A Flat Tire Haiku
Two flat tires, two days. Missed ferries scrambling to work. Be adaptable. - A haiku about how investing in agility, building contingencies, and going with the flow facilitate adaptability when a flat tire blows up your day!
Three Ways to Enable Cross-Functional Teams
In the world of work, collaboration is key. I have been supporting a project that is expanding collaboration in our organization by enabling cross-functional teams. These teams are all about mixing different areas of expertise to get things done more efficiently and...
A Precharging Haiku
Resting. Pre-charging. Investing in energy. Preparing for Fall. - A haiku about getting ready for what's coming, as opposed to reacting to what happened, by resting and focusing. ...always choose to rest.
Three Examples of Innovation Inspired by the Pandemic
The novel coronavirus pandemic is a global tragedy. At least one million people have died from the virus. The International Monetary Fund is predicting that the pandemic will cost over $28tn in lost output. How we live and work will never be the same. Consequently,...
Five Things That Being Allergic to the Sun Teaches me About Inclusiveness
Spring is arriving in the Northern Hemisphere. For many folks – especially those of us on the dreary West Coast – the long, sunny days generate plenty of positive vibes. For me, the sunnyness makes me feel quite the opposite because I’m allergic to the sun. This...
The Value of Interdisciplinary and Cross-functional Thinking
Nearly a decade ago I wrote this book review for Active History (reposted below). The idea was for academic books to be reviewed by non academics. While my review holds up okay, I want to underscore the idea that interdisciplinary and cross-functional thinking brings...
Five Ways to be a Better Career Influencer
Last week I joined my fellow CERIC board members in a planning session that focused on the future of our charity, which is purposed with advancing career development in Canada. We fund and publish research, share learning and build community at our annual Cannexus...
Learning Styles Do Not Exist
Learning styles do not exist. Given that many educators and students have long believed in the concept of learning styles, this probably feels like a bold statement. The idea that individuals have fixed preferences for how they absorb information - you might be a...
Five Ways to Connect Your Workplace
The purpose of so many organizational teams, like innovation labs, and startup ecosystems, like Silicon Valley, is to disrupt the status quo. I’ve written about why we need to disrupt our workplaces and how to do it. The thing is that when the status quo is disrupted...
Nervited
When humans feel the combination of nervousness and excitement we are nervited. Our team was feeling nervited last week because we delivered a conference for 600 employees that blended inspirational speakers, peer-learning, good food, and digital creativity. We felt...
Three Professional Lessons from Barber Shops
I go to Uptown Barbers in Vancouver’s (Mt. Pleasant ‘hood to get my hair cut every six weeks or so. Marco and Ben – the two barbers who I most often visit – deliver haircuts as good as the banter in their shop. Being able to start and sustain great conversations while...
How Replacing a Toilet Uses Modern Learning Practices
Last weekend my friend and I replaced the toilet in my en-suite bathroom. I’ve written before about the lessons learned from home renovations, which this article builds on, highlighting how the art and science of toilet repairs/replacements reflect the ways that...
The Lego Dad Activity
This weekend my youngest son burst into the office and proudly showed me his Lego creation - it's me sipping coffee while riding a "pizza delivery hover bike with other foods, like apples and fried chicken!" And so the Lego Dad Activity was born! This invention makes...