A look at the implications of the post restriction workplace by Osborne Managing Partner Mark Olson and Senior HR Advisor Colleen Winston. Mark Olson First off let me get my own bias out of the way. I have run a virtual interim management and consulting Practice for 17 years. We have never owned, or leased [...]

In February 1994 I was, most likely, the highest man on earth. I was at the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina. At 22,837 ft tall, it is the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere and the tallest mountain outside of Asia. Since it is winter in Asia in February, it was very unlikely that anyone [...]

With seven Class 1 railroads and numerous short lines efficiently operating across North America today, why is rail service not always considered when developing transportation options? The answer is simple; unless one has had experience in developing a rail solution either with a railroad, freight forwarder or collaborating with a railroad consultant, the exercise may [...]

The World Economic Forum (WEF) - Global Risks Perception Survey 2020, the survey participants identified these key risks which are likely to have a direct impact on populations and thus affect businesses and livelihood. As you may note, infectious diseases are ranked as the #1 risk in terms of impact and #4 in terms of [...]

Today, leaders at all levels of an organization are experiencing unprecedented change. They are inundated with disruption to the markets, business model, work from home scenarios, employee productivity concerns, employee discontent, video meetings galore, and far too many emails. As an executive coach, I work with senior leaders while they navigate the fade in their [...]

Is it possible that we are in a great situation to create a brand-new chapter in our personal life and in the life of our company, and put an end to the old and unfulfilling chapter 1? I feel confident that we have an opportunity to change some big areas of our life as leaders [...]

Can you teach it? Is it genetic? We know you cannot buy it. We all highly value it and yet it seems to be in such short supply. Integrity. We may call it ethics, honesty, virtues or moral principles, but in the end, we inherently all have a sense of what it is. It is [...]

For those of us that own and operate a business, these are interesting times. For some quarantine has meant 14 days, for others it has metaphorically been several months. If you are a type A Driver like me, it’s been excruciatingly difficult to change how to think and how to operate. In case you’re wondering, [...]

Ironically, I’ve had Jeffrey Gitomer’s book “Get Sh*t Done” sitting on my coffee table, glaring at me with disappointment and hypocrisy, for over a year. I intended to write this article last January, but that didn’t happen. Not sure why. If I recall, nothing monumental was going on, life was pretty normal; maybe I was [...]

Our Principals and Advisors join our families, friends, clients and fellow citizens in our hope for an imminent emergence from this tragic pandemic and an eventual healing of the scars it will leave behind. It is critically important business carries on and addresses the challenges and opportunities that 2020 has left behind. In spite of [...]

Despite the leadership development industry being almost a $400 billion industry (each year by the way), few want to say it out loud: Leadership development isn’t working. There. I’ve said it. Leadership development for the most part is ineffective. The majority of leadership development programs attended by leaders are not reflective of those leaders’ actual [...]

So where were you on the evening of November 2? And the hours and days that followed? If you are like many Canadians, you were transfixed by the electoral races for the US White House, Senate and Congress. (At the time of this writing, the results are not yet final.) What can we learn from [...]

Have you ever been so busy managing the changes in your business that you have not had time to think about change management? I have a feeling almost every one of you put up your hand and declared how perfectly that describes the past eight months of your business. There was an expression I learned [...]

At 45 I entered my first bodybuilding competition. It was a dream I entertained since I was 27 and it sat untouched at the top of my bucket list. With each passing year the dream thrived, but also the fear of never having it realized – it being that one big regret in my later [...]

I’ve just completed the Professional Business Writing certificate at the University of Calgary. Ten online courses, 200 hours of reading, writing, critiquing, and submitting hundreds of writing assignments over the past twelve months. You may ask: why would an accomplished communication/management consultant feel compelled to spend time and expense to improve her writing skills? Writing [...]

The reopening of workplaces has begun after three or four months of closures. In a recent article published by the American Psychological Association workplace psychologists and other leaders discuss the challenges we will face in opening up workplaces following weeks of lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As workplaces become operational, human beings will be [...]

Bruce Graham is a senior adviser with Osborne Interim Management and the founding president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating and has left Canadians feeling desperate. Albertans, especially, have been shaken by the continued plunge of the price of oil. But now, as we look at how we can [...]

We recognize that business interruption due to COVID-19 pandemic is a game changer. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and not-for-profit organizations have been hurt the worst. Owners, stakeholders, and senior managers have experienced many other economic downturns, natural disasters and geopolitical events that altered the way business had to be done. However, the consequences of [...]

There is an old saying – "never let a good crisis go to waste". As our attention turns to reopening the economy as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, nothing could be closer to the truth. As we reopen of our economy, let’s be inspired by the many opportunities which are now presenting themselves while [...]

As the world enters April 2020, there are many unsettling events and uncertain outcomes from the Covid-19 Virus pandemic. So much of what would be described as "normal" in a post-9/11 society has once again been altered, disrupted, or even decimated! There are, actually, too many descriptive verbs being over-used by the media, as well [...]

There comes a time in the evolution of many businesses when the visual representation of the company just isn’t working. Certainly the longer a company is around, the greater the possibility exists that a refresh every once in a while can help keep customers engaged, and provide the perception of a forward-thinking company that hasn’t [...]

Principal Judy Williams recently shared her knowledge and experience about stakeholder engagement with project management students at the University of Calgary. The following article summarizes her remarks and includes highlights from her presentation. We face a new decade characterized by complex economic, political, environmental, and social issues. The landscape is rife with potential landmines. How […]

Great leaders have repeated this adage over the years. Why does one organization succeed while the other fails? They both look like they are created equally, have similar capitalization or resources, both have good ideas, and opportunity seems available to both. Why are the best practices used by one failing the other? It narrows down […]

Okay, over the holidays I admit I did some Netflix binging. What caught my attention was “The Money Heist”, a series released in 2017 that ran for three years. It’s made in Spain, but the English dubbing is so good I could barely notice the difference. The plot is immaterial but it’s about a select […]

Our Wishes for 2020 With the start of a new year and a new decade, the Osborne team has sharpened its vision and took a few moments to share their wishes for 2020. On behalf of Osborne Interim Management, we would like to wish you much health and prosperity! Mark Olson Despite an understandable air [...]

Lessons in Business That Have Stood the Test of Time The world these days seems to be full of turmoil, change and uncertainty. We wanted to pause and reflect and ponder; while disruption can be a positive in the right circumstance, and for some a great opportunity, it’s important to remember business lessons learned that [...]

I have a confession to make – I have an addiction. My name is Dave and I’m a political junkie. True story, I’ve been actively engaged in politics for most of my life. My earliest door knocking experience was as a youngster when my dad ran for city council. Since then I’ve knocked on tens […]

Here is a quote that puts the spotlight on the problem: “The sad statistic in Canada is that 80% of employable, trained people with autism who want to have a job don’t have a job”. Our story begins in 2013 when Garth Johnson of Meticulon Calgary selected Osborne Interim Management to do a business plan […]

I, like many of my contemporaries, throw out the term “Digital Age” liberally and with some sense that I know what it’s all about. Recently, someone asked me: What is the Digital Age anyway? Well, I immediately went into what I assumed was a convincing explanation. I referred to the usual emergence of computer technology […]

I appreciate the fact there are many early adopters and business leaders well versed in the emerging trends, but what is interesting is the many very current articles looking at several business trends for 2020. Worth discussing is the magnitude of these trends, and in particular, the impact on today’s newbies and relatively early stage […]

When someone starts to talk about policy, do your eyes roll back into your head with a feeling of dread, or do your ears perk up with thoughts of engaging in an in-depth, constructive discussion? Researching, writing and debating policy may not be at the top of everyone’s list of favourite things to engage in, […]

Cop or coach; manager or mentor; facilitator or fan, gatekeeper or go-getter, buffer or builder? Or all of the above? Today’s Board Chair is working harder under a higher level of scrutiny than ever before, with the increased pressure of ensuring organizational sustainability and maintaining program relevance. Yes the Chair only has one vote, two […]

In April, my colleague Bob Hawksworth described what leadership practices we needed in our elected officials. Bob penned this article just prior to the April 16th provincial elections. He provided excellent background through clear definitions and what “power” is. Years ago I was fortunate to attend the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference on […]

It’s a term that’s bandied about these days like promises at election time, with the requisite number of opinions on the topic. But what is branding really? It’s believed the term originated with the age-old practice of burning one’s “stamp” onto the business end of one’s cattle. That smoldering mass of burnt hide provided cattlemen […]

There’s nothing like an election to focus thoughts and conversations on the respective attributes (or lack thereof) in those vying for our votes. Candidates step forward to represent and lead us. But what is it we really need from them if we choose them to be our leaders? Books have been written about politics, power […]

Partnerships can be a rewarding proposition, especially when all the parties come into the relationship from a place of caring, giving and commitment. Last year Osborne Interim Management decided to give back by providing pro-bono support to a not-for-profit organization as part of our “Hands-Up for Charity” initiative. The idea of using a team approach […]

By definition, leaders set direction and help themselves and others move forward. During periods of rapid change and transformation it becomes increasingly difficult to know what the “right direction” is. Such is the challenge in agriculture today. The market is full of specialists but is replete with a lack of general management acumen and strategic […]

Over the holidays, between the decorating, wrapping, eating, visiting, celebrating and more eating, I managed to carve out some quiet time and read Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. Proclaimed the “counter-intuitive approach to living the good life”, the book has received phenomenal reception, including spending 105 weeks on the New […]

Reflections on 2018 and Our Wishes for 2019 As 2018 draws to an end our team of Principals and Senior Advisors have spent a few moments reflecting on the past year and contemplating their wishes for the year ahead. On behalf of Osborne Interim Management, we wish you a safe holiday season and health and [...]

Like many Calgarians, I was disappointed by the delays and the political drama that has led to the current funding formula for hosting the Games. The last-minute compromise, combined with the general skepticism of recession-weary Calgarians, has created a sense of frustration with the whole process. However, now that City Council has voted NOT to […]

Coal is no longer the “go to” fuel for new electricity generation. The pollution and carbon dioxide emissions associated with burning coal are just too high. As coal plants in Alberta reach the end of their economic life, they are being replaced by plants fuelled with natural gas. But hold on. Other factors are also […]

They fall in love with their idea. It’s said “love is blind” and that often applies to the entrepreneur. Don’t confuse love with passion, a pre-requisite for success. You need to continually be pressure testing your concept and walk away when needed. That’s not failure.   They under-capitalize. Remember when you bought your first house? […]

A good marketing plan allows you to reach your targeted customers and boost your bottom line. By setting clear, realistic and measurable marketing objectives, you can increase the likelihood of reaching your targeted customers by helping them understand why your product or service is different to that of your competitors.

Having helped many organizations with their strategic planning, I am fascinated how many plans dismally fail while others successfully achieve spectacular results. What is the secret for ensuring plans spring to life and achieve timely, meaningful outcomes?

As someone who works in the field, I am often asked “What exactly is business development?”. According to Scott Pollock, a contributor to Forbes Business Magazine, “Business development is the creation of long-term organizational value from customers, markets and relationships”.

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Change. We all have to deal with it. Little changes. Big change. Planned and unplanned. Internal and external. Personal and corporate.

What is the importance of how customers view us, and more importantly, what they say about us?  By no means is this a revolutionary insight into how successful businesses manage their client relationships, but what might be a bit more telling is how we nurture this aspect in managing our businesses and proactively ensuring we […]

Western Canada has gone through tough times recently and although the business environment is turning around, businesses are still struggling to break even. The planning cycles that businesses went through over the last couple years ended with management setting very reasonable targets. However, in many cases they still have not managed to fulfill those targets. […]

Two things happened in 2017 to change the way I think about the practise of interim management. The first was a routine approach to a client for permission to use our recent assignment as a case study for our website. Two of our interim managers had assisted with an awkward, but necessary transition within the […]

Some organizations pursue energy efficiency improvements while others remain disengaged and noncommittal. Why? Energy costs are the largest expense behind labour costs in many organizations. Staffing is nearly always considered a strategic issue, but not energy. Why not? Despite its prominence, energy does not typically get managed like other major cost centres. What are the […]

Now that the budgeting and planning season is upon us I thought it would be a good time to visit one of the major challenges associated with this exercise. In good times organizations had the luxury of relying on full-fledged Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) teams. These teams were structured to perform this annual, or […]

What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that happens each year after the American Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a time when Canadians, charities and businesses come together to celebrate giving and participate in activities that support charities and non-profits. There is no “right” way to participate as long as it supports generosity […]

I recently attended the annual Canadian Leaders Retreat of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in our nation’s capital. During the weekend’s agenda, the topic of the “leadership gap” was once again presented, as it is an ongoing concern. Since 2013, the Underdeveloped Report has shaken-up the non-profit sector to recognize the facts that everyone […]

A couple of years ago I wrote an article about the changing retail landscape in Canada and how a couple of retail icons went out of business – Eaton’s and Zellers. Now Target has left the Canadian market place with a $6 billion loss and every day I read about another American or global company […]

I came across a new term recently, used in this article to describe the employment trend in Europe. “Permatemps” describes those permanently in temporary or contract work.

I came across a new term recently, used in this article to describe the employment trend in Europe. “Permatemps” describes those permanently in temporary or contract work.

Whether you work in business, government or the not-for-profit/social enterprise sector, you are dealing with the issues arising from our fast-changing, interconnected world. And, you no doubt hear about, or have a lot to say about the need for more effective leadership. If you are a manager you may feel you are expected to be politically savvy, […]

Coaching for Performance - Increasing Leadership When the Stakes are High Coaching, we have heard that word many times. There are many descriptions, beliefs, and biases about what coaching is. We hear the word “coaching” to be used to support excellence in sport, and in the workplace we hear leaders “coach” employees by providing constructive [...]

Properly hosting an Olympics Games can be a real boom for the host country, province and cities. That said, the “how” and the “why” are critically important. Many people are surprised to learn the real benefit is not in the 16 days. The actual competitions shine the world’s spotlight on the host community, but the real […]

In my January newsletter article “2016 Outlook – Hospitality and Tourism”, I forecasted this year to be another economically challenging one for the tourism sector, even with a few favorable conditions existing in the market. A weak Canadian dollar will incent Canadians to travel their own country more and will motivate the American traveler – […]

The last 18 months have been hard for Albertans, and while the price of oil is on a sluggish rise, we have seen reductions and layoffs in all industries, not just the energy sector, with a slow return to hiring. These cuts will have an impact in a way that has not yet been perceived, […]

Someone recently asked me about the state of agriculture. It’s in good shape relative to others in Alberta, although most consumers pay little attention, and take it for granted. Before expanding, I want to point out that farmers, one of the first links in the agri-business value chain, in Alberta and across Western Canada are […]

Good results from market research depend on good preparation and good design. As a manager contemplating hiring or conducting market research there are design steps that will help you get the most for your money. Good design applies to any instrument you are going to administer. It doesn’t matter if it is on paper, online, […]

Our UK partners, Alium, recently surveyed 100 senior business figures on a range of topics, including how and why they have worked with Interims. Although the practice of using Interims is more established in the UK and throughout Europe, the views expressed are the same we have been hearing at Osborne in recent years as this concept has become more commonplace […]

The theory was first published in 2005 a press released under the name of Cliff Arnall, who at the time was a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning – a Further Education centre associated with Cardiff University. Later, however, the Guardian printed a statement from the university distancing itself from the psychology professor: “Cardiff University asked us to point out that Cliff Arnall… was a former part-time tutor at the university but left in February.”

Blue Monday, which falls on 18 January in 2016, is allegedly the most depressing day of the year. Understandably, tightened purse strings following the festive splurge, time passed since Christmas and failed new year resolutions is not a combination for happiness – but why is the third Monday in January apparently the worst day of the year?

It’s an interesting time to be contemplating business ventures in Canada that include Aboriginal peoples. Technology advances have brought the internet to all but the most remote of Aboriginal communities, resulting in a knowledge of the outside world that didn’t exist even a couple of decades ago. That’s been a game changer; access to information […]

The English language has this remarkable capacity to generate “buzzwords”, ancient parts of our vocabulary that suddenly mean something they never did before. Business press and business internet sites are full of references to “agility” these days. While the term “agile” was always used to describe someone who was physically nimble and/or mentally acute, “agility” […]

I came across a new term recently, used in this article to describe the employment trend in Europe. “Permatemps” describes those permanently in temporary or contract work.

During my career I spend a lot of time working on the subject of performance management. Most companies define performance management as a process to exit people out of the organization. I view performance management as the starting point to coach people to improve their performance and reach greatness. Before and/or after the performance evaluation […]

This summer has been full of significant sets of negotiation in the political arena at home and abroad. These events illustrate some of the key dynamics of negotiation such as power, time, information and compromise. These hold true whether negotiations occur between countries/provinces, organizations or individuals. Let’s take a look at how our examples from […]

Ah, Leadership. Are you cringing? The term gets tossed around like candy at Mardi Gras sometimes. Are we growing tired of hearing about leadership? Are we at risk of becoming numb to its good intent? As an Executive Coach, I remain a huge advocate for helping people become more leaderful. I also know the process […]

“Anyone can be an Executive Director, especially when it’s a short-term fill-in position – how hard can it be, right?” I have had that conversation more often than is good for my blood pressure. As soon as a Board member of a not-for-profit says “how hard can it be, right?” I know they are headed […]

In today’s economy the 90-Day Challenge is a great exercise for any business. The 90-Day Challenge dedicates resources to identify and deliver manageable projects, in a transparent framework, within a relatively tight timeframe to produce measurable improvement to the bottom line. By providing this environment, an organization is able to focus its limited resources on […]

Organizations are being challenged to find and keep the right talent to meet their business objectives. Fundamentally, organizations want happy and engaged employees as it makes our jobs as leaders a whole lot easier. Many leaders say they manage good teams but often have one or two employees that create challenges, and take up a […]

I came across a new term recently, used in this article to describe the employment trend in Europe. “Permatemps” describes those permanently in temporary or contract work.

Cyber security risks are present in almost all organizations, irrespective of size, as we all become increasing dependent on information technology to manage operations, HR, financial and customer information. These operational risks should be considered by all organizations as part of their risk management program. While Small to Midsized Enterprises (SME) don’t have the luxury […]

John McLaughlin, a planner, has led or contributed to countless strategic plans over a 40-year career. In this article, John shares how to address cynical attitudes towards planning and a few specific challenges with planning methodology. “There’s no need for strategic planning since we’re already successful.” Planning is required to maintain success; organizations that don’t […]

In a quest to find a definition of mentoring, the term is often used interchangeably with leadership. While it is true that good leaders can make good mentors, the two roles have very different purposes. Leaders of organizations have one main purpose: to drive the bottom line to maximize shareholder value. While very good leaders […]

What is Risk Management? As a small to medium business owner or executive, is risk management something you think about or do you even think it applies to your business? What is risk management anyway? In fact, what is risk? Risk can be considered to be “the effect of uncertainty on your business objectives” and […]

When I started working with small to midsize businesses in my consulting business I believed that with over 20 years experience I could craft and develop one strategic business planning process that would work well for all businesses to be successful. The more I worked on my execution of this master plan, I quickly realized […]

I came across a new term recently, used in this article to describe the employment trend in Europe. “Permatemps” describes those permanently in temporary or contract work.

Next time you decide to fire a senior executive or make a significant change in the operation of your organization, avoid stating the reason as “we’ve decided to go in a different direction”. You might think that’s a short, clear-cut and irrefutable explanation for making the change, but it seldom calms the departed and can […]

My aim in this article is to stimulate some thought and, hopefully, discussion about the budget and how it can be a useful tool. The budget is the financial expression of the business plan. As such, most of the information and analysis will have been drawn up during the business planning process. Though the budget […]

Having helped many organizations with their strategic planning, I am fascinated how many plans dismally fail while others successfully achieve spectacular results. What is the secret for ensuring plans spring to life and achieve timely, meaningful outcomes?

Having helped many organizations with their strategic planning, I am fascinated how many plans dismally fail while others successfully achieve spectacular results. What is the secret for ensuring plans spring to life and achieve timely, meaningful outcomes?

Did you know that facilities or space costs are their second largest cost category next to personnel in most organizations? So what – aren’t these simply fixed or overhead costs that must be absorbed into their pricing model?

There many recent stories about junior miners converting to medical marijuana companies. Mike Harcourt, the former BC Premier is now Chairman of True Leaf Medicine Inc. and lending some credence to the sector. There is also some investment dedicated to this “growth” industry with at least one Toronto fund earmarking $15 million for medical marijuana start-ups.

Our work with organizations in a diverse range of industries has demonstrated that many owners are unprepared for the sale of their business. While many may have an awareness of the financial metrics used to value a business, most have not considered the impact that specific operating areas within their business can have on the overall value and final sale price.

It isn’t all about profit and bottom line if a business desires to be recognized as a leader in its industry or community. Of course, in the private sector, profit is a critical pillar in the way organizational performance is measured. https://osborneinterim.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=vc-roles

RFP’s are a way of life in the public sector, and I get that. When it is truly a transparent process, there is an opportunity for the vendors to access additional information or clarification to what has been put into the RFP document, and there is an opportunity for debrief of an unsuccessful submission. It’s […]

A leader and a manager are two separate definitions. The challenge for Canada’s economy and productivity is simply to instill more leadership attributes and qualities in the people we have directing and guiding our workforce – the managers.

If you want to get more leads from online marketing, you need to understand how people shop online for your type of business or service. Where do you need to be in order to be “discovered?” Once you are discovered, you need to attract that click. With every click on your link, you’re on your […]

To the casual observer, an industry that consistently enjoys fat margins that are the envy of most other businesses can’t be facing real challenges. Yet, since the widespread introduction of government sponsored gambling in Canada 15 years ago, and the explosive growth in revenue it generated, gambling in Canada is facing a number of challenges to […]

The Alberta government is forecasting there will be 114,000 more jobs than people in the next year. The opportunity cost of not filling jobs is $33 billion in current dollars over four years (The Edmonton Journal). Most employers in Alberta will tell you that finding and retaining labour is a significant obstacle to their business growth.

The evolution of social enterprises has been determined, by some, as a declining confidence in our capitalistic society’s ability to make positive community change. Is this driven by the values and needs of the next generation? Perhaps, perhaps not.

With the world social enterprise forum having taken place in Calgary last week, it’s an appropriate time to step back and take a look at the challenges such organizations face. By definition, a social enterprise is a for profit business that also carries a strong social mandate. As such as a start-up it faces some […]

While the concept of raising money for a charitable cause is not foreign to not-for-profits, shifting from a not-for-profit mindset to a for-profit mindset often means taking an Executive Director into unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory.

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Canada is a great country, rich in natural resources, pristine beauty, abundant wildlife and cultural diversity. We are seen by the world as a safe and clean destination with welcoming people. In fact, in many surveys, people from around the world have Canada on the top of their “hope to visit one day” list.

As the summer season winds down for 2013 it is apropos to reflect on the importance of an activity all of us probably enjoyed these past few months – traveling close to home or exploring another country! Why is the fact that you traveled and became a tourist important? Well, for many reasons; some you would instinctively know already and others you may not have thought of.

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Do you have a strategic plan, an engineering study, a supply chain solution, or a new performance review system gathering dust on a shelf somewhere in the office? Did you invest substantial fees in a project that you hoped would move the business forward, only to have your management team go right back to doing what it did […]

Whether you lead a small entrepreneurial business, a non-profit organization comprised of a few staff or a business with over 100 employees, success will be more difficult to attain without a business strategy that aligns your human capital to the growth plan. While this may not be a revelation to many of the readers, how […]

Interim was started in Holland in the 1970’s as a way of injecting much needed flexibility into the market place. Canada is encountering similar issues in the employment market place that Holland saw. Slowly but surely the marketplace is transitioning from being run by the employers to being run by the employees.

Besides all the usual challenges facing small businesses what else can keep you up at night? There is certainly no shortage of articles dealing with the ever present business challenges such as lack of capital, cash flow management, workforce retention, strategy etc. But now, increasingly, we hear terms such as Cloud Computing, Crowd Source and […]

We have been confronted with a seismic shift in our ability to communicate that is rivaled only by the invention of the Gutenberg press in and around 1440. Not to go too deeply into this, the Gutenberg press changed the laborious process of handwriting books, which limited their availability due to the length of time it took to reproduce a single copy, to a rapid almost assembly line speed.

Interim was started in Holland in the 1970’s as a way of injecting much needed flexibility into the market place. Canada is encountering similar issues in the employment market place that Holland saw. Slowly but surely the marketplace is transitioning from being run by the employers to being run by the employees.

Business strategies in newspapers, magazines, TV shows and books are dissected, analyzed, proselytized and change as often as the latest poll in a US Presidential campaign. Each one offers the next great solution to the dilemma facing a business, but never seems to be the answer after publication of the company’s next financial report. Pressure […]

How is your family business going? Is it ticking along and just meeting expectations? Are the objectives being realized? Is it continuing to prosper or has it become flat? Is it financially sound? Could it be doing better? I grew up working in the family business. It was a part of my life from age […]

During a recent meeting with a prospective client I was asked how I would approach a turnaround situation for a possible engagement. Although we often hear the phrase “turnaround management”, owning and running a business on the decline can be overwhelming. Creating and implementing a turnaround strategy and plan by following a systematic approach will […]

Not-for-profits frequently enjoy a purpose for being that more easily draws people with skill, experience and enthusiasm to their staff organizations and Boards. Board members are attracted by the opportunity to share in a corporate mission that is often trying to do some good for a part of our society that is struggling. Individual Board […]

When you are in the business of providing human capital at the executive level, one of the misperceptions you uncover over time is how little impact industry experience has as a factor in delivering results for clients in spite of its almost perpetual inclusion in job description criteria. I would never argue the technical experience required in […]

When we sit in meetings there is a moment when someone uses one of the old saws below. As these are heard so often, they are usually ignored, but today we will consider their truth and try and throw in the odd business tip. Another Day, Another Dollar Always be on the lookout for another […]

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

The business community has come a long way since the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development” became part of the vernacular 25 years ago after the report of the Brundtland Commission to the United Nations. Gradually, consumers began to demand that a concern with the “triple bottom line” – economic, social, environmental – had to be demonstrated by businesses […]

In today’s successful organizations it is the HR personnel who facilitate the hiring practice for the organization. Generally, hiring policies and procedures are developed within this area and HR expertise drives the strategies for staff replacement and utilization. Current research suggests one of the most costly functions an organization incurs is as a result of […]

Interim was started in Holland in the 1970’s as a way of injecting much needed flexibility into the market place. Canada is encountering similar issues in the employment market place that Holland saw. Slowly but surely the marketplace is transitioning from being run by the employers to being run by the employees.

Looking at the Oil & Gas boom in Calgary, it’s very obvious that there is a big shift in HR practices that has to happen in order to keep that workforce motivated and in place. If you don’t do your homework, you better say goodbye to your valuable team. You might say to yourself “hey, […]

Businesses and individuals believe they are building their brand the most effective way, but is that true? Ask yourself, “what is your brand?” Quick answer; your brand is what Google says it is. Another way to look at it is your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.

Canada’s supply management system for the dairy and poultry industries has been very much in the business news in 2011. Canada’s future economic success is largely being tied to the Pacific Rim and the European Union. But Canada’s attempts to gain access to the emerging Trans Pacific Partnership trade group are being resisted because Canada […]

The days when careers started and ended in retirement with pension packages have all but dissolved. While this is not a revelation to many of us, it’s the fallout and emerging new norms we all face. A few moments spent researching industry trends, forecasts, and the brave new world illustrates the need to both understand […]

Writing as an unrepentant baseball fan, I was watching that glorious Game 6 World series game and Tony LaRussa’s Merlin-like mastery of his relief pitchers’ for specific challenges in order to gain the pivotal win. As a reminder, LaRussa designed and used the entire bullpen with speed and aplomb to meet specific challenges, where the […]

As someone who has lived interim management for the past eight years, it has been intriguing for me to see how other professional services or consulting firms have added “interim” as a service tab on their websites to capitalize on a growing worldwide trend.

There are lots of not-for-profit organizations that fit the definition of small business and many have the same challenges as privately owned family businesses. In a not-for-profit with a volunteer board, succession is not just planning for the board chair’s retirement; the challenge is keeping the volunteer board vibrant, creative and with planned turnover to […]

Every family business comes to a point in its life when it becomes necessary for the current generation to find a successor due to age, health or other interests. It is a well known fact that passing the torch to the next generation in the family does not always lead to the most successful continuation […]

I didn’t ask Shaw Communications Inc. CEO Brad Shaw who was a greater influence on his decision to pull the plug on Shaw’s wireless network, Kenny Rogers or Jim Collins, but I suspect that either through song or script, as he grew up in the family business, he respected subliminally the messages from them both. […]

When it comes to selling your business, the most important question one needs to ask is: How much is my business worth? The concept that a business is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it is commonly held, but is also naïve. There is no precise way to value a private business. The […]

Recent experience with a client has brought another area into focus where the role of the interim manager provides a good fit with the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. As with my client, many business owners are looking at the need to replace, upgrade or add equipment in an effort to enhance labour productivity, control costs, improve […]

Recently I was engaged in an online blog about employee reward schemes and my professional experiences. The originator of the inquiry was wondering how to compensate employees for their ideas and performance. The discussions were varied and the suggested approaches interesting. Always there is the argument of financial reward and if it is necessary beyond […]

When an organization isn’t achieving its revenue potential, the worst case scenario may be that it is meeting its goals and is nicely profitable. That’s because much of the management team charged with growth is “comfortable”. They are dealing with what they see and know and are more obsessed with validating their business/marketing plan than […]