Have you ever observed the impact that one person’s words can have on another person’s performance? Earlier this year I enjoyed observing my daughter Georgia during her swimming lesson. Her little brother Colton and I watched as coach Abbey took the time to observe Georgia’s swimming habits, offering words of encouragement before sharing specific comments on what she was doing … Read More

When my three children were young, there was no shortage of arguments around who would get the first cookie or who got to choose which game we would play. I sometimes wondered how they would relate to each other as adults. Would they be kind? Would they appreciate each other’s perspectives? Would they listen to each other? Would they be … Read More

Before I begin, I’d like to note that I am not writing from the perspective of a mental health professional or as someone in a leadership role. This blog is written from lived experience and after conversations with mental health professionals and other neurodiverse individuals. What Is Neurodiversity? Neurodiversity is an umbrella term describing conditions like autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, dyslexia, … Read More

Given that many of us will spend up to one-third of our lives at work, it’s not surprising that happiness at work is a topic of concern. Research shows that our happiness at work determines how motivated, productive, and engaged we are. As an ACHIEVE trainer for the Psychological Safety in the Workplace workshop, I have had many discussions with … Read More

[Excerpt from The Culture Question] Just as organizations get bad results when they are disconnected from a greater purpose, so do teams. In our consulting work, we have often observed that when teams don’t connect with their organization’s greater purpose, motivation and productivity suffer. Team disconnection from organizational purpose often contributes to one of the greatest internal dangers an organization … Read More

[Excerpt from The Culture Question]  In organizational culture, interdependence refers to the extent to which team members rely on each other for the functioning of their teams. Although every team is different from moment to moment, on a fundamental level, it is the interdependence of team members that makes a group of coworkers a team. As they come to realize … Read More

I recently had the opportunity to reengage as a school board superintendent for three months after several years of retirement. In that work, I interacted daily with school and board administrators at a very large school board (60,000 students) in Ontario. During my time on the board, I was impressed by the capacity of so many caring leaders to learn, … Read More

[Excerpt from The Culture Question]  Team-building retreats and workshops have become the norm for organizations seeking to foster team spirit. Team-building days typically include some combination of the following: a game to break people out of their everyday roles, an exercise that helps build trust among team members, a challenge that requires everyone’s participation to be successful, and a fun … Read More

When’s the last time you used the phrase, “Classic ______,” to describe someone’s behaviour? “Did Bob just run into a stationary object? Classic Bob.” “Did Karen just demand to speak to the manager? Classic Karen.” These are fun because there is usually just the right amount of truth to them. In fact, the more you say them, the more true … Read More

Stress at work is nothing new. Whether it’s a result of heavy workloads, organizational change, or long hours, stress at work happens, but it can also be managed. However, when workplace stress gets in the way of our communication with colleagues, it can lead to further anxiety, miscommunication, and outbursts. How can we navigate high-stress situations at work without alienating … Read More