Category: Social Responsibility

Finding a safe and affordable place to live

Paul Wagenaar

Safe, affordable housing for everyone. Many people talk about affordable housing, but few really define what that is.

Unfortunately, safe and affordable housing simply doesn’t exist for many people. It is difficult enough for the average person or family, for vulnerable, low-income people and families the potential of homelessness is very real.

This post is intended to help navigate the very Darwinian market of housing supply and demand. In a small way, it might help to illuminate some of the questions, workarounds, solutions, and resources that are available to help.

Revisiting Leadership

Paul Wagenaar

Effective leadership is not easy. An effective leader is always learning, always reinventing themselves, and always adapting their skills and approach to the current environment. To be successful, effective leaders cannot be entrenched they must constantly look at different perspectives and be aware of their blind spots.

Effective leaders never forget that leadership isn’t about them, it is about the people they lead. They are facilitators, they empower, and they are whatever the situation, their organization, and most importantly what their people need them to be.

Simple Considerations …

Paul Wagenaar

I have hoped in a small humorous way to highlight some things that people can change. All of these are relatively easy to fix, and they drive, not just me, crazy, but many others.

With all the stress, anxiety, and issues we all face today, correcting some or all these small “Richard” behaviors wouldn’t be difficult, so read this post and see what you think.

10 Warning Signs Your Meetings are in Trouble.

Paul Wagenaar

We have all experienced them.
The kind of meeting where the clock, if it seems to move at all crawls at a glacial pace. Far from being productive, the attendees have long since stopped paying attention and only want to find an escape so they can get some real work done.

Ineffective meetings frustrate everyone, the people attending them and the people running them.

The first step to resolution is to recognize the warning signs and then start today rectifying the situation.

Culture and Teamwork

Paul Wagenaar

More than ever, I appreciate how an organization uses its culture to develop ideas and concepts through its people.

Systems and processes are important but how an organization collaborates with its people is what really sets it apart. It doesn’t matter whether your organization is small or large, these tools can help everyone.

Rigidity – People & Organizations

Paul Wagenaar

Rigidity usually happens slowly and without most people noticing.
If we do notice it, we usually only see it in other organizations and in other people. Most people do not even realize it is happening to them, many will deny it, but those who do are only fooling themselves.

The rigidity of thinking and action can stifle growth, success, and happiness, and even threaten survival.

August might seem like a funny time to look for a summer job, but …

Paul Wagenaar

August/September is a good time to look for a summer job. Any time is a good time to remember the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that make any job good for workers and employers. Hiring students is good for businesses and for charities and non-profit organizations.

The First Two Weeks … and the Last Two Weeks

Paul Wagenaar

New people are excited and want to do a good job. Successful organizations combine good onboarding plans with detailed development plans to give their people the skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to achieve the goals of the organization and their team members.

A person’s final weeks are equally important. As we have mentioned successful organizations manage hiring, onboarding, and the first weeks and months to give their new hires all of the tools they need to succeed. Successful organizations set themselves apart from their competition equally as much, by the ways they plan and manage the time when a person is preparing to leave their organization.