A few friends have asked me why I chose to place these hiking boots, front and centre on the web site home page.

Here’s my explanation….

Firstly, I spent the first half of my career instructing mountaineering, so boots like these were one of the tools of my trade. Whether I’m thinking about leadership in the mountains (or leadership within organizations) the boots remind me that leadership requires genuine effort, great care and a well crafted, elegantly executed plan. You can’t just sit there in the safety of the valley and talk about the summits – you have to get out there and climb! Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a few particularly gifted mountain guides who went out of their way to inspire genuine, whole-hearted, full-on engagement from those in their care. I also believe great leadership within organizations, pursues this exact same goal.

Secondly, I’ve met some people who think leadership centers on ‘optics’ – making sure things look right, rather than focusing on doing the right thing. I wonder if this sort of thinking would tempt some folks to choose a handsome pair of handmade Italian loafers (or gorgeous sling backs by Prada!) instead of these rather scruffy old boots. But back to my original point, you can’t climb mountains wearing dress shoes. You can either look good talking about it over cappuccinos – or focus squarely on that which is essential for success. Your leadership strategies should do the same. Great leadership requires you to encourage and inspire the very best contribution from those around you, rather than getting all hung up on making things (or yourself!) look good.

Lastly, I’ve learned that one of the unfortunate truths about even a great pair of hiking or climbing boots, is that you do need some time to ‘break them in’. I’d say too the same is true when you accept the full responsibilities of the leadership role. Some days it won’t be easy – in fact, sometimes it can be distinctly uncomfortable. There will be times when the going is tough, the terrain difficult, the conditions challenging and the path ahead steep. But if you navigate skillfully and provide those in your care with what they truly need to engage, you’ll be rewarded in direct proportion to the quality and authenticity of your effort, care, thoughtfulness and courage.

I’ve never quite worked out whether it’s the climber that breaks in the boots, or whether it’s the boots that break in the climber. Maybe it’s a little bit of both?

I sometimes ask participants in my leadership workshops how often they use the F word in the workplace.

This usually provokes one or two raised eyebrows, some surprised smiles and maybe a little ripple of nervous laughter.

I then explain I’m talking about feelings.  How often do we acknowledge or talk about our feelings in the work place?  Now there’s more laughter, but this time it’s more relaxed and comfortable than a few moments before.

I ask this question because there often seems to be a widespread, unspoken understanding that feelings aren’t welcome or helpful elements of our modern business culture.  Once we start digging a little deeper into the subject, many people tell me that in the workplace, our first interest ought to be the primary business goals of the organisation.  They say we’re not there for fun, we’re there to get serious work done.  It’s not about having our personal needs met but it’s about effectively and efficiently getting the maximum amount of work accomplished, on time, using the available resources and under budget.  End of story.

Well not quite.  I was recently working with a group of law enforcement officers.  You’d expect this crew to be strong and resilient (they were) and professional (they were) and firm (they were that too).  I asked them to identify which leadership competencies inspired them most powerfully when working with other law enforcement professionals they held in the very highest regard.  Every single officer referenced leadership qualities and skills that ultimately connected them emotionally with the work they do.

What they told me was that under the influence of truly exceptional leadership, they become more engaged, enrolled, challenged, enlivened, encouraged, inspired …… and aren’t these all feelings?  In my own experience, leadership that helps bring out the very best in us has always centered on someone else’s ability to creatively encourage and unleash the very best of what we’ve got to offer – both intellectually and emotionally.

In the context of organizational leadership, I think we should use the F-word in the workplace, way more often than we do.

“It is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them – the character, the heart, generous qualities, progressive ideas.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

If you like this way of thinking about leadership, then I’d also encourage you to check out what Dr Brené Brown has to say about living wholeheartedly – and imagine what leadership might look like (or dare I say, ‘feel’ like?) when offered from a place of courage and authenticity.

To enjoy her wonderful, insightful TED lecture, click here….. then [tongue planted firmly in cheek] please return to this blog to post your comments and share your thoughts – and feelings!

Passions: a 3-legged Husky named Cidaq, Shoes, Fierce Efficiency, Eating, Natural Hot Springs, the West Coast, Rain, Off-Roading, Scuba Diving and Wine.

Expertise: Exemplary client service, Result-oriented communication, hyper-efficient office processes and practice, advanced use of Excel for data collation

Credo: “My work philosophy is simple: always give people more than they expect and do it with a smile!”

The Vancouver Canucks, African mahogany, BC Yellow Cedar and Chinese Cedar. The common thread is Dave Youngson. He enjoys building and repairing wooden boats, created a foot shower out of yellow cedar for the pool and hot tub industry, invented a chair for his dog that is now made in China out of cedar and he was the creative director for the identity of the NHL Vancouver Canucks – his skill is in linking the seemingly disconnected and making connections that are seamless, relevant and practical with great results.

His unique perspective was honed while working at an amusement park to pay for his education in architecture, a rare blend of the casual and formal approach to human behavior. Since leaving architecture he has art directed national television ads and music videos, developed retail brands and products, worked with the NBA, NHL and PGA, as well as other major public attractions and facilities. Recently he has broadened his presence in the world of creative thought by developing ‘wide thinking’ as an approach to executive and management action.

Through this personal and practical approach to look large and think wide, he is able to provide clients with clear and concise strategies to solve their marketing and communications needs. What is unique about his approach is his education in architecture giving him the awareness of how to engage the audience beyond the page and support the creation of experiences and environments.

More info coming soon.

David McCutcheon was born and raised in a beautiful little town called Ayr on the south-west coast of Scotland.

For the first half of his career, he specialized in training senior level instructors in winter mountaineering and whitewater kayaking. It was during this time that he became utterly fascinated by the subtle, yet very powerful leadership skills that are the mark of the truly exceptional guide.

From this very hands-on foundation, he then chose to analyze and reflect on his extensive field experience through the academic lens. He earned a B.A. in Outdoor Education in 1992 at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, and a Master’s Degree from UBC’s Human Kinetics Department in 1997. His academic work focuses on two main subject areas: Human Performance Analysis and Instructional Design and Coaching.

For the majority of the last decade David has been a full time Federal Government of Canada employee, either working in organizational learning teams or creating brand new leadership development initiatives. He has worked with the Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Border Services Agency and through the Canada School of Public Service, has provided service to more than 80 other unique departments. This broad exposure has helped develop a keen appreciation for the leadership cultures within Federal Departments at both the micro and the macro levels. During this period, David has designed and successfully implemented many highly creative professional development solutions, helping many organizations move towards their goals with greater effectiveness and efficiency.

David is passionate about his work and unconditionally committed to helping clients and partners create inspiring leadership cultures within the workplace. Participants in David’s sessions often report that they have never felt so engaged in the learning process, that his classes and seminars were refreshingly up-beat, that the concepts and ideas were genuinely valuable and relevant to their work – and that their knowledge, enthusiasm, confidence and commitment have been enhanced and renewed.

When he is not working, climbing mountains or sailing the pacific North West coastline, you can find David on Bowen Island where he lives with his wife, three young children, a very large dog, two cats, one rabbit and some chickens.

Laura Allen, MSW, RSW, graduated from the University of Denver with a Masters Degree in Social Work in 1985 and brings many years of varied experience to her work. Laura’s greatest pleasure is in inspiring others to live fully and with enthusiasm.

In her 25 years of professional experience Laura has worked in federal and provincial governments, community social services, consulting and in private practice. She has held a variety of roles, including regional EAP program manager, clinical supervisor, professional counsellor, organizational consultant and trainer. A natural leader, she delights in providing the tools and inspiration for leaders in organizations to bring out the best in themselves and those they lead.

Laura is also an advanced student of yoga and mindfulness meditation and strives to bring an integrated balance of inner and outer awareness to her work. Her view of balance includes an understanding that we need fun, belonging, purpose and meaning both at work and at home. For many years Laura has been designing and delivering popular workshops for employees and managers in support of that balance.

If you are selecting multiple courses, please enter “Other Amount” and email me with your course details.

…thank you!

These workshops are available in one, two or three day formats – and can also be tailored for two distinctly different client groups.

for non-supervisory staff

or

for team leaders, supervisors and managers

.

Click on the links below for course dates and details:

level 1 - single day introduction to the field of Emotional Intelligence (or EQ)

and

level 2 - an additional two day course for students who have successfully completed the pre-requisite level 1 course

Some of today’s leadership gurus claim that nine out of ten problems in the workplace might have been avoided altogether, if the people involved had a higher level of Emotional Intelligence. Other experts suggest the number might actually be higher!

This one day introduction to the field of Emotional Intelligence (or EQ) will: improve your understanding of what we mean by EQ, clarify how EQ connects to IQ and how this combination relates to your overall leadership effectiveness.  We will also explore how to deliberately improve and develop your EQ.

Prior to the session, all students will be invited to complete an on-line, EQ assessment which helps develop a better understanding of their own, unique EQ profile. During the workshop, we will analyze and discuss two very popular models used to explain EQ. There will be a number of case studies explored and analyzed through the EQ lens. Everyone will also create a short list of learning objectives and action plans related to developing their EQ, as a follow up to the workshop.

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that every single participant will walk away with a much clearer understanding of how EQ underpins effective and efficient leadership, as well as an action plan that will continue to build on their EQ strengths and improve possible areas of weakness.

Maximum 24 students per class

Single day format

Course instructors: David McCutcheon & Laura Allen

This course is a pre-requisite for Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, level 2

For more details and information about course fees, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

This workshop requires all students to complete a more rigorous, on-line EQ assessment prior to attendance; this will take the form of a 360 feedback assessment where each participant will invite up to 20 colleagues, clients, direct reports, managers and friends or family members to complete an on-line assessment. It is often much more informative (and can also be quite intriguing) to compare and contrast the 360 report with the self assessment profile obtained in the level one course.

We will return our attention to the current models and popular theories associated with EQ and apply these to leadership challenges presenting themselves in the workshop participants’ actual work place environments.  Confidentiality and discretion will guide our discussions in such a way that a very high degree of privacy and confidentiality will be maintained, yet we will be applying the conceptual models and theories to real life, work place scenarios.

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that every single participant will walk away with a much deeper understanding of how emotional intelligence can help provide a strong foundation for effective and efficient leadership. Students will also receive guidance in crafting individualized learning plans that have ongoing development of Emotional Intelligence competencies as a central theme.

Maximum 24 students per class

Two day format

Course Instructor:  David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

Many new and even experienced managers receive on-going training in financial management, human resources and specialized, technical subject areas but often never receive any training in the art of ‘team building’. Those with natural talent in this area do well; others often struggle needlessly and this can create unnecessary and counter productive stress for everyone involved.

There are enormous differences between poorly performing teams and exceptional teams; often these differences are simply a result of leadership culture, as it is experienced by the team in question.

If you would like to learn how to more effectively and efficiently create the right conditions for your teams to really thrive and perform at their best, then this course is for you. The ideas and concepts from this course can be applied by managers when leading teams – or horizontally, by team members who may not have supervisory authority. This will be a very active, participative program where students will be invited to participate in a wide range of experiential learning activities to explore team building models and concepts in a highly interactive and hands-on learning environment.

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that every single participant will walk away with a much deeper understanding of how to create the conditions that inspire and sustain optimal team performance.

Maximum 24 students per class

One or two day format available

Course instructor:  David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please call David at (778) 689 9244.

When Appreciative Inquiry is applied within an organizational setting, huge positive change can be experienced and these changes can occur at an incredible pace. If you’ve ever wondered how you might help stimulate positive revolutions in your work setting, then developing your understanding of AI might help.

Some of the areas covered in this single day course may be grouped under the following headings:  What are the popular models, commonly used to define and describe Appreciative Inquiry?  How can the principles of AI be used by the savvy leader to harness the energy, creativity, determination and commitment across the entire organization?  How might a clear understanding of AI help strengthen and influence your leadership practice?  What are the barriers that might hinder AI initiatives – and what can you do to work around them?  During this course, you will also receive guidance in preparing a personalized AI action plan to take back to your workplace.

Successful completion of this course will provide every single participant a clearer understanding of the concept of AI, as well as the confidence to incorporate AI principles into their daily leadership practice.

Maximum 24 students per class

Single day format

Course instructor:  David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

Core thinking promotes and supports creative thought, strategic collaboration, judicious innovation and decisive implementation.

Often our organisational structures come to resemble stove-pipes, or agricultural silos; tall, specialized containers that hold and differentiate specific kinds of resources. Despite the fact that one silo may stand right next to another very similar silo, the contents are often held in a manner that keeps them purposely apart and protected.

Core thinking challenges this pattern and can be practised by the individual, partners, teams, departments and organizations. Core thinking intentionally connects disparate elements; be they ideas, people, resources, funds, processes or philosophies. Sharing is something we all grew up with but sometimes it becomes the norm to sub-consciously hoard, or protect what might be seen as scarce resources. Consider the silo contents as your ‘resources’ whether these are ideas, people, resources, budgets, or so on. They are contained and held away from others. The opportunity now is to connect the seemingly unconnected, to do more, to leverage what each party has, to create new outputs and outcomes and more efficiently manage finances, time, effort, energy, enterprise and people.

Using the ‘silo’ metaphor, core thinking advocates lifting the silo enough so the contents spill out and intermix with the contents of other silos. To complete the silo analogy, the blending of real life contents (for example grain) creates hybrid strains – a new resource that has attributes of both silos and, if nurtured, can be stronger than either of the original components – making the whole better than the sum of its parts.

Maximum 24 students per class

One or two day format

Target audience: managers, senior managers, senior level technical specialists and executives

Course instructors: David Youngson and David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

Do you ever find yourself in a position where you have to teach new skills or knowledge to a colleague or clients?   This course will help you become a more competent, confident and skilled teacher / instructor / facilitator.

Built on a firm foundation of modern theories of adult education, this lively, hands-on course will provide a high energy experience to participants, breathing life and fun into the theories underpinning effective teaching.   We will also identify and then practice the real life skills necessary to design and confidently deliver formal or non-formal teaching in the workplace.   Session participants will be invited to complete a brief on-line assessment prior to attending the session which offers insight into their teaching styles and preferences.

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that every single participant will acquire foundation skills in instructional design and delivery – which will prepare them to more confidently and skillfully approach their next teaching challenge in a way that will be greatly appreciated by the students in their care.  No prior teaching experience is necessary – and if you are already have some teaching experience, we will provide the right balance of support and challenge to further extend and refine your existing skills.

Maximum 24 students per class

One or two day format available

Course instructor: David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

There’s a ‘left brain approach’ to solving problems – and there’s a ‘right brain approach’ to ‘appreciating opportunities’.   In this course, we’re going to be studying both approaches with a view to understanding the strengths, and the limitations of either perspective as well as responding to the question: how can you marry the best of both approaches for optimal results?

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that every single participant will better understand their own (often unconscious) preferences with regards to addressing problems; learn how to better respond to the preferences of others they work with and gather a very thorough and balanced ‘creative problem solving’ tool kit.  Having accomplished these learning goals, course participants will more competently, skillfully and confidently approach challenges from a more creative, solution oriented, balanced perspective.

Maximum 24 students per class

One or two day format available

Course instructor:  David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

Discover how to build presentations that are concise, engaging, provocative, memorable and do what they’re supposed to do: communicate ideas powerfully whilst engaging your audience fully.

Successful completion of this seminar guarantees that you’ll learn how to better prepare yourself to respond positively to the challenge of ‘public speaking’.   You’ll gain knowledge and begin to acquire the skills and confidence to create and deliver outstanding presentations.  You will also develop a greater appreciation of balancing the design of your presentation to an accurate assessment of your audience’s needs, wants and preferences.

Having accomplished these learning goals, course participants will more competently, skillfully and confidently approach their next presentation task in a way that will be greatly appreciated by all members of their future audiences.  In the two day program, we’ll focus on developing skills on the appropriate and thoughtful use of power-point.

If your job requires you to deliver presentations often and you have never really had any specific training; if you would like to extend or enhance your present level of presentation competence, or if giving presentations simply scares the life out of you, this course is for you!

Maximum 24 students per class

One or two day format available

Course instructor:  David McCutcheon

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.

Have you ever found yourself wishing that your life was a little more ‘in balance’?   This fast paced workshop will explore the whole idea of ‘life balance’ and present ten simple techniques that we guarantee can help you create a more balanced life.

“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Newton’s Third Law can also be applied to our everyday lives.   For example, you’re enjoying phenomenal success in you career but then your personal life seems non-existent.  Or at the other end of the spectrum, business is slow so you seem to have lots of time for personal development.  It often seems as though when one area of life is cruising along nicely there’s always something else taking a back seat.

There’s a subtle yet crucially important opportunity here; to find and create the right balance across all important areas and aspects of your life.

This workshop will reinforce the importance of setting goals.   We’ll help you create a personalized, realistic action plan and provide the motivation for you to make progress, every single day, towards living a more balanced life of your own design.

Maximum 24 students per class

Half day and full, single day format available

Course instructor:  Fawn Gill

For more details and course fee information, please contact David at (778) 689 9244.