It was a perfect example of imperfect leadership. It was also an example of a leader having the courage to stand up and publicly admit a mistake.

This week I was part of a townhall meeting designed to help grow the community by engaging a cross section of stakeholders. As a result of the discussion, it became apparent the town was poised on a precipice. In many ways a bedroom community for a nearby larger municipality, the town had the advantage of proximity to amenities but lacked a clear understanding of what made them unique and authentic. Because they… More Posted on 03-06-10

We Found our Ruby Slippers in Vancouver

As far as she was concerned my colleague Denise was simply one of many everyday Canadians who had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch on its journey across the country. She wasn’t quite prepared for the notoriety, albeit brief, that resulted. Running her leg through a small town with a hospital on one side of the road and a senior centre on the other, the streets were lined with enthusiastic flag wavers shivering in the cold simply to catch a glimpse of the torch. At the reception that followed at the local community centre, Denise spent most of her… More Posted on 02-28-10

What the Heck is Social Media?

What’s the connection between social media and sex?

Avinash Kaushik, Google’s web analytics guru, published a tweet last year that said, “Social media is like teen sex, everyone wants to do it. No one actually knows how. When finally done, there is surprise it’s not better. 

But while teens might be misinformed about sex, most of them definitely have at least a grasp on social media. But what exactly is social media?

I’ll spare you the convoluted definition posted on Wikipedia, as well as an explanation of the plethora of opportunities provided by tools such as Facebook,… More Posted on 02-21-10

There’s No One Best Way to Learn

I have a good friend who I’ve always thought would make a fabulous teacher. She’s finally making the leap and will teach a course this semester at Niagara College.

Although anyone who knows her is confident she’ll be great, she admits to being a bit nervous. I really don’t think she needs to be as she really does know her stuff.  Additionally, she’s very organized, works hard, and is the kind of person who cares deeply about others. The students will love her. 

In the course of our conversation about her new venture I volunteered to help in any… More Posted on 02-21-10

Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

There’s a television show called, “Are you smarter than a fifth grader?”

Quite honestly, I’ve never watched it.

The truth is that while I’d like to think I’m smarter than a fifth grader, I’m afraid to find I might not be.

When I was in grade five, I was a good student although it wasn’t always easy. Virtually the entire curriculum was based on being able to demonstrate knowledge by memorizing and regurgitating information.

There weren’t a lot of opportunities to do something with that knowledge that would require imagination and critical thinking skills – an area… More Posted on 02-21-10

We are More

Canada is so much more than the malfunction of one of the four torch-lighting pillars during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. The real story, and the one rarely mentioned in the media coverage, is that the organizers got it right…dazzlingly and delightfully right.

In addition to being totally engaged and entertained, I was one of millions who were unexpectedly, deeply, and profoundly moved by what was the most-watched television event in Canadian history. The Ceremonies presented Canada to the world and in doing so helped every Canadian articulate what is unique and good about our country. 

In the… More Posted on 02-14-10

Find a Community then Find a Job?

What do you long for in a community?

It’s a good question and one posed by author and speaker Rebecca Ryan in her recent keynote address at the Economic Developers Conference of Ontario in Toronto. She also shared a major shift being reflected in today’s generation.

For more and more young people, thinking about where they want to live comes before finding a job.

While my generation found a job first or followed a promotion or company move, the next generation has flipped the order. First they choose an active, creative, engaged city and only then will… More Posted on 02-07-10

Working for a Good Cause

It happened again. The mayor who welcomed and introduced our team of presenters assumed the majority of those in attendance at the workshop were volunteers because they represented non-profit organizations and were interested in our topic of community building. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am extraordinarily respectful of volunteers.  I come from a long line of them and have done a lot of volunteering myself over the years.  However, I found myself bristling when yet another, albeit good meaning, individual assumed the non-profit sector was only about volunteers when in fact the majority of those in the audience were… More Posted on 01-25-10

Playing with the Rules

I just spent two days in a marathon planning session and was left rattled by a rather unexpected revelation.  Could it be that planning is fun?

If you’d asked me for adjectives to describe a closeted two day weekend with board, committee members and staff, fun probably wouldn’t have made the top ten list of adjectives. The reality however was that it was quite enjoyable. There was spirited discussion, disagreements, and ultimately some breakthrough thinking and productive results.

For me, and perhaps others, it was due in part to what author Jerry Hirshberg calls “creative abrasion”. In his book,… More Posted on 01-17-10

On Being a Trend Watcher

Poets can be wrong. Some 250 years ago Thomas Gray wrote “Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise”.  I’m not buying it. These days ignorance is not bliss. Given the current pace of change, being ignorant is more likely to be a risky business.

By way of example, I recently had a conversation with a senior administrator in a small Ontario municipality who had been invited to take a leadership role in facilitating the involvement of residents in a community-wide strategic plan. The employee instead chose to opt-out, as he wasn’t comfortable in the role. Whereas he… More Posted on 01-11-10

3 Keys for Keeping Your Resolutions in 2010

I’m not exactly a poster girl for making and keeping resolutions for the New Year.  Here I am trying to write an inspiring column while, once again, beating myself up for not living a more balanced life, exercising more regularly or losing weight.  Luckily I’m a Pollyanna who always believes the answer is out there somewhere so I keep searching for the magic formula.

However today I don’t even want to think about making any resolutions.  Heck I’m still in my pajamas and working on my first coffee. Good thing there are millions who will make resolutions as it… More Posted on 12-27-09

Cabbage Rolls and Trifle?

Despite the best of intentions to slow down and enjoy the season, the reality has been a rather frantic pace. It makes me especially grateful for the good number of nurturers on our team who do a fabulous job of making sure the human component that drives our work stays front and centre. This priority translates to such activities as meetings that begin with quick, personal introductory exercises. On a team conference call this week, the staff person assigned to facilitate started off by asking each of us to share our favourite Christmas tradition.

People were quick to chime in. … More Posted on 12-20-09

To Be a Leader

The elevator doesn’t always go to the top when I’m stressed and busy but this week I had one of those moments of insight that ended up explaining a lot.

I realized that leadership means different things to different people. The variance in their interpretation may be the result of age, education, experience or perhaps it may be about genetics or gender.  Likely there isn’t ever a right or wrong – there is just different – and that’s okay.

For example, under my current contract I’m working for a wonderful man for whom leadership is very much about logic. It… More Posted on 11-29-09

Dancing for Collective Joy

By the end of the week I’m generally tapped out. As a result, I’m more susceptible to the magpie syndrome and easily distracted by anything bright and shiny. This week it was a link to a YouTube video sent by my mother.

It was shot in the main concourse area of a busy train station in Brussels. As I watched, the classic version of Do-Re-Mi, sung by the indomitable Julie Andrews, was suddenly heard over the loudspeakers in place of the typical announcements of arrivals and departures. By the looks on the faces of those captured in… More Posted on 11-22-09

Rethinking Linking

Tough times typically result in reduced resources and employees working flat out. As a result, it seems anything falling into the nice-but-not-essential category is dropped from our never ending to-do lists. Although networking often falls into that category, trends are suggesting it should be moved up on our list of priorities.   

This week I experienced the advantage of being part of a network when a potential duplication of efforts in a draft proposal from a member was flagged. We were able to identify the overlap only because we had spent time getting to know more about one another’s… More Posted on 11-15-09

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