The World’s Easiest Approach to Giving Feedback: Tell Employees What You’ve Noticed
Not long ago, we talked with a group of managers and supervisors about the importance of giving feedback—one of our favorite subjects because it’s such a game-changer for making employees feel valued, appreciated, and...
Focus on Company Culture to Grow Your Business During the “Great Resignation”
There are plenty of things for ag business owners to lose sleep over these days, from the uncertainty of the war in Ukraine, unpredictable weather, and the cost of fertilizer to market fluctuations, a super-tight labor...
Why In-Depth Interviews Matter, Even During the “Great Resignation”
Did the hilarious photo at the top of this post catch your eye? As much as we laugh at this baking “fail,” it’s actually a metaphor for a serious business problem: finding and hiring solid employees, especially during a...
Prepare for a Merger by Investing in Your Leaders’ Change Management Skills
Is there a merger on the horizon for your coop or ag business? If so, congratulations. It’s a big deal when a company grows in size, scope, or industry influence. We know it takes time, energy, and resources to get your...
The Secret to Achieving Business Goals? Develop Leaders Who Engage Employees
The start of a new year is always a great time to set new—and, perhaps, bigger—business goals. At People Spark, we’re aiming high with a three-year plan to help 10,000 employees feel inspired, valued, and engaged at work,...
How Leadership Development and Intentional Culture Attracts Top Talent and Boosts Retention
If you’ve read some of our earlier blogs, you know we love talking about the myriad ways that leadership development can transform a team or company. Leaders are instrumental in establishing a positive culture where...
Why Feedback Is the Glue that Holds Teams and Companies Together
Not long ago, after giving a presentation at the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Erin and I were mingling with attendees (and sampling some darn good turkey). A manager at a local business approached us and started to...
Change Is Hard: 4 Ways to Make Workplace Transitions Easier for Everyone
Everyone who’s navigated workplace transitions—in other words, all of us—knows it’s a whole lot easier to adjust to a new way of thinking or doing when we feel supported emotionally by company leaders. Whether the...
Leadership Roundup: 5 Posts to Help Your Leaders Grow and Succeed
If you keep up with our monthly blogs and newsletters, you may have noticed how often we cite this finding from a Gallup report: There’s a 70% variance between a strong company culture and a lousy one. We love sharing this...