Welcome to Misti's Insights
The Ties That Bind: The No. 1 Way to Connect With Your Team and Customers
"Shared experiences, particularly those that are especially meaningful to us, create trust, teamwork and community."— Misti Burmeister I’ve always wanted to serve food at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving, but on the rare occasions I haven’t been traveling during the...
Pancakes and Praise: The Key to Problem Solving
"If you know about a challenge and don’t share it, no one can help you discover solutions."— Misti Burmeister After braving the Black Friday crowds, my three shopping partners and I stopped for breakfast at IHOP. Just before the hostess seated us, I noticed they were...
Why Volunteers Quit
"Leaders, in both non-profits and for-profits, lose out when they fail to align assignments with the talents, interests, and needs of their teams."— Misti Burmeister Soon after retirement, Bebe found herself bored and incredibly lonely. Seeking to “be with people,”...
Are You Saying “Sorry” More Often Than “You’re Welcome?”
"When we focus on money over mission, we risk losing both our customers and our talent."— Misti Burmeister In my recent blog post, “Give Your Customers a Reason to Thank YOU," I discussed how the little things we give or do for our customers translate into exceptional...
Are You Waiting for Someone Else to Do Your Job?
"Leaders who provide clear feedback end up provoking greatness."— Misti Burmeister When someone needs help, it's easier to stay out of it, to mind your own business and not get involved. But is that the best thing to do? I recently found myself stuck in traffic at a...
Give Your Clients a Reason to Thank YOU
"When leaders show gratitude and generosity to their teams, the excitement trickles down to customers, and everybody wins."— Misti Burmeister Each Thanksgiving, we kick off the holiday season considering what we have to be thankful for. For leaders, this is a great...
Not Worth My Time: Which Employees Deserve Your Attention?
"Become a committed, loyal, dedicated leader, and you’ll pull out the same qualities in your team." — Misti Burmeister “My title is too big for this piddly crap,” said Paul, an executive in the education field. “It’s beneath me.” Paul sat across the short conference...
Do You Know What a Diaper Genie Is?
"Finding humor in mistakes is a valuable way to strengthen meaningful relationships." — Misti Burmeister Mistakes, misunderstandings, and snafus are part of life – at work and at home. The goal is to move forward … and maybe get a laugh or two at your own expense....
Not My Problem: The Key To Solving the Gov. Shutdown and Other Problems That Aren’t Our Responsibility
"People support that which they help to create, so if you make them part of the solution, they’ll be even more dedicated to seeing it through."— Misti Burmeister Do people really push harder to accomplish goals they help to create? Are they more dedicated to solving...
Do Rules Hinder or Help?
"Rules are meant to be broken, especially when they limit our humanity." — Misti Burmeister Rules often save lives. Roads have speed limits to minimize danger in the case of car accidents. Most states have outlawed texting while driving for the same reason. And...
Knock Some Sense Into This CEO
"If you want your employees to treat your customers a certain way, ask yourself: How am I treating my employees?" — Misti Burmeister While walking up a steep hill next to my old apartment building, I ran into a solid, orange beam – literally. I was moving at full...
Check Your Assumptions at the Door
"Instead of assuming you know your team, keep asking about what’s going on in their lives, as well as their goals and dreams and how those might have evolved since the last time you touched base."— Misti Burmeister It has been said that change is life’s only constant....
Break All the Rules
"Imagine what would happen to the creativity and innovation of your team if you took more time to laugh together."— Misti Burmeister Rather than drive to CVS to drop off my prescription, I decided to jog over. As I approached the store, I got lazy and didn’t feel...
Don’t Get Mad; Get Pushy
"Holding people to their promises, or even to their greatness, is far from easy work. But it’s worth the effort to do so!"— Misti Burmeister After buying a house in Baltimore, my partner and I decided that a splash of paint, a couple ceiling fans, and removing the wet...
What’s Your 24-Pack Idea?
"Take the risks necessary to achieve your goals. Others are watching and will follow your lead."— Misti Burmeister Route 1 runs through the center of Dewey Beach, Delaware. My first trip there was during winter, and the place was such a ghost town that the “Quiet...
Driven to Chocolate
"Getting clued in about what drives you to “chocolate” can help you deal with the situation in a more productive, healthy way." —Misti Burmeister A few years ago, I drove from Baltimore to D.C. to meet with a new client about his corporate vision. This was a...
The Thing About Praise
"Would you consider giving the very thing most of us want more of – a few kind words and recognition for our successes?" – Misti Burmeister A little praise can go a long way towards motivating employees. In fact, according to a recent Forbes article, companies that...
All Leadership Coaches Are Terrible!
"Most companies are in a constant battle to attract the best of the best, because leaders are unwilling to see the talent they already have – and to make it their business to provoke it."– Misti Burmeister At a Foundation dinner for the National Speakers Association,...