Leadership | Jeff Kortes

Make them Say “No”

Oct 24, 2026 | Culture, Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Employee Satisfaction, Leadership

During this four-week time frame, I’ve listened to the saga of this person who has recently had their boss, the purchasing manager, get promoted. So, the current role as a Purchasing Manager is now open. As we have talked every week, my colleague has thought about...

Develop Understanding and Respect

Sep 23, 2026 | Culture, Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Leadership

This last week, this employee retention speaker and employee recruitment expert was at the hospital to visit a friend, it happened that as I was riding up to the appropriate floor, I was on the elevator with an employee who was pushing an empty wheelchair to pick up a...

Treat them Right and Have Fun

Sep 9, 2026 | Culture, Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Employee Satisfaction, Leadership

When this employee retention speaker and employee retention trainer showed up at the facility to have his colonoscopy done, I was informed I had the right time for the procedure but the wrong day! I suspected it was my mistake and I immediately thought of all the fun...

Gruff But Caring

Aug 12, 2026 | Accountability, Careers, Culture, Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Leadership, Learning

This employee retention speaker and employee retention trainer was intrigued by listening to one of the foremen in the workshop. This foreman was a gruff, crusty old leader who had been with the organization for over 25 years. On the surface that is what came...

We Can’t Stand Her…Promote Her

Jul 15, 2026 | Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Employee Satisfaction, favorites, Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning, Motivation

This employee retention speaker and employee retention expert was talking with a neighbor about work, and he mentioned that they had this person in his department that nobody could stand. She was snarky, gossiped all the time, and was generally unpleasant. No one in...

The Unresponsive Boss

Jul 1, 2026 | Culture, Discipline, Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Employee Retention, Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Motivation

This employee retention expert and employee retention speaker got a call about a week ago from a former student who I’d had in class more than 15 years ago. He and I have stayed in touch over the years and I have followed his career as he has progressed into the...