How to reduce the chances of making a decision you’ll regret somewhere down the road
A recent column of mine was inspired by the political maelstrom created by the SNC-Lavalin affair. A month has passed, the storm continues to swirl, and I’m inspired again to draw on this situation as a leadership learning opportunity. There have been no shortage of ‘What were they thinking?’ moments as this scandal has unfolded,…
How to build and maintain relationships critical to being an effective consultant
I have a routine I try to follow each morning. I take a shower, do 20 minutes of yoga stretching, pour myself a cup of coffee, and sit down to read something that centres and inspires me. A little Seneca, thoughts from a Buddhist teacher, a chapter of Eckert Tolle. This morning, I opened Oriah’s…
First, you need to pause and acknowledge that people hold different values and it doesn’t necessarily make them bad people
So many leadership lessons lurk in the events that have plagued the Canadian political landscape over the past few weeks that it’s hard to know where to start. Leadership lessons that emerge from crises are easy pickings; they’re so obvious and it’s so easy to be self-righteous. A much tougher question is: What on earth…
Why do we always blame the manager for failed performance management? Doesn’t some of the accountability rest with the employee?
Recently I found myself commiserating with a friend over a failed performance conversation. She was frustrated by the fact that while she was trying to provide one of her direct reports with some much-needed feedback, her team member was just not listening. I, too, have had the experience of dealing with a tone-deaf direct report.…
Understand what motivates you, do something you're good at and commit to doing your very best
I Used to Write for Sports Illustrated. Now I Deliver Packages for Amazon is a brilliant article by Austin Murphy in the December 2018 issue of The Atlantic. Murphy articulates his career journey as a result of being in an industry disrupted by technology. What really resonated for me about his story was his transformation…
There is a new reality out there and, like it or not, we are all going to have to adjust our expectations
When Jack first learned his company was going to be making personnel cuts, and that they were likely to occur in his area, he was anxious. By Friday it was known that his department would, indeed, be impacted. By Monday morning he was actually looking forward to receiving his separation agreement: he and his wife…
Working easily and fluidly with others is simply how things get done in the 21st century
The ability to collaborate with others is a must-have skill to be successful in work. It doesn’t matter if you’re a project manager, a self-employed editor or the chief financial officer, part of your success is probably going to hinge on how well you can work with colleagues. Our work world is a complex system,…
By focusing on simple things that improve your life, you'll become a happier person – enabling you to make a broader contribution
I relish the opportunity to reflect on the year – and give thought to what I want to be different going forward, and how I will accomplish that. I gave up making actual resolutions years ago; like everyone else, my follow-through was short-lived and ended in disappointment. But I like to experiment with new habits…
Are you feeling pressure from your boss to deliver, deliver, deliver?
Do you find yourself suddenly being asked to do more with less? Did there used to be someone in the office beside you whose job responsibilities have suddenly become your responsibilities? Are you feeling pressure from your boss to deliver, deliver, deliver? It isn't as if you were slacking off before. Between the meetings, the…
Seven basic management skills to motivate your workers
For over two decades we have been training leaders to manage people by empowering them. Leaders who were authoritarian, who behaved like a parent instead of a coach, were seen as dinosaurs at the end of their era. Times change. I remember how a conversation I had with a client, an enlightened and successful leader, unfolded:…
If you take your time, and trust your gut, you are more likely to find the best candidate
Hiring is rarely something managers look forward to. It often feels like an arduous process that ends in a crap shoot. But there are strategies that improve your odds of hiring well. Don’t stay inside the box. In my experience, employers do not cast a wide enough net when they recruit talent. Human resources professionals and…
Studies consistently show that one of the top reasons people quit a job is to escape a bad boss
Cindy, a consistently high performer, has been with her firm for 10 years. She really likes the company, her job and the people she works with. But about six months ago, she found herself with a new boss. He’s an up-and-comer; young and ambitious, but lacking in leadership savvy. Determined to prove himself, he pushes…
Are you in a motivational rut? Do you loathe your job? Here's help
It isn’t a secret that many of us don’t love our jobs. At the moment, I am happily in that ‘I love my job!’ place. But I remember when, a couple of years ago, I was in the ‘I loathe my job’ place. You may be somewhere in the middle. In many respects, that is…
Treating the situation like getting a new job increases your chances of surviving the inevitable review
Here are six key questions you can ask yourself, along with strategies to help you keep your job when you get a new boss. Who is Evaluating Whom? One thing many people forget is that they will be tested. Of course you are evaluating and testing your new boss. But that person is also evaluating…
Social networking opens up a new avenue for those of us who were not born to be social butterflies
Is it just me or is everyone more interested in 'networking' these days? I've noticed a significant increase in 'join my network' requests from people I know, have known, or barely know through sites like LinkedIn. Everyone seems to be interested in connecting and exchanging contact information. Is social networking taking over the planet, or…