Prisoners, Vacationers and the Willing: Making Training Something People Actually Want to Do
It’s an unfortunate reality: when we announce a new training session, employees’ reactions often range from dread to outright resistance. The hesitation is understandable; people are busy, and they’ve usually had mandatory training that was far from valuable. Today, I want to address this directly: overcoming resistance to learning—because, let’s be honest, the word “training” often carries baggage. You see, getting people to embrace a new skill isn’t just about winning a debate; it’s about
The Patch of Grass: Why Remembrance Day Changed for Me
I rarely share my thoughts on Remembrance Day. Why? Because everyone has a story, and many have endured more than I could imagine. It always felt like my own reflections were secondary to the immense sacrifice of others. But each year, one memory keeps calling me to speak. It’s a story that shattered my understanding of what “coming home” truly means. The Reunion That Turned to Terror It was a homecoming at Trenton Airport. A
Reframing Leadership: Moving Beyond the Battle of Wills
It’s a typical situation every leader faces: the talented employee who misses deadlines, the high-potential team member who appears disengaged, or the new hire struggling to master a core skill. Our initial response, shaped by decades of traditional management, is often to escalate—imposing tighter controls, issuing formal warnings, or implementing stricter policies. We see the situation as a “battle of wills,” assuming the employee chooses not to comply. But what if that assumption is the
Reflections on Leadership: Lessons from the Back Porch of Life
Reflections on Leadership: Lessons from the Back Porch of Life As I stand at the cusp of 65, reflecting on decades of navigating leadership’s complexities, a tapestry of experiences and insights unfolds before me. The journey has been one of continuous learning, often through challenges and sometimes through quiet epiphanies. Drawing from the wisdom shared by fellow leaders and my own hard-won lessons, I offer these reflections on what truly underpins effective leadership. The Core
The Tyranny Of Servant Leadership – 5 Things You Need To Do To Free Yourself
I was a Sergeant Major in the Canadian Army. I held the second-highest non-commissioned officer rank and had a role that I loved and aspired to. It was a job of power and influence. I had a responsibility to my soldiers and, most importantly, to my leaders. A responsibility that I carried with pride. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the Latin root of the words ‘Sergeant Major’ was ‘Head Servant.’ Once I got
Kale & Servant Leadership – 3 tips for you to serve through listening
Fad Diets & Servant Leadership – Listening Last week, I gave you three tips to help get out from under Servant Leadership and reclaim your role as a boss. In the coming weeks, I will unpack the characteristics that Robert K. Greenleaf developed in his “Servant Leadership” model that Servant Leaders should possess: This Week: Listening, Unpacking Servant Leader Characteristic., Like kale, paleo gluten-free diets, when concepts like servant leadership are taken to an extreme,
Does Your Company’s Mission Statement Actually Matter? The Answer May Surprise You
Boards and executive teams everywhere spend an unbelievable amount of time and energy on developing their company’s mission statement. This is important work as it helps to focus the organization; however, in my experience, high-level mission statements do little to motivate frontline staff. In fact, the Gallup organization found that only 20% of U.S. workers feel proud of or engaged by their company’s mission statement. Most companies promote their mission by posting signs and distributing
The Birth of a Strategic Plan: A Nine-Month Journey
In any organization, whether a small business or a significant regulatory body, the ability to adapt to change and plan for the future is essential. As a leader, you understand that a compelling strategic plan is more than just a document—it’s a dynamic roadmap. I’m eager to share my experience developing the College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA) Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and the invaluable lessons I’ve learned from this nine-month journey. Lesson 1: Go Beyond
Beyond Imposter Syndrome: The 50% Rule and The Traps of New Leadership
The legendary poet and activist Maya Angelou once said about herself, “I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. ‘” I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’ll find me out.” Are you faking it until you make it? Can you move past the imposter syndrome to the following levels of personal confidence and, thereby, the next level of leadership competencies? You need to understand a few inalienable
Forget the Dashboard: Why Your Team Needs an Old Approach, Not a New Tool
My Client Caroline, a project manager, faced a familiar scene of chaos and missed deadlines. Her first instinct was to seek a “shiny new tool” to solve her problems, believing the right software would instantly eliminate the chaos. This reflects a common misconception in management—the idea that technology can fix core human and process issues. As Don Kieffer and Nelson Repenning point out in their book “THERE’S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY”, this approach
Hear Steve tell the story of managing his worst project … EVER!
I want to take you behind the scenes for a story that truly embodies the challenges (and eventual triumphs!) of leadership. We all face those projects that test our limits, push our boundaries, and make us question everything. I’ve had my share, but there’s one that stands out as my absolute worst project… EVER! It was a chaotic, high-stakes situation that taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, problem-solving, and leading through the most challenging times.
From Breakdown to Breakthrough – How Steve Helped Rebuild a School’s Culture and a Leader’s Confidence
Client: Diana Stinn, Co-Founder of a pioneering Alberta-based school Diana Stinn had spent two decades building a school from the ground up—leading with vision, heart, and grit. But 20 years in, that legacy was at risk. Trust within the team had unravelled. The culture had turned toxic. And Diana, once a confident leader, was questioning everything. “It got to the point where I didn’t want to walk through the front doors. That’s how bad it
Driving Connection – How Steve Helped Unite a Scattered, Diverse Team: A CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY: Driving Connection – How Steve Helped Unite a Scattered, Diverse Team Client: Sheri Kortgaard, Owner of a specialized funeral transport company across Alberta and Saskatchewan Learn More about Sheri & Platinum Transfer A Growing Business, A Fractured Team Sheri Kortgaard runs a company with a uniquely human mission – transporting deceased loved ones with dignity and care. But with six locations across two provinces and a workforce spanning diverse generations, cultures, and motivations,
Beyond Command & Control: How Vulnerability Unlocks Your Team’s True Potential
Last week, we explored the leadership lessons developed amid the heat and uncertainty of this year’s wildfire season—understanding the entire playing board, leading with humanity, and communicating with candour. These principles are universal in any crisis, which is why they prompted me to reflect on the lessons I have gained from other seasoned leadership mentors who shared profound insights with me. Their experiences and the principles they championed resonate deeply with the challenges many organizations
Fathers Day, The Hardy Boys and a First Leadership Lesson
I have made many mistakes. Some of them were pretty spectacular. While formal training, my master’s degree, and supplementary reading have taught me the theory of leadership, my mistakes have taught me more than I care to admit. My first leadership lesson occurred when I was not much more than six or seven years old. I was a voracious reader, devouring comics, magazines, and books about superheroes, as well as war stories. The best of
Lead Through the Fire: 3 Core Principles for Crisis Leadership
With another forest fire season upon us here in Alberta, I’m reminded of the immense pressures and challenges that come with managing large-scale, complex crises. My career has taken me from the frontlines of military operations to the heart of global humanitarian responses, including coordinating disaster relief for major wildfires and floods right here in Canada. In these moments, leadership is tested in its most extreme forms. Through it all, I’ve learned some hard-earned lessons
Unlock Understanding: 5 Questions to Navigate Strong Disagreements
In a world of increasingly polarized opinions, truly understanding someone with whom you strongly disagree can feel like an impossible task. But what if the key lies not in arguing harder but in asking smarter? Research by Philip Fernbach (https://www.philipfernbach.com/) offers a fascinating insight, particularly around what he calls the “illusion of explanatory depth”: people often overestimate their understanding of complex issues. This overestimation can be a barrier; however, it also presents an opportunity for
7 Check Up Questions To Diagnose Your Team
It’s straightforward to be on a sports Team. You know your position, what is expected, and who’s with you and who’s against you. The rules are clear. In organizations, things are more ambiguous. Often, you’re not entirely clear about your role, the expectations placed on you, the expectations of others, the rules, and what success looks like. Let me offer a model to check the health of your Team and make things clear. Each section
Leading Through the Unpredictable: Embracing Courage in a Time of Change
We live in a world where the illusion of absolute control has been shattered. For too long, we have believed that our systems can predict and manage every crisis perfectly, swiftly restoring stability. Yet reality often proves otherwise, exposing large and small institutions to the harsh light of perceived failure. Regardless of its fairness, this perception reshapes our world. Reacting to immediate pressures and dwelling on past missteps will only hinder our ability to move
More Than Just Survival: Why Any Business, Regardless of Size, Needs a Strategic Plan
Many small business owners are immersed in a daily hustle—managing operations, serving customers, and putting out fires. The idea of stepping back to create a formal “strategic plan” might seem like a luxury reserved for large corporations with dedicated planning departments. However, neglecting strategic planning is a missed opportunity that can hinder growth and resilience. A well-thought-out strategic plan isn’t just paperwork but a vital roadmap for success, regardless of your company’s size. Here’s why
The Unintended Compass: When Leadership Values Emerge by Accident
We often perceive leadership values as thoughtfully crafted principles outlined in mission statements and reinforced through formal training. What happens when these values are unintentionally shaped by circumstance, habit, or oversight? “Accidental leadership values” are those unspoken norms that guide behaviour, often without conscious awareness, and can significantly impact an organization’s culture. These values are not necessarily negative; they can reflect positive adaptations to unique situations. Consider a Team facing a crisis: they might develop
Are You ‘Off Message’? How Misaligned Communication Kills Execution
Based on Team of teams: New rules of engagement for a complex world*. Portfolio/Penguin. Seriously, we’re drowning in noise. Everywhere you look, someone is shouting a message at you, and as leaders, we’re supposed to cut through that noise. The problem is that most of us try to do it by following a pre-approved, focus-grouped script. That’s a big mistake; that stuff sounds completely fake. Think about it. When was the last time some boardroom-crafted
The Precursor to Success? – 4 Actions To Drive Leadership Team Accountability
It was a harsh lesson in accountability. I don’t remember why I was late, but I was late. I was dishevelled, probably hungover and looked like crap. The rest of the soldiers in my platoon were on time, looked good and were all formed up. I fully expected to be punished for screwing up, but I did not anticipate that the entire platoon would be confined to barracks for my mistake. I was responsible for
Closing the Accountability Gap: Practical Steps for Real Results
Throughout countless client conversations, a glaring issue persists: the lack of accountability. Missed deadlines and broken commitments are not merely individual slip-ups but a systemic problem undermining Team performance. To fix this, we need a clear, actionable plan. Read about a 14-billion dollar accountability problem Step 1: Create a Safe Space for Honest Dialogue Action: Schedule private Team meetings, not public reprimands. Why: Build trust and encourage open discussion. Action: Set ground rules: respectful communication,