New science, leadership and learning to see
Marie Gervais, Global Leadership Associates www.global-leadership.ca
I have just about finished reading “Leadership and the New Science: Discovering order in a chaotic world” by Margret J. Wheatley (2006). The book takes discoveries from quantum physics, chaos theory and ancient relational concepts from cultures, great thinkers and world religions to rethink leadership. Continue reading “New science, leadership and learning to see” »
Game changers: Women in the boardroom…
Women in the Boardroom: Does it make a difference?
Marie Gervais, PhD. Global Leadership Associates Inc., April 30, 2011.
On April 20, 2011, Steve Coomber of World Finance published a summary article about research regarding women in the boardroom. One interesting finding, according to Renée Adams and Daniel Ferreira , is that women’s representation on boards was associated with improved governance performance. Specifically boards with a higher percentage of women had better meeting attendance, tougher monitoring of the CEO, and better alignment with shareholder’s interests. Continue reading “Women in the boardroom: Does it make a difference?” »
Reality check! Manufacturing case studies food for thought
Life in manufacturing
Marie Gervais, PhD, CTDP. Global Leadership Associates Inc
Managing the workforce in a manufacturing setting is not for the faint of heart. This collection of graphic manufacturing case studies shows five complex situations that illustrate how much skill is required to properly manage the people so intimately connected to production. The topics range from cultural misunderstandings to problem employees to inappropriate sexual behavior, but each story theme involves several related issues and probing questions. There are suggestions about how to interpret what is really going on and inroads to taking effective action.
What you will see in these case studies may shock you, provoke you, or propel you towards writing your own experience – (that would be a great reaction outcome). Even better would be that you learn something new about asking questions to address your own management dilemmas more effectively. (That would hit my learning objective.) But if you really want to make me happy, and I’m sure you do (!) you could read and discuss one of these case studies with colleagues in a face-to-face workplace or virtual setting. But don’t stop there! Let me know how they jive with your experience of how management is practiced on the ground. That would help me see if these case studies are useful in influencing managerial practice. As usual, the information is grounded in practice, rigorously researched and, yes, freely shared. Will you take a look at them? Click on the ebook button and download your copy now.
Tourism and hospitality
Tapping human resources in the hospitality and tourism industry in Alberta: talent management and our diverse workforce
Marie Gervais, PhD, Director, Global Leadership Associates Inc.
In Alberta, outside of health care, the most diverse workforce is found in the food and hospitality sectors.[1]Within that broad sector, in 2005, approximately 10% of Alberta’s workforce, or over 180,000 people were working in the tourism and hospitality industry, and a projected increase of new jobs was 11,000 by 2011.[2]Successfully integrating newcomers to food and lodging related industries, has significant economic benefits to the Alberta economy. In 2006, tourism revenues were estimated at 5.3 billion. Within the food and beverage sector in 2003, beverage revenue alone was set at 8.8 billion, surpassing oil and gas revenue for the same year.[3] The image Alberta projects to Albertans within and travelers coming to Alberta, is most visible through local attractions and visits to hotels and restaurants. Continue reading “Tapping human resources in hospitality and tourism in Alberta” »
Food Behaviors, Leadership Style and Organizational Health
Marie Gervais, PhD, Global Leadership Associates Inc.
I recently came across an article on the relationship of the body to leadership style and organizational health, with a particular emphasis on the role of food. Cunha, Cardosa and Clegg (2008) did some interesting work on this topic relating organizational structure to the structure of the human body and demonstrating how food behaviors can serve as indicators of organizational health. One of the interesting ideas in this article is the concept of a typology of organizations based on food behaviors. Continue reading “Food Behaviours, Leadership Style and Organizational Health” »
Becoming a culturally competent manager: here’s mine, what’s yours?
Pay attention to culture at work and be amazed at the results Part 3
Marie Gervais, Global Leadership Associates www.global-leadership.ca
The more frequent and contextually varied experiences we have with individuals and groups that are dis-similar to ours, the more likely we are to be able to appreciate and manage a diverse workforce. Hang with the same people all the time and you don’t learn anything about how other folks do things and why. It is a good idea to take a few mental snapshots of the people we are with over a period of a week or so. If they all look, sound and think like we do, we are in danger of becoming culturally rigid and managing our organizations with blinders. Employees may, up to a certain point, be able to get away with cultural rigidity, but people in leadership positions, if they want their company to be able to respond to a volatile and uncertain world, cannot afford to get into that rut. Continue reading “Becoming a culturally competent manager: here’s mine, what’s yours?” »
Food processing line
Genitals in the sink: You think your job is tough? Try this on for size…
Marie Gervais, Global Leadership Associates www.global-leadership.ca
The HR department in a large factory received an anonymous complaint: it was observed that men from certain ethnic groups would wash their genitals in the sink after using the washroom. When the complaint became known, one of the men who was part of the genital washing group said he found it disgusting that other men walked out of the washroom without washing their genitals. Certainly, this is a rather embarrassing workplace issue arising out of cultural differences on what appropriate washroom hygiene should look like. What is going on here? Continue reading “Genitals in the sink: You think your job is rough…” »
Culture at work
Pay attention to culture at work and be amazed at the results 2
Marie Gervais, Global Leadership Associates
Part two: how validation of culture improves motivation, discretionary engagement and productivity…
Tip number 2 about understanding culture at work: everyone wants to belong, yet we all want to be seen as our own unique selves, which appear to be two contradictory forces. Belonging involves conformity and uniqueness involves standing out from the crowd. How this affects work is surprising: the more we are valued for our unique qualities and the uniqueness of the various groups that have contributed to making us who we are, the more we feel we belong and the more willing we are to collaborate with others. The more we are forced to compromise ourselves to belong, the less belonging we feel and the less we consider our uniqueness of value. Continue reading “Pay attention to culture at work Part 2” »
On a break
Pay attention to culture at work and be amazed at the results!
Take one: Learning to pay attention
Marie Gervais, PhD, CTDP
In several posts about culture at work, I noticed comments along the lines of, “Just create the corporate culture you want (duh),” as if contributors are a little slow on the uptake. So I have decided to write a series to show what culture at work actually looks like and why it matters. Managers and decision makers who think that they have nothing to learn from paying attention to culture in the workplace are missing some critical information, which I hope will become apparent over the next few posts.
Continue reading “Pay attention to culture at work and be amazed at the results!” »
Great women
Women, influence and the global economy
Marie Gervais, PhD
Keynote address to the Spirit Sisters International Women’s Day Charity Conference in Sylvan Lake, Alberta
Distinguished guests, mayors and participants in the Sylvan Lake Baha’i Centre’s first “Spirit Sisters International Women’s Day Charity Conference”;
I am honored and humbled, to have been asked to provide the keynote address for this historic event. The importance of celebrating the accomplishments of women at this point in our history cannot be underestimated. Throughout time and across cultures, women have had a lot to overcome and we continue to struggle with inequality, violence and lack of access to education and jobs. My talk today generally is about the importance of women as influencers. It is an interesting coincidence that even as I speak to you now, my own mother-in-law is being honored as a women of vision and influence at an International Women’s Day celebration in St. Albert! Although influence is the general theme, specifically, the topic I have chosen to focus on is “Women’s contributions to the global economy” and so you can see how influence fits into that. I chose this topic for many reasons, but I’ll start with the personal ones. Continue reading “Women, influence and the global economy” »
