Musings about life, simple joys, all things beautiful and a few of my favourite things đź’—
Anyone who has been a caregiver to a loved one knows it can be a 24/7 role. Trying to be a caregiver while working full time without supports is exceptionally challenging. Over three million people in Ontario identify as a Caregiver. This number is likely to increase as our populations ages. Employers need to recognize what the caregiver demands are and have conversations with their employees about it. Let’s start having healthy conversations about education and support for our caregivers.
Food for thought:
“Think about how you influence the culture you work and are embedded in.” Dr. Jeffrey Braithwaite.
Are you positively impacting your culture or creating a toxic one?
#HQT2018
I loved this 2016 Oprah Super Soul Sunday chat with LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner. In the epIsode, Jeff speaks about compassionate and mindful leadership and shares LinkedIn’s Six Core Values:
• Members First
• Relationships Matter
• Be Open, Honest and Constructive
• Demand Excellence
• Act Like Owners
• Take Intelligent Risks
He also goes on to speak about the five keys of happiness learned from his mentor Ray Chambers.
• Be in the moment
• It is better to be loving than to be right
• Be a spectator to your own thoughts and emotions
• Be grateful for at least one thing every day
• Be of service to others
If you are a leader or aspiring to be one, definitely take the time to watch this Super Soul Sunday episode on compassionate leadership.
https://www.facebook.com/SuperSoulSunday/videos/1871822132896084/
Many of us have all had a boss or two that has truly stood out from the rest. What is their name and was it their emotional intelligence, intellectual intelligence or skills that made them so amazing.
Hello my name is Michelle and I identify as she.
What do you identify as?
I was incredibly lucky to spend the afternoon learning about principles for inclusion with Kim Katrin Milan. I learned much about cultural, race, gender, sexual, LGBTQ and transgender inclusion. I am positive we only scratched the surface in this session. It was enlightening, insightful and definitely one of the best trainings I have had the opportunity to attend in the last few years.
If your organization is not offering you diversity and inclusion training beyond what is written in a policies and procedures manual, please question why and ask for this kind of workshop. Toronto is the most diverse city in the world and we are going to run into many different cultural norms. Ask questions and create an opening for conversation. Part of the way we treat people how they want to be treated is to simply ask.
“A perfume is more than an extract it is a presence in abstraction. A perfume, for me, is a mystique.” – Giorgio Armani
I love perfume. Many scents I love are too heavy for summer as well as the office. I was gifted Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia a few years back and it quickly became a favourite. It has a lovely light scent that isn’t too floral and is perfect to wear to work everyday regardless of season. Please be mindful as many individuals have scent allergies and sensitivities. Definitely something to keep in mind if wish to wear perfume to work or a job interview.
Consider this: One in two Canadian women have experienced sexual harassment at work, according to a 2018 Angus Reid survey, and 89% say they use strategies to avoid unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. Yet, in a survey late last year of 153 Canadian executives—95% of whom were male—the Gandalf Group reported that 94% said sexual harassment was not a problem at their companies.
Please take time to read these stories shared by eight brave women. One of my former colleagues is one of the eight women to share her story. Share it. Speak up if you see it happening to a colleague who may not have the confidence to speak up for themselves. Intervene. Lead by example and end sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Legacy
“Something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier time.” – Cambridge Dictionary
When we speak about a legacy, it is often in the context of when someone has passed away. One may hear “George was an amazing husband, father and family man.” or “Andrea was so selfless to the needs of others and gave so much back to her community.” Not only do we leave a legacy when we leave this earth but also in the workplaces we inhabit during our lifetime. Whether one has spent their entire career in one organization or moved around from place to place, everyone of us has a work legacy we leave behind.
Will people miss you or will they be happy you are on your way out the door? Will you be known as a brilliant business person, a deal maker, a teacher and facilitator, a backstabber, a hard-worker, bully, one of the mean girls or guys, a manipulator or micro-manager, coach, confidant, collaborator, someone who includes other, who is inclusive, makes people feel at home, a team player, a peacemaker or relationship builder.
No matter what ones role in an organization is, we all leave it with a legacy – positive, negative or indifferent. If you left today, what would your legacy be? Is this something you would be proud of? If not, what are you doing to change it?
Remember YOU and your actions have the power to decide what legacy you will leave others with. What do you think your legacy will be? What do you hope it will be?
I am a late adapter to a lot of modern technology and personally relatively new to Skype and Skype for Business over the last few years.
Thought I would share a few tips that I have learned along the way to help one prepare for a Skype business call and/or interview.
• Always make sure your technology is working in advance especially if you conducting your Skype meeting at home.
• Select a background that is not distracting. While my background isn’t ideal, it is the spot I work in while home. Always remember to check what and who may be behind you when deciding on a location.
• Turn off your TV and/or radio and find a quiet space that you can be alone without the distraction of others, your children and/or furry friends.
• Charge your technology fully and have power cords easily accessible in case your battery power begins to drain.
• If you are on a Skype conference call and/or meeting, make sure to be on mute unless you are speaking.
• Be prepared to be seen on Skype. I prefer Face to Face Skype interaction on one to one and smaller Skype meetings.
• Always dress head to toe as you never know if an interviewer might ask you to stand up. I have also heard many stories where someone accidentally stands up and are not fully dressed on the bottom. Always err on the side of caution.
• Good idea to test the lighting of your space and a trial run for Skype too.
• I am pretty pale without makeup so I always need to wear it and a pop of colour on a Skype meeting so I don’t look completely washed out. A colourful scarf provides the perfect pop of colour for me and is especially helpful if I am dressed in a cardigan, short-sleeved top and leggings as I am likely will be when working at home.
• My most important tip is to always be prepared for everything and anything.
Happy skyping!
“Be nice to people on your way up because you will meet them on your way down.” ~ Wilson Mizner
FinnSpirit 