Jeff McManus's Blog, page 3

The Real Deal Leadership

Let’s be real—leadership isn’t about big words or fancy titles. It’s about getting people
moving in the same direction to get a job done right. Leadership is the grease that
keeps the machine running.

So, here’s the big question: What kind of leader are you? Are you The Real Deal?
Back in the 1960s, people started using the phrase “The Real Deal” to describe
someone who was the genuine article—no fakes, no fluff. It meant you could trust them
to be who they said they were and do what they said the...

The Code of the West: A Straightforward Guide to Life and Work

We may not be riding horses, herding cattle, or settling new frontiers anymore—but life

can still feel like the Wild West. Long days, tough jobs, dealing with people, and just

trying to make ends meet can feel like a daily dust-up.

Back in the day, the pioneering people didn’t have HR departments or rulebooks. What

they did have was something better: a personal code. They called it The Code of the

West, a simple, unwritten set of values that helped folks stay honest, dependable, a...

The Be Better Mindset – Freedom to Grow

“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” ~Matty Mullins

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, a day honoring freedom, courage, and possibility, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the freedom we each have—to grow.

Chris Nikic, born with Down Syndrome, didn’t let labels define him. At 18, out of shape and unsure of the future, he made one powerful choice: to get 1% better every day.

That mindset led him to complete an Ironman®—a grueling test of ...

Bridging the Gap: Inspiring Every Generation at Work

As a young high school student, I remember hearing older adults say, “This younger
generation has a lot of problems.” I hear the same thing today from my peers across the
country. It seems each generation tends to lose hope in the one behind it.

Today’s workplace includes five active generations, each shaped by unique life
experiences and cultural influences. From Traditionalists, born before 1945 and now
representing just 1% of the workforce, to Baby Boomers (1946–1964) at 25%, and
Generation X (...

The Day I Laid Off Half My Staff

It was one of the worst days of my life. I had to lay off over half of my landscaping team.
We had overextended our reach, and the business couldn’t sustain it. I had over hired
for the contracts we maintained. It wasn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet — it was
families, stories, and lives.

Failure forced me to look deeper. I began asking myself, what kind of leader do I want to
be?

This painful moment became the soil where something better could grow. It forced me
to be a caring leader, but in a...

Being Coachable

I sat on the bench in 10th grade, arms crossed, ignoring my basketball coach. I thought
I knew it all. I didn’t. I acted like a starter — and a spoiled one.

Looking back, I wasn’t coachable. And that’s the difference between someone who
stalls out and someone who levels up.

Coachable people don’t have all the answers — and they know it.
They stay humble, ask questions, and take feedback without getting defensive.

As Coach John Wooden said, “Everything we know we learned from someone else.”...

A Real Story About Attitude

Recently, a leader I know had an employee come charging into his office—frantic,
tense, and anxious. He was like a cat trapped in a pillowcase—ready to claw his way
out. Just moments earlier, he’d gotten into a heated situation with a coworker, and now
he was looking for a way to escape the fallout. Others had to step in quickly to calm
things down.

Attitude influences every part of workplace engagement—productivity, morale,
teamwork, and even safety. And unfortunately, negativity is contagious. O...

Making Your Team Successful

Whether you inherit a team or build one from scratch, strong leadership makes the
difference. By engaging team members personally, giving honest feedback, and
recognizing individual strengths, you can drive your team toward success.

Personally Engage:
Understanding your team’s strengths, weaknesses, goals, and needs fosters connection
and builds cohesion. Regular one-on-ones help uncover what motivates each member
and inform better planning. When people feel seen and supported, they’re more
satisfi...

Who Believes in You?

“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the
heart to let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln

Today, during a podcast interview, I found myself quoting a close friend who left us too
soon—Tim Kunsman. Tim was someone who saw my flaws, my failures, and still chose
to believe in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself.

He didn’t need perfection from me. He just believed I would keep going – keep getting
better. And because of that quiet confidence, I stood tal...

Successful Teams: Keeping It Together

Today, teamwork is more than a workplace trend—it’s a cornerstone of how organizations operate. It has inspired academic research, consulting industries, and even military strategy. Business leaders have taken the concept off the athletic field and made it central to their vision of success.

But long before “teamwork makes the dream work” became a catchphrase, Henry Ford summed it up simply: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

No mat...