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“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
-Ray Kroc

Most engagement strategies focus on employees. Gallup's latest data suggests organizations should start one level up. Manager engagement has dropped 9 points since 2022, and teams feel it.

We broke down what that means and what to do about it:

https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/28/managers-are-the-key-to-employee-engagement-in-the-workplace/

“In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future.”
-Eric Hoffer

83% of employers say the workday has fundamentally shifted because of AI and flexible work. Most teams are figuring it out as they go. The leaders who will navigate this well are those who can communicate change clearly, manage uncertainty, and keep their people developing. That's not a technology problem. It's a leadership one.

Leadership development is how organizations prepare for this.

https://crestcom.com/leadership-trainer/john-lentini/

“People don't resist change. They resist being changed.”
-Peter Senge

We keep asking why change efforts fail. Nick Montalbine's answer might surprise you. It's not resistance. It's exhaustion.

New episode of The Leadership Habit available now!

https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/22/managing-change-effectively-in-the-workplace-with-nick-montalbine/

“Trust is earned when actions meet words.”
-Chris Butler

Trust isn't soft. It directly affects how teams make decisions, follow through, and perform. A home solutions company in British Columbia worked through Trust: The Leadership Differentiator, featuring subject matter expert Sylvie di Giusto, and saw it reflected directly in their results.

Real leaders. Real results.

https://crestcom.com/leadership-trainer/john-lentini/

"Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first." — Simon Sinek

Culture is not a slogan you hang on the wall. It is what people feel when no one is watching.

Crestcom International, LLC has been named to Franchise Business Review's 2026 Culture100 list. One of only 100 brands recognized for the best franchise cultures in the country.

That ranking is not handed out. It is earned. It came from independent surveys of over 29,000 franchise owners, scored across 17 dimensions of a strong culture: leadership, core values, community, and engagement. The brands that made the list outpaced the industry average by 20 to 50 percent.

Here is why it matters to me. I build with Crestcom because the mission lines up with the work I care about most: developing leaders who make the people around them better.

A great culture is never an accident. It is engineered, one decision at a time.

Learn more at the link in comments.

Japan is a special place. It’s culture has played an outsized role in my life and career. From childhood Karate, to ten years with Mizuho and time managing in and around Japan for the late, great Credit Suisse. This through-line only came into focus as I was drafting my upcoming book, and Japanese principles became an obvious strategic choice to help support my own framework.

Last month, Gayle Hanrahan and I had the privilege of touring Taco, Inc.’s amazing facility in Cranston, RI during the Rhode Island ASQ 2026 Mini-Con. I took note of these posters on the shop floor. Those in Manufacturing will be very familiar with Kaizen as a strategy, but it applies to us all in every day life.

I recently wrote a piece for FENIX Innovation Magazine that outlines how we can all leverage the Japanese principles of Kaizen and Ganbaru to to consistency and productivity ... in other words, Discipline!

What is your Kaizen today?

Crestcom has been named one of Entrepreneur magazine's 2026 Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000, and we could not be more proud.

Out of thousands of franchises evaluated, only 100 made the list. This kind of recognition does not happen by accident. It is the result of nearly 40 years of showing up for our franchise owners and the leaders they serve.

If you have ever thought about owning a business that actually makes a difference, this is worth a look.

https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/26/crestcom-international-named-one-of-entrepreneurs-2026-top-franchises-for-less-than-100000/

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
-Mary Anne Radmacher

John Register lost his leg training for the Olympics. He went on to become a Paralympic silver medalist. His secret was not certainty. It was the decision to take the next step anyway.

He calls it "Amputate to Elevate" and it applies directly to how leaders make decisions under pressure. Cut what is holding you back. Move forward with what remains.

Listen in to the full conversation on The Leadership Habit.

https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/08/why-decisive-leadership-matters-more-than-ever-with-john-register/..

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

Sometimes you hold off on a decision because you don’t feel fully sure yet. The problem is that the feeling of being 100% certain rarely comes. The 40–70 rule is a simple way to move forward. Get enough information, make the call, and adjust if needed.

We walk through this and other practical tools you can use in your work and day-to-day in our eBook, "Empowerment is a Competitive Advantage."

Download it here: https://crestcom.com/leadership-trainer/john-lentini/