If I were to ask you if your company or organization had a crisis plan, more than likely you would answer, “Yes.” That’s because managers are increasingly becoming aware of the need to be prepared when something goes wrong. On the other hand, if I were to ask if your crisis plan stipulates detailed steps …

When you create goodwill with customers by actually DELIVERING those benefits, they will tell their neighbors, their kids’ teachers, and their golf buddies.

The Essence of Story work This post is the last in a series about Creating your Leadership Story—how you can learn to see your original systemic story; how, particularly in high stakes situations, it inserts itself into your present day leadership behavior; and how, if desired, you can change your story. The fundamental premise is …

Yesterday, I wrote an article about what was important to include in board orientation packages http://envisioningthefutureintl.ca/2010/09/07/6-important-items-to-include-in-board-orientation-packages/. While some people felt that it would be overwhelming to give new board members all that information. I continue to reiterate that it is important that your board be well-informed in order for them to make good decisions. In …

Consider how the culture of your organization and the HR programs in your organization drive motivation. Do the HR programs focus on the stance that it is a manager's job to motivate their staff?

I’m going to write a 3 part series on carrying the weight of problems at work. In this first part I’m going to address how to be a “witness” of someone’s problem and be aware of how often you carry someone else’s stone. Many people get into the jobs they do because they like to …

It’s important that a lot of thought and consideration go into the development of your organization’s board orientation packages. A board package is an organization’s first opportunity to orient its new board members to their organization. Therefore, your board will be as well informed about your organization as you make them. Board packages are not …

No one has time to actually read everything that comes across our computer screens. So you MUST write effective headlines that pull them in. And you have one shot at it – within exactly 3 seconds.

The main premise of this blog entry is that among all the leadership skills taught to prospective female managers and leaders, education in the successful use of personal and organizational power is still sorely lacking. It is well accepted that the skills that enable a person to excel in their chosen field are very different than the ones necessary to lead and manage others. However, for women, the challenge is different than for men, not necessarily only because of possible discrimination, but because our socialization still does not prepare us to handle organizational power and influence well.