26
May

How to Improve Employee Engagement, Even If You’re Not the Boss

It’s two weeks after the WorkHuman conference, and my mind is still buzzing with thoughts from the great speakers. One of the most prevalent themes for me was the concept of individuals themselves being responsible for their own employee engagement. This wasn’t explicitly called out by any of the speakers, so it may be my bias, as I work …
10
Sep

Why It Matters That I’m Working On Vacation

I’m writing this while I sit on the beach at a lakeside cottage. The sun is dancing on the water, the sand is warm on my feet, and whenever I feel a little too hot, I take a quick walk through the waves while my dog barks from the paw-deep shoreline. I’m not saying this to make you envious, although it is beautiful here. I’m not saying …
01
Sep

The Most Unproductive Conversation Leaders Are Having

There is one conversation that comes up time and time again when my corporate HR and Leader friends are sharing their work stories with me. It’s a conversation that drives me nuts. It’s a conversation that I used to have, too, when I was working in the corporate world, so I can see how it is perpetuated in that grey, cubicle-filled, bureaucratic …
05
Feb

DON’T Bring your Empathy & Sympathy to Work?

Do we really need to offer more of ourselves at work? Do we really need to add sympathy and empathy to our list of work tasks? Or, can we all benefit from a few kind words? “We are all adults here, time to suck-it-up!” There are many thoughts and/or comments surrounding “emotions” in the workplace. “We are all adults here, time …
11
Dec

Why is this store SO HAPPY?

A retail store where EVERYONE is happy (including me as a customer)? How is this possible? On a busy Saturday in November (just when the Holiday shoppers are out-and-about), I encountered an assortment of Home Hardware Associates. ALL were happy, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They all took initiative, and seemed to genuinely take pride in their …
08
Dec

4 Ways G Adventures Core Values Create Awesome Culture

A few weeks ago, I wrote my first post about my tour at G Adventures Basecamp in Toronto. There was so much to share that I couldn’t put it all in one post, so here’s number two… all about Core Values! I think strong, differentiated core values that are meaningful and clear build the foundation for strong culture. Your core values …
05
Nov

Let’s Stop Giving Jerks Power!

In case you missed it, there’s a situation here in Canada with a “media icon” (as some call him) and several allegations and charges of sexual assault and violence… The stories are horrific and the victim blaming even more horrific, in my opinion, but that’s not the point of this post. I am hoping some positive changes …
24
Sep

How to create a disengaged employee in 4 easy steps…

1. Don’t include your employees in the big-picture purpose of their role. This means that when your employees are working, they are completing their tasks – without thinking of the bigger reason why they are completing their tasks. Unfortunately, they won’t feel connected to the company, and they won’t be strategically aligned with overall company …