Are you familiar with the term “kaizen”? It comes up in my work with clients on an almost daily basis. It’s a Japanese word (in which it is written “改善”), with a literal translation of “good change,” or “change for better,” but it is most commonly used to mean continuous improvement, often – though notContinue reading “What is Kaizen? What are the 5S Pillars?”
Category Archives: Growth Mindset
Choosing When to be a Rental Car Agent, not a Driver
My end-of-Summer season is often filled with programs and workshops for teachers – team-building, experiential learning, goal-setting. It’s one of my favorite kinds of groups to work with. The mix of long-term teachers with new (or new-to-the-school) teachers brings an opportunity to discover together what kind of culture they want to create. Using experiential activitiesContinue reading “Choosing When to be a Rental Car Agent, not a Driver”
Poutine & the Cognitive Lift of Speaking a Second Language
How many languages do you recognize when you hear them spoken? How many do you understand? How many do you speak? Over the last few weeks I’ve had a particularly high volume of interactions with people (sometimes including myself) speaking a second language. Throughout my English-speaking work and home life, I’ve noticed anew just howContinue reading “Poutine & the Cognitive Lift of Speaking a Second Language”
Is it Time to Sub in Your Rising Stars?
As we reach the final few matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, I’ve been reminded of the key role that rising stars can play on a team, both in football and in the workplace. I’ve found myself drawn back to this piece published first in 2023 during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. WhetherContinue reading “Is it Time to Sub in Your Rising Stars?”
Extracting Value When Things Go Wrong
Working with groups is never dull. Think of a time or twelve when a group you’re working with has surprised you in some way – for better or worse. Perhaps a person you wouldn’t have expected took charge, or the group came up with surprising ideas, or people had a strong reaction to something thatContinue reading “Extracting Value When Things Go Wrong”
How Has Mentoring Others Changed You?
We’ve all had mentors. And whether or not you’ve ever held an official title of “mentor,” all of us have at one point or another served as a mentor for others. If you’re a parent, mentoring is intrinsically woven into your daily life – even as your child becomes an adult in their own right.Continue reading “How Has Mentoring Others Changed You?”
“Pre-flection” & “That’s a RAP”
How many trainings have you taken in your professional life? How many have you run? As you progress through your career you will hopefully find that you still have a lot to learn, and that lifelong learning in itself helps you to grow in your chosen profession. You may also find that you are trainingContinue reading ““Pre-flection” & “That’s a RAP””
Remember to Remember: What is the Forgetting Curve?
How often have you been to a workshop or presentation and soaked in all sorts of great information and tips, leaving motivated and empowered to make a change… only to realize a few days later that you could only remember one or two nuggets of information? Or perhaps nothing at all? Not even the thingContinue reading “Remember to Remember: What is the Forgetting Curve?”
Managing Star Performers for Success and Mental Health
Photo credit: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Are you the kind of person who watches the Olympics religiously, even if you would never think of watching skiing, curling, or speed skating at any other point in the intervening years? Even if you aren’t, you may have seen some highlights from the recent Milano Cortina 2026 WinterContinue reading “Managing Star Performers for Success and Mental Health”
Fostering Workplace Appreciation: Tips for Team Growth
When was the last time a group of people let you know the difference you’ve made in their lives? Or showered you in praise while pointing out the particular contributions you’ve made to them? Most of us only experience that when leaving a job after a long time, and/or at our funeral when there’s noContinue reading “Fostering Workplace Appreciation: Tips for Team Growth”
Building Bridges Leadership 