Letting Go: Development Of Strong Character
This past two days our sixteen-year-old daughter, Chandra, participated in her high school zone soccer tournament. The core of this team has been playing together for many years and demonstrated excellence and mastery, both in soccer and team skills. They won all four of their games over the weekend and outscored their opponents 25-2.Five minutes […]
Leadership and Personal Balance
The great philosopher Yogi Berra said once that “you can learn a lot by observing.” Over the past 25 years working with leaders, I have observed that balanced leaders are better leaders. You don’t respect people that are always hurried, behind schedule, stressed, and harried. It’s not only a sign of strong character to be […]
What’s The Difference Between Communication And Just Passing Along Information?
I serve as vice-chair on an international nonprofit board. Our chair is passionate about her work and about staying in contact with board members around the world. If she has a weakness, however, it’s that she assumed that sending emails to board members meant she has actually communicated with them. “I can’t understand why he […]
How Is The Pace Of Your Life Affecting Your Leadership Presence?
When I am helping leaders strengthen their authentic leadership presence, I find it is important they understand how the pace of our life affects our connection to others. In the words of the philosopher Piero Ferrucci, we are in the midst of a “global cooling.” Human relationships are becoming colder. Interactions with others are becoming […]
We Don’t Stay in Organizations; We Stay With Bosses
There’s a familiar phrase, “We don’t leave organizations; We leave bosses.” I believe that is true, and I also believe the converse is true. Bosses make a difference – in organizations and with people. Never underestimate the impact you have. I recently spoke with a plant manager in a Western Canadian company who told me […]
The Invisible Mother – And Invisible Leaders
This story came to me from my good friend Don Campbell. It speaks to the work of mothers, and may we all celebrate the work of mothers today. Take a few minutes to appreciate you mother. But this story, in a larger way, speaks to the humility and ego-less work of all great leaders at […]
Breathe New Life Into Your Organizational Culture
This beautiful little blog from a public service team leader, a participant in one of my workshops, inspired me so much that I thought I’d pass it along. Breathing New Life Into The Public Service: It Starts With You. That’s the title of the conference I recently attended. Best-selling author, David Irvine was the speaker […]
Making An Investment In Your Personal Character
“We never know what’s wrong without the pain. Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.” Isaac Edward Slade, from The Fray. I heard a very interesting story a while ago, told by Gary Kuzyk, Director of Labor Relations with the City of Hamilton. It so happens that when he started his […]
Being A Force Of Nature: Leadership At Any Level
George Bernard Shaw, the Irish playwright, philosopher, and a co-founder of the London School of Economics, said that, “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances […]
Protecting Your Employee Talent: New Challenges For Organizations
As the economy turns, how do you protect your employee talent asset? After eighteen months of layoffs, wage freezes and increased workloads, employees are feeling tired and disheartened, ready to jump ship for better opportunities. According to a recent survey by Right Management Inc, six in ten employees intend to pursue new job opportunities somewhere […]
