Do Good Gardeners Make Good Managers?
Introduction I live in an older, established neighbourhood in which there are a number of beautiful properties. Most of these gardens didn’t get that way by accident. They are the [...]
A Liberal Arts Degree Still Has Relevance
Introduction What is the best preparation for someone aspiring to a business career? If I had dollars for the number of times in my life I have heard this question [...]
Context Is Everything
Introduction One of the issues many of my clients struggle with is how to create engagement and commitment amongst their team. Many of them are newly promoted to team lead [...]
Superstars vs. Consistent Performers
Introduction For those who are fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs the 2022-23 Stanley Cup playoffs represent yet another year of high expectations and disappointing results. This year was supposed [...]
Excuse Me! When Did We Get So Rude?
Introduction As the pandemic ends and life returns to something resembling normal, it’s increasingly apparent that the behaviour of many of us has radically changed during our collective period of [...]
Developing Strategic Leadership Skills
Preamble Recently while going through some old files I came across this article that I initially posted on my old website back in July 2018. I took a look at [...]
Maintaining Focus
Introduction Apart from job search and improving time management skills probably the one area most of my clients struggle with is maintaining focus. The ability to prioritize from among competing [...]
Don’t Let Go
Introduction I am admittedly not a great fan of many contemporary musical artists. However, one exception is a British singer and songwriter by the name of James Morrison (not to [...]
Cover Letters Really Can Add Value
Introduction One of the commonest questions I am often asked by job seekers is whether cover letters are still necessary. Some career consultants maintain that the advent of online job [...]
December Isn’t Just for Holidays Anymore
Introduction Many people mistakenly believe that the onset of Christmas and New Year means that the probability of securing employment is greatly reduced. While there may have been some merit [...]
Is Working From Home Worth It?
Introduction Now that the pandemic lockdowns are behind us many employers are insisting their employees return to the office. The rationale for this decision ranges from the need for employees [...]
One May Not Be Enough (Sponsors, that is)
Introduction About a year ago a client of mine lamented the fact that her long-standing supervisor, an individual who was responsible for bringing her into the organization and actively supporting [...]
Age Discrimination is Alive and Well
Introduction In recent weeks the media in Canada has been abuzz with stories and speculation regarding the sudden departure of long-time CTV News anchor Lisa Laflamme. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/bell-ends-lisa-laflammes-contract-as-ctv-national-news-anchor-i-am-shocked-and-saddened Her sudden termination [...]
Do Introverts Make Better Leaders?
Introduction Do introverts make better leaders? I’ve reflected on this question many times throughout my career. Regardless of whether it is politics, business or entertainment, it seems the more gregarious [...]
Keeping It Simple
Introduction I recently purchased a new alarm clock. Normally, something as mundane as this would not be cause for celebration let alone the subject of a blog. What was distinctive [...]
Taking Control of Your Performance Review
Introduction Next to recruitment there is probably no area of human resources that is as horribly mismanaged as performance management. If you were to ask a hundred managers or supervisors [...]
Maybe It’s Time to Fire Your Boss
Introduction Recently while coaching two new clients I was reminded of how critical having a good boss or supervisor is to an employee’s career success. Both of my clients are [...]
How Not to Manage a Crisis
Introduction The tragic events in Ukraine have brought home to many of us the horrors of war. The graphic pictures that have emerged from the fighting, bombing and evacuations have [...]
It’s Time to Get Moving Again
Introduction The pandemic and the lockdowns are coming to an end…finally! Companies are making arrangements for employees to return to the workplace. Vaccine mandates are being eliminated. Restaurants are gearing [...]
Moving Mountains
Introduction One of the things I inherited from my parents was a tremendous love of music. Growing up my folks didn’t have a lot of money, and as is common [...]
Pandemic Job Search: Round 2
Introduction This coming March will mark the second anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdowns. This virus has persisted much longer, and has been far more extensive, than any of us would [...]
Professional Associations: Are They Worthwhile?
Introduction If you are a practitioner operating within a regulated profession, or if you are a business professional or specialist, chances are you are a member of a professional association. [...]
All That Glitters Isn’t Gold
Introduction Ironically at a time when companies are scrambling to fill vacancies and many jobs are going unfilled many employers still remain fixated on filling senior roles with external hires. [...]
Cultivating Executive Presence
Introduction Next to securing a promotion or developing better time management techniques probably the most important quality my clients want to develop is “Executive Presence”. Ironically, while everyone has likely [...]
Let the Games Begin!
Introduction For many, September signifies the start of a new school year. For some it also conjures up images of baseball World Series or the start of the National Hockey [...]