The “Who, What and Why” of Productive Meetings
I am busy, lots of meetings, can’t get anything done! A surefire way to know a drastic change is needed. There was a standard production meeting in comfy chairs that usually ran over an hour every day. We had lots of data to review and had interesting discussions on what happened the previous day and … Read More
Does Emotional Intelligence Improve Safety?
Results from one large manufacturer bear further study. Trevor Blondeel JAN 08, 2020 At the 2019 Genos Annual Global Conference in Hawaii, participants from 17 different countries heard speakers around the theme of “Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” I was surprised to find that a session on the relationship between emotional intelligence … Read More
How are You Showing Up?
Be open to feedback about how you are perceived – turn missed targets into better results. It was a typical day in high-volume manufacturing. There was a new task at hand at the $100 million+, 300-person operation that needed to happen right away. Sound familiar? I gathered the leadership team together and explained the task … Read More
A Kickstart Edge for the New Year
One of my mentors Brian suggested I check out this guy Andrew Neitlich and his Center for Executive Coaching to build on my 3 Cs; Competency, Credibility, and Confidence. It exceeded my expectations and put me into turbo drive! First of all, Andrew is a unique coach and trainer, and I learned an incredible amount … Read More
Breaking the Golden Handcuffs
I didn’t even know I had them on. Just over a year ago, a recruiter called me about a very interesting opportunity which could have been a good fit. Through the conversation, we discussed what my salary was at that time. He sensed my concern in what the future position compensated. He then said to … Read More
‘I Believe In You’, and 4 Key points That Make it Real
A man almost lost his career and confidence in himself. My direct influence was pushing him one way or another. We may not be saving lives on the operating table, but I know we are shaping one’s worth. It takes two: Leader and the student; both have to have the courage to bounce back. I … Read More
Put Some Windex On It
Put some Windex on it; it will fix anything. Spending time with my wife means watching a lot of romantic comedies. It’s because she wants to watch them and I am so supportive. Honest. My Big Fat Greek Wedding has become one of my favourites of the genre. Gus Portokalos, the father of the bride … Read More
My Lean Journey Derailed, Here is How I am Getting Things Back on Track
It’s hard to believe I’ve spent twenty years in the automotive industry. For the last eight, I’ve held senior leadership positions in: Logistics, Material Planning, Trucking, Internal Material flow, Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations. And I never had a clue what I was doing. We had started doing great things before the financial crisis of 2008. … Read More
The Energy Bus – 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy
The Energy Bus – 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy | Author: Jon Gordon, 2007 | What’s it all About? George wakes up Monday Morning to a bad day that starts with a flat tire and gets worse after that! As you can guess, he ends up taking a bus … Read More
Extreme Ownership — How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win
Extreme Ownership – How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win | Authors: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, 2015 | What’s it all About? These guys just blew me away. I consumed this book through audio; loved their voices and how they told their story. The way they run the Navy Seals has so many basic principles … Read More
The Power of Now – A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
The Power of Now – A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment | Author: Eckhart Tolle, 1997 | What’s it all About? Eckhart Tolle is like no other, an interesting dude to say the least. Born in Germany and now a resident of my home country Canada, almost 20 years after writing the Power of Now his impact … Read More
Turn the Ship Around
Turn the Ship Around: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders | Author: L. David Marquet, 2013 | What’s it all About? The first introduction I had to David Marquet was actually a cartoon, “Greatness” by David Marquet. Someone had shared it with me, and I started using it in some of my training … Read More
Can’t Hurt Me
Can’t Hurt Me: Master your Mind and Defy the Odds | Author: David Goggins, 2018 | What’s it all About? This is the story of David Goggins, from beginning to his present life, and he has lived a life worth sharing. Yes, he is a Navy Seal, however that is only a fraction of the … Read More
The Dream Manager
The Dream Manager: | Author: Matthew Kelly, 2007 | What’s it all About? As simple as the title sounds, it really is about a company hiring a dream manager! Not a typical position title you would hire when looking to minimize overhead and costs to increase profits, is it? Well you need to read deeper … Read More
The Go-Giver
The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea | Authors: Bob Burg and John David Mann, 2007| What’s it all About? Are you a go-getter? One that loves to drive results, making things happen all the time. However, as hard as you hustle that promotion has not come or your big break just never … Read More
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX): Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals (WIGS) | Authors: Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling, 2011 | What’s it all About? If you are in the mindset that you really want to gain some momentum on a project, a workplace or a personal goal, this book provides a great … Read More
The 5 Second Rule
The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence With Everyday Courage | Author: Mel Robbins, 2017 | What’s it all About? For all those moments when you may have been struggling with why you didn’t just do that thing you wanted to do, this may be a good read for you! In this … Read More
Good to Great
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the LEAP… and Others Don’t | Author: Jim Collins, 2001 | What’s it all about? You know that great feeling when you go back to something and you forgot how awesome it really was? Well that was what it was like going back to this memorable, eye opening … Read More
Own the Day, Own your Life
Own the Day, Own your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex | Author: Aubrey Marcus, 2018 | What’s it all about? Are you struggling with a busy life? Can’t get time to focus on what you want to do, or what you need to do? I talk a lot … Read More
Dare to Lead
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. | Author: Brené Brown, 2018 | What’s it all about? One of my favorite questions to ask a leader who is struggling to develop an employees is: ‘What was their response when you sat one-on-one to discuss the performance gap openly?’ Time and time again, I get … Read More
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team… A Leadership Fable | Author: Patrick Lencioni in 2002 | What’s it all about? Does your team ‘openly’ disclose their opinions? Are your meetings exciting and productive where people will confront each other, reaching quick decisions? Are personal sacrifices made for the better of the team? If these questions got … Read More
Leaders Eat Last
Leaders Eat Last… Why some teams pull together and others don’t | Author: Simon Sinek in 2014 | What’s it all about? You’ve probably heard the term ‘Servant Leadership’. There are many versions on it and books written. When one of my clients asked my recommendation for a good read on this topic, this one came … Read More
You are a Badass
You are a Badass… How to Stop Doubting your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. | Author: Jen Sincero in 2013 | Are you finding yourself spending more time thinking about the things that hold you back from doing what you are born to do, instead of taking that energy and putting it into action? … Read More
The Power of Habit
The Power of Habit… Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. | Author: Charles Duhigg in 2012 | Are you looking to change some routines for the better and get some more energy? While you could be comfortable with your habits, consider that this may be the time to shake it up! A … Read More
What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There
What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful! | Author: Marshall Goldsmith, 2007 | Ok, how many of us out there as Leaders or Coaches actually find ‘technical’ gaps in our up-and-coming leaders? Not too often! As leaders progress they usually have the necessary technical skills, but often their behaviours, … Read More
Measure What Matters
Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono and the Gates Foundation Rock the world with OKRs. | Author: John Doerr, 2017 | Browsing the book selection at the Cincinnati airport on my way to the Center of Executive Coaching reunion, to my surprise my recent read, Measure What Matters by John Doerr, was #4 on the top … Read More
No Ego
No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement and Drive Big Results. | Author: Cy Wakeman, 2017 | When one of my clients mentioned she was reading this book, “No Ego”, I thought ‘my ego’s in check, I don’t need that!’ But considering that it’s a relatively quick read (256 pages, … Read More
E-Myth Revisited
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It. | Author: Michael E. Gerber, 2005 | I had this book recommended to me by numerous colleagues. Last month, I was able to read it, and I just did again. I had to, it’s so fitting for many of my clients. … Read More
Start With Why
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. | Author: Simon Sinek, 2009 | This book was so fitting for me at the time when my late cousin Rudy Gheysen recommended it to me. Rudy knew the struggle I was having finding purpose in my career, and this book helped me uncover it. … Read More
Fish!
Fish! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results | Authors: Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen, 2000 | So I saw this book while I was visiting the Norplas plant in Ohio, where they actually have a book club. It caught my attention, and I ordered one when we got back. I … Read More