The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast

Your out of office message could be missing something very important. Whether it's through the phone or email, people want to receive a key piece of information.  If you don't provide it, then you could open the door to frustration and even lost business. Make sure being out of the office doesn't mean being out [...] The post What Must Be in Your Out of Office Message appeared first on Ken Okel.

Understanding how to stay calm under pressure is a leadership skill that continues to grow in importance. We live in a rapidly changing world and there are going to be times when things go wrong.  In the moment, it's understandable you may react poorly to these challenges. But does that undermine your performance and your [...] The post How to Stay Calm Under Pressure appeared first on Ken Okel.

The top complaint about meetings is all about people talking way too much. Especially when they really have nothing to add to the conversation.  I uncovered this complaint when I asked my LinkedIn followers to tell me what annoys them most about these gatherings. While you may feel their pain, you don't have to experience [...] The post The Top Complaint About Meetings appeared first on Ken Okel.

Leaders who take the time to think about what could go wrong will often prevent big problems from happening. It's possible your high-performing team has overlooked something important that could impact a project's success.  What if you took some time to consider some of these negative scenarios, no matter how unlikely they may seem. Learn [...] The post Think About What Could Go Wrong appeared first on Ken Okel.

Busy leaders may find themselves saying, "But that's not me!" when employees react to an increase in bad behavior. Whether it's being overly demanding or dismissing concerns, these issues can become performance and retention issues.  Often, bad behavior is the product of understandable stress but should it be allowed to continue? Learn how to quickly [...] The post But That's Not Me! appeared first on Ken Okel.

Smart leaders embrace the chance to play the missing employee game. This simple task can help you better prepare your business for unexpected employee absences.  In life, unexpected things can happen that will take valuable staff members out of your organization for weeks. Will this be a time of productivity or panic? Prepare for the [...] The post Play the Missing Employee Game appeared first on Ken Okel.

In a world of increasing workloads and shrinking attention spans, it's important to know how to communicate with email skimmers. These are the people who quickly scan your messages but don't read them in their entirety.  This practice can lead to recipients missing key details, miscommunication, and delayed responses. Let's help you compose messages that [...] The post How To Communicate With an Email Skimmer appeared first on Ken Okel.

If technology is not your area of expertise, then you may feel like you've missed the Artificial Intelligence honeymoon. The bad news is that you're likely behind a lot of your competition in this area.  The good news is that, with a focused and strategic approach, you can start to embrace Artificial Intelligence in your [...] The post Did You Miss the Artificial Intelligence Honeymoon? appeared first on Ken Okel.

In this jumbo edition of the podcast, you will learn how to unlock the potential of others. This is important because at some time, you may need the members of your team to raise their game, in order to meet an unexpected challenge.  Join me as we go into a busy airport, where a group [...] The post How to Unlock the Potential of Others appeared first on Ken Okel.

Some focused review of your policies and procedures can prevent mistakes at work. These are the problems that cost you valuable time and money.  Why should you do this? Sometimes your great plans have an unexpected flaw. You'll hear a funny example of how this can happen in this week's episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway [...] The post Prevent Mistakes at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

As a leader, do you have a delegation problem? It can be very easy to think that you have to perform every task. And you may like doing everything because you know it will all be done right. The downside to this level of control is that you're likely on the road to burnout. And [...] The post Do You Have a Delegation Problem? appeared first on Ken Okel.

It can be a challenge to figure out how to achieve your goals in a busy world. You start with good intentions but become derailed by unexpected realities. It's understandable if frustration sets in and makes you resistant to setting future goals.  What if we could better your odds by improving your goal-setting process? Learn [...] The post How to Achieve Your Goals in a Busy World appeared first on Ken Okel.

Has finding patience in a busy world become a greater challenge for you? It's easy to expect instant satisfaction from every moment of our personal and professional lives. But the world doesn't always work that way, which can be frustrating. What if our lack of patience was hurting us because we're seeing our time through [...] The post Finding Patience in a Busy World appeared first on Ken Okel.

Understanding how to unlock your self-improvement should no longer be a mystery. There's nothing magical about getting better at the things you do. It's a process that can be accessed by all. What you need is an understanding that, know how, may not be enough to help you improve. Instead, you need to embrace a know [...] The post How To Unlock Your Self-Improvement appeared first on Ken Okel.

Successful businesses need to understand how to maintain high standards. If you're not careful, over time, they might start to change in a bad way.  Suddenly, years of work are becoming undone. In these moments, leaders need to refocus their teams and make sure excellence is being embraced at all levels.  Let's talk about staying [...] The post How To Maintain High Standards at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

Do you ever feel like you need to improve how you prepare for your big moments at work? These are career-defining opportunities and you need to be at your best. There's no reset or do over button.  Recently, I was inspired by this high level of performance while talking a group of specialized photographers. They [...] The post How to Prepare For Your Big Moments at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

Personalized coaching in 2025 could open the door to new opportunities and career advancement. Getting started can be intimidating and some fear any kind of negative feedback.  Let's break down some of the benefits of personalized coaching. You may also learn to change your relationship with feedback. Get better in this week's episode of The 2 Minute [...] The post Why You Need Personalized Coaching in 2025 appeared first on Ken Okel.

How are you at making good decisions when you get bad news? Because some people will rush into a solution, as soon as they hear the bad news.  This may not be a case where speed helps you. In fact, it could be limiting your options or putting too much of the decision-making process on [...] The post Making Good Decisions When You Get Bad News appeared first on Ken Okel.

Do you have a fear of costly mistakes at work? For some, it represents their greatest workplace fear. Take a deep breath.  While you don't want to make mistakes on the job, sometimes they are inevitable due to conditions outside your control. In other cases, the problems may be easily fixed if you pump up [...] The post Fear of Costly Mistakes at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

On the job, things will go wrong and it's important to know how to turn a negative into a positive at work. These are the moments when you don't get something, like a promotion or an opportunity to do something new and exciting.  In these moments, it's understandable that you're frustrated but how long should [...] The post How to Turn a Negative Into a Positive at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

Don't expect good nonverbal customer service to happen by accident. Often, it is about superior training from leaders and buy-in from employees.  Once the techniques are embraced, the process can become a valuable second nature. But to get there, you may need to let go of some bad habits. Let's energize your customer service in [...] The post Examples of Good Nonverbal Customer Service appeared first on Ken Okel.

Smart leaders know that before you sign the contract, you need to think about the road ahead. Often, some are so thrilled by a new agreement that they only consider the immediate benefits and not any potential challenges that could emerge later on.  That can lead to problems, lost time, and regret. Find out how [...] The post Before You Sign the Contract appeared first on Ken Okel.

Leaders can improve teamwork with recognition programs. But the programs may need to be adjusted from something traditional, like an employee of the month award. Instead, you want your employee recognition programs to be tied to actions and values that are all about teamwork. Find out how you can reward this kind of excellence and [...] The post How to Improve Teamwork with Recognition Programs appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you've ever had a customer service experience where you felt like you were talking to a robot, then you'll appreciate this authentic customer service tip. Customers want to speak with real people and not a bunch of memorized catchphrases.  It's a common problem, in the world of sales, but one that can be easily [...] The post Authentic Customer Service Tip appeared first on Ken Okel.

Life in 2025 will likely present more work-life balance challenges for professionals. In our last episode (#711), we talked about some of the top ones you're dealing with. Let's continue the discussion with two more common work-life balance challenges. Plus, you'll learn some actionable solutions to these common problems. Get balanced or re-balanced on this [...] The post More Work-Life Balance Challenges For Professionals appeared first on Ken Okel.

Today's top work-life balance challenges impact productivity, stress, and retention. I've identified four of the most common ones for today's leaders. Today you'll learn about two of them and we'll discuss the remaining two in our next episode.  Beyond just identifying these problem areas, I want to empower you with some possible solutions. Find out [...] The post Top Work-Life Balance Challenges appeared first on Ken Okel.

Recently I learned a great productivity lesson from a tree. At the time, the tree was being removed by a landscaping crew. Their approach to this task reminded me that doing things quickly may not always be the best way.  This lesson is important for businesses that feel speedy changes are their only option. If [...] The post A Tree Taught Me a Great Productivity Lesson appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you want an engaged workforce, then you need to consider whether you have a PTO problem. PTO or paid time off, is a benefit that a growing number of employees are refusing to use.  Why are people turning their backs on something that gets them out of the office and instead work more than [...] The post Do You Have a PTO Problem? appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you can put jealousy or competitiveness aside, then you can learn a lot when you research your competition. You have to remember your business does not exist in a vacuum.  By doing a little market research, you'll gain valuable insight into what's working for your competition or how those companies approach their marketing. And [...] The post How to Research Your Competition appeared first on Ken Okel.

While many want to make self-care a priority, they're not sure how to make it a reality. In a busy world that's full of challenges, taking time to improve your physical and mental health may seem impossible.  Recently, I surveyed my LinkedIn connections for their thoughts about self-care. Let's go through the surprising results and [...] The post How to Make Self-Care a Priority appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you're a leader, do you know why employees hate your employee recognition program? There's a good chance your program started off with good intentions but now has become a turnoff.  The reason is that people may feel like they have no chance of ever winning the award. As a result, something that was supposed [...] The post Do Employees Hate Your Employee Recognition Program? appeared first on Ken Okel.

Learning how to answer colleague complaints is an important skill that can help you enrich your career. Keep in mind that often the other person is just confiding in you and realizes there's little you can do to solve the problem.  But that doesn't mean you can't help them and silence may feel like a [...] The post How to Answer Colleague Complaints appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you work at a business that has just been acquired, then it's understandable if you're nervous about a merger. A lot of uncertainty comes when new ownership takes over.  Often these deals happen in secrecy, so they come as a big surprise. What should you do next? I asked my LinkedIn connections for their [...] The post Nervous About a Merger? appeared first on Ken Okel.

A good way to get work done faster and improve your work-life balance will see you solve procrastination with deadlines. In many cases, wanting to do a good job with projects is important. But are you spending too much time on certain things, in the pursuit of perfect, where the extra effort does little to [...] The post Solve Procrastination With Deadlines appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you're a leader, then understand you will be judged on responding to an unexpected challenge. Some sort of problem will emerge, you likely will have little control over it, and yet you'll be expected to find a path out of the challenge. Do you have the skills to make this kind of fast adjustment? [...] The post Responding to an Unexpected Challenge appeared first on Ken Okel.

Celebrate episode 700 of this podcast with a story about why you may need to redefine impossible. When faced with an unexpected challenge, do you find yourself immediately throwing in the towel and saying, "It can't be done."? What if, in those moments, you were selling yourself and others short? Join me on stage, at [...] The post Redefine Impossible appeared first on Ken Okel.

For businesses that have been around for a while, it's important to consider if you're old or experienced. The two are not always the same and you need to understand the difference. If your business is just old, then trouble might be down the road. Find out what makes something old, still relevant, in this week's [...] The post Old or Experienced? appeared first on Ken Okel.

These tips for smart networking at conferences can help you boost your return on investment when you attend events. For many, the ability to connect with fellow professionals is a big reason why they go. But you may not get the success you desire if you don't have a strategy. Find out how your fellow [...] The post Tips For Smart Networking at Conferences appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you want a job or a task done correctly, then you need to understand that poor training produces poor results. When you assume someone will understand exactly what you want, through some kind of magic, disappointment is often around the corner. This was never more true than when I saw an employee's vision of [...] The post Poor Training Produces Poor Results appeared first on Ken Okel.

In a world where technology is everywhere, should your smartphone be banned in meetings? Meetings are a place where lively discussions are supposed to happen, leading to major decisions. Does the smartphone interfere with that productive process? Recently, I polled my LinkedIn connections on the topic and found there's support for several different strategies when [...] The post Should Your Smartphone Be Banned in Meetings? appeared first on Ken Okel.

If you're outsourcing a task, then you need to ask your provider, "Who does does the work?" The answer can save you time, money, and frustration. When you hire someone to do a job for you, it's understandable to expect their showcased level of quality. That may not be the case, as your account may [...] The post Who Does the Work? appeared first on Ken Okel.

In business, it's easy to let cheap problems hurt your productivity. These are little issues that are extremely annoying.  But they aren't your big problems or your most pressing issues. Are you giving these cheap problems too much of your attention at the expense of more important things?  How can we handle this time management [...] The post Do Cheap Problems Hurt Your Productivity? appeared first on Ken Okel.

In your career, it's important to consider who's watching you. There's a good chance you may be exhibiting behavior that hurts you but you believe that you can get away with it because no one is looking at you, in the moment. You believe that if no one sees it, then it doesn't matter.  That's [...] The post Who's Watching You? appeared first on Ken Okel.

Having a sense of purpose at work is an important part of a career. It's empowering to find that connection, as it can help you stay motivated and help you get through challenging times.  Not long ago, I polled my LinkedIn connections about their purposes at work and I discovered they fall into four categories. [...] The post Do You have a Sense of Purpose at Work? appeared first on Ken Okel.

In business, you need to watch your words with customers. The things you say to them, even as offhand remarks, can become  major turnoffs. And in a competitive marketplace that could cost you business.  Even if you have the best marketing and branding, you and your employees can repel customers with your words. Let's go [...] The post Watch Your Words With Customers appeared first on Ken Okel.

If your Monday morning productivity is a concern, then you'll like these tips to start your week off strong. Each is designed to be easily implemented. Complex things usually never become habits.  You don't want to get into a situation where you feel like you're falling behind on your week and it's only Monday morning. [...] The post Tips to Start Your Week Off Strong appeared first on Ken Okel.

Have you ever wondered if you can change your clients? Sometimes, they can be demanding and ask you to do things beyond your scope of work agreement.  I was asked this question by an audience member not long ago. And while this isn't exactly my area of expertise, I understood the problem and knew there [...] The post Can You Change Your Clients? appeared first on Ken Okel.

When you've got a tough challenge, what you do next is very important. Obviously, you'll want to pursue a solution. But how do you go about that process? Leaving it to chance may not produce a good outcome and could waste a lot of time. Instead, define how you'll approach finding a solution. Learn how [...] The post You've Got a Tough Challenge. Now What? appeared first on Ken Okel.

It's important for leaders to understand that employees can learn how to exceed limitations at work. It can be easy to pigeonhole people's skills and their ability to make positive changes.  That kind of growth can happen faster than you think, especially during challenging times, if you're open to providing three key pieces of information. [...] The post Exceed Limitations at Work appeared first on Ken Okel.

You may recognize some of these common boss complaints. While some might call them minor quirks, they could represent problems that could impact your hiring and retention efforts.  And if you're a leader, you may not have realized certain behaviors could become a turnoff for employees. Why not change behaviors before you get a bad [...] The post Common Boss Complaints appeared first on Ken Okel.

These four daily business questions can bring some focus and discipline to your career. While none of them are complicated, all can provide a bridge to a more productive tomorrow. You may have noticed that increased demands and responsibilities keep you from your most important work or your long-term goals. As a result, your days [...] The post Four Daily Business Questions appeared first on Ken Okel.