About Upward Spiral Solutions
ABOUT US
Why did Mike start Upward Spiral Solutions?
Eight years of running a Dignity and Respect Campaign opened my eyes to the importance of my ability to improve businesses and the lives of people at the same time. Dignity and Respect helps the business’ bottom line by honoring and fully engaging the heart of the enterprise, its people. When employees truly believe that the company’s leaders and their coworkers care about them, they shine and can perform to their fullest potential. Working in an environment that fosters clear communication and support, employees have less reason to engage in activities seen as adverse to the business. The business enjoys a more productive environment with fewer problems and individual employees are happier and more fulfilled by their time at work.
My entire life’s experience has prepared me for this work. Since the age of 8, I have worked in an uninterrupted string of jobs that range from bicycle newspaper delivery to leadership within an international security company. Prior to starting this business, I was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, for the North American part of the largest security company in the world, responsible for legal, compliance, risk management, insurance, and enterprise risk management for all the North American businesses and the compliance program for US Government contracts globally. Before my twenty plus years in the security industry, I enjoyed working as a commercial litigation attorney, police officer, bartender, security officer, logistics company worker and supervisor, lawn business owner/operator, stock clerk, ice cream server, full-service gas station attendant, movie usher, professional mover, janitor, handyman/painter, laborer at dad’s logistics business and bicycle newspaper delivery person. They say that “You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Well, I feel fortunate that I’ve worn so many different shoes in life. Seeing things from different perspectives helped me to understand people better, including myself. Somehow, this understanding, with my formal training and life experience, combined to make me perfectly suited to helping people understand their power to improve their work and lives by interacting with Dignity and Respect.
While running a Dignity and Respect Campaign for 8 years, I witnessed and contributed to causing lasting improvements to business operations and lives. While I’ve done so many different types or work, sharing Dignity and Respect concepts is the best and most meaningful use of my time. I am called to bring this to others through Upward Spiral Solutions.
A phenomenon that occurs when we treat each other with dignity and respect, causing broadening positive interactions that result in continuous improvement of relationships and outcomes.
My last job as a lawyer for an international security company, lasting 20+ years, sparked Upward Spiral Solutions. From a career perspective, I had my dream job. I was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, for the North American part of the largest security company in the world. I was part of a wonderful leadership team managing the Americas Region and I led amazing legal and risk management teams. My teams’ success led to ever-expanding responsibilities and at the end I was responsible for legal, compliance, risk management, insurance, and enterprise risk management for all the North American businesses and the compliance program for US Government contracts globally. This success was driven by two factors: 1) focusing on continuous improvement through practical business solutions; and 2) our Region’s commitment to treating everyone fairly and with dignity and respect.
In 2013, as part of our Compliance Team work, I and the head of Human Resources, started a Dignity and Respect Campaign. Over the following 8 years, I led the dignity and respect effort, conducting over 50, three to four hour long, workshops and numerous webinars and presentations. In the short time of a workshop, I’ve seen people and business operations positively change forever. Due to the longevity of the Dignity and Respect Campaign, I witnessed the long-term positive impact these changes had on business operations and employee interactions. As the leader of the North America legal function, risk management department and compliance program, my team tracked improvements to business operations; reductions in hotline calls, claims and litigation; and, improved employee satisfaction. For our Region, with approximately 50,000 employees, I know that the dignity and respect campaign was the foundational element of our success. Of all the work things I’ve done in my life, helping people understand their power to live a more productive and happy life by communicating with dignity and respect, was the most impactful. It improved business culture, productivity and claims handling, created workplace harmony and a team environment that fostered greatness. Understanding the dignity and respect campaign’s impact on the business and lives of employees, I saw clearly that this was the best and most meaningful use of my time. I am called to bring this to others through Upward Spiral Solutions.
Testimonials
As the VP of Employee Relations for G4S, I had the privilege of a front row seat - Read More
