We’ll likely hear the word “motivation” at least a hundred times this year. It’s among the most misapplied words and one of the most inaccurate concepts found in the lexicon of leadership. So, offered here, the following thoughts as we consider our “Five Biggest Myths of Motivation.”

“Some people are inherently lazy; they just need an occasional kick in the butt” Whatever the barrier, it’s almost never “laziness” under the traditional definition. People are inherently uncertain, but lack the confidence to confess it. Depending on one’s “social style” and career experience, most of us are malleable; open to coaching and direction leading to our growth.

“Money does the trick; it’s the quickest way to stimulate someone” Wrong. A stack of studies prove (especially for Gen Y and Millennials) “money” is not only subordinated on a person’s motivational index, it’s also a short-term incentive. If cash was the universal motivator every seller would be Tony Robbins or Zig Ziglar. In fact, money ranks several rungs down the motivational ladder.

I’m sure we are all sick of hearing the expression “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” but there is something to be said for letting sh*t go. It’s a tough time in the business, morale is down, downsizing continues to impact individuals personally and professionally, ...

Ed McMahon was the quintessential sidekick. He laughed in all the right places and never upstaged Johnny Cason. He was the butt of jokes and the show whipping boy. As a recent New York Times article points out, today’s audiences view that role as "punching down" or ...

There’s a lot of hate going around these days, especially when it comes to social media. I’m following a lot of anonymous accounts (or at least I think they are) from people in the radio business. I’m not gonna lie, some of the posts are funny and relatable, some of ...

In a recent conversation with a colleague, I was asked what my favorite movie of all time was. I had a hard time narrowing it down to just one. My top three are “Any Given Sunday” with Al Pacino and a number of other A-listers, “The Replacements” with Keanu Reeves ...

Years ago, stations would thump their chest about transmitter size. 5000 watts! 50,000 watts! 100,000 watts! Mine is bigger than yours! My first programming job was at WWDM in South Carolina, nicknamed The BIG DM by listeners because of its thermonuclear signal. In the ...

Have you ever noticed yourself using filler words such as “kinda,” “sorta,” or “like?” Last week’s Coaching Tip about “Trash Talk” prompted me to think about my own filler words. I’m noticing myself using fillers such as “uh,” “you know,” and ...

I’ve seen a lot of social media posts lately from people in all aspects of the audio and content industry talking about the demise of traditional radio, including and especially the lack of opportunity, pay and diverse leadership. One post in particular by one-time ...

You tune in to a show in the middle of a story and hear the host say, “She said she’d like to tour again, but he said she’d be safer and more productive spending time in the studio and doing virtual concerts.” The host wraps up by saying something like, ...

Does your show have a villain or lightning rod character with an extreme, malicious, or mischievous point of view? The antagonist could be a cast member, a bumbling boss, or any character whose menacing ways highlight the host’s endearing characteristics. If you have ...