Earth, wind, fire, & water – how they can affect our workplace culture
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was writing about the tornado that affected thousands of Ottawa – Gatineau residents (ICYMI, that previous blog post is here). Once again, so many Canadian communities are literally being flooded with another disaster and the...
Digital Discrimination – The Algorithm is Rigged
Modern Career and HR Implications For those of you who have been following my blog over the years, you may have noticed that I try to address modern issues regarding human resources and career development. The new rules around job searches are one of those topics. In...
Less Lonely at the Top: the Rewards of Leadership & Executive Coaching
It really is lonely at the top. People in leadership positions are responsible for the people who report to them, and they’re also responsible for achieving results, including productivity and profitability. It’s no wonder that there’s growing acceptance for and use...
The Realities of Modern Work – Blurred Lines and Workplace Boundaries
The modern workplace can be complicated. Some roles are changing quickly because of automation. Many of us use mobile devices and/or work from home and both of these habits blur the line between work and home. This versatility around how and where we work has many...
Q&A with Dr. Helen – Ethical ways to support university admissions prep in Canada
Last week I shared some of my reflections on the US College Admission Scandal in which mediocre rich kids, with help from their parents, got into prestigious universities through bribery and other illegal schemes (if you missed it, read part one here). In part one, we...
Are high pedigree, Ivy League job candidates always the best?
All that glitters is not gold … (William Shakespeare) The ivy league may now have something in common with sports. If you’re an accomplished recreational runner, tennis player, or an avid golfer then you may have noticed that some of the worst recreational athletes...
Death by 1000 papercuts … how this happens at work
You’ve probably heard the phrase “death by a thousand (paper) cuts …” which refers to a slow, painful, demise caused by the cumulative damage of one too many ‘seemingly’ minuscule problems. In my experience as an I/O Psychologist, it’s often the tiny nicks and dents...
Are You Part of the Team, or Leading the Pack?
March 2019: Are You Part of the Team, or Leading the Pack? View this email in your browser March 2019: Are You Part of the Team, or Leading the Pack? Is Superwoman Syndrome Your Kryptonite? March 8 was International Women’s Day. This year, I marked the occasion by...
Expertise and Credentials: When Different is Good
Have you ever considered applying for a job or promotion, but thought the better of it because your qualifications and/or experience were different than what the employer was asking for in the job posting? A recent experience was a vivid reminder of how, when applying...
The Superwoman Syndrome, Even Harder than it Looks …
Recently, I was asked to speak at an International Women’s Day event that was being organized by Sigma Beta Phi Sorority. I was intrigued since I have not been close to ‘Greek Life’ … especially in Canada … and their topic ‘the Superwoman Syndrome’ added another level...
Returning to Work After an Absence is Common, So Why is it so Hard?
Although certain career-related transitions are predictable and common they are still challenging. One of those transitions is returning to work following an absence. There are many ‘flavours’ of this transition including returning after: a maternity or parental...Insider threats – Hiding in Plain Sight
For a few years, I have quietly been watching incidents where insider threats have been the primary cause of severe and often expensive problems that have affected over 100 million people. To make sure we’re on the same page, “Insider threats can be defined as risks...
The Power of a Growth Mindset
Sometimes, I have the pleasure of working with people who are in transition into really big things. These are clients who are taking on challenging new roles or opportunities. In those situations, I always count on sharing some fundamentals that I learned in graduate...What Takes Longer: Hiring an Employee, or Buying a Car?
Which do you think takes longer: hiring an employee, or buying a car? You may have heard the expression “most people hire too quickly and fire too slowly.” In my experience, this is accurate, especially for higher stakes, professional roles. A while back, I worked...
Ghosting an employer … it can professionally haunt you and … others
Last week I discussed the haunting act of professional ghosting. I defined it and proposed some explanations for why it’s happening to more and more employers and interviewers. It started as a term popular among online and offline daters, but it has now seeped into...
January 2019: How Do You Stay Fired Up Over Winter?
How Do You Stay Fired Up Over Winter? View this email in your browser January 2019: How Do You Stay Fired Up Over Winter? Ah,...
Ghosting … the real hauntings that go on at work
We live in a time where communicating with others is as easy as pressing a button or swiping a finger. The digital world allows us to stay plugged in 24/7 with just about anyone … anywhere. In our personal and professional lives, the presence of social media and cell...It’s a new day at work – why employee fulfillment will matter more
For quite a while, we’ve been hearing a lot about employee engagement. It’s been promoted as the main reason why employees choose to stay productive within certain organizations. Engaged employees drive productivity and revenue growth in those organizations. Although...