May 14, 2023
We all experience stress in our lives. No one is immune from it. Stress comes in various formats. It could be work-related, relationship-focused, or health-specific. Some […]
April 17, 2023
Written by Susan Merli When we think about working in a VUCA world, it seems like so much volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity will stop us […]
April 12, 2023
Written by Susan Merli This post was inspired by my training in couples and family therapy. Looking at the various therapeutic modalities and interventions, I discovered […]
April 8, 2023
If I asked you to wear an embarrassing t-shirt in public and go walk around a downtown core or a bustling school campus, would you worry […]
March 1, 2023
To watch a webinar with me presenting on the topic of Imposter Syndrome (and if you don't feel like reading the blog), please click here. In […]
March 1, 2023
The fact that you’re reading this suggests that imposter syndrome is a topic of interest to you. First, let me share that it is an experience […]
February 14, 2023
A month ago, my friend, Carmen, invited me to join a cohort of other professional coaches and psychotherapists. I admire and respect Carmen as a seasoned […]
February 14, 2023
We live in a complex world where the chance of being exposed to a traumatic event is quite high. Stress-related events have become the norm with […]
January 8, 2023
I need to admit something to you. I have waffled for days about writing this blog post. From my perspective, the topic of trauma is laden […]
January 4, 2023
As I began thinking about the content of this blog post and what I hoped you, dear reader, would find valuable, my attention turned a counselling/psychotherapy […]
December 10, 2022
Recently I blogged about tips for overcoming mistakes. Suggested reading: Overcoming Mistakes: Five Tips to Help You Move On Within this post, I shared something called […]
December 10, 2022
We all make mistakes. It is human nature and a by-product of living a full life. Some mistakes are small and we forget them quickly. Other […]
October 14, 2022
I’m not one who often struggles to decide. At times, it can be a good thing, and other times, well, let’s just say, the biblical quote […]
October 14, 2022
Shifting Perspectives Impressionism, fauvism, modernism, post-modernism, post-impressionism! There are seemingly thousands of art movements that are, most evidently, differentiated by their disparate appearances. It is fairly […]
September 12, 2022
In a recent blog post, I shared tips for how to deal effectively with conversations that have you feeling emotionally triggered. Suggested Reading: What to Do […]
September 11, 2022
In the coaching class I teach, one of the most common questions students tell me that they most want to work on is the ability to […]
August 14, 2022
Did you know that it is normal for your mind to wander approximately 47 percent of the time? This statistic is sourced from a study by Killingsworth and […]
August 9, 2022
An Introduction to Rhetoric Today, public speaking may seem like an innate talent of certain charismatic people. However, most of the public speakers we admire, learned […]
July 13, 2022
Last week I taught a coach training class where I demonstrated a live coaching exchange with a student who asked about the value a coach brings […]
July 12, 2022
Mindful communication can make a world of difference when tensions or emotions run high. Learn how to watch for the bifurcation point and avoid the deterioration of any conversation.
June 10, 2022
Increasingly, people are looking for ways to prevent too much stress in their work life. It is a serious issue that warrants a closer examination. There […]
June 10, 2022
Sometimes there are topics that continue to resurface in meetings and conversations with clients. The issue of addressing burnout is one such topic. Recently, I’ve been […]
May 14, 2022
By Susan Merli. While this post specifically mentions leaders, I believe that everyone has a responsibility for self-leadership. The tips I offer are applicable for all. […]
May 1, 2022
Written by Maddie Merli May The Fourth be With You May, in my humble opinion, is the best month of the year. Where November is too […]
April 14, 2022
Three States of Mind We all have three states of mind: an emotional, rational, and wise mind. Our brain develops from the hindbrain up to midbrain […]
April 13, 2022
Bob Dylan may have coined the term, “The Times They Are A-Changin’” with his song of the same title, but the truth of the matter is […]
March 13, 2022
Although dealing with conflict is something most people tend to avoid, it can be useful when it raises awareness and provides insights that might not otherwise […]
March 1, 2022
Written by Susan Merli A Microcosm of Experiences The COVID-19 pandemic created a microcosm of experiences we had to face almost simultaneously rather than over the […]
February 12, 2022
Written by Susan Merli To Trust is Human It is in our nature to trust. When we trust someone, it triggers the feel-good part of our […]
February 1, 2022
Written by Dr. Anneke Olthof Is There a Limit to What We Can Learn and Remember? The beginning of the New Year marks a fresh start, […]
January 2, 2022
Written by Madeline Merli I Think You’re Muted Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to communicate, especially in the Lovecraftian horror of a zoom meeting, has […]
January 1, 2022
Written by Dr. Anneke Olthof Mid-Winter Stress Mid-Winter can be a particularly stressful time – the holiday spending and eating has finally caught up with us, […]
December 13, 2021
This is a time of year that can be particularly taxing both emotionally and physically. December marks the end of a 12-month marathon dealing with the […]
December 13, 2021
Friendly Neighbourhood Nostalgia Written by: Madeline Merli December is a stressful, glorious month filled with holiday dinners, school finals and of course, the overwhelming amount of […]
November 13, 2021
This year I have made important strides to step outside of my comfort zone. For me this includes learning all I can about unconscious bias, privilege, […]
November 8, 2021
Lately, I’ve been coaching leaders on developing their presentation skills. In particular, the focus involves role playing using behaviour-based interview questions. In a typical coaching session […]
October 14, 2021
How do you know if you have blind spots? It never fails. At some point in a coaching engagement, the topic of self-awareness will come up […]
October 13, 2021
Our Choices Each day we are faced with choices. Some decisions are easy and require little, if any, contemplation. Other situations require more conscious and intentional […]
August 6, 2021
The Bubble During the pandemic, the size of our community became quite small as we were tasked with keeping one another safe from contagion. We had […]
August 6, 2021
Post-pandemic phase of work For the last 17 months, many employees were required to work remotely. Now that we are rounding the corner into a post-pandemic […]
July 25, 2021
In the post called Building Resilience One Mental Muscle at a Time, I covered two options for building resiliency. Read: Building Resilience One Mental Muscle at […]
July 25, 2021
People who do strength training know that micro-tears occur during a weighty workout. A few hours later, you feel the soreness as the amount of blood […]
July 14, 2021
It has been a mystery to me how some people know at an early age exactly what they want to do as a profession and then […]
May 30, 2021
I've wanted to write on this topic for some time now, but waited until I completed more research on the topic. Every day we have thousands […]
May 29, 2021
The long-range effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remain far from being fully realized. Although, it isn’t difficult to conceptualize the potential increased demand for professional support […]
May 23, 2021
I originally wrote this post for Coaching out of the Box®'s blog and you can find it there as well as here on mine. Almost ten […]
May 14, 2021
We think 6,200 thoughts a day We all have that little voice inside our head. Sometimes the messages are strong and clear and other times they […]
April 20, 2021
Of all the workshops I facilitate, perhaps the one I'm doing most recently is the most relevant and necessary. It is called Communicating Well with Technology. […]
April 13, 2021
I've been reflecting a great deal on how the pandemic is impacting society. When I'm out for a walk with Olive, I've noticed that people don't […]
January 31, 2021
Have you ever been in the situation where a colleague, a friend or a family member asks you for feedback and you break out in a […]
January 31, 2021
I’m not really sure exactly how I feel about February. It is sort of an in-between month. The shortest one nestled deep in winter, and also […]
January 3, 2021
Wow. What kind of message is this to give better than nothing behaviour a try? I hope I've engaged your interest with this call to -- […]
January 2, 2021
With January here and the holiday season tucked behind us, we face a month known for broken resolutions, ghastly credit card bills, homes stripped of holiday […]
January 1, 2021
Working Remotely Since COVID-19 touched down with a significant impact in March 2020, many Canadian workers found themselves relocating to home-based work and using virtual meeting […]
December 12, 2020
It is no secret that I'm a Regency and Victorian-era fan. I have at least one Regency-period book on the go at all times and subscribe […]
December 12, 2020
I'm all for books that are short, to the point, and provide key takeaways at the end of each chapter. The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus: […]
December 10, 2020
Madonna sang that we are living in a material world, but I say that we're living in a VUCA world. What does it mean to live […]
December 7, 2020
In a previous post, I shared a recording of a presentation on how to sign up for a LinkedIn account and make the most of your […]
November 14, 2020
This month's book was a challenge. Not that there weren't enough books on the topic, but rather landing on just the right one. After much deliberation, […]
November 12, 2020
Can't live with it, can't live without it. Heard this saying before? I imagine you have and wonder if you share my views on social […]
November 10, 2020
The online social platform known as LinkedIn has been around since 2003. Even though over 690 million people are connected LinkedIn users, there are many who […]
October 11, 2020
As we face the second wave of the pandemic, many of us are feeling burnt out, mentally fatigued, and uncertain of what it means for business, […]
October 11, 2020
Once the fall season arrives, many of us remember how much we love pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie, and decorating our home with orange-coloured gourds. Yes, just […]
September 14, 2020
Not everyone feels like a natural-born early riser. I get this. Some people say they are night owls who feel energized and productive late into the […]
September 1, 2020
As Authentika Academy prepares to launch its latest e-course, Habits of Great Leaders, I thought it fitting to share Maddie's 17-year old, unfiltered view of leadership. […]
August 11, 2020
I love to read and listen to self development Audiobooks. I usually have 3-4 on the go at a time. Full disclosure -- I love Audible.com. […]
August 11, 2020
This post has been graciously written by guest blogger, Maddie Cranston. Full disclosure, Maddie is my daughter and a far better writer than I am. […]
August 10, 2020
Have you ever thought about your life in months? It's a fascinating and perhaps even sobering way of looking at your life. Recently, I watched a […]
July 7, 2020
For years I worked in a job I was good at, but didn’t love. When I was with friends or colleagues or at the hair salon […]
June 26, 2020
This pandemic and the stress of the unknown and the uncertainty regarding what is to come can make anyone feel tired, confused, and uncertain. All […]
June 10, 2020
In the last decade, mindfulness and meditation have risen significantly in popularity. Those who were on the fence about giving it a try have heard first-hand […]
June 3, 2020
Probably now, more than any other time in recent history, we’ve had more time on our hands given the need for social distancing, closed businesses and […]
May 19, 2020
Virtual Travel Tours. Explore the World From Your Home Do you have a case of wanderlust and are looking for ways to keep the spark […]
April 29, 2020
Negative thoughts are automatic thoughts. They can be triggered by the slightest experience, comment or memory. Often, we are not aware of our negative […]
April 17, 2020
Whether you're working remotely, working at the office, or working at all, you can still fall prey to distractions. They come in a myriad of disguises […]
April 2, 2020
It’s difficult to stay motivated at the best of times. Working toward a goal or dream that you value and know instinctively would make a major […]
March 24, 2020
Does Time Seem to Fly and Work Still Isn’t Done? If you’ve ever struggled with feeling less than productive or wondered what happened to your best-laid […]
March 19, 2020
Uncertain times It’s true that we are living in a time of uncertainty and turbulence with the continued spread of covid-19, an epic rollercoaster downhill ride […]
March 5, 2020
Engage a Coach for Your Professional Development Working on your professional development isn’t something that you might easily decide to give yourself permission to pursue. It […]
February 17, 2020
Forget the Monopoly Mascot. When you think about being a director on a board, does the image of the Monopoly mascot, Rich Uncle Pennybags, come to […]
January 4, 2020
It doesn't feel good There are times in life when you might feel lost. Maybe that time is right now. Perhaps there are people in your […]
December 30, 2019
The Month of January - Friend or Foe? The start of a new year can bring a sense of renewal, hope and a promise. Maybe it […]
December 15, 2019
December Overload December, more than any month of the year, seems to give us 31 days of permission to overdo it. We overextend ourselves with events, […]
November 3, 2019
What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence is a skill that can help change the way you view yourself and how well you communicate with others. Emotional […]
October 19, 2019
Who loves to network? Do you love or loathe networking? Perhaps it is something in between. There are some easy and helpful tips to improve your […]
September 17, 2019
Looking for a mentor? There are many reasons why having a mentor is a great idea and it's even more important when you work for yourself […]
September 2, 2019
A bouquet of newly sharpened pencils or new habits to keep September is officially here. Children are readying for back to school, a bit of a […]
August 6, 2019
Source: Magicalquote.com Recently I heard a quote that really stuck with me while watching a program on Netflix called, Mozart in the Jungle. The new maestro, […]
July 24, 2019
When I think about coming to the end of a good book, I feel a sense of loss. If I really loved the book, I don't […]
June 20, 2019
For years I've asked the question: What stops you from giving feedback? Not surprisingly, the response is consistently the same: 1) I don't know how the […]
May 24, 2019
]I recently learned some trivia about the 1976 neo-noir psychological thriller, Taxi Driver. In the movie, Robert De Niro, stars as Travis Bickle a mentally unstable […]
April 22, 2019
Recently I embarked on a complete rebranding exercise for my coaching and consulting business. The result? It made me fall more in love with the work […]
March 26, 2019
I can't imagine that anyone wakes up in the morning and says, "Hey, I think I'll be a victim in the story of my life today." […]
February 20, 2019
Olive and I have been through Beginner dog training. Note the graduation cap in the photo (no small feat to get this image!) I'd say that […]
January 21, 2019
I have a dog named Olive. She a sweet and loving little black Cockapoo. She literally is my constant companion and a joy in every way. […]