Christine Maassen – Christine Maassen

10 Sep

2020 continued – An offer for you

By Christine Maassen
In Blog, Leadership, Self-care, Uncategorized
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And just like that, we got to September. September is usually a time I view as “the other start of the year.” In January we set intentions, plans, resolutions, and goals for the year ahead. After the summer, September is conducive to revisiting, updating, celebrating achievements. It is also a good time to course correct if needed prior to the final stretch of the year. But this September feels different, doesn’t it? We still have a year to wrap up, but we continue to figure things out, one day at the time. We are juggling high levels of...

06 Aug

The invisible shackles of systems

Ever noticed how some situations, conversations, or moments get vividly etched in our memory bank? I’m sure there is a reason why this happens. The other day, one such memory came by for a visit with me. It was a conversation taking place many years ago with a university career counsellor during an assessment debrief. My career was well on its way by the time I enrolled in university, and what this assessment suggested was that my interest was for arts-related careers. That was not the path I had been travelling for many years, establishing a management career in...

16 Jun

Now what? Part 2 – Finding our way forward, navigating Covid-19 and George Floyd’s murder

By Christine Maassen
In Blog, Business, Leadership, Self-care
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The first part of this post ended on the topic of our interactions with people and how they can leave an unforgettable impression, good or bad. Wait, isn’t this about leadership? How we show up right now—and always—offers an incredible opportunity to bring out the best in each of us, which is very much needed. I started writing this post through a workplace lens. Then I turned the TV on and witnessed George Floyd’s killing and what ensued. This grisly milestone is forcing overdue conversations and appears to have mobilized enough people to induce change. While I continue to...

24 May

Now What? Part 1

Hey Peeps, What a breath of fresh air! Our community conversation is shifting its focus to reopening plans. It puts a bounce in one’s step, doesn’t it? If you’re like me, you went from “Yeah, finally!” to “Uh, how do we do this?” Because this is not a return to what our normal used to be. Clearly, the nasty virus is still kicking around. We have guidelines that have proven effective at keeping a surge at bay, but the “son of a peacock” is still around. So now we have to figure out how we progressively and safely restart...

11 Apr

How are you doing?

I have been quiet lately because we are flooded with information, but today, I want to drop by and ask you, “How are you doing?” Did you ever think that such a simple and familiar question would carry such weight? I hope this find you healthy, at home, with a full fridge, and surrounded by people and things that bring you comfort and joy. Phew, what a ride! The topsy-turviness of the past weeks leaves us a bit dizzy, just like when walking off a merry-go-round as a kid. The news, daily updates, the prediction graphs, recommendations, revised recommendations...

29 Jan

Mister Rogers and the art of presence.

The term presence is frequently referenced in the context of leadership development and coaching. In a world filled with a variety of digital devices, the value of presence is greater than ever. Dismissing the importance of presence is like looking at a car and saying, “All we need is the physical vehicle. The energy we use to fuel it is not something we see, so it can’t be that important.” I know you’d be shaking your head if someone made such a statement. At the core of presence, we find self-awareness and self-regulation, two key drivers of leadership. These...

05 Dec

Technology implementation and your People: Lessons learned.

Technology can be a tremendous asset to a business. From automation to tools and data accessibility, technology has the potential to improve both client experiences and organizational efficiency. But getting there is no slam-dunk. Choosing and implementing technology is a tall order, and whether you realize it or not it will have a direct impact on your organizational culture. Over the course of my career, I have been directly involved in many large-scale technology-based projects aimed at improving operational efficiency. From point of sales systems (a bunch of cash registers talking to each other and to accounting), to liquor...

05 Nov

Why we should listen to our tummies and how to do it.

Think and be honest with yourself when answering this question: Did you ever end up in a situation that was not good for you after ignoring the warnings signs? Something was telling you to get out, but you still stayed. Your intuition was to hold back, but you went ahead. I refer to the warning signs as “the tummy” because, for many of us, this is where the signs show up. I’ve been in this position several times. Looking back, I can say that there was a strong signal that I should have paid attention to, yet I didn’t....

25 Oct

The toll of emotional exhaustion, a way to move forward, and what I promise you.

Over the past few months, or perhaps few years, our lives have been acutely and increasingly exposed to repugnant discourse, displays of hatred, and escalating violence. These ongoing demonstrations of negativity fuel divisiveness, fear, and all the outcomes that such emotions can bring. An incessant swirl of questions haunts me. When did it become OK for an individual aspiring to lead a country to rely on insults to make a point? How is it possible to think highly of a person who uses lie after lie after lie as a predominant method to sway people? How could a group...

02 Oct

Work we love – How to flee the vortex.

The Collins Dictionary defines a vortex as “a mass of wind or water that spins round so fast that it pulls objects down into its empty center.” The reference to the empty center jumped out at me. I often think of some of my past roles as an incredible force, a vortex that took over my life. It’s a sneaky energy, often fueled by the glorified status of being busy. Oh, the dangers of busyness. When did exhaustion become a status symbol? The whirlwind does keep you busy indeed. It gets power from title chases, the hunt for rewards...