One of my greatest pleasures with running EDGE3 is getting teams out of the boardroom and into nature. It also happens to be one of our greatest challenges. It’s tough for a business to close shop for a day or two, and understandably a leader wants to know the value. “What lasting impact is it going to have on our team?” As I reflect on my most recent team-building event, an immersive experience on a private island in Muskoka, I…
Are You In Your Element? by Devon Domanski. One phrase came up recently for me, and I’ve really been thinking about it a lot and its connection to nature. Someone said to me, “I’m fighting fires at the office, right now!” Thankfully they weren’t literally faced with blazing piles of paper, computers spontaneously combusting, or exploding equipment, but they were definitely punctuating the level of stress they faced in that situation. Does this seem familiar to you? Maybe you’ve said…
After 16 years of living in the same area, we are making the move to a different neighbourhood. It has been an emotional journey that has reminded me that change is not always comfortable. As a coach, I encourage my clients to step out of their comfort zone and embrace change, but perhaps rather than pushing out of what’s comfortable, we should gently ease into the discomfort, and slowly accept the change. Not too long ago I was facilitating a…
Business Building, Inspiration From Nature, Leadership Insights
My EDGE3 Experience by Dr. Naresh Vempala, Research Scientist In life and career, we all come to a point where we take a pause to evaluate our journey that has been, to determine the journey that lies ahead. Having arrived at that point, I found I am not quite the leader that I envisioned myself to be. I felt that there was a key ingredient missing from my professional life. While I knew something was missing, I couldn’t put my…
It was one of those magical days that I’ve only experienced a few times before, a hot sunny day in April when the ice on the lake begins to thaw. It lasts for only a short time when something gives and the thick layer of ice turns to slush. It’s the most amazing time to be in a kayak! With every stroke you chip away at what has been still for months and with new life the ripples are…
Culture Flip: A Swedish Perspective by Megan Cosgrove. My career started like many others I know – in a rush. I began my first full-time job while still in the final exam period of my fourth year at University. I didn’t breathe between earning my degree and receiving my first pay cheque as a professional. I kept the blinders on as I moved, elbowed, and clawed my way through the rat race. Until my spouse came home from work with a job offer…
Feeling a little shy of my thriftiness, I considered not posting this blog, but the lessons were far too juicy not to share. Blowing in the winter breeze, the balloons above a new shop’s “Now Open” sign lured me inside to see how the store lived up to its promise of everyday consumer products, for only a buck or two. Traversing each aisle thoughtfully, I finally arrived at the register with a basket full of goodies, walking up only to…
I’ve managed people most of my career, and I’ve worked in teams all my life. If you had asked me early in my leadership career what motivates someone at work I would have probably told you either having a good salary or maybe having a spiffy title. And of course who doesn’t think a big bonus is motivating? To effectively lead people, I thought you needed carrots and sticks in the right balance for motivation to work. Somehow in my…
Imagine a senior level executive. She has a difficult challenge ahead of her. She’s been stuck in a messy company reorganization that’s left her smack dab in the middle of the ‘mess’ without any real position. She has been tasked with helping others to get settled into their new roles, but she hasn’t been assigned any inspiring duties of her own – nothing yet to settle into. For a goal-orientated, achievement driven professional, this can be a paralyzing place to…
This past week was an overwhelming entrepreneur week for me; contract negotiations, uncooperative technology, scheduling nightmares and the list goes on. I’m sure, like me, a lot of you who are riding the arc of the entrepreneurial journey are thinking “where have I heard this before?” Being an entrepreneur or a solopreneur requires us to wear several different hats. These demands can be quite overwhelming at times as we battle a never-ending list of “to-do’s”. The tendency to feel unaccomplished…