One of the biggest career decisions we face is whether to work on improving our strengths or reducing our weaknesses. There is no simple answer. It depends on what those are, how essential they are... read more
It’s well-known that you should outline the key points of a speech or presentation before delivering it. But speech coach Gary Genard says it’s more complicated than that. You need two outlines. “And the distinction... read more
If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed at work, the culprit can seem to be the whole messy bundle of activity before you. But executive coach Rebecca Zucker says to gain a sense of balance you need... read more
This article stresses likeability as a key characteristic of any good manager and offsets the idea that it has to come at the cost of effectiveness.... read more
When people become managers, they are often told they can choose to be liked or to be effective. Management means making tough decisions that will disappoint former peers. You need to be courageous. You need... read more
Technology advances are upending tens of thousands of jobs across the global financial sector, including at Canada’s big banks. As global banks unveiled plans to slash tens of thousands of jobs this year, those in Canada held... read more
This article identifies what it classifies as unforced errors – “self-generated performance gaps created by one or more subtle, counterproductive behaviours” – and challenges us to identify these tendencies and to examine ways to address... read more
Many Canadians probably heard the term “unforced errors” for the first time when they got caught up in nationalistic fervour and watched Bianca Andreescu beat Serena Williams in the U.S. Open finals. Ms. Andreescu committed... read more
Most of us have had moments of work when we have felt excluded – left out of a meeting we might have expected to attend or perhaps not invited to lunch by colleagues – as... read more
This article examines three goals that should govern when giving feedback and goes on to offer advice about the appropriate style when giving it.... read more
Giving feedback starts with knowing why you are giving it. Are you frustrated and angry at recent actions? Is the feedback coming out of a desire for control or to express your importance? Or is... read more
This article examines the benefits of taking a positive approach to situations as opposed to focusing on the negative and the resultant improvement that it can bring about.... read more
Managers spend much of their time focused on the negative: seeking out problems and trying to fix them. But in an era where positive psychology has become an important approach, might we be better to... read more
For most of us, the first decision-making process we probably encountered was the pros-and-cons list. A simple tally of the pluses and minuses of a proposed course of action, it helped clarify the situation but... read more
