Amanda Leuschen, Vice President, Leadership & Learning

I think a lot about how often we ask people to step into important responsibilities, assuming that because of their skill in one place that they’ll be as skilled in the new place. It’s not inherently true and the odds of it being untrue are greater when we assume it will just happen on its own, without clarity or support. I see and hear this often in relation to new leaders. And I understand why it happens. Organizations grow. People leave. New opportunities emerge. Teams need leadership now, not six months from now. Often, someone steps into a leadership role [...]

I was reading the World Economic Forum’s report on four possible futures for jobs, and what stood out to me wasn’t the scenarios themselves, it was the tension underneath them. More than half of business leaders expect AI to displace jobs, while far fewer believe it will create new ones. That gap reflects what many leaders are experiencing right now: curiosity, pressure, and a lack of clarity about what comes next. The report outlines four directions things could go by 2030. In reality, we’ll likely see elements of all of them, sometimes even within the same organization: AI accelerates and [...]

If you asked your team whether they find meaning in their work, what would they say? Would they connect it to the organization’s purpose? To the team’s shared goals? Or to something personal? Finding meaning at work isn’t always easy, but it matters. We spend so much of our lives working that some sense of purpose can make the tough days bearable and the great days deeply fulfilling. Purpose can take many forms: Organizational purpose: The mission and vision — the why behind who you are and what you do. Team purpose: Shared goals, collective effort, and how the team contributes to the bigger [...]

I’m currently in the design phase of a new project. I love the iterative process – the thinking, the research, the planning, the discussions, the changes…  It’s creative and technical, simple and complex, fun and challenging. Yet, it lacks the immediate gratification I sometimes need to feel productive and effective. I sometimes struggle with the feeling that I haven’t accomplished enough simply because there’s not always obvious or tangible proof of the work. The project isn’t finished, so clearly, I haven’t done enough! Logically, I know it’s not true. I didn’t start the day expecting to finish, so why do [...]

I was having a conversation recently with someone who asked about our work. They were curious about our team leadership program and why we felt it was needed. Having just facilitated a session, it’s value and impact is fresh in my mind. Have you ever worked in an environment where a new system was put into place without proper preparation or expertise? Despite this, there’s an expectation that the system will increase productivity, streamline efficiencies, create opportunities, and yield greater results. Yet, there’s a lack of understanding that these outcomes rely on deep knowledge, proper use, and consistent follow-through. We [...]

I remember the first time I travelled for leadership training, joining a large group of leaders from across the organization in a hotel board room for 3 days of learning. I was less than a year into my first leadership role and my journey there had been a reluctant one. I had loved my previous position and was more than happy to be a mentor and role model, having no need or desire for the title or responsibility of leadership. I eventually took the leap and from that point on was committed to learning all I could to continually do [...]