Business and Leadership Keynote Speaker
Picture this: you’re now the executive producer of a movie, and your workplace is a movie set.
Every day you have a cast and crew show up. Their job is to create a “blockbuster”–a smash hit—so you have more customers, greater profitability, and increased success.
But then you hear them say things like:
“It’s not my job, I just work here,” or, “It’s not my responsibility.”
Do you ever feel like you spend more time with your coworkers than you do with your family?
A lot of us work long hours, day after day. The pressure of juggling tasks, doing more with less, and managing mounting stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health.
We spin our wheels when we know we need to be the best versions of ourselves, maintaining a helpful and pleasant demeanor with our internal and external clients alike.
Does that sound familiar?
[Read more…] about Confidence, Composure, Credibility: Creating a Collaborative Space at Work
Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads?
Maybe you’re stuck questioning yourself, or finding it hard to make a personal or professional choice.
We’ve all been there. But you don’t have to stay there.
This article was originally posted on November 9, 2016, and has been updated.
“I’m done.” If an employee is telling you this, it means she has reached her limit. For one reason or another.
It could have nothing to do with low morale, lack of opportunity, or a dislike of her job.
She may be ready to move up, move on or begin a new chapter in her life.
All perfectly reasonable reasons to leave a position.
However, she may have shut down or become apathetic. Or maybe she is sucking the life out of her co-workers by being negative day in and day out.
Also known as a “dead wood employee”.
This article was originally published on September 7, 2016, and has been updated.
Do you remember your first encounter with a passionate leader?
The reality is that any leader can be passionate…if they know what to do.
But first, let’s look at why this is so important. [Read more…] about Passionate Leadership: 12 Key Traits That Distinguish The Best From The Rest
Admit it. Your personal biases regarding the millennials have come up in professional conversations. You couldn’t help yourself. (Or, could you?) Perhaps you were triggered by a comment, behavior or situation at work. Or you may be oblivious to the fact that the disparaging lens you use to view them, or indeed any team member that is different to you, is reflecting on your leadership style and your business. Whether you are reacting consciously or unconsciously, the time has come to stop bashing millennials.
Some may argue that perception is reality when it comes to opinions and experiences regarding interactions with millennials. Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons to strongly counter this line of reasoning:
Your employer brand conveys your organization’s identity in the eyes of prospective talent. Therefore, to label an entire demographic who happened to be born in a specific time frame as “lazy, entitled, selfish, arrogant, narcissistic, self-absorbed, impatient”, etc. (terms often used to describe millennials) does nothing to advance your reputation and appeal to a sought-after generation of workers. Competition for their skills has never been greater, especially when you realize that millennials now represent the largest cohort of the workforce in North America. By 2025, they will represent three-quarters of the global workforce. [Read more…] about Why It’s Time To Stop Bashing Millennials
“It’s not fun anymore”… words I was not expecting to hear from the CEO of a highly successful enterprise. Was he referencing the state of his industry or the workplace in general…or both? The CEO was lamenting the fact that everything has changed: Shareholder expectations, demanding clients and a new generation of employees. Sadly, he was losing his passion and belief that work could once again be as enjoyable as his first five, ten, or twenty years had been. Please don’t suggest that he “should” retire. There are many individuals at every level of an organization who feel similarly, regardless of one’s age or position. [Read more…] about Three Ways To Have More Fun At Work
How do you increase employee accountability? Despite the efforts of well-intended HR departments and leaders to create clearly defined job descriptions, confusion persists regarding specific roles and responsibilities in almost every industry, public sector, as well enterprises of all sizes and descriptions. When mistakes are made, deadlines are missed, or communication goes haywire, the blame game, finger-pointing and excuse-making escalates.
Any of these scenarios beg the question: “Who is responsible?” [Read more…] about How To Increase Employee Accountability
It’s no secret that Donald Trump’s reference to “locker room talk” during last year’s presidential campaign ignited a great deal of debate and social media frenzy. Not everyone agreed with the rationale that such talk was lewd or “typical”. Many athletes from an array of sports took offense; objecting to the negative characterization of their work and meeting space. Winning Locker Room Culture is a new strategy. [Read more…] about Three Characteristics Of A Winning Locker Room Culture
How often does one hear a president of a company open an event for his leadership team with the words: “Mom and Dad, I want to thank you for all you do”. Not only were his Mom and Dad in the audience, they were interacting with everyone throughout the entire meeting, from start to finish. The Founder (aka “Dad”) joined both his sons on stage to answer questions from attendees, holding nothing back. More than 300 people hung on his every word; laughing and at times moved to tears, as Dad told stories about the early days, his reasons for starting the company, as well has his vision for future success. As I witnessed the smiles and animated conversations that ensued during coffee breaks, lunch and the reception afterwards, it was clear that this was no ordinary company. What made it so special? In a word: Culture.
The ability to sustain an extraordinary workplace culture while growing at an unprecedented rate is a scenario that many organizations would like to have. At the same time, preserving the unique attributes that make an enterprise successful can present its own set of challenges. The solution to maintaining an outstanding culture lies in consistently applying the following principles: [Read more…] about Three Ways To Sustain An Extraordinary Workplace Culture
