As 2024 draws to a close, it’s natural to find ourselves reflecting on the past 12 months. What went well? What could have been better? What’s next? These are common questions we ask ourselves at this time of year, and while they seem simple, the answers often reveal more than we initially expect. … [Read more...]
The Art of Precision: Using the Right Tool, the Right Way
There’s a quiet brilliance in simplicity, especially when it’s achieved through mastery. The phrase “using the right tool, the right way” might seem like straightforward advice at first, but peel back the layers, and it reveals a profound framework for life, work, and leadership. It’s about more … [Read more...]
Mistakes Are Inevitable; Accountability Is a Choice
Mistakes are a natural part of life. They are inevitable, often unanticipated, and undeniably human. But what defines a person, or an organization, when things go wrong isn’t the mistake itself; it’s what happens next. How do you respond? Do you deflect? Do you deny? Or do you step forward, face the … [Read more...]
From Proximity to Purpose: Building Shared Legacies That Last
Relationships are often the most organic part of our lives - born out of proximity, circumstances, and happenstance. We sat in the same class, maybe next to each other, borrowing pens or sharing lunch, and somewhere in those small moments, friendships quietly formed. Those early connections, … [Read more...]
The Art of Becoming: A Dedication Beyond the Self
"The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else. It is a mainspring of human activity - activity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man." - Ernest Becker I came across Ernest … [Read more...]
The Five Signals of Leadership Potential: A Framework for Leadership Investment
In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of next-generation leadership development, one question stands out as both critical and recurring: Who is worth the investment? The workplace overflows with talent, ambition, and opportunity, but resources - whether time, effort, or mentorship - are always … [Read more...]
The Price of Dilution: When Language Loses Its Power
In a world saturated with noise and hyperbole, we are paying a profound price: the slow erosion of the impact of our language. Words that once carried immense weight - like “genocide” and “fascism” - are now so casually wielded that their gravity is fading. They’ve become tools of convenience, … [Read more...]
The Contract of Leadership: Promises That Define Us
Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a contract. It is a promise you make - not once but continuously - to those who trust you with their ambitions, challenges, and potential. These promises are neither fleeting gestures nor aspirational platitudes. They are commitments, rooted in action and clarity, that … [Read more...]
The Echo of Silence: Mastering the Art of Strategic Stillness
In a world brimming with noise, where words flow like an unending torrent and urgency has become the hallmark of relevance, silence stands as a profound and often underestimated force. The ability to pause, to deliberately choose stillness over speech, is not merely a skill but an art - an art that … [Read more...]
The Daily Joys That Outlast Annual Rewards: A Reflection on Leadership and Culture
Four years into leading corporate services at the Ottawa Community Foundation, I find myself reflecting on what truly defines fulfillment at work. This isn’t a question I’m approaching for the first time. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams across diverse roles and … [Read more...]