Leadership Lessons Learned – with Steve Roth, VP Seaspan Ferries
Growing up as a farm kid in Alberta, Canada, Steve Roth learned early-on the value of hard work, commitment, and follow through. Earning a degree in Business and Physical Education from the University of Alberta, Steve pursued a career in coaching basketball. By the time he was 32 years old, he was the youngest Head […]
Leadership Practice – Reflections on Leadership – Part Two of Two
This is the second part of a two-part series on Leadership Practice. Part one, from my January 2015 blog, highlighted the following key elements that enable effective leadership: Leave your ego at the door Be clear and be consistent Communicate often Practice empathy Talk to your people, all of them Both lists, part one and […]
Leadership Practice – Reflections on Leadership – Part One of Two
As a consultant working with leaders and their teams, I have the opportunity to observe many leaders and how they choose to lead. In doing so, I have come to recognize qualities and behaviours that contribute to or detract from people and organizational performance. As you review the following, consider the influence you have to […]
Strategic Planning Be Gone!
A lot has been written about strategic planning. A quick internet search will yield numerous articles, book references, and a plethora of templates to use. What’s been catching my attention lately, and consistent with my beliefs, is that the “Strategic Plan is Dead” (References below). Well ok, not really. While the importance of thinking strategically remains, […]
Leadership Practice – Leading in the Trenches – An Interview with Lynda Foley
Leadership has become an increasingly ‘hot’ topic in the last decade. There is no shortage of books espousing the next best leadership ‘something’ to help you manage and lead your people more effectively. I thought it would be helpful to hear from someone who has been in leadership for 30+ years. Someone who is leading […]
Conflict Zones–Navigating Conflict with Clarity
When you hear “conflict” which of these statements ring true for you? a) Oh no, conflict is bad b) Conflict should be avoided c) It’s better not to stir the pot d) Someone did something wrong e) Bring it on! Most of us are not comfortable engaging in conflict – whether at work […]
Building a High Performing Team – It’s More Than The Warm and Fuzzies
As Patrick Lencioni (author of team management books), states, “teamwork is a strategic choice.” In fact, a high performing team can be the difference that makes the difference in terms of realizing your sales, profits, market share, customer satisfaction and engagement targets. Frequently I hear my clients acknowledge the importance of team development, yet in […]
If the Culture Fits – Wear It…If Not, Influence it!
In 2012, The Corporate Executive Board’s annual list of top 10 risks CEOs and Executives are most concerned with ranked “Corporate Culture” as #4. In the past two years, I have been involved with two significant culture shifts; one is with a 5,000 person hospital and the other is a 900-person Crown Corporation. My role, […]
Navigating the White Space- What is Organizational Development?
Co-written with guest contributor: Louisa Marziali What is Organizational Development? Trying to explain what we do for a living, Organizational Development (OD), is often a challenge. This nebulous field involves both human and organizational systems, and as such, the variables are both complex and endless. One client described OD as “navigating the white space […]
Building the Bridge as You Walk On It – A Guide for Leading Change
How often do you find yourself leading an initiative or a change and having anxiety about the next step to take in this and a true sense of what the end result will look like? Robert Quinn, in his book “Building the Bridge as You Walk on It”, describes how many organizations are undertaking change […]
