I've just returned from three glorious days at our family's small island cottage.  The weather was perfect and each day greeted me with vibrant sunrises, blue skies and magical sunsets. As a heavy rain poured down late one evening, I could almost hear the trees laugh as they were refreshed, once more. With every visit, I am compelled to savor the richness and magnificence of nature and I remain both humbled and inspired.

I am so grateful to my grandmother and my parents, for gifting us with their love and the joy this place brings to us all.  Here, there is no electricity, cell phone or internet access  - everything runs on propane, simplicity and serendipity. The only important calls you receive are the ones most Northern Canadian cottagers yearn to hear - the ethereal, magical and haunting call of the loon.

As I hear their calls, I am inspired to be still, to listen carefully and to take each one in. They seem to connect with the very depth of my soul and once heard, they are never forgotten.  Why is that, I thought? Intrigued to learn more, upon my return I did some research and learned that there are four distinct calls which vary both in length and depth.  The most common one heard - is a tremelo - a wavering call that is to indicate alarm or to announce it's presence at the lake.  The next is a yodel which is the male loon’s territorial claim. The wail is the haunting call that loons give back and forth to figure out each other’s location. And finally, hoots which are soft, short calls given to keep in contact with their mates and between parents and their chicks. (Source:1)

Fascinating stuff, I thought!  Upon reflection, I know now why I hear them so clearly: this kind of communication is deeply lacking amongst human beings today.  Each of their calls allow them to connect with each other in a deep and meaningful way. They know what they want to say in each situation and they do so, clearly, distinctively and concisely.  And perhaps, most importantly, they communicate from the heart with care, concern and love for one another.  

So perhaps we would be wise to take a page from their book and apply some of the lessons I've learned from the loons:

1.  Be clear and concise in your communication with others
2.  Speak from the heart - it strengthens all connections
3.  Listen clearly to what the other person is saying - you will improve the outcome
4.  Be aware of your volume, speed and tone - you will build rapport and be heard
5.  Listen more than you speak - there is no communication without it
6.  Give a hoot from time time - we need to stay in touch with one another
7.  Hearing the sound of someone's voice strengthens relationships - make the call
8.  Master your vocal image - your voice is part of your brand and your signature
9.  Unlike loons, humans feel the impact of words spoken - choose them wisely
10.Communicate with compassion and respect - it's part of human nature!

And lastly, be authentic and true to who you are.  Otherwise, sooner or later, others will call you on it!  
Source: 1:  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_loon/sounds


We’ve all met someone with presence.  When they speak people listen.  When they walk into a room, heads turn.  When talking to others, they have the unique ability to make people feel comfortable and at ease.  People like them, employees want to work for them and employers want to hire and keep them.  So can anyone develop it? We believe they can, however, there are two pre-requisites: the first is a sense of self and the second is a little wardrobe space. 

Here are a few more tips that may also help:

1.  Let your values speak.  Who you are speaks through your character and is demonstrated through your actions. There is a big difference between knowing your values and living them. Know thyself and act and live, with integrity.

2. Develop a winning strategy.  Be other focused and seek out ways that you can help others achieve their goals.  Great leaders care about others and strive to help them succeed and win.  Celebrate your team’s victories – especially the little ones and then give them credit for yours.

3. Be humble.  Seek feedback and ask questions that demonstrate your humility.  ie. Where can I improve as a leader? What do I need to do to help you improve your results?  What frustrates you most about me?  Now for some, the last question may elicit a long answer, however, great leaders remain a work-in-progress and laugh at themselves as they progress.

4.  Be an active listener.  The best leaders listen way more than they speak.  Poor listening skills is the number one complaint people have about their bosses.  So lean forward, turn off your phone, eliminate distractions, acknowledge others through positive facial expressions and be present. Ask more questions and wait for the answers. You’ll improve your results and your relationships.

5.  Project your self-worth.  How you present yourself speak volumes about who you are and how you see yourself.  It’s also a statement about your level of self-confidence, self-respect and self-worth. Be well-groomed – from head to toe, smile, maintain good eye contact, develop a strong handshake, stand tall and walk with your shoulders back.  You will energize yourself and those around you and command respect.

6.  Become a great speaker and storyteller.  To truly stand out, ensure your speeches and presentations have a strong opening, middle and end.  To open strongly, find quotes that summarize the heart of your message – your audience will be enraptured and compelled to listen. Don’t be afraid to use funny and personal anecdotes to illustrate your points.  It’s the easiest way to establish rapport, build a sense of community and importantly, show your audience that you are a real human being!

7. Strengthen your vocal image.  How you say something is four times more important than what you say.  Speak with clarity and strive for short sentences.  Adjust the volume, speed and tone of your voice - you will move into sympathetic resonance with your audience and build instant rapport. And remember, to engage people’s minds, you must first touch their hearts. Choose words that inspire, excite and motivate others to not only listen, but to act on your words. 

8.  Remember people’s names.   Everyone loves to hear the sound of their own name and it also makes others feel important and shows that you care.  If you want to raise the anti – strive to remember their spouses’/partners’/children’s names – it will go a long way to building and strengthening relationships.

9.  Be accountable for your losses.  Life is not always about winning.  By acknowledging and taking responsibility for your losses or mistakes, you will demonstrate your vulnerability and gain the respect of your colleagues.  Create an environment both at home and at work, where admitting a mistake is not seen as the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow.

10. Strive for balance.  Balance is not something you simply fit in when you have some down time.  It’s what fuels you and the organization and it’s what gives meaning and purpose to your life.  Make time to integrate your values into your life – you will feel great about who you are and inspire others to follow your lead.

In closing, remember that the whole person is a sum of all the parts.  When you lead from within, you will carry yourself with dignity.  When you do the right thing, you will walk with your head held high. When you take a genuine interest in others, others will take a genuine interest in you.  When you live your life in alignment with your values, you will exude confidence.  And finally, when you feel good about who you are, you will shine from within and in turn, illuminate those around you.  And then people will call you a leader and someone, with presence.

I can remember our encounter like it was yesterday.  He looked up at me timidly, afraid to look me in the eye.   In a trembling voice he asked, "Spare any change, ma'am?"  I responded, "I'm so sorry Sir. I would love to, but unfortunately I don't have any."  Smiling he said, "that's ok your acknowledgement is payment enough."  With tears in my eyes, I walked away somewhat humbled by the gift he had given me.  I made a mental note "to always carry some change" just in case I would see him or other people like him, again.

During the Holiday Season, as we run from one place to another, we will pass people like this gentleman.  Cold and hungry, they will persist in their request for change, from one person after another.  Many will walk by, some will reach into their pockets and a precious few, will reach into their hearts. Those who fall into the latter category will be giving the gift of acknowledgement - that priceless gift that is wrapped up in kindness and tied with dignity.

We have many leadership lessons to learn from our homeless people, not the least of which is humility.  Here are a few more worth sharing:

1.  Be compassionate:

We must remember to not judge the homeless as "less than" or condemn them for being on the streets.  There are stories upon stories of people who's lives were changed in an instant, by tragedy.  People like the former executive of Shell Oil who's wife and daughters were killed in a car accident.  Unable to cope with this terrible loss, he eventually lost everything and found himself on the street.  He did not choose the street, his life circumstances placed him there. 

2. Preserve their dignity:

Though we've all heard stories about people who choose to live on the streets, far too often mental illness them there.  With current stats of 1 out of 4 people suffering from mental illness, it's not surprising that those without a support system end up being homeless.  We must strive to do our very best as human beings, to preserve their dignity and to treat them with respect.  Those who do will be doubly rewarded.

3.  Remember, there are great teachers and leaders amongst them:

Closer to home, my Uncle Cliff was once an English teacher who taught at Forest Hill Collegiate and Upper Canada College in Toronto.  After a series of difficult life circumstances, severe mental illness and hard times, he ended up on the street.  He went on to create Poetry Canada Review, a newspaper of the heart reporting on what really matters. It was also the first newspaper where Canadian poets could post and share their work.  He also published three poetry books and won several international awards.  Sometimes people must hit rock bottom before their gifts are discovered.

And so as we move forward with our gift giving, let's remember to have an open and humble heart.  Let's do our best to take the time to acknowledge those less fortunate than ourselves.  Let's strive to BE the change and honour our fellow human beings.  And finally, let's always remember that every one is somebody's child. 

If we do, we will lift their spirits and ours, not only at Christmas, but always. Fellow leaders amongst us.


Lead.  Make a difference.  Leave a legacy. 

As you approach the holiday season you will find yourself in a variety of business and social settings.  Each setting will give you the chance to meet both new and familiar faces and the opportunity to truly connect with others.  Now connecting with those we know is easy, but what about with those we don't?  And importantly, how do we make genuine connections with strangers?

Well,  let's set the scene and find out:

You've been invited to a function.  As you enter the room, you look around and are overwhelmed by a sea of unfamiliar faces.  Your goal is to establish new relationships, but there’s only one problem – the thought of ‘connecting with strangers terrifies you!  Well you can relax, because you're not alone.  According to the Shyness Research Institute of America, 88% of professionals feel uncomfortable in business and social situations.  The study goes on to show that nothing is more frightening to people than chatting with a stranger. So, apart from heading to the buffet table or hiding behind the tallest plant, how can you gain confidence in these situations? Quite simply  - by being yourself and making people feel comfortable and at ease.

Here are 10 quick tips that will help you do that:

1.  Be the first person to say hello. When introducing yourself to someone, smile first and always shake hands.   Make an effort to remember people’s names and always remember to shake hands long enough to notice the colour of their eyes.  You will leave a lasting impression and make a genuine connection.

2.  Watch your body language:  If you stand with open body language, others will likely see you as approachable. If you look uncomfortable and ill at ease, you will make others feel the same way.  Act confident and comfortable, by standing tall, shoulders back and smile. People will mirror your body language and will want to engage you in conversation.

3.  Become an active listener. Great conversationalists are always great listeners.  Be other-focused and talk to others about themselves.  Make genuine eye contact and refrain from glancing around the room. Engage others in conversation by asking, who, what, where, when, why, and tell me questions. You will not only cultivate respect, people will find you fascinating!

4. Search for common ground.  Get others talking by leading with a common ground statement that pertains to the location or the event.  For example, “They seem to have a great turnout this year, how many years have you been coming to this event?   If it’s a social function, ask them  how they know the host.  General topics of interest always include:  family, food,vacation, sports.  By finding common ground you give people the opportunity to connect with you on a non-business level and it also gives you the chance to explore shared values. And remember, it's our shared values that allow us to forge new and strong relationships, quickly.

Can you imagine how great it would feel to be excited and enthusiastic about coming to work every day?  To know that you are truly valued, appreciated and respected?  To feel inspired, motivated, engaged and willing to go the extra mile?

Well, according to Gallup's new 142 country study on the State of the Global Workplace , "only 13% of employees worldwide are actually engaged at work. The bulk of employees worldwide -- 63% -- are "not engaged," meaning they lack motivation and are less likely to invest discretionary effort in organizational goals or outcomes.  And 24% are "actively disengaged," indicating they are  unhappy and unproductive at work and liable to spread negativity to coworkers.  In rough numbers, this translates into 900 million not engaged and 340 million actively disengaged workers around the globe." 

Fortunately in Canada and the U.S. the numbers are a little better:  "29% Engaged - 54% Not engaged - 18%Actively Disengaged."  What this says to me is that 71% of the working population is unproductive and unhappy.  A sad reality when you think about it since we spend 75% of our waking hours, working.

So what can this situation be attributed to? Well, I have a hunch that it all comes down to a lack of genuine leaders.  There are people in leadership positions and positions of power, who are not true leaders and therefore, do not know how to bring out the best in others.  As a result, morale and productivity is low and people are unmotivated.

Here are my Top 3 suggestions to help you become one, make a real difference and turn these numbers around.