Leading Through Uncertainty
According to Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace Report, only 33% of employees in the US and Canada are engaged in their work. Low engagement leads to absenteeism, turnover, low productivity, and poor customer satisfaction. Furthermore, surveys indicate that stress, sadness, and even loneliness at work are becoming significant barriers to employees achieving more. And now, we add uncertainty to the mix. Remember that study many years ago where participants knew for sure they would receive a painful electric shock felt calmer than those who were told they had only a 50% chance of getting the shock? The human [...]
In Disruptive Times, the Fundamentals Matter
I can’t lie. I was rattled when I first read Disruptions on the Horizon, which identifies the likelihood and impact of many large disruptive forces. We are living in an incredibly uncertain and destabilizing time. How do we possibly find our way in this landscape? One thing I learned leading United Way Winnipeg through the pandemic is that when the world goes wild, the fundamentals matter a lot. At the start of the pandemic, I remember thinking our strategic plan would go out the window, but in fact, it is what grounded us. Our organization went into the pandemic from [...]
Umbrellas Are For Rain
I vividly recall sitting in a leadership training program alongside C-suite leaders across Canada years ago. It was a transformative experience. As the program came to a close, the professor did a phenomenal job wrapping up the week and integrating all that we had learned. He then picked up a black umbrella that had been curiously sitting on this desk. He held the umbrella above his head and paused to take in the confused looks on our faces. When the professor asked us what an umbrella was for, we offered the predictable response: to shield us from rain, snow or [...]
