Oh my goodness…. 2016 was a tough year for me. I am glad it is over, and look very much forward to a more positive 2017. But will it be? Like for many of my fellow Boomer/Xers, on a personal side, a few fears have become a reality: aging and frail parents, son becoming independent,… Read more »
Embrace Sales
We have a blind spot about sales that, if left unchecked, will damage our ability to serve our clients and thrive. With a small shift of perspective, we can eliminate this blind spot and set up our companies for lasting success. Our Blind Spot Our blind spot is our unease with sales. Most of us… Read more »
Great Things Can Happen When You Break The Rules
When we think about rules and processes in the workplace, what immediately comes to mind are the policies put in place to increase efficiency. While implementing rules and processes is intended to produce positive results – streamline operations, encourage consistency, provide clarity, assign accountability, and above all, increase our productivity – it is time to… Read more »
Critical Thinking and Potential for Development
When assessing potential, our clients often ask us “How quickly can the individual grow into the role?”, or “Can this competency be easily developed?”, and my response usually highlights that it depends on how committed the leader is to changing current behaviours and developing new ones. While I still wholeheartedly agree with this statement, I… Read more »
From Strategy to Execution
It starts with a dream, an ambition – when you want, when you need to take your organization to a different place. It becomes your vision. A brilliant strategy instills confidence and calm in people around you. It fosters a degree of optimism that the impossible things can be achieved. But without flawless execution, the… Read more »
Performance Appraisal is Going the Way of the Dodo Bird
Have you had a performance appraisal in the past 12 months? What did you think, was it positive, beneficial, or meaningful? Is your system working? Most people, when asked, are not overly enthralled with their company’s performance appraisal process. A tool that has been created to deliver accountability and productivity is often having the opposite… Read more »
Celebrating 5 Splendid Years of MarchFifteen
“The tidal wave can lead to wholesale destruction, but it is the incessant, and much smaller, daily tidal force that moves all boats worldwide.” I do not know to whom I should attribute this quote, but I think it is a good one. As I prepared myself for the celebration, and my talk to all… Read more »
Tom Deans on Preparing Your Business For The Next Chapter
We recently held an event featuring Tom Deans, the New York Times best-selling author of Every Family’s Business. The event covered how family businesses can best prepare for sale or purchase of a business, and included the topic of succession planning. After the event we had an opportunity to sit down with Tom, and we… Read more »
Everest Base Camp Expedition Musings…
First, without your help and support we would not have been able to send the 20 women who have been victims of violence to Outward Bound Canada’s Women of Courage program. Thank you for making it happen. Thank you for your generosity and phenomenal support! I’ve been back in Toronto for a little while now…and… Read more »
What To Do When Good Intentions Lead To Bad Behaviour
Recently we’ve received a flurry of client calls asking for support to solve issues related to the workplace equivalent of bullying, and generally impolite and inconsiderate behaviour. And when a flurry of similar inquiries occurs, it’s an opportunity to step back and try to figure out what’s going on at a broader level. If you… Read more »
