Dismantling Hidden Taxes on Leadership 🛠️
The Silence Tax: Is your leadership team paying it? In my forty years of navigating high-stakes environments—from the front lines […]
🏛️ The Benevolent Executive: The Antidote to Toxic Silence
Building Trust and Benevolence in Governance Trust is the ultimate force multiplier in any organization, yet it is currently at
Leadership: Silence is Not a Strategy 🚫
The Cost of Silence / Senior Leadership Responsibility In the upper echelons of organizational leadership, silence is rarely neutral. It
Making Values Mean Something — The Bridge Between Behaviour and Profit
By the end of January, the “New Year” energy often begins to flicker and fade. This is the danger zone
The Inner Circle: Auditing Your Rhythms for a Frictionless 2026
In this month’s Inner Circle update, we are moving from high-level theory to the gritty reality of organizational assessment. While
The Foundation of Alignment: Why Your “Clean Slate” Starts with Safety
As the dust settles after the holiday break, most executives rush headlong into tactical execution. We review the spreadsheets, set
19 business days are lost to mental health absences – That is a leadership crisis.
Nineteen days. Recent data shows that businesses are losing an average of 19 business days every single year due to
The Manager Trap: 4 Critical Leadership Red Flags Hiding in Employee Reviews
We all know the old saying: “People don’t quit companies, they quit managers.” But how can you identify that “manager
Stop Blaming ‘Psychological Safety’—Start Leading: Tackle Systemic and Personal Failures in Your Senior Team.
Note: This article examines a key distinction in organizational dynamics: the difference between a team where psychological safety genuinely matters
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 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
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,
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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