Blog

It was August 2006 when I received the good fortune to be a weekly guest on one of Canada’s top rated news stations AM800 in Windsor, Ontario. Jason Moore, News Director and Keith Chinnery, Program Director made it happen and the profile I received in Windsor/Essex was incredible. Morning Drive hosts Mike Kakuk and Lisa […]

Likely you have heard the latest buzz about Twitter. After resisting it I finally took the plunge. Twitter works similarly to a text message from your cell phone. It is 140 characters long and a record of your posts is kept on your Twitter page. Unlike a cell phone text message, everyone who ‘follows’ you […]

Does your manager give off mixed messages that leave you dazed and confused? In my work with various companies and organizations I have found a big difference from what the boss thinks he or she is saying and what people in the organization are hearing. So let’s look at some of the hidden messages your […]

I realize that companies like AIG, General Motors and Chrysler have their backs against the wall and face the alternatives of either accepting a government bailout or declaring bankruptcy. Isn’t it interesting the kind of scrutiny they are now and will continue to receive because they said yes to government assistance? It’s kind of the […]

The impact that training and experience can bring to your organization can be dramatic. Continental Connection Flight 3407 experienced icing conditions and crash landed on February 12th outside Buffalo New York killing 49 people on board and one person on the ground. Captain Marvin Renslow was the pilot of that flight. Captain Renslow had only […]

Listening is a key skill for managers and in life in general. Do people think they are better listeners than they really are? Yes, most people THINK they listen well. In reality most managers and employees really don’t listen well. I see it in training classes when I give instructions. People usually miss it the […]

Recently I picked up a new coaching client and he left his previous employer because his newly promoted boss went from being collegial and consultative to being demanding and autocratic. The company lost a great executive and now has to find or promote a replacement and deal with that individual’s learning curve. What’s interesting is […]

Imagine if your organization could take the best attributes of the best employees and replicate those behaviours throughout the organization. Chances are that a small percentage of your workforce generates a large percentage of your results. They sell more, screw up less, waste less and raise the bar for those around them. If you had […]

Family owned and managed companies are responsible for the majority of economic output and pay cheques in Canada and around the world. For family members working or managing in a family business environment, there are some special challenges and opportunities. What are the things family members need to be aware of in their leadership role? […]

You would think that in times of uncertainty, people from different departments would be even more cooperative than usual to make the organization successful. Instead people can become more defensive and difficult because they want to protect their turf. The result is bad for customers and the company’s bottom line. Potential profit dollars end up […]