Do you remember your first job? Were you trained or just thrown into the task(s) at hand? I remember my first job was at a bakery in downtown Calgary. One day the boss asked me to make coffee. When I asked him how to do that, he gave me a look of disbelief. It made me feel stupid, but …
Positive Attitude in the Workplace
Our attitude affects our relationships, happiness, lifestyle and, success. A positive attitude is what your co-workers and customers will pick up on, whether it is face to face or over the telephone. Customers always want the best experience possible and they will judge your business on how easy and pleasant it is to do business with you. In a book …
Revenue vs Growth
Starting and owning a business can be exciting and terrifying for anyone. Profit, Revenue, Growth. Do these terms all mean the same thing? If not, what is there a difference? Yes, there is a difference, Profit, Revenue and Growth are not the same things. To be successful and remain in business, both revenue and growth are important. Revenue Focus: …
Conflict Resolution
Conflict happens in all areas of our lives. Conflict occurs whenever there are people with different expectations. Just about every workplace conflict stems from two common starting points: Poor communication and the inability to control one’s emotions. As leaders, you need to embrace that conflict will occur. I knew someone who reminded me of the Ostrich when conflict or …
Increasing Confidence in the Workplace
Can you think of a time when you lacked confidence in the workplace? We have all had them. It might be a lack of confidence when you started a new job, or when you had responsibility but no authority to solve the problem. Have you worked in a toxic team environment? Are you a perfectionist and too hard on yourself? …
Job Search Tips
We are blessed to have a thriving economy and with the current market of a 2.5% unemployment rate, there are more jobs that work. How do you make your resume stand out among the crowd so that you will get noticed and called in for the interview? Have an Up-to-Date Resume Always. Even if you are not currently looking …
Creating a Dynamic Customer Experience
Marketing trends come and go quickly, marketers are constantly seeking new creative ways to get their name and brand out in the community to engage, attract and retain customers. The latest trend talks about how to create a dynamic customer experience (CX). What is Customer Experience? It is enhancing the person-to-person relationship. Recently I read a great article on Forbes.com …
Successful Teams
A strong team is the foundation of a high-performing business. If team members do not work well together, problems can arise and cause conflict within the workplace. Building strong teams takes work and leadership. Peter Lencioni wrote the book “5 Dysfunctions of a Team” and he outlines how to identify the dysfunctions and the tools needed to create successful high …
What is your Leadership Style?
Who was your favorite leader or boss? What traits did they have? Why were they your favorite? Did you connect with them on a personal level? Did they give you the freedom to risk and learn new things? Did they mentor you and help you grow? Throughout my career, I have had a variety of leaders, at different times …
Hiring the Right Team Members
Hiring and training team members can be a costly mistake if you hire the wrong person. It is essential to be sure that you make the process as efficient as possible to reduce the costs and keep employee turnover low. Recently, I attended Leadercast Live where the theme was Building Healthy Teams. Having a healthy team starts with hiring …