This week I’m having a few conversations with leaders on experience vs. expertise. Always an engaging conversation!
What is the difference between expertise and experience?
Expertise is the level of knowledge and skill in a particular area acquired through practice and study.
Experience is the knowledge and skills acquired through involvement in a particular activity.
Generally, expertise is more focused and in-depth than experience.
For example, someone with expertise in a certain type of engineering may have studied the subject extensively and be able to solve complex problems, whereas someone with experience in the same area may have worked on projects and have a basic knowledge of the subject.
When I look at conferences and the skill(s) required in today’s job market, I am seeing a place for both expertise and experience.
I know that Talent Management has a pulse on this topic.
Hybrid and remote working seem to be working well for many companies.
From the leaders and organizations that I am working with globally, this is the overall consensus:
📌Companies are finding that they can still be productive and effective while allowing employees to work remotely.
📌 Employees are also enjoying the flexibility of being able to work from home, and many are reporting increased job satisfaction.
📌Additionally, many companies are finding that their overhead costs are reduced, and their environmental footprints are reduced as well.
📌All in all, it seems that hybrid and remote workplaces are a success.
What are your thoughts?
How are you working?
#imperfect
#heartcentered
#leadership
Hybrid or onsite work symbol. Businessman turns cubes and changes words ‘onsite work’ to ‘hybrid work’. Beautiful grey background. Business, hybrid or onsite working concept, copy space.
One of my favourite quotes from Maya Angelou is, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” -Maya Angelou
Why is it so sad that people die with stories untold in their heart?
It is incredibly sad when people die with stories untold in their heart because we never get to hear the stories they had to share. Those stories could be filled with so much wisdom, knowledge, and insight that could have helped us better understand their world.
We are left with a sense of loss knowing that the stories will always remain untold, and the person’s unique perspective may never be fully shared.
It is a reminder to cherish the time we have with our loved ones and to make sure to listen and appreciate their stories.
This week, I am working with a COO who wanted to inspire his team in a week.
Here is the list that we created to add further value to a fantastic culture!
Inspiring your team in a week can be challenging, but it is certainly possible.
Here are some tips that may help you to motivate and inspire your team:
Set clear expectations and goals. Make sure everyone knows what is expected of them and when it is expected to be done. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
Show appreciation. Make sure you show your team how much you appreciate their hard work. Acknowledging their accomplishments and thanking them for their efforts will go a long way in inspiring them to keep going.
Celebrate successes. Celebrate the team’s successes, no matter how small. This will help to create a positive work environment and motivate the team to continue working hard.
Get creative. Come up with fun and creative activities to engage the team. This will help inject some enthusiasm into the team and excite them about the tasks.
Offer incentives. Offering incentives like gift cards, extra vacation time, or other rewards can be a great way to motivate the team and keep them inspired.
These steps can help motivate and inspire your team, even in a week.
How does heart-centered leadership increase employee morale and contribute to the culture?
💜Heart-centered leadership is a way of leading that puts the emotional well-being of employees at the center.
💜It promotes a culture of empathy, compassion, and understanding, which helps leaders and their teams get along better.
💜This type of leadership also encourages a sense of community, where everyone feels heard and respected.
💜Creating a trusting environment makes employees feel more valued and interested in their work, which boosts morale and makes the workplace more productive.
💜Heart-centered leadership encourages creativity and innovation, encouraging employees to work together to solve problems and make decisions.
💜This type of leadership ultimately contributes to a positive culture where employees are encouraged to take the initiative and be creative.
If I look at the top 6 leadership challenges in the world right now, this is what I see and hear from my heart-centered leader clients:
📌Bridging the cultural gap: The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, yet cultural differences can still create divides between communities and countries. The need to bridge the gap between cultures, build understanding, and bring people together is a challenge for leaders.
📌Combating climate change: Leaders worldwide must work together to tackle the global climate change crisis. To reduce emissions, switch to renewable energy sources, and protect vulnerable communities, we need new ideas to work together to solve this problem.
📌Promoting gender equality: Women and girls worldwide still face numerous barriers to achieving gender equality. Leaders must eliminate these disparities and ensure access to education, employment, and opportunities.
📌Addressing global poverty: A widespread problem requires a collaborative approach. Leaders should work to make sure that everyone has access to food, health care, and education.
📌Fighting inequality: A big problem that needs to be fixed within countries and around the world. Leaders must work to create a society where everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources.
📌Promoting peace and security: Leaders must strive to create an environment of peace and security to promote stability and development. This requires collaboration and dialogue between countries to reduce tensions and prevent conflict.
From my vantage point and the global leaders I work with, these are the top 6. 💜
In the spring of 2016, I made a big decision. I decided to apply to become a hospice volunteer.
It was time to return to volunteering. I had been volunteering since I was 12 at various organizations and took a pause when I became a mother.
I yearned to return to volunteering. That’s when I decided to look inward at my life, the many losses I’d experienced in my own family, and each decade that brought loss.
I lost my father and his mother, my beautiful Irish Nana, in my twenties.
In my thirties, I lost my oldest brother.
In my forties, I lost my mother and a dear friend.
In my fifties, I lost a dear cousin.
Each decade has had a loss, and I wanted to see how I could take the grief I endured and pay it forward.
Hospice was the answer. Immediately after my interview, I was hired. Carla was my immediate supervisor; she was lovely and heart-centered from my first day.
I started in the community with a wonderful woman named Juanita. I was her volunteer, so when it was time for her to go to hospice, I went with her.
The last thing she said to me before she passed was that I needed to work inside the hospice as a direct service volunteer. Juanita was a teacher for her whole career. Her logic was that instead of working with one family, I could help ten, as the hospice has ten beds.
Juanita passed on September 27, 2016. Her three beautiful daughters asked me to give the eulogy at her funeral, and I was both humbled and honoured.
The following week, I went through training to become a direct service volunteer. Since 2016, I’ve been helping families, hospice nurses, and people who work in personal support worker roles as a direct service volunteer.
The conversations. The moments. The relatability was the reason I was there. I knew exactly how every person in a family felt. I could easily sit and listen and be present. It’s been an incredible seven years. My heart is filled with emotion and beautiful memories. I have met hundreds of families.
I recently gave my notice at the hospice. I took my supervisor, Carla, for a nice lunch. I wanted to thank her for being the best boss I ever had.
She always saw me. She fostered and mentored my leadership at the hospice. This lunch was an opportunity to look her into her eyes and tell her she was the best female boss I’d ever had. Mission accomplished. We both shed a few tears. Carla will always have a special place in my heart.
Before I started my company, I had four female bosses who did not treat me well. I experienced “Tall Poppy Syndrome” early in my career and at a young age in my twenties – it should have been a time for development, nurturing, and mentorship. I wanted to celebrate Carla and tell her how she impacted me with her heart-centered leadership.
The beauty of this story is that I am welcome back at the hospice anytime. I honour my connections with people in every aspect of my life.
This week I had the pleasure and honour of speaking to several young leaders.
I was asked to speak about imperfection and how it has a place in leadership language and behaviour, as well as how to be a heart-centered leader. Two of my favourite topics to speak about! ❤️
This group of leaders were all young adults excited to climb the ladder of success in their companies.
The question on repeat was:
“What’s the best advice you can give a young leader who wants to move up to a position of executive leadership?”
I had two strategies for this response: professional and personal.
Here is how the conversation went on the professional side:
Congratulations on your ambition to become an executive leader! ⬆️
⬆️ Focus on developing your leadership skills
⬆️ Take the initiative, work on your communication skills, and build relationships to show that you want to lead
⬆️Make sure to stay up-to-date with industry developments
⬆️Be proactive in learning new skills
⬆️Stay organized
⬆️Network with other leaders and mentors to learn best practices
⬆️Gain insight into different leadership approaches
⬆️With a combination of hard work and dedication, you will be well on your way to achieving your goal
On the personal side, our conversation was:
Becoming a successful leader without jeopardizing your health can be a challenging endeavour.
However, it is possible to achieve success without having to sacrifice your well-being.
Here are some tips to help you balance your responsibilities as a leader with your health:
❤️Prioritize your health and well-being
❤️Make sure you give yourself time to exercise, eat healthy meals, get enough sleep, and learn how to relax and deal with stress
❤️Make sure you take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge, whether that be a few minutes of deep breathing or a quick walk around the block
❤️As a leader, you don’t have to do everything yourself; delegate tasks to others on your team and trust them to get the job done
❤️Prioritize sleep: Getting enough rest is essential to a healthy lifestyle, so try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night
❤️Connect with others: Talk to your team and coworkers often to build relationships and make the workplace a good place to be
By following these tips, you can become a successful leader without compromising your health.
I shared my story about the five executives who passed away and why this was foundational in my own life and business.
Helping our future leaders learn to lead is a passion for me.
Leaders who suffer from imposter syndrome frequently have the perception that those around them have higher expectations of them than they do.
Realizing that you don’t know everything is often a relief and a source of inspiration.
Try strategizing vulnerability instead of acting like a know-it-all leader.
Imperfection wins in this scenario every time.
Your team will thank you for your honesty and humility.
C-Suite leaders often face the challenge of managing impostor syndrome.
Here are some tips that can help:
📌Own your accomplishments.
📌Make sure to recognize and celebrate your successes and give yourself credit for the hard work you have put in.
📌Reframe your mistakes: Try to view mistakes as learning experiences instead of failures. Taking risks can help you grow and develop as a leader.
📌Get help: Find a trusted mentor or coach who can give you advice and support regularly.
📌Find healthy ways to deal with stress, like getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, and exercising.
📌Take good care of yourself by scheduling time for yourself and engaging in self-care. This will help boost your confidence and reduce feelings of imposter syndrome.
Love is the foundation of any successful business. While we recognize it today on Valentine’s, it’s genuinely available to be present 365 days a year in leadership, employee morale and a robust and vital culture.
There is always time and space to pause in our workday to show how love is present. The way we communicate (verbal and non-verbal), the ability to listen to our peers with no intention to respond and showing up and being fully present while we work.
Today is a great day to thank your boss for their guidance and support in your professional growth and development.
Love is in the air today globally, and I hope that this energy continues for the rest of the year and not only today.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word “fun.”
Hearing the word “fun” takes me back to being a younger girl and to activities and people with whom I had fun.
As we get older, gain more life and work experience, and become more responsible, we may lose sight of what is “fun” because we feel like we have to do things every day, every week, and every month.
Our thinking habits can undoubtedly take us to negative places or, as one client says, “down the rabbit hole.”
A small shift.
A mindset reset.
What if fun could represent something novel or new?
It’s full integration.
Work shows up in life.
Life shows up at work.
Let’s reframe the word “fun” at the beginning of a new week.
Adopt new feelings and meanings.
We’re here for one time and one time only.
Why not make it fun regardless of what you are doing?
As I work on my book about leadership, I find it fun to think back on my own journey as a leader and the stories that lie deep within my heart.
Five years ago, I was feeling burned out and in great need of a break. I am sharing this in the context of how I was loving the work I was doing but felt like something had to “give” or was truly “missing.”
As an entrepreneur since 1990 and being “solo,” I have always made space in my life for what I like to call “heart-learning moments.”
My friend’s mother (Sharon) was palliative. They had been through six different personal support workers, and they were frustrated and in great need of hope that they could and would find the right caring, empathetic person.
I looked at my schedule and knew I could shift clients around and help them in the interim. I knew I could easily move into this role because I had worked as a volunteer at a local hospice and was an expert in medical rehabilitation.
I started with one day per week to relieve some anxiety for the family.
One day quickly became two, and then three.
It was the best 9 months of my life.
I brought all my leadership skills and showed up as a heart-centered leader.
Sharon had not been out of her home in one year. We developed a plan together and made it happen.
Sharon’s wish list continued.
I worked with Sharon to remove the barriers, set up our weekly adventures, and completed them one by one.
One of her daughters asked me why I would do this job. It paid minimum wage when I could be thriving and making good money in my coaching business. I listened carefully and responded, “It’s not about the money.”
The memories that are captured in my mind and heart will last my lifetime.
The friendship I have with Sharon’s daughters is priceless.
Sharon taught me many things.
I taught Sharon many things.
It was a serendipitous time when the stars aligned.
It felt right.
One of her last wishes was to take the train to Toronto, Ontario, see the CN Tower, and have a steak dinner! The photo below was of that beautiful day and our last outing. 💜
Sharon passed on July 3, 2019, and I was honoured to be asked to give the eulogy at her funeral. 💜
As we are halfway through Season 3, it warms my heart each week to profile another extraordinary leader from around the globe!
Today’s guest is making a difference; his story will motivate you, and you will want to connect with him!
Today, I am asking my subscribers for a favour.
Whom do you feel is a heart-centered leader?
I would love for you to comment and tag an executive or someone in the C-Suite level that you know is an exemplary leader with heart!
As I continue to write my book, I welcome your comments about a leader who taught you something, helped you on your leadership journey, or a memory you want to share to highlight that exceptional leader! Please comment and tag below ⬇️⬇️⬇️
You may bring joy to someone’s day with your kind gesture. 💜
I’ve learned that it is imperfectly okay to be self-aware.
Our self-awareness is the location that we keep and protect our vulnerability.
When we trust each other to share, it opens the bandwidth for trust and rapport to be developed.
In December, I gifted myself Michelle Obama’s new book: The Light We Carry.
It was a great book and I highly recommend it for a good read.
Her book took me down a path of memories, reminiscing and knowing that who I am, who I continue to be and who I am still becoming is the exact place on this journey.
The light that I carry has been dimmed over several decades.
I have chosen to maintain my light as quite frankly the world needs more light.
For the past twenty days, we have navigated the twenty qualities of heart-centered leadership.
It can be a poster hanging on your wall or you can choose to really have an impact in your own life and with those who you work with.
Leaders today ask me for help with emotional resilience. They have the corporate and leadership experience needed to fulfill their executive role, however, heart, love and leadership have not made it into business acumen language or the typical leadership playbook. It’s time.
I have been told since 1990 when I started my business this was improper, I was laughed at and here we are 33 years later and the world is embracing all that is leadership —full of heart.
It’s like buying a leadership book and leaving it on the shelf. Shelf help is not action.
Since March 2020, I knew it was time to fully lead with heart and I continue to do so and will for the rest of my work life.
Helped 77 leaders transition to a different role or sector as they wanted to lead with heart and worked within a culture where it was not represented or believed it should be.
Created heart-centered leadership poster and card deck. Our poster has been downloaded 144,000 times and is in 22 languages. I never dreamed that this poster would travel around the world and be in so many languages and growing! You can download and share here.
Meeting leaders in six countries who want to lead from the inside out. Master emotional resilience and model self-care.
Speaking on heart-centered leadership from a soft-skill perspective – competence is one of many skills required.
Highlighting the imperfection that we all need to embrace, share and lead in all aspects of our life.
The creation of many tools to assist leaders with becoming, leading and mentoring with heart-centered leadership.
Corporate wellness has become pro-active and not defined through claims.
My skill set has become integrated. Something I never thought would happen. College professor, leadership coach and yoga teacher.
I am coaching, consulting, leading retreats, facilitating events and team-building exercises, and writing my first book on heart-centered leadership.
Together, we can transition to heart-centered leadership. 💜
I continue to write my daily blog and monthly newsletter Mastering the Art of Heart and I invite you to come along on this wonderful journey.
“At any age, whether twenty or eighty, a person who ceases to educate themselves is considered old. Learning is the key to eternal youth.”
Deb Crowe
Quality #7 – Lifelong Learner
Lifelong Learner – This is the highest level of being open-minded (Quality #5) and approachable (Quality #9). When you can show and demonstrate that you are evolving as a leader and are humble enough to learn new ways of thinking or look at something through someone else’s eyes and enjoy the view from the observer’s chair (Quality #12 – Mindful of Words).
How do you demonstrate that you are a leader who continues to learn and grow?
Are you able to consistently demonstrate your ability to share what you are learning?
Is your organizational culture built from a place of continued learning to foster growth and progression?
I have been reading a lot of social media posts about morning routines.
There has been quite a debate going on — good and bad.
It’s easy to judge – but we don’t always know the lives of others.
I think of first responders (paramedics, firefighters, police), Nurses, Doctors and many other professional who work shift work.
Morning routines are and look different for everyone.
Because it’s posted or communicated as a great strategy or the ‘norm’, it doesn’t mean that ‘norm’ is a one size fits all.
The world is craving happiness.
If each person within this global society would lighten their observation and reserve judgement and/or opinions, I truly believe we would have a tsunami of peace and happiness. 💙
The last two years have shown all of us a great deal. This post could go in many directions and discuss several topics. My goal today is to post about your life’s journey.
When I turned 50, I chose to become a yoga teacher. I always enjoyed going to yoga. Yoga means science of the mind. I chose to become a yoga teacher to master equanimity, become an exemplary listener and hone the beauty of stillness and quiet. The extrinsic value of yoga is the poses, the mat, etc.
When we look at our life’s journey from birth to now, there are so many chapters. Our upbringing, other people’s influence, elementary school, high school, post secondary education, volunteer work, family, friends, etc.
Every part of that journey is within us in this moment. The last year and while I write my book on leadership, I’ve noticed that we stop or no longer make room for things, people, etc. in our live that once brought us joy.
Why can we not have a daily equation or weekly equation of many things?
When I grew up, the mentality was graduate school, get a good, secure job and stay there.
That mindset was not for me.
Becoming an entrepreneur at 24 was beyond scary. I had no family, no support, no parents. Emotional resilience (which I did not know at that age was adapted and kicked into high gear).
Yoga has always been my “go to”. Up until the week of the pandemic I had taught once a week on Wednesdays. It was mid-week, it always grounded me and reset me for the end of the week and I love guiding and helping all people.
One of my mindset decisions for 2023, was to return to yoga and then I was asked to teach a few classes at a local business. Intention is really everything! Yoga is for everyone. I am teaching a gentle flow class for beginners and people who want to try yoga for the first time and chair yoga for anyone with a physical limitation.
Link for Classes: https://www.heeman.ca/
For those of you who live near me, I hope to see you. Let’s start 2023 with a sense of calmness, allow ourself to become grounded and let go of urgency.
This is another tool in my toolkit that I utilize in my toolkit when working with executives.
For many years I did choose a word to have in the forefront of my mind for the entire year. In 2022, my last chosen word was intention. It aligns with what I do as professional and who I am as a woman.
This year, I have decided to have a clear declaration.
I’m levelling up from a word and getting to the foundation of ‘why’ we choose a word — mindset.
My 2023 is a mindset reset. A clearing of 2022 and a renewal and a revisit of my goals and dreams.
A mindset that comes from the feelings, emotions and thoughts of being strong, healthy and vital. These words encompass a feeling we all want to have in our daily lives.
Our mind likes so many words and a mindset is truly many words accompanied by our behaviour (the action) of achieving what is sitting in our heart.
We are 5 days into 2023 and I’ve already had conversations with many people saying, “I want a change”, “I need a change”.
Change starts within us.
We don’t have to have everything figured out.
If we start with a mindset reset that is a great place to start.
In meditation, we often choose an activity called flow writing. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write without stopping and see what your heart is yearning for. It’s a great activity and I’ve used it with many leaders from all levels.
In a time where you think you lack clarity, are feeling overwhelmed, are still reeling from the last two years, the answer you are searching for is inside you.
Heart-Centered Leadership comes from an aligned heart and mind. If the mind is racing and lacks clarity, motivation or desire, the lack of equanimity will interfere with alignment and then leaves an open space for ego to be present.
Words are words unless they have direction, intent and inner meaning.
I’ve learned that it is imperfectly okay to be self-aware.
Our self-awareness is the location that we keep and protect our vulnerability.
When we trust each other to share, it opens the bandwidth for trust and rapport to be developed.
In December, I gifted myself Michelle Obama’s new book: The Light We Carry. It was a great book and I highly recommend it for a good read.
Her book took me down a path of memories, reminiscing and knowing that who I am, who I continue to be and who I am still becoming is the exact place on this journey.
The light that I carry has been dimmed over several decades. I have chosen to maintain my light as quite frankly the world needs more light.
Carrying my light represents:
✔️Heart-Centered in all I am and all I do ✔️Being bold ✔️Continuing to shine ✔️Being confident ✔️Leaving space for equanimity ✔️Maintaining perspective ✔️Honouring my connection with people
Each ✔️needs each other to be successful.
Today’s message is to reach out to someone.
Who haven’t you seen or spoke to in a while?
Who has asked you for help?
Write that speech as your words matter.
Be who you are.
Heart-Centered leadership is proudly leading with your heart and head aligned.
Have fun with imperfection as it leads to great things!
Remember, there is always time to reach out to one another beyond a text message and an email. You can’t feel or see someone authentically when technology is your chosen modality.
The world is returning and it’s time we see each other, help each other and carrying our light to show who we are as individual people in this global society. 💙
On New Year’s Day I sat and spent the day creating my vision board for 2023.
I haven’t done a vision board for years.
I was patient.
I thought about what I really want.
It was a great exercise.
When was the last time you sat and thought about the life you want?
So many people call for help and want to change their life. If you spend time gaining clarity for what you truly want to have you won’t wonder if or want to change it. 💙
I enjoy turning off all the lights in our great room and sitting on the couch and looking at our Christmas tree.
It’s a simple gesture that brings great joy.
I also tend to look up and see the angel on the top of the tree. Beautifully dressed in a silk, white gown looking over our family and holding a candle light.
My wish for everyone is that this season is one filled with love, laughter, creation of new memories, time to pause, time to embrace the season and the ability to allow all urgency to calm.
Here’s to equanimity and enjoying the month of December. 💜
Have you ever wondered how and if you are living victoriously?
When I schedule some time to think and write, the first thing I do is allow myself approval to do so.
We will also encounter opposition in our lives. The easiest way to overcome opposition is to sit in the middle of it and allow the inner work to surface and be completed.
In order to live in the present moment, we must release anything to do with our past.
When we filter our thoughts and stay in the present, that is truly living victoriously. 💙
It’s an opportunity to reflect on the year as a whole.
It’s the on-ramp to the year ahead and the limitless possibilities that are awaiting our arrival.
It can also be the most difficult time for many people.
Christmas can bring a mixed bag of emotions.
Christmas is so commercialized now that I have worked hard to anchor myself and know my beliefs and quiet the loud noise of what is out there everyday in digital messaging and overwhelm.
Christmas is to celebrate. Whatever this means to you. It’s personal.
For me, it’s family, precious time and the creation of new heirloom memories. 💙
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word has now come to mean an expression of excited approval.
The movie is a heirloom childhood memory for me that I continue to enjoy and watch as an adult. I am also excited to introduce my granddaughter E to the movies of my youth.
Take time each day to embrace all that brought you joy as a child. We often get caught up in being an adult that we forget some of the fond memories that were building block to our growth and maturity.
Whenever I travel somewhere. I take a deep breath and imagine the history of where I am.
I look around, breathe the air, and embrace the history of who walked on this land and the energy that lingers in the air.
Going to the Grand Ole Opry reminds me of my youth. My Irish Nana loved country music and we would watch concerts on TV at the Grand Ole Opry. I know that she never got to visit here and see this amazing attraction with so many years of history.
Music is something that brings the world together.
It soothes our soul.
As I visit and embrace all the goodness, this one is for you Nana! 💙
