Thoughts

Further to last week’s post, I’ve been thinking more about the motivating power of a compelling goal.

Energy is a very precious currency.

If you are running a race for which you have trained for a long time, and you find yourself exhausted near the finish line, you don’t want your coach offering you a seat, a hug and a glass of wine right then. You want them to remind you of your goal and your committed preparation, so you’ll keep running and finish strongly. Continue reading “The Gift of a Goal”

I’m no runner.

But I can imagine that the end of a long race, just before the finish line is in sight, is the most gruelling part.

Who do you need in that moment?

Do you need a cheerleader, who tells you you’re doing great no matter what?

Do you need a commiserator, who says, “You’re right, this is hard. Why don’t you sit and rest awhile?” Continue reading “Who You Need and Need to Be”

In a recent study of the professional upskilling deemed most necessary in 2021, LinkedIn reports that the top category of learning will be “resilience and adaptability.” No surprise, given the year we’ve had. What is perhaps more surprising, and for me more disheartening, is the category that was at the top of the list in 2019 and 2020 is now at the bottom. The bottom. Can you guess what it is? Creativity. Continue reading “Creativity has Left the Building”

I’m a stickler for good process.

If you live in Ontario Canada, or have been watching the news from elsewhere, you may be aware that this week has been a gong show on that front. We’ve been subject to chaotic leadership of the highest (lowest?) order as our province navigates COVID-19’s third wave.

In trying to make sense of it all, I find myself drawing on what I know about stakeholder engagement and collective decision making. Continue reading “Read the Room”