Problem Solving

Growing up six hours north of Toronto, Canada, super rainy or snowy days meant slim pickings on TV, especially when you only had two channels. If neither station had anything good, we had to get creative. There was always a jigsaw puzzle, a swim, a skate, a cross country ski, or even learning how to…

At a training conference in Europe years ago, I met a wonderful colleague from Sweden. One day, as I was hurrying off somewhere, she gently placed her hand on my arm and said, “Barbara, there is no rush. In Sweden, we like to say, ‘We have all the time we need.’” So why do we…

Did you know that the inability to plan may not be good for your health?  And when it comes to planning, who is there to support you can make all the difference. Let me explain. It’s hump day, Wednesday, and you’re exhausted. It’s 6 p.m., you’re hungry, and you haven’t planned anything for dinner. You…

Are you a fan of puzzles? What about those huge jigsaws where every piece looks like it could fit almost anywhere? That’s exactly how running a business feels these days. Leaders are constantly trying to fit pieces together in ways they’ve never had to before. Now let’s talk about three words you don’t usually hear…

Executives often ask me, “Why start something if we’re unsure we can finish it? It just doesn’t make sense.”  Management tends to only begin something when they know it can be completed. If it’s uncertain, they put it on hold—sometimes indefinitely—missing out on what could have been. But what if you simply start with one…

Ever feel tempted to finish an entire bag of potato chips once it’s opened?  I mean, it’s already open, right? And it seems logical to eat them all before they go stale. But we all know it’s healthier to enjoy them in moderation rather than plowing through the whole bag in one go. Unless, of…

We’ve all sat through those project presentations to leadership where the Geeky PM drones on, and not only is everyone bored, they secretly message each other about how to make a quick escape. Over time, I’ve learned to work on five key areas to strengthen when pitching projects to leadership: All of these collectively build…

How do you effectively convey your project’s value to leadership? You know your project is essential. You’ve spent months in the weeds—gathering requirements, aligning stakeholders, prepping for approvals. But here’s the thing: just knowing it’s important isn’t enough. If leadership doesn’t see the value clearly, your project might never get the green light. Many project…

Have you ever stepped inside a massive food warehouse, way larger than Costco?  I have, and it was truly eye-opening. Seamless Warehousing I once took a tour of a Gordon Food Service warehouse in Milton, Ontario, Canada. As one of the largest food distribution companies in North America, they have a fully automated distribution centre.…

Imagine this: you’ve just handed over a complex product to your client, perhaps an app that took months to create, and you’re all set to go straight into implementation.  Everyone is super excited to dive in and start using the product. But wait! Your client needs a little guidance to get started. They may not…