In the world of sports for example, becoming successful is contingent on positive habits
When we talk about habits, most of us immediately reflect on those we wish to break or remove. Habits like smoking, overeating, alcohol consumption, gambling and chewing ones nails, etc. seem an easy pattern to fall into, but stopping them somehow seems so much harder. We start out with such great intentions towards daily exercise…
A leader provides his team with vision, values and guidelines critical to helping people make the best possible decisions for the company
A leader I met with once said something that has stuck with me. "Most people are trying to do what they believe is in the best interest of the organization. The trouble is they may not have the same point of view on what that is. And that leads to chaos." As an example, take the…
Every growing business must, at some point, bring on help, but you need to know when the time is right
When you start building your business, long hours are expected. But no one can – or should – keep up that pace forever. It’s a drain on your personal, mental and physical health, and it will kill your business growth, too. “When I first started out, I did do everything,” says Sarah Picciotto, founder of OnPoint…
We don’t recognize that times and technology have changed, we’ve been holding the organization back or we’re just exhausted by our years of leadership
It wasn’t the several times I almost died on the job. It wasn’t when I fell off roofs or rolled heavy equipment. But I can remember the day and time I knew I had to get out of construction. It was -35C and I was demolishing a gas station for my employer. As I went…
Only half of small businesses in Canada survive their first five years. Digital tools are critical to their success
Social media levels the playing field for Canadian small businesses and unlocks economic growth, says new research revealed Tuesday by Facebook Canada. The report, Empowered In The Digital Age: Leveling the Playing Field For Canadian Small Business, said only half of small businesses in Canada survive their first five years and accessible digital tools are…
You don't engage your employees by handing them a report card like they are grade-school students, but by helping them paint a picture of their future
The dreaded performance review is quite possibly the most detested human resources program ever invented. It doesn’t matter what process, form or technology is in place to accomplish this task, it is always bad. And it doesn’t work – ever. The reason I know this is because I spent a year thumbing through job descriptions…
If we’re focused on thriving and growing during periods of difficulty and change, our brains look for these opportunities
While the overall economic numbers seem to indicate that the Canadian economy is firing on all cylinders, there are still areas geographically and by industry where businesses are struggling. Having lived through a number of difficult times in my 30-plus years owning and running businesses, I’ve learned there are a number of ways to improve…
You may have come across the phrase 'must be comfortable with ambiguity' in a job description and thought to yourself, 'Isn't that a bad thing?
You may have come across the phrase 'must be comfortable with ambiguity' in a job description and thought to yourself, 'Isn't that a bad thing? How can a company acknowledge ambiguity exists within their system without taking steps to correct the situation?' Ambiguity, which often is defined as 'vagueness,' can also mean directions that can…
Leaders who advance to a new echelon often underestimate the challenges they are about to confront
In the U.S. military, they call them 'Mustangs' – personnel who have advanced from the enlisted ranks to positions of leadership. Some of them have gone all the way to the top, winning general's stars and recognition as history's finest leaders. The same thing can happen in the business world. Outstanding men and women, rewarded…
Sometimes the only way to deal with a truly difficult boss is to change jobs
Some bosses are gems and others ... not so much. While every person's personality can, on occasion, clash with another's, some supervisors seem to make a habit of making life miserable for the rest of us. But what can you do when the person in control of a large portion of your life (and your…