Please email Valerie.MacLeod@HainesCentre.com with your comments.

Targets (Posted March 23, 2010): 
Michaelangelo said "The great danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." How do you set targets? Are they unreachable, a stretch or too easy? Your targets should be realistic, but still a challenge for your people. If you want to talk about targets, just email or call.

Being World-Class (Posted February 22, 2010): 
The Winter Olympics are being held in Canada this week. I read this article by Corey Olynik about Leadership and the Olympics this week. "Success, even participation, in the Olympics is about focus, practice, self-sacrifice and more practice. With that in mind, I was reminded that someone said once to the world-famous violinist Yehudi Menuhim, "I'd give my life to play the violin like you." He answered, "I have." It's that spirit we are seeing displayed for the world by hundreds of young athletes this week. What would you "give you life" to do? What have you ever thought you would "give your life" to be? What difference could you make for yourself and for others five years from now if you really started to do the work today? Why not; what's more important?

Strategic Thinking (Posted February 12, 2010): 
Strategic Thinking is rarely taught in schools, but is important in our ever changing, chaotic world. But how do you learn Strategic Thinking? Some people naturally think of the big picture and the future. Others naturally think of the details - which is what we are often taught in school. Are we stuck with one kind of thinking style? No we don't need to remain using our current thinking style. Strategic Thinking can be learned. As a leader, you can help your organization by thinking of the big picture first, and then the details. Interested? 
 
Small Actions Add Up (Posted January 15, 2010): 
I read a newsletter that recommended spending 15 minutes each day for a week cleaning up my email - deleting all junk and out of date emails, acting on urgent messages and placing the rest in appropriate files for further action. I thought this was a good idea, but I also thought that by spending 15 minutes per day for a week on any task I could make progress. As a leader, what could you do for 15 minutes each day for a week that would add value to your team or organization? Give feedback to your staff, complete revenue reports, review the strategic plan, or coach team to keep implementing the strategic plan? Small actions like these can add up to help your team and your entire organization. 

New Years Resolutions (Posted January 6, 2010): 
Most people create "New Years Resolutions" at this time of year and break them soon after. Instead of setting yourself up for failure - set yourself up for success. Make sure you know exactly what you want to achieve, create the actions to move in that direction, remove barriers, get support from other people, continually scan for things that could impact you and continue to revisit your plan. Be successful in your career and life in 2010!