The First Condition Of Employee Engagement: Engagement
My teenage daughters have been, by far, my best teachers in understanding engagement. When I’ve been traveling for an extended time and disconnected from them, my tendency is to come home and see all the things they aren’t doing to help around the house. When I’m tired and detached from them I’ll notice how they […]
Obuntubotho – The Essence of Being Human – And of Being A Great Leader
When Bishop Desmond Tutu introduced Nelson Mandela at his inauguration as the new president of South Africa, he described him as being a man who had Obuntubotho. “Obuntubotho,” he said, “is the essence of being human. You know when it is there and when it is absent. It speaks about humanness, gentleness, putting yourself out […]
Creating A Remarkable Culture: Learning To Lead Without A Title
Do you work in a culture that you would call “remarkable?” Are you depending on someone else to make it remarkable, or do you take ownership to create a remarkable culture in the area where you work and can influence? The title of this blog is the title of some of my most recent presentations […]
Remembrance Day, The Horrors of War, and Living Honorably: “Earn This.”
My sister, Kate, lost her father (my mother’s first husband) in WWII, so Remembrance Day has always had significance to me. But with our Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Remembrance Day now has a different feel to it. It’s more real. It’s closer to home. I was moved this year by CBC’s stories of some […]
Accountability Quotes To Inspire You
“Accountability is the ability to be counted on.” “Accountability is the keystone on the bridge of trust.” “If you are trying to get someone to be more accountable, start by getting them more passionate. If you aren’t accountable, you haven’t found enough reasons to be accountable.” “Vision and Passion precede accountability.” “If people don’t own […]
Acknowledging Others
I received an email this week from a friend who told me he had recently written letters to 10 people who had made a significant difference in his life. He felt this was a project that he wanted to do, and as I was on his list, he wrote and expressed appreciation for the difference […]
Contentment and Culture
For those who follow me, you know that my focus is on building strong organizational cultures. It seems evident that cultures are a reflection of the people that live and work in them. I came across a great article in the New York Times about Costa Rica and how contented they are as a people. […]
The Gift Of Conflict
In preparation for a workshop with a group of executives on “Managing Conflict,” I developed the following “Five Steps To Managing Conflict:” Step 1. Understand the nature of conflict and its importance in our lives. Three Premises About Conflict: Without conflict, you aren’t growing. We don’t grow without the challenges that emerge from conflict. Without […]
An Inspired Friendship
I just got off the phone with my good friend and mentor, Don Campbell, from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. Don and I first met when we were on the board of Holistic Management back in the late 1980′s. He remains a true inspiration to me. Don is a guy who is at peace with himself. As […]
What Can Nature Teach You As A Leader?
I love this time of year. The crisp morning air, the kids starting back to school. I always think of my university teaching days and remember the joys of new students, starting new classes, getting back on campus. I’m now gearing up for a busy fall with great clients after a summer of renewal and […]
