The Eavestrough Effect: How to Turn Chronic Problems into Competitive Advantages
Our family has a tiny cabin (or “camp,” as we call it) in Northern Ontario, Canada. It’s been in the family since 1905. No road access. No running water. No electricity. Just a quiet refuge in the woods. It’s perfect—except for one frustrating issue. The porch roof is sheet metal, and when it rains or […]
Open the Books, Improve the Culture
Healthy workplace culture depends on leaders who can champion both People AND Results. When these two values are held in healthy tension, organizations thrive. People – The commitment to value, support, and invest in employees. It means creating a workplace where people feel respected, fairly compensated, developed, cared for, and included in decisions that affect […]
The Words on the Wall vs. the Walk in the Halls
Walk into almost any organization and you’ll see bold words mounted on the walls: Integrity. Respect. Collaboration. Accountability. They’re inspiring to look at—but living them out is another story. I’ve seen this disconnect for years. Back in the early 2000s, companies loved hanging glossy “Successories” posters in boardrooms—soaring eagles with the word Courage, or a […]
How to Relate to People on the “Other” Side
The Merriam-Webster 2024 Word of the Year was “Polarization.” Research shows our country, communities, and even families are more polarized and disconnected than ever before. Our political and social divisions are at a 20-year high, and people are less likely to compromise or seek common ground — even choosing where to live, whom to marry, […]
Decoding Change: Making a Complex Plan Simple to Understand
COMPLEXITY – A thorough analysis and deep understanding of the system or situation that leads to a comprehensive and detailed change management strategy. SIMPLICITY – The art of distilling complex ideas, processes, and strategies into clear, understandable, and actionable concepts. Here are a few tips on how you can embrace both innovation and consistency […]
Team Health Assessment
As a leader, it’s crucial to regularly assess your team’s health and effectiveness. Remember, no team is perfect – we’re all works in progress. The key is continuous improvement and momentum in the right direction. Let’s explore a quick real-time assessment based on the five team tensions I explore in my recent book, Next-Level Teamwork. […]
Why you WON’T achieve work/life balance in the new year (and how to have a great year anyway)
It happens every January. You look back at the past year with mixed emotions. On the one hand you’re frustrated that you didn’t do a better job at achieving work/life balance, realizing the “work” side of the equation often dominated. On the other hand, you’re optimistic that with a new year comes new hope and […]
How To Be a Confident AND Humble Leader
Leverage Your Strengths AND Have a Growth Mindset I’ll never forget the “AHA” moment I had over a decade ago when I looked at the results from the largest study ever conducted around engagement by the Gallup Organization. It seemed crystal clear – if I was going to be truly effective as a leader, I needed to […]
