Take Ownership: 12 Leadership Principles for Better Workplace Relations

How do you get everyone in your workplace on the same behavioural page?   A recent conversation with a local business leader led me to Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win. At first glance, I was reticent to read this book. Yes, the book was about taking ownership, full ownership, of your workplace. […]

On assignment with CESO in La Paz – Bolivia

The last two weeks of January I was working in Bolivia, as a Volunteer Advisor (VA) with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). I was there assisting the Municipality of La Paz with some conflict management and communication challenges they are facing. The work My work with the Municipality was right up my alley. I enjoy […]

Restorative Justice Pilot aims to change bad driving behaviours

The other day I was listening to a radio talk show about drivers who are texting while driving. One trucker called in to say that from his perch in his rig, which sits well above most vehicles, at times it appears that everyone has a mobile device open, either on their lap or seat, and […]

What to do if you are someone who hates to talk about “feelings”?

When I was a young man, I rarely talked ”feelings”. For the most part, I didn’t know how to. My feelings avoidance played itself out in different ways. One way was that, at age 21, I bought a guitar, and took to studying flamenco guitar. My internal thoughts were, “I will learn to express how […]

Men: Three conflict management strategies to break down stereotypes and improve workplace relationships

Men don’t listen, aren’t in touch with their feelings, want to win (at any cost), abuse their power, are arrogant, are afraid to show weakness, think of nothing but sex, don’t see any gender problem, and so forth. I know and/or consciously intuit that I’ve been labeled with each of those stereotypes, at one time […]