THUNDER BAY, ON - November, 25, 2008 - Have you noticed that we’re all speaking in short forms? The online dictionary of abbreviations lists 662,000 acronyms in 11 categories, including one of “modern slang”. I couldn’t resist. I had to peek. 
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THUNDER BAY, ON - November 18, 2008 - I have not yet met a single person who is the perfect time management role model. So you may as well give in to the frustration, and come to terms with the fact that you – yes you – are probably not going to be the champion of the clock. That said, all I have to do is to observe you for 24 hours and watch your clock and your compass in action. Your future may be more predictable than you think! read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 12, 2008 - What would it take for you to walk a mile in our Canadian troops' army boots on Remembrance Day?
The men and women of the Canadian Forces have demonstrated time and again that they will rise to any challenge. I would like to challenge you to take eleven minutes today to let your Canadian Forces members know you appreciate their service. read more...>
Why Choose Tuesday?
THUNDER BAY, ON - November 5, 2008 - If you’re looking for leverage, the day called “Tuesday” is your sweet spot. Tuesday is the gateway to a multitude of advantages. As the old saying goes, “It’s all in the timing.” read more...>
THUNDER BAY ON, ---- October 14, 2008 ---If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes our elders to teach us about saving the environment. As one octogenarian put it, “You can save money, and save the world all at the same time.”
At a recent district convention of the Women’s Institute – an organization for rural women founded in 1897 so that women could speak as one voice for needed reforms – it was apparent that advocating for social and economic change continues to rank highly on their agenda. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - October 07, 2008 - Distance doesn’t seem to matter, when you are a leader. If you’re a great communicator face to face, then your e-staff will continue to give you high ratings. If you don’t connect one on one with your employees, then going virtual won’t solve your leadership problems. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - October 03, 2008 - Whether you’re living in the mudflats of Alaska or the urban forests of Northern Ontario, you are the target of political messages this month. With opposing perspectives about the meaning of patriotism in the United States and Canada, and promises of change blowing in the winds on both sides of the border, what better time to reflect about your own leadership style? What are the challenges on your personal campaign’s scorecard? read more...>
Now that might sound like a strange goal to the average person, but not when you’re an adventure freak. People who find a thrill in planning for extreme quests aren’t that different from the laid back couch potatoes who shift from one day to the next. What do they have in common? read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 8, 2008 - Do you know any “Complaint Specialists”? You don’t have to be a psychologist to diagnose the symptoms. Venting. Negative phrasing. Finger pointing. Blame. For a complainer, this type of communication just seems to be normal. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2008 - Canadians like to hug their mug of coffee at timmies and complain. I enjoy eavesdropping on these conversations as much as I enjoy the coffee, and boy do I get an earful now and again. Nothing is off limits. What city council should – or shouldn’t do. What that neighbour should do about his fence. What our troops should be doing in Afghanistan. What to do when the little blue pill doesn’t work. It’s all very interesting. And very funny. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 25, 2008 - The human mind is a lot like the human egg, and the human egg has a shut-off device. When o¬ne sperm gets in, it shuts down so the next o¬ne can't get in. The human mind has a big tendency of the same sort.” - Charlie Munger
Your face leaks. Whatever you might be thinking shows up as the raise of an eyebrow or the furl of your lip. Reading facial “body language” gives you the most clues about the intricacies of character. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 17, 2008 - Equal experience. Equal qualifications. The reality? Jack negotiates a higher salary and benefit package than Jill. The compensation gap between men and women is not a myth.
Gender stereotyping is still alive and well, according to a working paper published by Harvard Business School in May 2008. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 10, 2008 - The baby boomer retirement demographic is spreading across the country. According to Leadership Canada, the lack of experienced leaders could turn into a crisis in our community leadership efforts, if we don’t start to strategically groom a new generation of leadership. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 5, 2008 - Chaos at your office? Your staff takes its best clues about how work gets done “around here” from the folks who are leading the way. You’re stressed? They’re even more stressed read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 16, 2008 - The Leader’s Guide to Shutting Down Conversations clam up when Sam da Boss walks into the room,. All hands suddenly get busy when Toni the Supervisor comes around the corner. Leaders, take note: your people are sending you clues! What’s up with you not noticing?
Back in the old days before acronyms became the norm, there was a leadership mantra, called MBWA: “Management by Walking Around”. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - MAY 20, 2008 - What if you could find the solution to a problem by combining two contrasting ideas?
A key responsibility in leadership is digging up answers for situations that emerge from bottlenecks and gaps in the system. Traditional problem solving techniques may overlook an approach that not only analyzes the situation, but becomes a source of inspiration and innovation for the whole team. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 14, 2008 - Most people don’t enter a relationship carrying a spreadsheet. The phrase, “opposites attract” might explain any unsettling differences in viewpoints and behaviors. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON. - MAY 7, 2008 - If you want to build a ship, then don't drum up men to gather wood, give orders, and divide the work. Rather, teach them to yearn for the far and endless sea.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON. - April 29, 2008 - Hang onto the multiple hats you may be wearing as a volunteer. There’s been a shift in the landscape of the voluntary world, and it’s a reason to celebrate. The volunteer experience contributes directly to a person’s happiness quotient. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 22, 2008 -My friend Jo is in the process of hiring summer staff for her business.
Last year’s crew totally frustrated her. She says, “I had wonderful opportunities for 5 young people, and I could only give a positive reference for one of them by the end of the summer. They didn’t show up, but worse than that, they didn’t call in. They didn’t seem to notice that the pamphlet racks were empty. And they ate their lunch on the job, leaving crumbs and empty cans on the counter. What gives with kids these days?”. read more....>
Yes! No!
THUNDER BAY, ON. - April 15m 2008 - The most common comment I hear in communication skills training sessions, is “My boss doesn’t listen to me. So now I just don’t say anything.” A lot of good ideas are lost in our organizations because staff shut down over time if they think they are not being heard. As a new Supervisor, your best bet is to talk less, listen more. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON, April 1, 2008 - I don’t quite understand how to leverage these questions. They seem too simple. Perhaps my left-brained “boys in the basement” analytical clones of Stephen King, aren’t working hard enough. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON, March 25, 2008 - Question of the Week: Our staff meetings are so boring. Too long. Off topic. We could be working! How can we rev things up and not waste time?
Let me start by giving you three important tips that might make a difference. You see, your meeting needs to be “designed”, not just “held”. Your design means more than transferring Agenda items for one week to the next, and hoping people follow up. read more....>
THUNDER BAY, ON ~ March 18, 2008 ~ Let me introduce you to the word “Intersection”. The Intersection is the connection point for ideas which could either clash or combine. When stepping into the Intersection, you will begin to overcome logic-related challenges and appreciate your creative ideas. By generating and not judging your thoughts, you will produce a constant mix of surprising insights. read more.....>
THUNDER BAY, ON March 11, 2008 ~ The Tuesday File explores the concept of “leverage”. This week’s question:
“How do I get my head around solving a problem that keeps me up at night? I wake up at 4 with my mind churning. In the morning I’m exhausted, can’t think, which just leads to more middle of the night problem-a-thons. What’s the answer?” read more.....>
THUNDER BAY ON March 4, 2008 ~ Question of the Week: I’m not an intellectual type of leader, but I do pride myself on my street smarts. I barely passed my University exams, a topic that I don’t usually bring up at work. My strength, I’m told, is as a team leader. I think I’ve hit the “glass ceiling” for promotions. What will give me the edge? read more...>
THUNDER BAY ~ February 26, 2008 ~ Question of the Week: As a Manager, I’m feeling out of the loop with my younger team. Am I losing my hearing or are they speaking in short forms?
Attention fast paced and frenzied leaders in need of a daily reality check! Learn 10 new words in 60 seconds.
A refreshing lingo has appeared in our vocabs in the last 5 years. It’s a new language that captures our fast-paced lifestyles and our love of acronyms. read more.....>
February 20, 2008 ~ Thunder Bay ~ Question of the Week: No matter how often I am asked to speak in public, I end up being a bucket of nerves. I put it off, find all kinds of excuses, and then just try to wing it. Any tips? read more .....>
Ferbruary 12, 2008 ~Question of the Week: “How do I make sure that the report I’m presenting at my Board Meeting isn’t too boring? We have to make sure that everyone around the table understands the results of a survey and it’s full of stats. Besides, I’m not all that confident about doing the presentation, but the committee chair is not available, and I’ve been “asked”. read more.....>
Question of the week: “How do I adapt my leadership style to link with the younger people on my team? They seem to just brush me off.”
Let’s look at how you can apply the concept of “leverage” – doing more with less, increasing your odds by making small changes – for your whole team, not just the younger players. read more.....>
January, 29, 2008 ~ What does it take to apply a little leverage, to become significantly more resilient and less vulnerable? How do you deal with feeling stuck? Bogged? Muddled? read more......>
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 14, 2008 - Most people don’t enter a relationship carrying a spreadsheet. The phrase, “opposites attract” might explain any unsettling differences in viewpoints and behaviors. read more....>