Happy April!
This newsletter is PACKED with insights and tips for you! Beyond speaking at virtual sessions and developing new presentations this month, I also got to talk to two amazing women!
The first is the always awesome Leslie Hughes of Punch Media, who interviewed me for her podcast a few weeks ago. We discussed:
- How to step into change – even when change is hard
- Key ways you can stand into your value, even when you’re scared.
- How to stand up for your own value (and get out of your own way!)
- Tips on career evolution and progression
- What NOT to do on LinkedIn
- And that we are more change-ready than we think!
If this interests you, you can listen and watch the replay below:
How to Lead and Work through the Pandemic
5 Leaders… 5 Questions
Last month we heard from Brian Lord of Premiere Speakers Bureau who emphasized the importance of practicing patience as a leader during the pandemic. This month, I’m super excited to share with you the wisdom and insight from a dear colleague and someone I like to call a friend – Sandra Levy. Sandra is the Chief People Officer at the Canadian Olympic Committee and has inspired me on so many levels over the years – and I didn’t even know she was a 2 time Olympian – yes TWICE!
That just shows how humble she is. Sandra assumed her role in the middle of the pandemic. Her wisdom is below. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.
I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.
1. What is a daily ritual you have done to stay focused throughout the pandemic
Definitely physical activity. For me, having anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of movement, whether it be a run, a cycle, or a walk, and a brisk walk, that includes golfing 18 holes several times a week in the summer and walking the course, not riding. That’s been really important. I mix it up to keep the body healthy and injury-free.
The one practice is giving to the food bank. When neighbors came back from traveling early in March 2020 timeframe, I picked up groceries for them. I started picking up food and shopping for someone else, and then another person. Then I realized people needed the food bank, so I went and sorted that out with friends. Every time I shop, I pick up something for the food bank!
2b. What leadership practice have you developed?
Connecting with employees with who I never connected before. I’m new in my role at the Canadian Olympic Committee, so I’m just calling people that I don’t even know. I’m doing that with the whole organization because I changed jobs in the middle of the pandemic and I started working from home. I’ve really enjoyed doing this!
3. What advice would you give yourself if you had to go through this all again?
I would encourage myself not to get frustrated with things not being perfect.
Adjusting to working from home in a new role, getting your computer set up, things not working perfectly, the frustrations around that. That’s probably been the hardest.
4. What surprised you the most about your capability to lead people through a crisis?How much work HR had to do to pivot through this. It really became a people and culture piece more than I anticipated. Having to adjust to reassure people, setting up town halls, developing policies, checking in to make sure people were okay, setting up mental and emotional supports during this time, and ensuring that the right benefits were available during this time because virtual health became more important.
5. What one word would you hope your team would use to describe your leadership style?
Approachable.
6. What’s a book that you’ve read in your life that you think is a must-read for everyone?
Boom, Bust, Echo. It’s an older book that I feel is still relevant. While it speaks in generalizations, it helps you understand the different cohorts that you, from a leadership or HR perspective, will need to understand how you’re going to deal with them.
Forbes Coaches Council
I can’t believe this really happened! I’m so humbled and honored to have been invited to join the Forbes Coaches Council.
While coaching and mentoring young entrepreneurs, which I do pro-bono, is only a small part of my business, my overall work involves sharing coaching processes, tools, and techniques that leaders and teams use to lead and navigate the future of work.
I promise to share insights from this Council with you!
What I’m Reading
This month I’ve been reading Who Not How by Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. The book contains insights, stories, many useful additional resources and above all (for me) good questions to get one to think differently. All I can say is pick it up! It’s one of the best business books I’ve read in years. I’ve already bought copies for a few friends!