As I write this post there is a forest fire blazing less than five kilometers from my house. First, I am safe and carefully monitoring fire updates. As someone who has worked in crisis communications for a number of years, this time I’m on the outside, relying on information from others to know what’s going on, versus being the one…

Instead of a tradition blog post, I’ve created a video blog on why ALL business professionals can benefit from improving their communications skills. Take a look at the link below and think about how learning some public relations techniques will benefit you as a professional and a person. We All Benefit From Improved Communications Skills

I was having lunch with a friend the other day and she was complaining about the endless stream of people wanting her to write press releases, create brochures or post something on the website. In addition to the volume of requests, she was frustrated by the fact most people had no idea the focus of the story or information they…

Last week I had a huge aha moment. I realized (with the help of my coach) that I am constantly undermining myself by giving people an out when it comes to listening to my opinion or following my advice. I wasn’t standing behind my words. I was lacking personal emotional intelligence. What do I mean by that? I became aware…

Sometimes it’s the simplest tools that make the biggest difference. Forget confusing gantt charts (which give me an instant headache) or 10 page plans. While they have their place and are loved by analytical/detail oriented minds, I prefer the less is more approach – a facts sheet. When I was first introduced to a facts sheet, I remember thinking “wow…

About half of all Canadians and 25 per cent of Americans volunteer in some way each year. This includes coaching kids’ sports, visiting seniors, sitting on boards and a variety of other volunteering activities. We can all list a number of benefits organizations get from the work of volunteers. But how often do we think about the benefits to the…