perceived value of our product or service…. right? What are the most important talking points during a conversation with a new client? How can we differentiate ourselves from the competition to prove that there’s value in a relationship with us?Segment 2:Aside from listening, what is the most important skill we should utilize when developing a relationship with a client? What are value-based questions that we can ask clients to demonstrate our value to them?Segment 3: As salespeople, it’s essential for us to ask questions to our clients that lead us to the root cause of their problem. How can we frame conversations to uncover our client’s problems and priorities? Segment 4: Often times potential clients don’t have a full understanding of the sales process. Their fears and uncertainty may hinder your ability to close the deal. How can we enlighten prospects and make the decision making process easier for them? How can we develop a better understanding of what makes us stand out from our competitors?

ICommunicate Radio Show #147: Reflecting the Right Way

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 17:24:45 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how self-reflection and introspection can lead to setting and accomplishing meaningful goals as well as improving workplace culture to encourage cross-collaboration.Segment 1: It’s one thing to set goals, but another to be aware of the progress we’re making towards those goals. How can setting specific, tangible goals benefit our self-awareness? Why is it so important that we understand our weaknesses as much as our strengths?Segment 2:As leaders, it’s essential for us to reflect on our strengths, weaknesses, and how we’re affecting our team. Why is it essential for us to create a culture of vulnerability, where people feel comfortable asking for feedback? Why should we seek discomforting evidence and question our assumptions when it comes to our own self awareness?Segment 3: After we self-reflect and understand our strengths and weaknesses, it comes time for us to find ways to apply what we’ve learned. What questions should we be asking about ourselves and our teams to figure out what areas need improvement? How can we use introspection in our day to day lives?Segment 4: We can be motivated to make changes, but if we don’t have the awareness to understand what steps need to be taken to improve, we’ll fall short. How much time and effort should we be putting towards introspection? How can introspection lead us to uncover problems that may be holding back our teams?

ICommunicate Radio Show #146: I Wasn't Aware Of That

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:42:18 -0400

What really matters to you? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to utilize the different types of self-awareness to unlock a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationships, ultimately enhancing our ability to lead and motivate.Segment 1: Everything starts with self-awareness. Yet, most companies don’t value developing that skill in employees nearly as much as they should. What are the two types of self-awareness, and how do they play into our daily lives?Segment 2:The awareness we have about ourselves and how people see us ultimately shapes how effective we are at motivating ourselves and others. What type of self-awareness persona do you embody, and what should you be striving for? Segment 3: It’s one thing to be aware of our values, but another thing to consistently model them. How can we optimize our schedules to ensure that we’re comfortable with the processes involved in our work and personal lives? How can developing awareness around our daily schedules lead to more time to explore our passions outside of work?Segment 4: When we think back on times where we had a problem with somebody, we can reflect on ways those conversations could have ended better. What’s the importance of recognizing why we’re disagreeing with somebody? How can developing awareness around our relationships prevent problems down the line?

ICommunicate Radio Show #145: Responding To People Who Are Frustrated

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:01:53 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman, Director of Learning and Development at MindsetGo, discusses the steps to impactful conversations with individuals or teams that are frustrated. Learn to help people shift their mindset, embrace different perspectives, and see their role in change.Segment 1: Navigating through a conversation with somebody who is especially frustrated is a tall task without the right toolkit. What should we keep in mind when we’re in these situations? How can we turn somebody’s frustration into motivation and clarity?Segment 2:A team that’s plagued with resignation mindsets leads to a culture where frustration is contagious. What is a resignation mindset, and what steps can we take to avoid it? What strategies can we use to identify the root cause of problems, and why is it essential for leaders to know?Segment 3: What we say in a conversation with somebody who is frustrated could be the deciding factor in whether or not they resolve their problem. How can we help our team draw conclusions about where their feelings are coming from? How can we guide our peers towards understanding different perspectives?Segment 4: As leaders, we play a pivotal role in the wellbeing of our team, and must be on the lookout for signs of frustration. What results should we strive for when having conversations with our team about what’s holding them back?

ICommunicate Radio Show #144: What Could Go Wrong?

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:49:16 -0400

Have you ever worried about making the wrong decision? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses the factors that influence our decision-making process as well as how our choices affect our confidence.Segment 1: Despite what we’re inclined to believe, the consequences of our decisions are not always black and white. What is decidophobia and how is it affecting us on a daily basis? How can we reevaluate our decision-making process to ensure that it’s emotionally intelligent?Segment 2:Whether or not we’re willing to admit it, our emotions play a huge role in our decision-making process. How can we recognize and influence the effect that our emotions have when we’re making important decisions? What other factors contribute to the choices we make?Segment 3: When it comes to hiring a new employee, we often struggle in narrowing down a candidate that fulfills all of our desires. What questions can we ask to see what their values are? What factors do we need to look out for that may hinder our decision-making process?Segment 4: When we feel like the people around us are questioning our decisions, it can be detrimental to our confidence. How can we regain confidence in ourselves and the choices we make? What does it mean to “face it ‘til you make it”?

ICommunicate Radio Show #143: Communicating Leadership Changes Within An Organization

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:09:16 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, MindsetGo Founder Mark Altman is joined by Joseph Lyman to discuss ways to communicate leadership changes effectively and how to develop an authentic narrative that positively impacts all levels of an organization.Segment 1: Whether a leader is arriving at or leaving a company, it’s up to us to control the flow of communication to keep narratives in check. How can we properly address the concerns of our teams when there is a change in leadership? What questions should we expect to hear from team members during this period of transition?Segment 2:If we keep our employees in the dark about why there was a change in leadership, what’s to stop them from constructing their own narratives? How transparent should we be in communicating this change? What should the result of these conversations be?Segment 3: Having discussions with our team members about leadership change can be difficult, given the questions and concerns that will need to be addressed, but we don’t have to go in blind. How can we prepare for these conversations so that the transition phase is smoother? How can these conversations contribute to a more vulnerable workplace culture?Segment 4: Both in and out of the workplace, we’ve adopted this expectation that loyalty is black and white -- you’re either with me or against me. How has this perception of loyalty changed workplace culture? What does it mean when somebody “has our back”?

ICommunicate Radio Show #138: Talking HR Communication Challenges With Yuisa Perez

Tue, 25 May 2021 18:33:10 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Yuisa Perez, senior director of human resources at the Family Health Center of Worcester, joins Mark to discuss the growing challenges around human resources and workplace culture in an era where diversity is seen as more of a necessity than ever.Segment 1: Human resources often turns out to be a thankless job, but it’s one that’s essential to developing and supporting a community within the workplace. What role does human resources play within a company? What does HR notice about the culture of our workplace that we may not be aware of?Segment 2:Now more than ever, companies are striving to make the workplace more diverse. How can a variety of backgrounds benefit the culture and productivity of a company? What are our fears around inviting a diverse workplace, and how can we address them?Segment 3: It goes without saying that diversity often presents itself as a touchy subject, where people tend to feel tense and awkward expressing their thoughts on the subject. How can we start conversations around this topic and provide a platform where people feel safe and comfortable talking about it? How do we establish a sense of belonging within a community?Segment 4: Whether or not we’re willing to admit it, people’s experiences heavily vary depending on their cultural background and ethnicity. What aspects of the workplace does the HR department look to develop that a CEO may ignore? Where does inclusivity fit into the grand scheme of our company?

ICommunicate Radio Show #140: How Are You Doing?

Tue, 25 May 2021 18:26:46 -0400

What kind of answers do you get when you ask your child how their day was at school? Does good sound familiar? How about what they did at school today? Does nothing much sound familiar? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to approach questions differently, set realistic expectations, and create psychological safety for children and adults to share their truths and create open lines of dialogue.Segment 1: As parents, prying information from our children as to how their day went often feels like pulling teeth. How can we reframe our approach to talking with our kids about their day so that they are more engaged in the conversation? How should we react to our children when they tell us about any conflict that they were in with a teacher or student?Segment 2:What we often fail to realize as parents when speaking to our kids is that we have quite a bit in common. What kind of experiences should we be sharing with our kids that encourage them to speak up about their day? How can we create expectations with our children to guide the flow of conversation? Segment 3: When trying to gauge how our child is performing in school, we’re often treated to generic answers that prevent further dialogue. What questions should we be asking that make our kids feel comfortable enough to open up about their performance in school?Segment 4: One of the hardest things to do as a child is to engage their parents with things that they’re interested in. What topics should we be discussing with our kids? How can we make conversations enjoyable for both parties without our involvement feeling forced?

ICommunicate Radio Show #141: Using Guilt as a Motivator

Tue, 25 May 2021 16:07:20 -0400

Are you comfortable asking for feedback? How about advocating for what you want and need from your boss? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark Altman and Joseph Lyman discuss the benefits of initiating feedback, how to know if it’s safe, and how to determine if it’s authentic when managing up and sideways in the workplace.Segment 1: When we have expectations that aren’t being met, we’re inclined to believe that people will eventually learn to read our minds to satisfy our wants and needs. How can we start conversations with our peers and leaders about communicating feedback? How can we develop communication skills even when they’re not innate to us?Segment 2:When we finally gain the courage to ask for feedback from our leaders and they give it to us, we’re inclined to think that they’re only doing so out of guilt. Is this a reasonable expectation, or are there more factors that play into it? What’s the mindset of a leader when it comes to delivering feedback?Segment 3: Giving and receiving feedback sounds easy enough at its surface, but what happens when our expectations about feedback aren’t lining up with those of our peers and leaders? What communication skills can we use to ensure that our expectations are aligned?Segment 4: Understandably enough, it’s difficult to start up conversations around feedback, especially if we feel like we don’t have permission to. What gives us the green light to initiate discussions around feedback?

ICommunicate Radio Show #137: Read Between The Lines - Part 3

Tue, 04 May 2021 19:03:47 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to discern, break down, and address feedback by asking questions and using emotionally intelligent communication to solve problems. He also discusses managing expectations within a team and providing an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable to initiate honest feedback.Segment 1: It takes an incredible amount of emotional intelligence to create a workplace culture where people feel comfortable giving and receiving feedback. What processes can we use to encourage 360 feedback? Segment 2:When expectations and priorities within our teams aren’t clear, it may be because we’re not asking the right questions or inviting enough feedback. How can we become more approachable leaders and inspire our teams to be open and honest with us? What questions should we be asking to uncover how members of our team truly feel about us?Segment 3: When a problem arises and we react before asking questions, we risk missing out on valuable information and making the problem worse. When should we be having one on one meetings, and how can we make them more productive? Segment 4: If we inspire a workplace culture of open and honest communication, odds are that we’ll be faced with some constructive feedback that we’ll need to work through. How should we be reacting to feedback, and what steps can we take to address it?

ICommunicate Radio Show #139: Finding Your Passion - Part 1

Tue, 04 May 2021 19:00:53 -0400

Are you doing what you want to do and are passionate about, or what you feel like you have to do and are resigned to your fate? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to discover and act on your passion in relationships, the workplace, and your career.Segment 1: Whether we’re towards the end of high school or deep into our professional career, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves at a crossroads when it comes to deciphering our passion. How can we determine where our passion lies? How can leisurely activities help us develop skills that may benefit our professional lives?Segment 2:Today it feels harder than ever to stay engaged with our work, especially given the fact that Covid has hindered several workplace factors that would otherwise serve as intrinsic motivators. What are some factors in and out of the workplace that may be hindering our ability to love what we do? Segment 3: Whether we realize it or not, the criticism that we direct towards our kids or colleagues create expectations that they inevitably fall into. How should we be communicating feedback with people who look up to us? How do the expectations of college students affect their professional development?

ICommunicate Radio Show #136: Read Between The Lines Part 2

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:57:52 -0400

ICommunicate Radio Show #136: Read Between The Lines Part 2 by Mark Altman

ICommunicate Radio Show #135: Read Between The Lines

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:03:20 -0400

What information can we gather from a conversation to discern the real message being communicated? When we lose clients or relationships weaken, it’s often due to the fact that customers don’t see us as individuals, our solution, or our company as valuable enough. In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses client retention and communication strategies and how to be proactive about articulating and meeting expectations. Segment 1: It’s one thing to notice a person’s body language, tone, and word choice, but another thing to really understand what it means. What information can we gather from a conversation to discern what somebody is communicating to us? Why can’t we simply just assume how another person feels about a particular issue?Segment 2:When it comes to professional relationships, one mistake could turn out to be detrimental enough to where trust is lost between those two parties. In these situations, how can we earn that trust and respect back? Should we protect ourselves or the company first when we can’t get along with a client?Segment 3: When we lose clients, it’s often due to the fact that they don’t see us, our solution, or our company as valuable enough. How can we prove to them that we can be a valuable asset to them in both the short and long term?Segment 4: Having the mindfulness to slow down and digest all of the information that we’re presented with during a conversation is an essential skill in developing professional relationships with prospects. How often should we be reaching out to clients, and what questions should we be asking them?

ICommunicate Radio Show #134: Sending The Right Message When Servicing Others

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:12:56 -0400

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses what messages our behavior sends to prospects as well as how to adapt selling styles to the wants, needs, and baggage of buyers.Segment 1: What questions should we be asking to reveal a customer’s wants and needs? How can we provide the optimal buying experience?Segment 2:Our tone, body language, and word choice can mean the difference between frustrating a customer or making a sale. How can we make a good and lasting impression with potential clients? Segment 3: If our mindset isn’t aligned with the buyers’, we’re going to end up fighting an uphill battle to make that sale work. What are the types of buyers and sellers, and how do they relate to each other? How can we adapt our behavior to suit different kinds of buyers?Segment 4: How do we ensure that both parties walk away both feeling like they won in a negotiation?

ICommunicate Radio Show #132: What Are You Trying To Say?

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:14:35 -0500

Ever wonder why words like micromanage, help, change, and fault frustrate and trigger people so much? In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to define terms and set expectations when getting people to be more open-minded, receptive to feedback, and more comfortable having difficult conversations.Segment 1: Nobody likes to be micromanaged, so coming to an agreement early on between leaders and our teams may be the key to avoiding that frustration. Why do words like “micromanage” and “help” cause people to be so irritated? What conversations should we be having with our teams to create an environment that invites feedback?Segment 2:Sitting down with a colleague and having a difficult conversation can be daunting on its own, never mind when you consider the fact that your word choice can make or break the dialogue. What mindset should we have going into these conversations, and how can we adapt to the flow of the discussion?Segment 3: We can follow all the right steps while communicating with someone, but still not manage to get the results that we wanted. What then? How can we navigate our way through difficult conversations without inadvertently devaluing what the other person has to say?Segment 4: As difficult as it is to be the bearer of bad news and reject somebody, it’s our responsibility to let them know. How should we communicate rejection with somebody, and is there a way to make it easier on us?

ICommunicate Radio Show: #131 Finding The Right Words

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:44:25 -0500

In this episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to use the power of word choice to impact reframing negatives to positives, communicate change, and to more effectively influence and motivate.Segment 1: Words aren’t always as cut and dry as we may think they are, and what means something to us may not necessarily resonate the same way to another person. How can we better understand what words to say and what modes of communication are most effective?Segment 2:We often set such high standards for ourselves that when we don’t accomplish our goals right away, we never let ourselves hear the end of it. Why can this mindset be harmful not only to ourselves, but to the people we work with? How can we turn negative thoughts into productive ones?Segment 3: We don’t often give much thought to the way we treat ourselves and the unreasonably high expectations we set. What kinds of expectations should we be setting for ourselves and for our teams in the workplace? What kind of power does recognition have within a team?Segment 4: We’ve all been in situations where we’re disappointed with someone and exaggerate the impact that they had on us emotionally, but how often do we consider where they’re coming from? How can we diffuse these situations and come to a compromise?

ICommunicate Radio Show #130: How to be Young and Assertive When Generating Leads

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 12:53:31 -0500

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, former environmental science expert now turned sales expert Jim Keogh joins Mark Altman to discuss how to overcome challenges faced by young sales professionals when it comes to cold calling, lead generation and being taken seriously.Segment 1: Covid not only forced us to change our home into a workplace, but also to rethink the way we communicate with clients and coworkers. Why is it important that we adjust our method of communication across generations in and out of the workplace? Segment 2:Enduring rejection and being cautiously optimistic are essential traits to maintaining our composure as salespeople. How can we stay cool and confident while pursuing prospects? Are we overlooking the potential benefit of cold calls?Segment 3: With every new prospect comes a bit of a gamble in what your attitude and approach should be while talking to them for the first time. There’s a difference between being assertive and aggressive, but how can we define that line, especially since it varies from person to person?Segment 4: Social media designed for business, such as LinkedIn, provides us with a platform to connect with potential prospects, but navigating these apps and getting the desired leverage out of them tends to be easier said than done. How can assertiveness help us navigate these platforms and land us a valuable connection?

ICommunicate Radio Show #129: Using Storytelling To Influence And Engage

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 16:30:08 -0500

Do your sales people talk features and functions and sell on price? Whether you're an executive pitching your company vision or a sales pro selling a product or service, you need to capture the attention of your audience, persuade them that you can help, and make sure you're remembered. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, storytelling expert Robert Mattson joins Mark Altman to discuss how to be more compelling and memorable. They also discuss the keys to motivating people who are selfish, lazy and smug.Segment 1: Far too often, we understate the impact that storytelling has on the people around us -- especially in sales, where a memorable and engaging story can mean the difference between whether you or a competitor is hired. What makes storytelling such an essential skill? How can it improve our effectiveness as leaders?Segment 2:At the end of a day, a salesperson finds success if they can convince a customer that their product or service will add value to that person’s life. What are the key components to delivering a story that resonates with our clients?Segment 3: Let’s face it, we’re not going to become phenomenal story tellers overnight. How can we practice our ability to tell engaging and meaningful tales? How do we structure stories and determine what aspects are the most important?Segment 4: Know your audience. We hear that all the time, but what does it really mean? What techniques can we use to make our audience feel that our stories are applicable to them?

ICommunicate Radio Show #128: Embracing And Supporting Organizational Change

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 17:04:48 -0500

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to make change communication clear, empathetic and motivational as it flows from the top to the bottom of an organization.Segment 1: When companies seek to make major changes, communicating that efficiently with all people involved is much easier said than done. How can we clearly get across our point and avoid miscommunication?Segment 2:We’ve all come to know and understand those dreaded words -- “resistance is futile.” When we’re in a situation where change is happening out of our control, how can we determine if it is for the greater good? How can we come to terms with major changes in the workplace?Segment 3: It’s in our nature to duck for cover when we have to come to terms with change that we’re not necessarily confident in. How do we determine when it is time to move forward with a major decision we’re in charge of making? How can we recover from negative experiences so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes?Segment 4: With so many moving pieces involved in change management, communicating effectively across every department is a challenge in and of itself. What should the process for communicating major change in the workplace look like and who should be involved?

ICommunicate Radio Show #127: Just Say No

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 20:48:43 -0500

Saying no is one of the hardest things to do. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss when and how to be more assertive to set boundaries, avoid distractions and define levels of urgency.Segment 1: There are so many distractions and people that end up distracting us from our priorities, but sometimes we feel too guilty to turn down somebody who’s asking for our help. What are the benefits to establishing guidelines of communication as a leader? Segment 2:With so many opportunities knocking at our door, it becomes easy to let ourselves get sucked into a wormhole where we end up spending more time focusing on other people rather than taking care of our own needs. Why is it so hard to say no to people? How does our inability to say no impact our health and relationships?Segment 3: Self-reflection may bring to light certain habits and behaviors that we possess that are inadvertently causing us more stress. What habits can we form to improve our relationships with other people? How can we develop new habits that make managing attention and relationships less of a burden on our mental health?Segment 4: As leaders, we have made commitments to our teams, our clients, and our own well-being. How can we balance all of our commitments with incoming tasks?

ICommunicate Radio Show #126: How to Use Accountability and Empathy to Define Your Culture

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 13:27:43 -0500

There are two sides to every story. Understanding where someone else is coming from can have limitless benefits on your relationships and stronger teams. In part two of our empathy series on ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to further discuss how to empathize with people that disappoint us as well as how to create a culture that encourages dialogue and vulnerability. Segment 1: Whether it’s a driver cutting us off on a freeway or an employee being late to work, our default reaction is to get annoyed and assume that the world is out to get us. Who deserves our empathy? How can we alter our mindset to better understand what people may be going through? Segment 2:Putting ourselves in somebody else’s shoes is usually much easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on trying to understand why people feel the way they do. How can we come to better understand the people who may disappoint us? What strategies can we use to create a culture of empathy and vulnerability?Segment 3: In the heat of the moment, we tend to prioritize venting our frustrations to the person that we’re upset with rather than offering solutions or constructing a dialogue. How can we change this mindset and allow for a culture of dialogue within the workplace?Segment 4: When we start a dialogue on habits and behaviors with another person, we can’t usually expect an instant outcome. What steps can we take to motivate the people we care about? How do we make empathy effortless?

ICommunicate Radio Show #125: Empathy as a Motivational Tool

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 13:25:45 -0500

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss how to use empathy as a tool for influence and to neutralize negativity. Segment 1: We’ve all been through our fair share of stress and hardships even before covid showed up. How can internal and external factors affect our mental health and how can we grow from our experiences? How can we improve our connection with other human beings even when the going gets tough?Segment 2:When we or someone we know is in a rough patch, connecting with someone and finding solutions to the problem may seem impossible. What can we do as leaders to support other people when they need it? Why is it important that we promote vulnerability, and how does that improve our ability to be empathetic?Segment 3: When a friend is feeling down, we usually feel the desire to try and find solutions even when we are so disconnected from the problem that there’s nothing we can really do. In these situations, how can we offer support? What’s the difference between empathy and compassion and how can we apply them in our day to day lives?Segment 4: When people aren’t meeting our expectations, it may be tempting to react before understanding their side of the story. How can we use empathy to neutralize negativity, and how will that impact our ability to connect with people moving forward?

ICommunicate Radio Show #124: Addition By Distraction

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:06:38 -0500

ICommunicate Radio Show #124: Addition By Distraction by Mark Altman

ICommunicate Radio Show #123: Fantasy Football Is A Microcosm For Partnerships

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:54:29 -0500

Committing to a partner, whether in business or some other kind of relationship, often presents itself with the challenge of compromising on wants and needs. How can something as small and recreational as Fantasy Football or something as personal as pre-marriage counseling provide us with strategies on how to seek out and maintain a healthy relationship where all parties benefit? In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses what makes an ideal partnership, how to understand and influence people as well as how to effectively negotiate and compromise.Segment 1: Whether we find ourselves seeking a partner for business or romance, finding that perfect match is ultimately easier said than done. What do we expect out of a partner, and how can we communicate that with them? Segment 2:Negotiation is everywhere, whether it’s something as simple as deciding on where to eat for dinner or more significant like determining a salary for work. How can we learn from our experiences to improve our effectiveness in negotiating? How do we know what a successful negotiation looks like?Segment 3: It’s easy enough to get along with people whose opinions and core values align with ours, but what about everybody else? How can we frame conversations to allow for a win-win compromise? Segment 4: Once we’re comfortable committing to another individual, how do we know for sure that this person is a good partner for us? How do we set and manage expectations so that we can avoid having repeated conversations?

ICommunicate Radio Show #122: Do You Know How To Set Yourself Up For Success?

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:37:36 -0500

Day in and day out, we’re confronted with internal and external inhibitors that combat our motivation and commitment to our goals. Approaching our concerns and allowing ourselves the opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to become can be daunting. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss how to set meaningful goals and manage our priorities as well as how to overcome feeling stuck and helpless upon self-reflecting.Segment 1: Far too often, we find ourselves hiding behind the excuse, “I’m too busy.” Is it a matter of fact that we truly have no time in the day, or are we struggling to set objectives and stay committed to them? How do we manage our priorities and set meaningful goals?Segment 2:We’ve all heard the expression, you can’t take care of others until you take care of yourself, but that’s much easier said than done. What kinds of goals should we be setting and how can we shift our habits and behaviors to more effectively reach them? How can we overcome feeling helpless and stuck when our day-to-day lives leave us drained?Segment 3: We’ve been told the benefits of meditation and self-reflection, but coming face-to-face with the obstacles that stand in the way of our goals can be overwhelming. What strategies can we use to ease our approach to the self-reflection process? How can we better understand the inhibitors to our goals and address them?Segment 4: 2020 has been a wild year, to say the least. What we may not realize is that this new normal that we’ve become so familiar with isn’t just going to disappear in an instant -- so what do we do from here on? What do we have to gain from our experiences thus far in 2020 and how can we use what we’ve learned to improve our emotional intelligence?

ICommunicate Radio Show #121: Rapport Building Is Underrated

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:35:56 -0500

It’s time to stop treating rapport building like a tedious, uncomfortable step in the sales process. This underappreciated technique can be the determining factor in whether or not you’re able to close the sale. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses the importance of emotional intelligence during rapport building as well as how to understand and act on the wants, needs, and fears of a potential customer.Segment 1: As salespeople, our worst nightmare more often than not is time. We only have so long to build rapport and sell our product, so it’s essential that we manage our priorities. How essential is rapport building and where can we find the time to incorporate it into our sales process?Segment 2:Surmounting that initial, awkward barrier that often presents itself during rapport building with a new client can be challenging, but not impossible with the right mindset. How do we proactively build rapport without coming off as a typical pushy salesperson? How can we utilize multi-generational intelligence to understand how to interact with members of different generations?Segment 3: The initial conversation with a potential prospect raises the questions: why you and why now? What are the most important pieces we need to retain from a sales call and how can we assess them?Segment 4: Connecting with a customer and empathizing with their situation is undervalued, especially given the impact it has on finding the right fit for them. How can we be memorable and make people feel heard? Why is it important that we empathize with our clients and how does it relate to the bigger picture?

ICommunicate Radio Show #120: Creating A Buying Experience

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 20:07:05 -0500

The complications that surround important buying decisions, between managing a budget or potentially making a poor choice, often leave a buyer stressed and in need of guidance. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses the keys to a seamless buying experience. From how to set and manage expectations, to gaining the trust of a prospect and finally, how to prove reliability through the post-buying phase.Segment 1: Think of your ideal buying experience -- your expectations, wants and needs, or method of purchase. How often do things go as planned? How can we improve the communication between the buyer and seller so that the desires of the customer are heard and validated?Segment 2:As educators and salespeople, meeting the needs and expectations of potential buyers sometimes feels like a guessing game. How can we proactively address concerns and perceptions and establish authority leading into the sale?Segment 3: When a sale isn’t headed in the direction we’d like, far too often we fall back on planting seeds of doubt about other products or even companies for the sake of upselling. How can we differentiate ourselves from other salespeople and gain the trust of a potential buyer? Segment 4: The word “estimate” is in and of itself an enigma to the customer, as it may raise concern about the reliability of the company and product. How can we be dependable and assure our customers of a complaint-free post buying process?

ICommunicate Radio Show #119: Modeling A Reductive Mindset

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:35:28 -0500

You’ve probably heard of a growth mindset, but what about a reductive mindset. A mindset that focuses on applying new strategies, improvements, and ideas to replace what you are already doing instead of adding to what seems like a never-ending to-do list. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to apply the things you are learning to replace instead of add to your day to day responsibilities.Segment 1: Every day, we’re presented with an overwhelming amount of decisions to make but we have choices. What does it mean to have a reductive mindset and how is it applicable in everyday scenarios? How can we organize priorities and effectively manage our time and attention?Segment 2:We live in a world where worth is so often determined by achievement and growth, but we often expect recognition or instant gratification for our accomplishments. Why is it essential that we focus on personal growth whether or not we receive recognition for it?Segment 3: How can individual goals provide a foundation for team goals? Segment 4: How can we provide a platform for open and honest feedback? How can we ensure that our employees feel integral to the team and heard?

ICommunicate Radio Show #118: Motivating Performance

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:02:29 -0400

When people aren’t on the same page and expectations aren’t clear, company culture declines, people get frustrated, and progress seemingly halts. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to motivate and inspire teams to work collaboratively and perform effectively.Segment 1: Despite what we may believe as leaders, our expectations for our employees aren’t always as clear as we make them out to be. How can having high expectations as a leader be detrimental to our teams? Segment 2:We may know our teams well enough to understand what motivates and drives them, but what about motivating them to change poor habits?Segment 3: Sometimes we’re the only thing standing in our way from becoming inspirational leaders. Overcoming that mental block and becoming self-aware of the effectiveness of our habits and behaviors is difficult, but possible with the right support. Segment 4: As leaders, we are constantly modeling behaviors for people, whether we like it or not. The whole, “do as I say, not as I do,” philosophy is convenient enough, but what does that say to our teams? How do we effectively demonstrate core values and recognize that they are being reciprocated by our teams?

ICommunicate Radio Show #117: Can You Hear Me Now?

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 14:22:10 -0400

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as feeling unheard or not being validated. Having difficult conversations that address problems in the workplace is tough within itself, but even worse is walking away feeling disrespected and like the attempt wasn’t worthwhile. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses how to set expectations and build processes around giving and receiving feedback, actively influencing an open and vulnerable workplace culture, and to understand what it means to be heard.Segment 1: Making a request only to have it not be reciprocated in the way we wanted it to be often leaves us feeling frustrated and disrespected. However, there is often more to the story than meets the eye in these types of circumstances. What strategies can we use to convey our feelings in a productive and honest way?Segment 2:As much as we hate to hear it, we have to take a moment to ponder whether or not it’s at least partly our fault that behaviors aren’t changing or actions aren’t taking place. What process can we utilize when giving or receiving a request to accommodate both parties’ needs or wants?Segment 3: We can’t keep letting ourselves fall back on the same old excuses when it comes to dodging complaints from employees over changes. Blaming change on COVID only drains our motivation to work. How do we address concerns even when we feel that nothing can be done to change the problem? What behaviors should we model to create an open and honest culture?Segment 4: It’s one thing to be willing to have difficult conversations with people within the workplace, but it’s another to be prepared for them. What expectations should we set on both the giving and receiving end of these discussions? How do we know that we’re being heard?

ICommunicate Radio Show #116: People Don't Change... Or Do They?

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 18:18:25 -0400

We tend to view the most profitable businesses as well-oiled machines, and we assume that high levels of employee engagement are automatic. What we fail to recognize, however, is the fact that organizations function more like man than machine, meaning that it experiences the cycles of life and each part of its being needs to be nurtured in order for it to develop. When it’s time to break old habits, especially in the face of adversity, we acknowledge that the vulnerability of our companies are at stake. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss how to manage employee engagement as well as how to develop self-awareness to better understand when and what changes to company culture and its processes need to be changed.Segment 1: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a mindset that we as individuals have come to almost idolize in the context of assembling company cultures and processes. Is it time to re-evaluate our decisions and evolve? How can we get around the looming fears that major -- or even minor -- change brings?Segment 2:Businesses are living, growing things that experience all stages of the cycle of life, whether we believe it or not. When the disengagement of employees signals death and decay, what can we do to revitalize company culture and processes? When is it time for change and how do we know what areas need the most attention?Segment 3: Far too often when reporting changes to our teams, we handle the dissatisfaction by saying, “the higher-ups told us that this is what we have to do.” What does this say about our credibility and respect as leaders? How can we effectively represent our teams and have the self-awareness to know when to ask for help?Segment 4: A wise man once said, “The most important things in an organization can’t be measured.” If that’s the case, then what are the most significant aspects that we should be paying attention to in our companies? How can we provide employees with purpose and improve their engagement in their work?

ICommunicate Podcast #113: Framing Conversation So People Are Open - Minded

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 18:06:29 -0400

ICommunicate Podcast #113: Framing Conversation So People Are Open - Minded by Mark Altman

ICommunicate Podcast #109: Know Right Answers

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:23:22 -0400

The usual excitement that comes with a new school year for our children is unfortunately stifled by the fear of the unknown in regards to how schools will handle COVID. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, former Teacher of the Year, Corinne Ferri from the North Smithfield, RI School District joins Mark to discuss how to prepare for the upcoming school year in regards to virtual learning. They discuss how to encourage your children to be engaged and active in their education, and create an effective pathway of communication between teachers, parents, and students.Segment 1: Schools are back in session -- but at what cost? Our readiness for COVID-19 is about to face the ultimate test as we send our children back to school, whether that be in-person, online, or a hybrid of the two. How do we prepare for the management of students and the crises that may occur? What developments can we anticipate over the coming months, and how can we respond to those?Segment 2:Day by day, it becomes increasingly difficult to assess our readiness for the challenges that are yet to arise. What do schools, teachers, and faculty need to do to prove that they are ready? How can we stay engaging and humane even through a screen?Segment 3: Becoming engaged with our children’s education can often feel like trying to navigate through a maze of communication. How can we as parents become more engaged with the education of our children? What strategies can we use to encourage our kids to open up about what they’re doing in school?Segment 4: Let’s face it, most kids aren’t excited about going to school outside of the social aspects that they engage in. How can we as teachers and parents develop genuine relationships with students and make them passionate about being in school?

ICommunicate Podcast #108: Don't Test Me

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:01:41 -0400

In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses strategies and benchmarks to use to measure the effective of professional development and how to implement continuous learning so it sticks. Segment 1: It goes without saying that some methods of learning just aren’t as effective as others. Whether it’s Zoom fatigue or an abundance of distractions, maintaining the attention of our colleagues can feel like a battle. What methods of learning can we consistently rely on to motivate and engage our peers?Segment 2:Developing skills through a procedural, check-box method of learning just isn’t working as well as we’ve been hoping. How can we facilitate effective learning, so our peers learn and maintain their skills? Segment 3: Our baggage in combination with a limited, negative mindset can impede the way to develop skills in a motivational way. How can we change the narrative and adopt a mindset that motivates individuals to make learning a want to instead of a have to? Segment 4: Let’s face it, we’re not learning complex skills overnight. We know that it takes practice to improve new skills, but how can we train ourselves in effective and time-efficient ways? What strategies can we use to motivate ourselves and others when it comes to reaching our objectives through learning and practice?

ICommunicate Podcast #107: Full Disclosure

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 16:38:36 -0400

Wear your heart on your sleeve. Tell it like it is. These are phrases that people say with pride because we are taught that transparent communication is the best communication. This may be true, but knowing what to say, when to say it, and applying guidelines to make sure your words are appropriate are a set of core competencies many leaders lack. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses what strategies to use to establish healthy internal communication and how to create a culture that motivates people individually and collectively. Segment 1: Being transparent when communicating with our peers often poses a complex challenge. How can we convey ourselves authentically while still providing positive and useful feedback?Segment 2:Companies both large and small face the struggle of setting a culture of transparency without the burden of motivating individual employees. How can we relay criticism in a way that is genuine and motivational? What is the appropriate time and place to have these essential discussions?Segment 3: When it comes to assessing the strength of internal communication, we often make the mistake of waiting for red flags to determine what action needs to be taken. How can we effectively make decisions about transparent communication on multiple levels of an organization? What processes can we rely on to create a stable and transparent culture?Segment 4: Now more than ever, with multiple generations in the workplace and COVID forcing many of us to work remotely, communication with employees has become a monster in and of itself. How can we appropriately get our messages across to people without confusion or disdain?

ICommunicate Podcast #106: A Bias Against Performance Reviews

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:50:46 -0400

When is the last time you have received or provided a performance review? How did it go? An ongoing problem that has been exacerbated by the increase in virtual relationships, continues to be the inherent biases that impact objectivity, employee engagement, and productivity. In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Mark discusses why it’s okay to ditch performance reviews, how to avoid the biases that get in the way of assessing ongoing performance, and solutions to put in place to put everyone on a level playing field.Segment 1: Whether we admit it or not, we hold subconscious biases towards people over certain character traits or behaviors. What should our priorities be when conducting a performance review? How do those priorities and biases get in the way of our ability to objectively evaluate a person?Segment 2:Providing effective feedback when doing performance evaluations can be skewed by biases. How can we not only identify our biases, but replace them with effective habits and behaviors?Segment 3: Our behaviors and the events out of our control have a larger role in our biases than many of us are willing to admit, which often lead us to over or under compensate during an evaluation. How often should we be meeting with our team for reviews? How can we create an open-ended work environment through performance reviews?Segment 4: Gaining the mindfulness to identify biases that may be affecting the way we evaluate members of our teams is much easier said than done. How can we create more opportunities for open communication? What kind of subconscious biases do we have about our employees?

ICommunicate Podcast #105: One Size Doesn't Fit All

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:47:47 -0400

Have you ever heard a C-Suite executive share frustration about knowing how to motivate their teams? Often they’ll say, “I give them a great salary, an amazing benefits package, and all the time off they need and they still aren’t happy.” Too often, motivational strategies fail because assumptions are made without meaningful conversations to really understand what people want and need. We try to use a one-size fits all approach, but with five active generations in today's workforce, employees have increasingly different motivators. In this week’s podcast, Mark discusses how to implement personalized recognition and curious conversations to get to the heart of what drives people to demonstrate and sustain the behavior leaders seek.Segment 1: What we often fail to realize is that there isn’t a single thing that serves as a blanket motivator. Every individual has a variety of motivators that contribute to their output. How can we find out what truly motivates our employees to allow for mutual benefit? Segment 2:Monitoring changes in motivation are one of the many responsibilities as a leader. How can we create an environment that allows for open and honest communication? Segment 3: It’s so easy to assume extrinsic motivators are what motivates people, but what we often neglect are the intrinsic motivators that are unique to each and every employee. How can we create an environment where achieving these personal goals becomes more accessible?Segment 4: We often fall back on snap judgements when we’re considering the value of a person to protect us from getting out of our comfort zones, which leaves little room for genuine reflection. How can we avoid these assumptions and seek out the true value of an individual without letting stigma cloud our judgment?

ICommunicate Podcast #104: Better To Be Good Than Lucky

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 15:52:38 -0400

With so much fear of the unknown and a perceived loss of control, do you ever wonder anymore what you can control? In this week’s podcast, Mark discusses the three things that you can still control and how they ultimately drive results for your life personally and professionally.Segment 1: Too often, our hard work and dedication is overshadowed by a simple word: luck. What strategies can we use to shift our mindsets to have a more positive outlook on ourselves and others? What is the impact that word choice has on how we convey messages to other people?Segment 2:Internal and external bias exists and they impact decisions on a daily basis, ultimately swaying our judgements on situations both big and small. How does bias impact our decisions? How can we prioritize our needs and avoid a reactive mindset?Segment 3: As leaders, we’re tasked with making critical choices under pressure in both our personal lives and professional careers. How can we keep our emotional intelligence in check and pave the way for efficient decisions to be made?Segment 4: We strive to create an environment and a culture within the workplace that allows for vulnerability and open and honest communication. What questions can we ask ourselves and our peers to open the door to habit change and replacement? What are some effective strategies that we can use to create a culture built around trust and honesty?

ICommunicate Podcast #103: Virtual Habits

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 20:56:43 -0400

Imagine if you were told with virtually no notice that you had to become a remote parent prior to your kids graduating high school. What would change? How would you adapt? Could you maintain a strong connection with your kids? Experts have often said parenting and leadership are one and the same. Now, not only do leaders have to suddenly learn and hone skills around remote leadership, but they have to help their teams adapt to re-integration in the workplace and handle conflict with evolving challenges related to people’s mindset and fears returning to work. In this week’s podcast, Mark Altman and Joseph Lyman discuss how to motivate teams and provide the support tools individuals will need to overcome obstacles, stay engaged, and maintain a focused/positive mindset.Segment 1: The temptation to micromanage our children to ensure their safety in the same ways we handle our employees can hinder our mindsets when it comes to being an effective leader. Are we making the right decisions when it comes to managing remotely? How can we be effective remote leaders even when we don’t have the same control as we otherwise would?Segment 2:Adapting to a growth mindset and avoiding tunnel vision can be especially difficult now that we’ve lost the ability to connect with employees face-to-face. Are we in a position to disregard virtual interactions as temporary and insignificant in the long run? How can we adapt to the difficulties presented by remote interactions and avoid being blinded by short term goals?Segment 3: Staying accountable and advocating for ourselves and our teams is especially difficult now that our priorities have changed in our virtual workplace. How can we effectively manage and accommodate for the rapidly changing needs of our employees?Segment 4: The virtual world has caused habits in the workplace to change, as remote interaction causes ambiguity and forces us to think differently on how to be engaging leaders. How can we use the growth mindset and set expectations going into meetings to avoid being overbearing and micromanaging?

ICommunicate Podcast #102: Peeling Back the Labels

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:15:58 -0400

As we navigate what seems like a permanent state of unrest and the charged emotions around the ongoing riots, we are seeing and hearing a lot of people label policemen and protesters as good or bad with no in between. Labeling sets up an expectation of life that is often so compelling we can no longer see things as they really are. The expectation often gives us a false sense of familiarity toward something that is really new and unprecedented. In this week’s ICommunicate podcast, Mark discusses thought processes and conversation templates to avoid labeling and creating a fixed mindset around change and growth.Segment 1: We often label individuals or even entire groups of people without taking the opportunity to second guess ourselves. Why are we so quick to categorize people and make drastic judgements on entire groups? Why do we feel compelled to choose sides in a conflict and ignore the middle ground?Segment 2:Whether we realize it or not, having labels assigned to us from a young age heavily impacts the way we develop into those particular roles. How can we shed these labels and advocate for ourselves and for others? What makes labels so detrimental to our development?Segment 3: Succumbing to the contagious nature of gossip can make us forget that people are much more than the labels we attach to them. How can we change our mindset and focus on the essence of a person rather than the expectations we have towards them? Segment 4: No matter what the truth is behind them, confronting labels of our own can be overwhelming, as it forces us to come to terms with who we are. What do our labels tell us about ourselves and how can we reflect on them? How can we grow from our failures and become the people that we want to be?

ICommunicate Podcast #101: I'll Take a Delayed Coffee Please

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 17:38:41 -0400

If you’re a parent you are familiar with asking your kids to do the chores or complete their homework only to have them respond I’ll do it later. This often frustrating response is due to a child’s need for instant gratification to continue what fun chosen activity they are doing. On this week’s show, Mark and fellow MindsetGo trainer Joseph Lyman discuss why leaders and managers struggle with delayed gratification and how much that struggle adversely plays a factor in motivating, developing, and supporting the teams they guide. The mere connotation of the word instant feels wonderful for impatient people while delayed feels long or arduous, not to mention encourages procrastination in the world of busyness, bottom line, and strict deadlines.Segment 1: Too often, we find ourselves expecting instant gratification largely due to the ease of access allowed to us through technology, which inadvertently makes assessing ourselves through delayed gratification more difficult. How can we properly self reflect on our abilities to determine our effectiveness as salespeople?Segment 2:In a number of cases, the needs of our team tend to come second to personal victories and instant gratification, which often eliminates opportunities for learning and development. What makes self-control and time management so difficult and how can we overcome that?Segment 3: Setting goals for ourselves and our team brings up questions around trust in our ability to sustain success over the long term. How can we set goals for our team that push for long term success? What strategies can we use to motivate and develop our team moving forward?Segment 4: Networking events provide opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefits for salespeople, but our mindset going into these events may not complement our approach towards seeking potential relationships. How can we take advantage of networking events without the mindset of instant gratification to create more opportunities for referrals and sales?

ICommunicate Podcast #100: Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Mon, 25 May 2020 15:24:55 -0400

In our everyday lives, we come across triggers and pet peeves that serve as distractions while we pursue our goals. Without the proper strategies to overcome these triggers, salespeople can become overwhelmed with emotion, causing them to miss out on potential prospects and opportunities. How can we control our triggers in an emotionally intelligent way so that we can focus on our goals? In this week’s podcast, Mark explains how to deal with rejection and set expectations to generate more leads and close deals more effectively.

ICommunicate Podcast #99: Looking In The Mirror

Tue, 19 May 2020 13:30:57 -0400

Now more than ever, we need to use self-reflection as THE tool to reset, re-strategize, and re-evaluate important aspects of our personal and professional lives. Assessing our motivations, goals, and doubts can drain us emotionally, but the clarity that follows leads to major improvements to our happiness and success. In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how self-reflection improves our emotional intelligence by enabling us to be more influential and inspirational leaders in and out of the workplace.

ICommunicate Podcast #98: Stop Being Fear Minded

Sat, 09 May 2020 02:26:34 -0400

Salespeople encounter a plethora of fears in their attempts to seek out new prospects or to close deals. Without the proper strategies to overcome these fears, salespeople miss out on potential opportunities and buyers for the wrong reasons. Why do our fears inhibit us from closing the deal in the first place? How can we generate honest feedback from clients to prevent certain fears from overwhelming us? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how organizations can use self-awareness and coaching to avoid being held back by fear when closing a deal.

iCommunicate Podcast #97: Are you sure you want to Lead By Example?

Fri, 01 May 2020 15:09:11 -0400

Leaders often choose to lead by example to motivate their peers, but what does this mean? Is leading by example an effective method, and if so what behaviors do we want noticed and what behaviors are even being noticed? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how leaders need to become more self-aware of the examples they are setting, how those examples are influencing the individuals they manage and why you always need to be evolving.

ICommunicate Podcast #96: It's Just Not Fair

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:45:39 -0400

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, many of us have lost momentum. With the aspects surrounding the crisis that are out of our control, it becomes essential to manage what is within our control. What habits and behaviors do we need to develop in order to deal with conflict and become successful? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how even when things don’t seem fair, there are emotionally intelligent strategies to use that will lead to favorable outcomes.

ICommunicate Podcast #95: Sales Emotional Intelligence

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:26:02 -0400

There are a multitude of negative emotions that customers and salespeople often experience when selling a product. Without confronting and handling these emotions, sales and service teams are often blind to hidden messages in client relationships. How can we manage baggage and form better relationships with customers in the workplace? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how Account Management teams can use emotional intelligence to ask questions and become better listeners to avoid being strung along in deals, missing clear obstacles, and to close deals faster.

ICommunicate Podcast #94: Setting Kids Up for Online Success

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 12:40:43 -0400

Assabet High School Superintendent Ernie Houle and Westborough High School English teacher Kathleen Stoker discussed the challenges so many school districts are facing transitioning to online learning. Kathy shared best practices, how parents can get involved, and balancing education with support. Ernie talked about the successful steps Assabet Regional High School has taken, plans for graduation, how MAVA has stepped up, and how he sees his role with parents, students, and teachers.

ICommunicate Podcast #93: A Port in the Storm (ft. Mike Port)

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 18:42:30 -0400

ICommunicate Podcast #93: A Port in the Storm (ft. Mike Port) by Mark Altman

ICommunicate Podcast #92: Out of Sight - Out of Mind (ft. Melissa Glenny)

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 17:52:01 -0400

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #91: Special Guest Jim Tunney

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:51:20 -0400

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #90: Why Lumps Aren't Only In Potatoes

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:42:25 -0400

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #89: Working Hard or Hardly Working

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:54:12 -0500

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?

ICommunicate Podcast #88: Firing Customers and Mutual Relationships

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 16:00:34 -0500

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #87: Intent

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:50:33 -0500

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!

ICommunicate Podcast #86: Visibility & Accountability

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 16:16:20 -0500

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?

ICommunicate Podcast #85: Self-Motivation and Rivalries

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:51:38 -0500

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #84: Service: Care and Influence

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:15:01 -0500

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #83: Drive and Self-Motivation

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 19:38:48 -0500

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.

ICommunicate Podcast #82: Reciprocity

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 19:17:11 -0500

Did you ever hear the expression you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours? Seems so obvious right. You do something for me and I will for you. This is called reciprocity and it is an uncomfortable concept for many because we often don’t like to owe people favors and are worried about people having expectations of us. On this week’s podcast, Mark discusses what it means to be reciprocal. Is reciprocity conditional or unconditional? Often times, peoples’ expectations of reciprocity are unknown, discouraging us from using reciprocity as an influence strategy. Finally, a common complaint of companies is that they would like their employees to take more initiative. Find out what it takes to motivate people to take initiative using the correct mindset and tools of reciprocity.

ICommunicate Podcast #81: Emotional Intelligence and Star Wars

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 19:10:40 -0500

Who would have thought the Star Wars stories had many direct links to Emotional intelligence? With Yoda as a role model, Mark discusses mastering your emotions, not giving in to your anger, hurt and disappointment, identifying your fears, and finally not taking the easy road. What is the dark side of life and is it permanent or temporary? How difficult is it to come back once you’re there? Mark also explains how the force is associated with calmness and our thought processes so that it can be used for knowledge and self-preservation.