Indisputable evidence has revealed the greatest threat to America's economy. Is it off-shoring labor? Unethical corporate practices? A turbulent market that forces downsizing? No. A Gallup Organization survey of more than one million Americans show that nearly 75 percent of all workers are disengaged. Employee disengagement is a widespread malady in American organizations, causing the loss of billions of dollars, hours of dissatisfaction, and work lives lacking true value. In his book, Fired Up or Burned Out, Michael Stallard shares the three key actions necessary to transform even a lethargic, disconnected organization or office into an impassioned, innovative, and thriving workplace.
Michael Lee Stallard is a leading authority on leadership, employee engagement and customer engagement. He is the co-founder, president and CEO of E Pluribus Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in helping leaders create "Connection Cultures" to form strong bonds among the management, employees and customers of an organization. Connection Cultures increase employee and customer engagement as well as productivity, profitability, innovation, employee retention and customer loyalty. E Pluribus Partners' clients have included Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, General Electric, UBS, General Re and several hedge funds. General Electric recently revised its leadership training course to incorporate Michael's work.
Michael is the primary author of the book Fired Up or Burned Out. It has been widely praised by well-respected leaders and thought leaders. Marketing maven and bestselling author Seth Godin wrote, "this is a very big idea. While it's simple, it's not easy to do, but it's important. Hurry!" Frances Hesselbein, Chairman of the Leader to Leader Institute, described the book as "the indispensable leadership guide for leaders everywhere." Russell Reynolds, Jr., founder and former CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates wrote, "An enthralling and impressive work. It shows how to empower people and create great societies, corporations and cultures. I'm giving it to everyone at my own firm." William A. Holstein of The New York Times wrote that Michael's ideas on connection reflect "great wisdom." Michael Fitzgerald, who writes for The Economist and Inc wrote on BNet, "The soft stuff counts and Stallard's book helps...It's impossible not to find some example that will make you rethink your own approach to other people in your working life." Fired Up or Burned Out has also been praised by executive coach and best-selling author Marshall Goldsmith as a book that contains ideas that help leaders engage knowledge workers.
Michael's work has been in the media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Leader to Leader, Leadership Excellence, M World: The Journal of the American Management Association, Perdido, Live Mint (in India), Shukan Daiyamondo (in Japan), Capital (in Dubai), Rotman Magazine of The University of Toronto (Canada in Spring 2009) and Fox Business Now. He is a regular contributor to India's largest circulated business daily newspaper, The Economic Times. Michael has spoken at conferences organized by Fortune magazine, The World Presidents Organization, the American Bankers Association, The Corporate Executive Board, the Innovation Council and the Investment Company Institute. He is a guest lecturer on employee and customer engagement at New York University's Stern School of Business, The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Prior to founding E Pluribus Partners, Michael was chief marketing officer for businesses at Charles Schwab and Morgan Stanley. The programs identified and implemented by the team he assembled and led at Morgan Stanley contributed to doubling the business unit's revenues over a two year period. The practices he and his team developed became the genesis for his approach to elevating the productivity and innovation of individuals and organizations. Earlier in his career, Michael worked as an executive in investment banking, marketing, finance and business development-related positions at Texas Instruments, Van Kampen Investments and Barclays Bank, PLC. Michael's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in marketing from Illinois State University, an M.B.A. from University of Texas Permian Basin, and a J.D. from DePaul University Law School. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1991. Michael is married and has two daughters.
