Welcome to Misti's Insights
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,...
What If You’re Too Short?
"Belief goes a long way in provoking greatness, and as leaders, that’s our most important job.” – Misti Burmeister A couple of years after they built a horse barn, my parents and my brother decided that owning horses was too much work, so they converted the barn into...
You Want Me to Do What? OK!
"If you've recently hired someone who’s not performing as you’d like, consider giving specific instructions on what to do, rather than what not to do.” – Misti Burmeister One great way to get to know colleagues and potential customers is to join them for an activity...
No Wonder They Keep Cutting You Off
"The next time you find yourself complaining about certain behaviors in your employees, stop and consider whether you might be unconsciously reinforcing those bad habits.” – Misti Burmeister Sitting around the table with me were eight highly-acclaimed CEOs from the...
Don’t Hire Confident People
“When we believe in our employees and create a culture that fosters their success, we attract employees who are confident and capable.” – Misti Burmeister “If he had self-confidence, he wouldn’t be working for me,” JW said, referring to an employee whose results...
What You Don’t Want Them Saying About You
“The generous leaders who share the credit and the profits with their team will attract and retain the highest-quality, dedicated team players.” – Misti Burmeister I stood on the corner of a busy street in Towson, Maryland, listening as Greg shared about his...
Why Should I Dance?
“Leaders who provide structure for success effortlessly attract great “dancers”–workers who are accountable, productive and hard-working.” — Misti Burmeister If you’ve ever been to an event – a wedding, fundraiser, conference, etc. – where there was dancing, you may...
How Do You Want to Die?
“How I die is nowhere near as important as how I live.” — Misti Burmeister Many years ago, Zig Ziglar asked me that very question. Well, maybe not in exactly those words, but close. He asked me to write my own eulogy, which includes death. Or does it? In my opinion,...
Would You Paddle Board in Your Underwear?
“Sometimes we have to throw ‘the rules’ aside, say yes, and let life work out the details for us.” — Misti Burmeister On May 4, 2013, Alison Whitmire organized and hosted the very best TEDx event I’ve ever experienced – TEDx Rock Creek Park. The day was filled with...
The Best Leaders Don’t Always Lead By Example
“What matters most in leaders is the ability to provoke greatness!” — Misti Burmeister After that final bell sounded, releasing us from school for the day, I would throw on my shorts and tank top, grab my gear, and head out for track practice. Track & field season...