Kendra’s Leadership Lesson – Where does your help come from?

Post Date: February 20th, 2012

Kendra's Leadership Lesson

Off to the weekend. Looking forward to having my kids teach me.

This is a story of what I learned from Kendra, my almost 3 year old girl. Last night we walked to the park. Kendra is a cautious little girl, but still loves to do things on her own. I am her Dad, I love to help her all the time. Read the rest of this entry »

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What does Community Look like to You?

Post Date: January 27th, 2012

Defining Community in a New Space

As we were moving to a new location several weeks ago, one of our community members, Sandi Di Domenico, initiated a great creative challenge. She asked each member of the Tekara team to take a small painting palette and use it however they like to create an image that illustrates what does "Community" look like for that individual.  Read the rest of this entry »

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What Moneyball can Teach us About Key Performance Indicators

Post Date: January 26th, 2012

Key Performance Indicators: Question of the Month

We are always excited when we are asked great business and leadership questions on our facebook page or through the sidebar of our website ~ Our goal is to provide valuable content to our audience, and this has proved to be a great way of doing that!

Today, our leader in Talent Management, Neil Chin Aleong, and our Strategic Planning specialist, Tom Dent,  will be answering the following question we received:

“On what basis should Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) be set and administered to ensure ownership and accountability at all levels?"

Read the rest of this entry »

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How much Real Estate does Happiness have in Your Leadership Philosophy?

Post Date: January 23rd, 2012

Does Happiness live in your Leadership Philosophy?

Happiness in Leadership

I am sad to say that I don’t have a good picture for my blog this month. Just an empty frame. And that in itself, says a lot.  Google “Pictures of Happiness” and you will find loads of adorable children, cute animals, blond couples on deserted white sandy beaches, and coca-cola classic bottles; but good luck with finding pictures of Happy Leaders.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Leadership Development | 3 Comments »

Managing Change – Lessons From 80 ft of Rope!

Post Date: January 23rd, 2012

Managing Change

I feel like there has been a tsunami of change in the last few months and the second wave is coming. The good news is that I study leadership and managing change in organizations, so I should be prepared. Then reality sets in and having the knowledge does not reduce the physiological reality of change. As a change agent in organizations, I have a tool kit of professional techniques to create clarity, communicate a desired future, and involve people in the process. Yet change is still difficult. We mitigate the reality of change but we still have to generate the energy to achieve it.

That has a consequence. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Thinking Gear of Strategy Management

Post Date: January 9th, 2012

An Overview: The Gears of Strategy Management

by: Tom Dent

Tekara's Gears of Strategy Management

In my first post I talked about strategy management and how it is continual, dynamic and iterative with four key “gears” – Thinking, Planning, Execution, Tracking – that interactive with each other.  In this and the next posts I will talk about each of the gears beginning the Thinking gear. Read the rest of this entry »

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Stress Management and the Power of Breathing!

Post Date: December 21st, 2011

Are you Feeling the Stress?

The holiday season is here!  Stress Management and the Power of Breathing

And we’ve all felt it.  That inescapable feeling that we have too much work on our plate, and wonder how in the world we are going to get it all done without going insane.

In comes our old friend Mr. Stress. 

What we do in the next six seconds is critical to our engagement levels.

What is Stress?

Uncontrollable demands at work are potential stressors, but not the stress response itself. Stress is the effect we allow these demands to have on us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Read the rest of this entry »

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Paradoxical Leadership: Key Learnings from Tekara’s Founder

Post Date: December 14th, 2011

Paradoxical Leadership (1)

~By Peter Lee

In working with several clients over the last few months as well as noticing my own leadership behaviour working with the Tekara community as we go through change, I have come to understand more clearly the power of “paradoxical leadership”.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Work-Life Balance: Choreographing a Well Lived Life

Post Date: December 5th, 2011

A Work-Life Balance Perspective 

by David McCutcheon 

During a recent retreat we were discussing work-life balance when one of my clients surprised her colleagues with the following question:
 

“Let’s assume we were all unconditionally committed to working at our very best – and in the most balanced way possible. 

Would we be doing anything differently? 

If so, what?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Change Management, Leadership Development | 2 Comments »

Being an Effective Leader – Fair Does Not Need to be Equal

Post Date: November 28th, 2011

Many parents I know try to treat their children the same.

Christmas presents should cost the same and if one child has a hockey lesson the other should get equal opportunity in another pursuit. This seems only fair. Is this common sense cultural norm good for our kids, our work teams and our organizations? Read the rest of this entry »

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