Category: Tools Everyone Can Use

A Recurring Theme

Paul Wagenaar

I believe “for-profit” and “not-for-profit” organizations both can and must make a difference in our communities. Since my return to the “for-profit” sector my posts have refocused on issues and concerns shared by many small and medium-sized organizations; however, the perspectives and lessons learned while working for the United Way and Canadian Mental Health Association are just as important as marketing, sales, and logistics.

Please take five minutes and see if there are any tools in this post you can use. Change starts with one person and we need your help.

Common denominators

Paul Wagenaar

People are the heart and soul of any organization. Finding the “perfect” hire seldom occurs, when any organization “goes to market” the best they can hope for is to find the very best person available. The search can be difficult, but can be made easier by looking for the common denominators the “best people” often share.

Adapting, Improvising, and Overcoming

Paul Wagenaar

For small and medium-size organizations of all stripes, finding good people in a challenging labor market has never been harder. Take five minutes and consider some unconventional solutions.

“The customer is not always right”

Paul Wagenaar

“The customer is always right …” is not a valid argument. “The customer has rights,” is. You have rights and you have responsibilities.

Take a few minutes, you will find this to be a short guide to finding the right retail organizations for you.

No use for regrets … but for lessons, yes 

Paul Wagenaar

Most of us don’t dwell on regrets, many of us try to apply our “lessons learned” though. Today’s post was written for people just starting out on their journey, although it can apply to any of us who are starting over after experiencing adversity. Please take a few minutes, read this, take what you can, and add your own comments.

Leading Evolution

Paul Wagenaar

People are any organization’s greatest strength, conversely they can also be its downfall. Successfully navigating through issues of entitlement, appreciating the importance of gratitude, and ensuring connectively is not always easy. Organizational evolution is the path to surviving and thriving in today’s world.

Avoiding drama, politics, and bull#@%!

Paul Wagenaar

This post was inspired by a series of miscalculations and mistakes I unfortunately helped to create. The end result was the exit of a very good person from an organization I care about deeply. What follows is a summary of our “lesson’s learned” that we will apply for the next time.

Ageism in the workplace

Paul Wagenaar

Ageism is real and it is happening today and will happen tomorrow. Ageism transcends almost all demographics and it holds back individuals who might otherwise make a difference, and it holds back organizations.

The people we don’t see …

Paul Wagenaar

Three years ago, I left the world of business and charted a new path in the charitable sector. I had always thought I was well informed and knew what was happening in my community. I was completely wrong. I am grateful for the people who volunteer and work for the United Way and the Canadian Mental Health Association for helping me to see what I couldn’t see before.

I have reentered the business world, but I am forever changed by what I learned to see, and hope to help other people see, what many of us miss every day.