A workforce that doesn’t feel safe to express who they are, let alone the emotions that make us human, is a workforce that is suppressed and works in a fear-based culture.
You’ve been a leader for quite some time, and you’re stepping into a new position or company. Maybe both! The ambitious women I know are actively working on making the most significant impact in their first 3-6 months (maybe longer), but, even the best and brightest are bound to make some of the most common leadership mistakes. Don’t we
Have you struggled with visibility? The kind that garners the promotional opportunity you’ve been thinking about and know you deserve? That’s the thing about getting noticed; you want to be seen and valued for your experience and skill set, and when you’re not? You question yourself. In this hybrid world we live in; work environments have changed. Research has
Have you ever had something happen at work, whether it was a meeting gone wrong or an exchange with a client you manage only to have it throw you off for the rest of the day? You wish you could get a handle and regulate your emotions, but all you can think of is what was said (or, in some
If there was any habit you could drop like a hot potato, what would it be and what new habit would you create instead? We all have habits we’ve developed over time that simply don’t serve us, yet we hold onto them because they’re a part of what we do day in, day out like clockwork. The same is true
The conversations I’ve been having lately have been timely, to say the least. Men and women in various stages of their careers have shared a common feeling of something’s missing. Jobs are feeling like just that – a job. Some have described it as a feeling of unfulfillment, a lack of personal enjoyment and many have no idea of how to
At one point or another in your career, you’ve likely felt the urgency to chase the next promotion, go after that bigger title or get the corner office. All in the name of status, to prove you’re worthy of the big bucks and let’s face it – even if it led to burnout. Likely doing whatever it takes to get
If there was ever a time where emotional intelligence was needed, this moment in our global evolution would be it. New leadership – the kind we need more of in our world and we’ll see more of in the future of work calls for emotional intelligence. Have I said it enough? Maybe. I know I’ve written about it quite a
With remote work becoming more than just a trend, so is corporate well-being in the future of work. Frankly, to me, it’s just – well-being and we need to start thinking about creating work environments that support it. With a global pandemic prompting leaders to happily wave goodbye to old ways of working, we saw many making lifestyle changes that reminded them
With all the rave the Olympics bring, while I haven’t been glued to my TV like the rest of the world, my ears have perked up recently. When gymnasts like Simone Biles are making waves with the decision to withdraw from her final routine for her wellbeing, you pay attention. We can’t forget Olympian, Naomi Osaka who withdrew from The
The pandemic changed every one of us for better or worse, and for many (especially women), it shifted how we lead ourselves in our businesses and personal lives. Perhaps with care and attention. While the global crisis had a disproportionate effect on women in the workforce, it also presented an opportunity to lead bigger and bolder moving forward. It’s what
Is it unfair to assume that employee needs have changed post-pandemic? Likely not. We’ve all been impacted in one way or another despite what that looks like for each of us. The question is, how will these changes impact, organizations moving forward? As organizations look to reimagine their return to the office, talent and employee retention challenges will be amplified.
Have you ever said yes to something when you really should have said no? Maybe it was a project or an opportunity that seemed really great at the onset, and as time went on, something shifted. Time will do that to you. And your self-worth will perk up if it’s been comprimised. Especially if you rushed your yes when you
If leadership had a story to tell, what would it be? Is it, to be a great leader, follow the lead of those who’ve come before you demonstrating what success looks like and you’ll be successful? Or would it be to be a leader, you need to work yourself into the ground to build a successful business? There are plenty
It’s what you feel when people are being true to who they are yet, it’s not always easy to see in a leader. Authenticity. During a humanitarian crisis around the globe that continues to unfold, the spotlight has been on leaders. Not in hope that they have all the answers, but instead we looked to those leaders who were leading
There’s been a collection of buzz words we heard a lot since the pandemic, resilience being one of them. As it relates to corporate, much of the focus has been on organizational resiliency, even when we speak of leadership resiliency. Driving an organization to success in uncertain times while the future continues to be unknown is important, yet, the kind
We’ve redefined ways of working and living in the world of COVID challenging our outlook on what the future of work looks like. Workplace culture was suddenly disrupted and brought into question asking, leaders, “How do we continue to flourish in a remote environment?” The changes organizations have made have not only been in response to what’s happening on the global stage
If you type “business 2021” in Google, you’ll get a list of business trends, predictions and suggestions on what kind of business ventures to invest in that’ll yield the greatest success. Not surprising when you think about the impact 2020 had on businesses from multi-national corporations to your local mom and pop shop. There were some hard lessons learned and some that
I’m still coming out of holiday mode and all of what was 2020 because let’s be real – it was A YEAR! A year I was quite happy to say goodbye to. A new year tends to bring a whirlwind of excitement for the success and possibilities that lie ahead, which inevitably brings failures. I don’t say that from the
If you’ve watched your company culture shift and evolve this year, you’re likely not alone. When people were forced to work from home during the early stages of COVID, the rituals and traditions that bond employees in an organization naturally were put on the backburner. Changes came fast and suddenly while HR and leadership communicated new expectations, safety protocols and new ways
I can’t help but think about what’s left of this year. We’re heading into the winter months and for many of us in North America, that means moving into hibernation, more time with those we live under the same roof with, all while working through an extended crisis. Working from home may be something we’re all used to by now
We’re in the home stretch friends! The end of the year is in plain sight as discussions have begun on what’s next for the year ahead. Before we get to 2021 planning, I can’t help but think of what many organizations will be preparing for first – performance reviews. A conversation leaders and employees should have all year long to
Do you ever wonder as a leader how do you inspire your team? Perhaps you might also consider how to inspire those around you in your personal circle, such as your family and friends. It’s one of the most common goals I hear from my clients when we begin coaching. I want to inspire my team. I want to be
There’s endless opportunity to create and build a stronger tomorrow post-COVID, collectively and individually. On a global scale across the institutions and systems that help govern how we live and support our economic, environmental and social development, our corporate landscape also has room to improve. The future of work can only be called ‘the future’ for so long before it’s
So many of the discussions across the globe have centered around change for racial injustice, systemic racism and the need for this time to be an ongoing conversation that’s no longer taboo and one that lasts beyond a ‘trend’. In our corporate landscape and in the workplace, the global movement we’ve witnessed over the past few weeks created discussions around
If you told me in 2019 the year 2020 was going to be one of the most ever-changing and historical times, I would have said, “you’ve got the wrong planet, sounds like an awful movie.” Yet, 6 months into the year, we’ve experienced a global pandemic that would have us reimagining life and business, coupled with recent events like the
Remember when you loved having the flexibility to work from home? You saw it as a perk, while others saw it as a part of work-life and now it might just be a part of your reality – for good. As businesses acclimate to what a new work-life experience will look like post-COVID, companies like Facebook and Twitter have announced a transition that will
We’re nearly halfway through the year and those goals you may have set for yourself in January (hello new year’s resolutions) may be awash in light of this pandemic. Perspective will either tell you to completely redo them or revisit them and make them work FOR you in our current state. Change has always been a constant and yet for
The last few weekends have started to feel like, “same old, same old” which seems a bit deflating given we’ve just entered Spring – a time of new beginnings, new starts and new creations. Coming out of a long Winter here in Canada, we relish in the sunshine, warm temperatures and getting outdoors to enjoy the very sometimes short season so many
Psychological safety is a ‘feeling‘ we’ve heard more and more of in the workplace in more recent years. If you asked about how it relates to organizations 20 or 30 years ago, it wasn’t a common concept. Today, it relates to factors that affect employee engagement, employee performance and leadership to name a few. In its simplest terms, psychological safety
New leadership in an organization can often bring about a sense of new beginnings, new ways of working, new teams and people or it can foster a sense of fear, doubt and uncertainty. When there are ambiguity and insecurity brewing in an organizational environment at the sight of new leadership, it’s usually due to poor communication, lack of certainty and
They say one of the best measures of success of a great leader is developing those in your charge into future leaders. Throughout the course of one’s career, some people know they want to eventually be a people leader, others don’t and some just fall into it. Or do they? As we know, growth and experience help shape us over
For a start-up organization in this day of age, a people-first culture might be clear as day for some of you as you envision the kind of culture you want to create. There are a fundamental understanding and a heart’s desire to lead with people first. For those organizations that are more established, including the multi-national organizations that have been
Self-care and balance have increasingly become a focus in our culture. It was trend like for a while and slowly has become a part of our lives that we hope to ‘strive for’ personally and now professionally. Varying definitions will tell you what it means and what it should/could look like (Icertainly have one) and ultimately it will be subjective
Creativity is something I’ve spoken about quite a bit as it’s the very expression of our souls (when we tap into it) that can birth some of the most beautiful gifts. Not just for us to enjoy but to share with the world that offers enjoyment and inspiration for others. In business, it’s the energy that brings fuel to innovation
A new year and a new decade are fast approaching and with that comes a new way of leading. A transformation I’ve talked about often in hopes it fosters action from those organizations who are ready to step up and begin their evolution vs. more meetings to talk about challenges. An approach to leading your people side by side versus top-down is
Have you ever made a bad career decision and later realized, “what was I thinking?” Well, there was a point in time I thought these kinds of decisions often happened in the form of career moves when moving from one company to the next. I didn’t think they can also be choosing roles within your company you could later regret.
When we’re first learning something, over time and with experience we’re expected to get ‘better.’ Practice makes perfect as they say. Yet we’re bound to develop bad habits and blind spots. Whether it’s driving, playing a sport or learning a new skill. We let some of the ‘best practices’ we’ve learned fall through the cracks. Not because we’re trying to
Leadership is one of my favourite topics to discuss and write about and one that has many definitions and perspectives. Thought leaders such as Simon Sinek, Brené Brown and Tony Robbins to name a few have all shared their definition of what leadership is and in some cases (not always) it’s influenced by personal experience good or bad. One of
When was the last time you were in transition? Some of you might be in one right now! And if you are – I congratulate you. Even in what may seem tough or challenging, there’s inevitably something better around the corner or already on its way to you. What if you could go through your transition or whatever change you
Coming off a long weekend celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada, my heart is full of gratitude. For so much really. This year has been a whirlwind of change, entering a new chapter in my life, letting go, learning, expanding, sharing, growing and so much more. It’s been transformational, to say the least, and continues to be – and with no
Emotions and ‘the workplace’ are often not seen in the same sentence unless we’re talking about emotional intelligence. There’s an immediate reaction that the two don’t mix and emotions simply don’t belong in corporate. Yet, over the years, we’ve had emotional intelligence courses and workshops of the like become increasingly popular. Not because we’ve become more accepting of the concept
Whether it’s in corporate or as an entrepreneur, trust and credibility are critical to your ability in establishing strong relationships. They go hand and hand and we want both to exist in the people we work with. Even in our personal relationships – friends, family, relatives, etc. you want to know the people you have relationships with are trustworthy and
When it comes to your employer brand and company culture, candidates are empowered with endless information at their fingertips to learn about your company. In a job market where competition is increasingly tight, candidates are considering all their options. They’re not afraid to do their due diligence and ensure they’re equipped with enough information to make an informed decision. Your
As a leader, when you’re managing a people-first culture your people are the primary focus of your business. Finding the best people is one thing, keeping them is another. That’s where retaining talent comes into play. Employee retention is a critical component of sustaining a strong and healthy organization. Your people are what makes your company run. Among the common
Is your organization experiencing high turnover? Do you find yourself replacing the same roles over and over again and feeling uneasy about your recruitment strategy? There could be a few reasons for this, including a broken recruitment process. Another reason is simply you’re hiring the wrong people in the wrong roles. It can be difficult to quantify an existing employee
Is your organization struggling with low employee performance? While there can often be multiple reasons that impact employee performance, there’s an easy and what I believe an underutilized solution. One that is underestimated in terms of the benefit and impact it can have not only on your employee’s performance but your business as well. Show your employees you appreciate them.
How would you define the employee experience? Do you know what elements are important to create a strong and fulfilling employee experience? It’s something that I’ve thought about throughout my own career and learned how important it was from the countless conversations I have with professionals navigating their careers, trying to identify the ‘one.’ That ONE company that had it
As the leader of your organization, ‘tough decisions’ are a part of your role, regardless of how well or how bad your business may be doing. When things are good, decision-making can span from – where to invest next, how to best manage resources, how many people to hire and so on. When it’s not so great, it could be
How many times in your career have you gone and asked for a raise feeling in your heart of hearts that you’re truly deserving of an increase? What about times when you’ve asked, and you simply felt entitled? Let me clarify. You haven’t really outlined the work you’ve done to be deserving of a raise OR actually done anything beyond
