Has a job interviewer ever asked you about your greatest disappointment at work? Why would someone ask this? It can be a way to measure problem-solving skills and resilience. Just like life, every project encounters difficulties, unexpected challenges and roadblocks. Disappointment means that what we planned or hoped for isn't what we're currently experiencing. Here are 3 steps to move past disappointment: 1. Recognize that you're feeling disappointed. Feelings of disappointm

Every change management initiative experiences setbacks and slumps. Think about when you’ve made a change in your personal life – committing to a workout plan, for example. Were you motivated every day, ready to take on the world? Probably not. Some days you were full of energy, while other times you may have lacked the motivation, felt tired, or sore. If you kept going despite resistance, it’s likely because you continued to focus on the end goal. Here are 3 ways to be an in

Have you attended a Zoom birthday party or another virtual celebration recently? When physical distancing took effect, we didn't stop celebrating. We just changed the way we celebrate. Why do we celebrate? Celebrations and rituals play an important part in supporting well-being and optimizing brain health. It's important to celebrate successes, both large and small. Why? 👉Feelings of accomplishment stimulate serotonin and dopamine, two key 'feel good' hormones in the brain �

Think about the last time you made a routine trip, to the grocery store or to work, for example. It might have been awhile ago, I know! Have you ever made this trip and realized that you didn't remember how you go to your destination? When we repeat behaviours, the brain creates neural pathways that make it easier to repeat these behaviours. It takes less energy for our brains to go on auto-pilot, which is a useful survival mechanism designed to help us. This same auto-pilot

There are 3 C"s for successful communication to support a change: Clear Concise Compare As an example, let's examine the latest pandemic messaging for certain regions in Ontario. 1. Communicate clearly Is saying "we're moving to the grey zone" clear? No. What does grey zone even mean? If something is a 'grey area', it means it's unclear and without boundaries. As a colour, grey isn't associated with a sense of urgency. 2. Be concise Is it concise? No. When I saw the messaging

Do you remember when social distancing became physical distancing? Earlier this year, to help stop the spread of COVID-19, governments started telling people to “shelter in place”, practice “social distancing” and so on. Why did the pandemic language change as time went on? Language changes in response to changing circumstances Firstly, it wasn’t accurate. We were encouraged to limit face-to-face interactions, not social interactions via phone or Zoom. Shelter in place typica

I get it. You’ve got a lot going on and are powering through a project, the week, even your life. I have two questions for you: Does ‘powering through’ feel powerful? Or does it feel more like running on empty? What happens when you finish powering through something? You get to the end and then what? Do you finally give yourself permission take a break? Or do you just power through the next thing? I’ve been there. Powering through, running on fumes - whatever you want to call