Photo by Helen Ngoc N. on Unsplash

I don't know what the weather looks like in your neck of the woods but where I am, every day is a snow day! I love it! Walking in the snow, snowshoeing, and making snow angels (Yes! I am five years old all over again.) Before the snow fell, I had the pleasure of having one last snow-free bike ride with my husband on some trails. Guess what happened? I fell off my bike...again! Remember when that happened to me in the summer?

Quite honestly, I was scared this time. I didn't have enough speed heading uphill and then I started to roll back until I fell sideways partly off my bike yet still straddling it. I landed on some cut trees and branches which stopped me from tumbling down the embankment. I actually screamed the words "HELP!". Interestingly, much like the last time, I jumped up (as fast as the pain would allow), dusted myself off, checked for bleeding and got back on my bike. As we continued riding, I was reflecting and thinking more about the future. What will be my biggest win in 2020? My biggest lesson in 2020? What will I bring to 2021? I had a host of questions! 

It really had me thinking about reflecting on your goals. Goal setting at work is usually a structured process that doesn't necessarily account for the human behavioural element of setting and achieving our goals. Have you ever tried that process to set goals for your life outside of work? How did it go? Did you find it effective and engaging? 

What if you had an easy to use template that factors in more than writing down your goals and your timeline to complete them? One that provides an approach that considers how humans achieve habit changes.

Guess what I have underway?

I'm taking my tried and true approach to goal setting and achievement and packaging it to share with you! Use it for your big, hairy, audacious goals or for the smaller yet still important goals. Start thinking about 2021 because it's right around the corner and so is your new template! Spread the word. 2020 may go out like a lion but you're going to make sure 2021 comes in like a lion but on your terms!

Are you excited to use my tried and true goal setting template? Who else do you know would benefit from it? Share this link with them so they can receive my Fierce Leadership email direct to their inbox.

Remember to download Your Guide to Building Confidence & Living Fearlessly! Visit this link and go to Free Resources to get the download.

​These are difficult times for so many people around the world. COVID-19 continues with a relentless grip on society. How are you supposed to show up each and every day and lead your team when there are days that you want to hit the alarm button and pull the bed sheets over your head? It isn't easy but it's doable. I know from experience.

Just the other week I wasn't feeling like myself. Many of you know, I'm an optimist. I know of the glass half empty view of the world but without thought, I'm the half full kind of woman! Nine months and counting, the pandemic has challenged even my spirit. I woke up on a Monday and was grateful to rise for another day but truthfully, fierce friends, I was not loving the day. It turns out, I didn't love Tuesday or Wednesday either. My challenge was that I still had a calendar full of meetings, a team to lead, and work that needed to be done. Here's how I am able to 'show up' and do so authentically even when my mental health is in need of resuscitation:

1. I prioritize my mental health. Taking care of my mental health is one of my priorities. I exercise regularly, meditate daily, and focus on doing activities that I enjoy. However, the ongoing COVID-19 situation challenges even my best effort. When this occurs, I focus even more on giving my mental health what it needs. I make a point to start my day in nature, to listen or watch something uplifting that interrupts my current thought process, and do my favourite workout at whatever level I am able to output.
   
   
2. I'm transparent. There's still a stigma around mental illness and our feelings so many still feel a need to pretend that they're "okay" even when it may be the furthest thing from the truth. I don't buy into that script. It's one thing to have a moment of struggle and it's another thing to have a difficult day or series of days. On those days, I first tell my husband and then I let my leader and/or team members know. What's the point in hiding it? The beauty in my openness and authenticity is that we've created a culture among us where they are comfortable sharing with me when they're having a difficult moment or day. That level of realness can't be taught, purchased, or demanded by a leader. 
   
   
3. I connect with my support system. A quick, random Facetime or phone chat with my husband, mom or best friend has a way of bringing peace to my soul. It's remarkable the impact of connecting with those that are good for my soul has on me. I cherish those relationships.
   
   
4. I practice gratitude. There are many experts who speak of a gratitude practice and I lean into mine when life is throwing lemons at me. Gratitude has been shown to provide positive emotions, better sleep, compassion and kindness, and stronger immune systems! I take moments to press pause and express what I'm grateful for in my head, aloud, on paper, and to others.
   
   
5. I break big tasks into small steps. There are few things more overwhelming when I'm not feeling my best than having a big item on my to-do list. To prevent the overwhelm which is easier to occur when I'm not on my game, I break them into ridiculously small steps and reward myself with a checkmark each time I complete one. The work gets done and I do it without any adverse impact to my headspace.

​Perhaps you woke up today and feel like I did the other week. Know that it's okay to feel that way. Try some or all of my approaches to help you through the day. Although I am not a counsellor nor should my experience be viewed as giving medical advice, if you find that you're having less good days than bad, feel depressed or need to speak with someone, seek the support of your organization's Employee Assistance Plan or other professional services in your area. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, immediately call 9-1-1.

Know someone who would benefit from reading this message? Give them the gift of the Fierce Leadership weekly emails in their inbox by sharing this link with them.

Remember to download Your [FREE] Guide to Building Confidence & Living Fearlessly! Visit this link and go to Free Resources to get the download.

Can you think of a situation in life when something didn't go as planned and the person had every reason possible to tell you why it wasn't their fault? Has that person ever been you?

I was having a conversation with a friend who shared a story about a project that went completely off track. Milestones were missed, deliverables weren't fully completed, and the project's scope continued to increase months after it was started. The long and short of the story is that my friend spoke with the project manager, then the project sponsor and when that was also unsuccessful, she raised it at an executive meeting with the PM and PS present. Her concerns were once again dismissed and the PM and PS remained steadfast in their confidence in the project's feasibility. Fast forward several months and the project was a disaster as my friend predicted and informed them before it happened. 

Do you know what's most interesting about this story? 

It isn't that the project failed. Despite best effort and expertise, projects don't always go according to plan. And besides, you have to be comfortable taking smart risks and be willing to fail knowing that the opportunity in trying is innovation, growth, and gaining significant market value. What's most interesting about this story is how the PM, PS and other key decision makers on the project responded. What was their response? They said it was an external factor or that someone else was responsible the outcome. It was everyone else's fault but their own.

What allows this type of response to occur in organizations?

That's a multifaceted answer but one of the biggest reasons is that employees do not feel a sense of ownership in the organization's success at the level to which it is needed. Many years ago, I was a server in a restaurant just like some of you at some point in your life. It was hard work! It was also very rewarding. We won an award or two for customer service and financial performance, which I was proud to have played a role in us winning. Every one of my colleagues and leaders took ownership in the restaurant's performance. We didn't walk by a customer that wasn't in our section of the restaurant without checking in, there wasn't a spilled drink that we walked away from, and there wasn't a dirty washroom on the premises. We all rolled up our sleeves and pitched in even if, arguably, one could say it 'wasn't in our job description'. 

In my friend's situation, there was a lack of ownership from the PM, PS, and other leaders. The dynamics of her company's culture is for another discussion, but the heart of the 'it's not my fault' response will be their Achilles' heel. 

How do you instill a sense of ownership with your team members so that they treat the organization and its money as if it were their own? Here are five ways I encourage you to practice:

1. Create a shared vision. Have your team members feel as though they belong to something greater than themselves. Share your vision and goals early and often. Learn how to inspire a shared vision here.
2. Tell them the 'why'. Give them the 'how'. Provide the background information they need to know and the importance of the assignment but give them freedom to determine how they complete it. You can provide critical guide posts and have touch points to check progress and hold space for eliminating roadblocks but empower them to lead it as best they see fit. Learn more about leading productive one-on-one meetings here.
3. Encourage independent thinking. It's tempting to solve problems for your team members but resist the urge. Probing questions help to draw out one's thoughts and ideas and re-enforcing remarks help to instill confidence in your team member's ability to handle the assignment. Use both techniques liberally.
4. Be constructive in your feedback. Regardless of the outcome, let your team members know how they are doing. Coach them to better performance for their next assignment.
5. Acknowledge large and small 'wins' in the moment. Don't delay giving genuine, positive and reinforcing recognition. The impact on your team member's confidence and performance is immeasurable.

Are you looking to level up your leadership so you can naturally create ownership in your team members? Connect with me. We'll set up a quick Discovery Call to determine how I can support you.

Remember to download Your Guide to Building Confidence & Living Fearlessly! Visit this link and go to Free Resources to get the download.

Remember, you're in the driver's seat of your life - grab the wheel and get going!

Photo: Unsplash

Have you ever been flying high in the sky (metaphorically speaking, of course) and then suddenly, it's like you your wings were cut off? 

I had a successful launch and I thank all of you for it! You connected with me leading up to it, on the big day, and afterwards. I felt your fierceness cheering me on! When everything seemed to be going my way, a hiccup occurred. As I processed the situation, I found myself grateful for the resilience in which I've been able to build through the years. 

What is your headspace when you hit one of life's roadblocks? Are you able to move through it seamlessly or do you catch yourself unravelling? Although I think I've experienced my fair share of a hard knock life and would like to pass on the next challenge heading my way, I know that won't happen. Quite honestly, I'm okay that it doesn't because all of my experiences have shaped me into the person I am today. You have the ability to build your resilience so that your headspace stays positive and strong. Here are three ways to start:

1. Envision success. You've made it this far in life, right? Remember that statement when times get tough and you're unsure of how you will make it through a particular circumstance. Think of the tools, techniques, approaches, etc. you used before that would be helpful right now. You have overcome all of life's challenges thus far, successfully - what makes this time any different? 
2. Focus on your goals. For some, it's easy to slip into a 'woe is me' mentality when the going gets tough. Resist that urge by reconnecting with your goals, purpose, and motivation. This particular challenge you're experiencing serves a broader purpose in your journey. Although it may not be evident at first, in time, it will be clear. Your role is to focus on why you started the pursuit in the first place.  
3. Connect with your support system. Everyone needs a trusted cheerleader, mentor, sponsor, and a kinship with people who are in their court for the good times but most importantly for the times when you need a safe landing spot to share your challenges, fears, and feelings. If you don't have one person or a small group of people, then start building one. They lift you up, give you a dose of reality, want the best for you, and listen to you free of judgment and with love. 

"Resilience is the learned ability to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again." - Michele D. Cameron

I cannot say this enough, fierce friends, it doesn't matter the size of the step, forward is forward. With the above approaches, you'll keep moving in that direction! 

If you're feeling stuck, are unclear on how to act in alignment with your goals, or are trying to figure out your goals, connect with me. We'll set up a quick Discovery Call to determine where I can support you.

Remember to download Your Guide to Building Confidence & Living Fearlessly! Go to Free Resources to get the download!

Know someone who would benefit from reading this message? Give them the gift of the Fierce Leadership weekly emails in their inbox by sharing this link with them.

In which areas in life do you express gratitude? One of the first moments of the day I give thanks is when I rise and again when I hear my husband quietly breathing beside me.

Amy Morin, psychotherapist and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, highlights 7 scientifically proven benefits to giving thanks. Learn the benefits here. The challenge many of us have is determining how to start and sustain a gratitude practice. If this is something on your list of 'to do's', I offer you this advice - start small and keep it simple. More specifically, consider this approach:

1. Write out an intention. Be specific by inserting a specific time and place when you will give thanks. "I will write one reason I am thankful at 6:00 a.m. when I first wake up in bed."
2. Connect it to a practice you have to do. You'll have increased success if you can connect a new practice with something you have to do. "I will write one reason I am thankful at 6:00 a.m. when I first wake up in bed and turn off my alarm."
3. Keep it simple. Technology exists for a reason. Use your cell phone to capture your gratitude. You can also put an event in your calendar at the set time and at the set location. 
4. Make it rewarding. You read the 7 scientifically proven benefits of giving gratitude and know there are rewards in doing so. Perhaps it might take a while to see some of those benefits. Reward yourself early by tracking your streak and not breaking the chain. (Life happens so if the chain breaks, make sure you start back the next day.) 

Interested in really feeling the intrinsic benefits of your new gratitude practice while adding a bright moment to someone's day? When you express gratitude for someone being in your life or something that someone said/did/offered, take an extra moment immediately after your gratitude practice to share it with them!

Want to tackle and successfully accomplish some of the bigger practices you've been trying to achieve? Let's chat! With the right support, I'll help you make this easier than you think.

When you read the subject of this post what did you think? Did you think of the song by Dionne Warwick, What the world needs now?  

I don't think the world needs love. Although it's a fine line, I believe that the world is in dire need of people who care. It's the quality that's lacking in the exchanges you're seeing play out in business, politics, and perhaps in your very own community's backyard. Think about these scenarios: 

• Ever call customer service and hang up the phone with your problem still unresolved and no plans to help you in the future?  
• Have you experienced or witnessed a violation of a universal value such as 'respect for others'?
• How many times have you been cut off while driving? (Maybe you've been that driver.) 

The common thread? The behaviour doesn’t show you that the person cared about you enough to provide good service, speak kindly to you, or safely share the road with you. 

For you soft hearted, caring people of the world, you make caring about people look easy with your random check-ins, kind comments and ability to remember details that are important to your colleague/friend/family/doctor/masseuse/ etc. Injecting 'care' into how you show up in life is harder for some than others. However, as a leader, if you want to connect with, engage, and support your team, you'll need to show them that you care about them as a person. I've identified three ways. 

Tip 1 - Be generous. Expect nothing in return. A European friend of mine immigrated to Canada a few years ago and had quite a culture shock. He was astounded by the number of people who appeared generous with their time at his workplace but afterwards, expected something in return. Where he was from, a handshake meant something, good deeds were done out of kindness, and no one expected something from someone else unless the person offered it. 

Whether it's a small or large favour, perform it with no expectation of a return. Be a servant leader.

Tip 2 - Listen & Observe. Act on what you've heard or watched. We listen but don't necessarily hear the message. Stop multitasking (even if you claim you're great at it) and tune into the spoken words or the sentiment of the words left unsaid. 

There's a lot we can glean from people if we care enough to hear their story and act on it in some small way (of course, with no expectation of a return). 

Tip 3 - Ask more. Talk less. I often say, “stay curious”. You may have seen articles from scholars or business experts speaking of the power of curiosity. The skill of humbling oneself to give the stage to someone else is the practice used by past and present highly successful, innovative leaders. Staying curious doesn't happen naturally for most of us. We need to be consciously deliberate in our conversations to remain in that zone. It's harder than you think but it's invaluable if you master it. 

As Ghandhi is most famously quoted as saying (or misquoted, depending on your view), "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Be the change you wish to see at your workplace, community, home, or with professional associations. You already know that it starts with you. What's your next move going to be? 

How are you showing up at work or at home? Send me an email, as I'd love to help you explore that further. 
​Know someone who would benefit from reading this message? Make sure to share this link with them so they can subscribe.

I am a statistic. 

No. I'm not a Nobel Peace winner, I haven't won a Women of Distinction award, and my TikTok video hasn't gone viral. In my wildest thoughts I didn't imagine being a statistic and I definitely didn't think I'd be a part of the one I am. Sometimes in life (it's rare that you'll hear me say this), you don't have a choice.  

I am one of the one in five Canadians who experienced a mental health problem or illness in any given year.

I've started to share my story for many reasons with three reasons being that:

1. It's freeing for me. I live in my authenticity and my mental illness is a part of it.
2. There's strength in numbers and knowing that you're not the only one. I don't want anyone to feel as though they're alone. 'Alone' with a mental health problem or illness is a horrible feeling.
3. I'm a perfect role model to break the stigma because looking at me and my professional and personal life, I don't 'look' like a person with a mental illness. Let's stop pretending that we know what 'those people' look like. 

It's Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 4-10) and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10). Do at least one big thing this week to take care of your mental health and do one thing to support someone in taking care of theirs. 

Let's live in our authenticity together and create a climate that welcomes others to live authentically, too. Start today.

If you feel the urge right now to reach out to me to chat, do it. I'm not a counsellor, but I've got a great ear, I've learned a few things in life I'd happily share with you, and I want you to live the fierce life you deserve.

(By the way, stop looking. I never made a TikTok video;))

I'm going to share something with you that will change your mindset and change your life. You know I always talk about the power of your headspace. Let me give you some insight into my headspace that is top level information for you to become the person and leader you desire.

If you're like me, you value your introspective nature and the great insight gained from slowing life down and tuning into your thoughts and feelings. One of the things I've been ruminating on is regaining the physical agility, strength and mental stamina I used to have before major life and career changes caused me to lose it. Actually, scratch that. Major life and career changes may have impacted it, but the truth of the matter is that I made choices that didn't align with keeping fitness as one of my core values. I'm on a mission to return my fitness to an optimal state. 

Have you recently checked in on where you're at with living your values? List your top 10 values and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being that you couldn't live those values any more if you tried). Where are you at? Be honest with yourself. Notice how real I was with myself and all of you a moment ago? You need to be that real in answering that question to yourself. Only through truth will our minds shift to a place of deep analysis and realization. What steps do you need to take to live your values at the level you desire? Set bigger goals? Try harder next time? Those approaches won't work in isolation.

Here's my approach. I've used it in so many areas in my life that I guarantee that it will work for you but only if you trust and fully see through the process. 

I determine who I want to be and ensure that the majority of my choices (i.e., my habits) in every moment in life align with the identity I'm pursuing. In case you're wondering, it's not a false or inauthentic identity, it's a different way of looking at goal formation and the achievement of them. For example, instead of driving to the local convenient store, I ask myself, "Would an athlete make that choice?" The answer is 'no', an athlete wouldn't and I get ready to go for a walk or I hop on the pedal bike for a ride. 

The more choices you make in alignment with the person you want to be, the more you become that person. 

The shift in mindset is so critical that it's important to watch how you speak about yourself and whether your words and phrases are in alignment with the identity you want to be. Let's say I am trying to quit smoking and someone offers me a cigarette. I could say, "No, thanks. I'm trying to quit." which then implies that I'm still smoker. If I were to say instead, "No, thanks. I don't smoke." my brain believes even more that I'm not a smoker and it reinforces my thought process and my decisions (i.e., my habits) that align with the identity I want to be. I was on a bike ride with my husband the other day and about six kilometers in we started going up this long incline. Inclines often challenge me so he mentioned that we could stop any time. I said, "No, thanks. I'm an athlete." Someone overhearing my comment might question whether I'm an athlete but that's okay! In my mind, I'm an athlete and an athlete would tune into their mental game and keep going. I kept going.

Small changes. Big impact. James Clear speaks about this in his book, Atomic Habits.

How does this connect to your work life? Very easily. What type of leader do you want to be? Before you miss a deadline without giving the person a heads up, take credit for someone else's work, or lose control of your emotions, think before you act and ask yourself, "Would the leader I want to be make this same choice or behave the same way?" If the answer is 'no' then act accordingly.

Interested in doing a values exercise to determine your top values and how you're living them, or unpacking the leader or person you want to be? Send me a quick email. I'd love to chat with you. With the right support, I'll help you make this easier than you think.

I have a fierce determination to pursue my dreams, advocate for myself, and be the voice for others but I keep striving to level up to a whole different level. It doesn't matter how long you've been in the game, there's always something to learn. We simply need to approach every learning opportunity with humility and an unrelenting pursuit. Here are 3 key traits to drive action:

1. Courage. Boldly taking a step in pursuit of your goal. If you want to fully and truly be the leader you wished you had and you want to live the life of your dreams, you have to take the step you're afraid to take. Fear cannot be the boss of you. Commit to not making your current situation a prediction of your future. You have to do things you couldn't imagined doing one year ago. 
2. Focus. Have your vision, make values-based goals and align every decision, behaviour and word with your vision, values, and goals. There is an abundance of information (not necessarily factual) to distract you from your true pursuit. Know your values and know your goals. Shut out the naysayers. Open the door wide for your cheerleaders.
3. Endurance. You'll hold little value to things that have been handed to you on a silver platter. You have to put in the work and it might be hard slugging. You're probably thinking, "I could never do that!" Firstly, whatever you believe to be true is true and, secondly, those are the challenges in which you have to level up to if you want your vision to become a reality. It will be hard and there will be times when you will need to persevere against external forces and, unfortunately, your own saboteurs. Remain steadfast in your pursuit.

I've elevated these qualities within me through the years. I know that you have goals and a spirit that remains untapped. When are you going to listen to the voice in your head or all of your cheerleaders telling you to go for it? I can help you. I'm your biggest cheerleader:)

Know someone who would benefit from reading this message? Give them the gift of the Fierce Leadership weekly emails in their inbox by sharing this link with them.