04 May

My Lessons From The Pandemic and What It Means For My Business

Here we are, peeps. More than one year into the pandemic, and, while there are signs of hope, we are not out of it yet. If you’re like me, you have been reading the many heartbreaking stories in varied shapes and forms. To be there for others when they need us most, we must stay grounded and avoid being swept away by the devastation. I find it’s helpful to favor a balanced view, one that seeks to identify positive outcomes as well. The following quote from Nelson Mandela has been swirling in my head: “I am fundamentally an optimist....
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06 Apr

Values: Living from the Inside-Out

Last week, a former client shared how instrumental the values work we did was in gaining clarity about her circumstances and in fostering our coaching relationship, which ultimately motivated her to start her own consulting business. Perhaps you hear the word values and you roll your eyes. I wouldn’t blame you. For many of us, it brings back memories of posters on portable walls that make lofty promises that are violated day after day. We’d be better off with a picture of a puppy, at least that would make us smile. Still, there is something about values… I’ve been...
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08 Jan

2021 – What are you bringing forward?

My Mom always said to never wish your time away But I can say that I am happy to be done with this past year. Phew… It has been trying at so many levels: violence, hurricanes, wildfires, political divisiveness, and of course, Covid-19. Talk about a heck of a roller-coaster ride! No one was untouched by the pandemic. The magnitude of human hardship is overwhelming. In the words of the President-Elect, “There are empty chairs at the kitchen table” around the world. Job loss numbers and images of record lineups at foodbanks are powerful reminders that while we are...
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10 Sep

2020 continued – An offer for you

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...
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06 Aug

The invisible shackles of systems

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...
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16 Jun

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

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...
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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...
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11 Apr

How are you doing?

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...
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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...
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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...
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