Category Archives: Training
What about the followers?
Over a coffee with a colleague, she shared with me an interesting trend emerging in followership. For decades, most training and development has been focused on executives, managers and front line supervisors with the justification that improvements made at those …
Leadership – The Missing Ingredient Needed in Process Improvement
Why is it that most process improvement initiatives never quite pan out as advertised? Whether it is Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, ISO/TS 9000 – the end results often fall far short of the promise and potential. There is …
How Ego Blocks Engagement
Having just wrapped up two more Front Line Leadership programs, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of potential in the leaders taking the course. One of the requirements of graduation is for each participant to document how they …
Modelling the McJob: Why Managing Like McDonalds Might Be Good For Employees
Last Wednesday (May 5th) was McHappy Day at McDonalds Canadian operations. It is a big fundraiser for Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada. I had the priviledge of working as a volunteer that day for the fifth time. I’m guessing …
Engage to Change: Leading change requires focus in three areas
Why is it that many change initiatives are more stressful, time consuming and ineffective than they should be? Successful change requires the leader to engage the Head, the Heart and the Feet of employees in order to achieve lasting, …
What Employees Wish Santa Would Bring Them For Christmas
Dear Santa, I have been a good employee all year and wish that you could help my manager bring me the following gifts this season. They would help me become happier and more productive next year. Give me the gift …
Multi-location operations – why performance and profitability varies from store to store
I probably shouldn’t have been thinking about business when I was supposed to be enjoying a meal out with my wife and daughter. We headed down to the closest location of a national italian restaurant chain. Based on previous experiences, …
Finish Strong in 2009 and Set Up for Success in 2010
A new business season is upon us and with it comes some old challenges and some new ones. Here are three action steps to achieve a strong finish in 2009 and set your organization up for a great year in …
Leaders Don’t Allow Tasks to Take Time Away from People
With business demands and the amount of information increasing, it is tempting for managers to hunker down and spend most of their attention on tasks – dealing with customer/supplier issues, operational issues, answering email, endless meetings and the never ending …
Accountability creates results and job satisfaction
Accountability becomes mission-critical in challenging times. We need everyone in our organization to take ownership of results and make things happen. Creating an environment of accountability rests with management. Based on our 22 years of experience in organizational development and …
