In the late summer and early fall, I found myself travelling to multiple states and provinces within the same month. It was the first time I’d had this type of travel schedule since the pandemic started. In a short period, my senses were being hit with more new sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences than I had become accustomed to. As … Read More
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
I was having a conversation with a friend the other week and she expressed frustration that her boss has high standards for her and the other employees, but he repeatedly doesn’t hold himself to the same expectations. He gets upset if someone is late, even if it’s for an emergency, and yet he is regularly late himself; he expects a … Read More
Shift Judgement to Curiosity
The following excerpt comes from A Little Book About Trauma-Informed Workplaces, which I am a co-author of. The chapter, Shift Attitudes, explores the importance of moving from judgement to curiosity when interacting with others. While trauma awareness is valuable at a knowledge level, an attitude shift is necessary in order to change how we engage with people. By shifting attitudes, … Read More
Declutter Your Work Tasks
My wife and I have spent the better part of the summer going through a major downsizing of our possessions. We moved out of our four-bedroom home to a condominium, and early on it became clear that all of our things would not fit into our much smaller living space. And so, months before our move, we began the process … Read More
Take Time for an Intern
My son is a culinary student, and as part of the program this summer, he has an internship at the White Barn Inn Restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine. He’s loving the experience, learning a lot, and having a great time. In early spring when he began exploring places to do his internship, I knew that finding the right placement would make … Read More
What Will Happen When You’re Not There?
Every couple of years my family and I take a trip to Europe. In addition to trying new foods, the thing I like most about traveling in Europe is seeing all the old buildings and bridges. When we visit a new area, we quickly assess and figure out a plan to see as many “old” things as we can. To … Read More
The Talent Shortage Myth
[Excerpt from The Ordinary Leader] It’s easy for an organization to blame bad hiring experiences on a shortage of talented people to draw from. In recent years, commentary has increased around the notion that talent is in short supply. I have always had a cynical view of this belief. I don’t think there is as much talent shortage as some … Read More
How to Lead With a Sense of Urgency
I have always lived my life with a certain level of urgency. All through my school years, I regularly completed my assignments well in advance. As a teenager, I was antsy to leave home to attend university, and by my second year I was ready to graduate and get my first “real” job. Once I started working, it wasn’t long … Read More
Three Ways to Deal with Cliques at Work
[Excerpt from The Culture Question] Although we want to encourage relationships, we also want to actively discourage the formation of cliques in our workplaces. When cliques do form, leaders need to deal with them promptly and effectively. Cliques are exclusive groups of people who share common interests. They are surrounded by thick relational walls that are difficult to penetrate. Cliques … Read More
Why Leaders Should Take Breaks
There’s a long-standing understanding amongst our staff that they should be “worried” when I’m away on vacation. The first time new hires learn that I’m taking a vacation, longer-serving staff inform them to prepare for something big upon my return. Their words of warning are related to a pattern that has occurred time and again over the course of our … Read More