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 …

6 Ways I Learned to Like People that I Don’t Like, and Build Relationships

With all the people that we are connected to, it is inevitable that we will encounter a few that we are not fond of. The reasons may be blatant, but they also may be subconscious. However, if we can uncover and acknowledge some of these reasons, we have a greater chance of resolving the issue, which means improved relationships, culture, and productivity. …

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 …

Digital Fluency IQ? Backwards BEFORE Forward!

What is Digital Fluency? Digital Fluency (as defined in the Workplace Reinvention Handbook) is the ability to effectively navigate, analyze and create information as well as interact and engage stakeholders in a wide variety of social and digital technologies. Why is it important? Employees and Managers with high Digital Fluency (and even those that …

IKEA I am WOWed! New President! New Customer Experience!

IKEA you have WOWed me! I didn’t know that was possible. Two places that I hate to be: Walmart – during the holiday season IKEA – on any given Saturday. I know I am not alone in this! I know, I know – so many of you are dedicated to the uber modern IKEA. Although I hate shopping at the store, I do like their furniture, and their price …

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 …

3 Ways to Handle a “Little” Unethical Problem

Is there such a thing as being a “little” unethical? Is that like being a “little” pregnant? Fraud, grand theft, discrimination based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation – are just a few examples of unethical behaviour. Why should supply stealing be any less important? I ask this because I did an informal poll, and found that some …

Leadership Lessons at 25,000 Feet

Sometimes it takes a crisis of some sort to teach us a lesson. This week, my friend Mark Gross had a small crisis in his business while he was flying from Montreal to Toronto to lead an event. He wrote a blog about it HERE, and this is my slightly abbreviated version and some leadership lessons (with excerpts from Mark’s full story). Mark …