Northern Engagement

Over the years of working with boards I have noticed how and what questions are asked in board meetings. Body language, tone, power inequities, social capital, bias, and assumptions, all have a role in how a question is given and received.

I want to poke at the types of questions. There are unasked questions, hesitant ambiguous questions, closed questions, pointy prickly questions, and open curious questions.

You have most likely already guessed that I encourage and celebrate the open curious questions. It is worthwhile to poke a bit at the other types of questions so that we better understand their impact on the work of the board and the work of the organization.

I explore these questions in a bit (a very small bit) of detail over at Babs' Doing Leadership Differently blog (yes, another leadership blog!) at https://northernengagement.ca/2023/03/21/focus-on-governance-asking-questions-of-curiosity/



Image below is a black and white photo of a coin operated pair of binoculars on top of a metal stand. Photo by Fernando Gomez on Unsplash.

We know that psychological safety is important leadership work.

The key is to move it from our thinking to our behaviours.

From my "Babs’ Doing Leadership Differently Blog".

When the leader backs away from engaging with psychological safety it can make it near impossible for it to become a team or organizational norm.

But we have opportunities to do differently. We can let go of our poorly informed perceptions and limiting beliefs, dig deep into our motivations, behave ethically with wisdom and compassion, and learn different ways of leading and managing.

I want to contribute to a work culture where everyone speaks up, listens deeply to understand, is comfortable not knowing, will sit with a bit of uncertainty, can generously disagree, and move on, is curious, asks questions, shares wild ideas, and makes wise mistakes.

I’m also keen to learn about what psychological safety might mean to advancing EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) and reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization in the workplace.

How about you?

Read the full post "Musings on Psychological Safety" at https://northernengagement.ca/2023/03/12/musings-on-psychological-safety/



Photo by Joe Dudeck on Unsplash

Being a board chair isn’t what many think it is. Too often we equate it with tools of chairing such as agenda, process (sometimes known by the heavy-handed term “rules of order”), and board packages.

Those are tools, and as important as they are, the effectiveness of those tools depends on why and how they are used.

Throughout February I had the pleasure of working with public and non-profit sector board chairs, vice-chairs, and upcoming chairs from across BC. We worked together in online workshops, through one-on-one coaching, and by bringing whole boards together for team development.

As I reflect on those experiences and my past work with governance leadership, a few themes jump out.
· Chairing is not a solo experience. Sharing lead roles and leadership is always better for boards.
· Compassion, self-awareness, awareness of others, generosity, kindness, positive regards, and all-round emotional intelligence are more important than parliamentary expertise.
· Sharing a commitment to accountability, transparency, fiduciary responsibility, and duty of care is common sense AND will result in wise agendas, process, board structures.
· A board that has the above will excel in governance oversight and strategic vision.
· An organization that has a board with the above has the opportunity for healthy organizational culture and meaningful impact for and with the community it serves.

I share this with much gratitude to all the good folks I worked and learned with in February. Thank you!



Photo by Federica Campanaro on Unsplash

I have a lot of compassion for the accidental toxic leader. It can happen to most any of us. Know you are not alone, I'm here to work with you.

From my "Babs’ Doing Leadership Differently Blog".

We don’t usually think of a toxic person as ourselves or that someone on the team who always arrives early (usually first) with muffins and a birthday card for everyone to sign and sends a well-meaning email for everyone to remember their turn on the kitchen-cleaning rota even though they normally don’t mind doing the extra cleaning, but this week they are slammed with extra reports (smiley face, dish emoji). Nice, well-meaning, a little tired, overworked, but toxic?

Yes, toxic.

Read the full post at https://northernengagement.ca/2023/02/26/the-accidental-toxic-leader/

Image from Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

Feeling grateful to have the time to read, think, and write!

My latest blog post at Northern Engagement, is "What to do when work feels, well like work."

Spoiler alert, in the end it's still work, but you can feel better about it.

https://northernengagement.ca/2023/02/20/what-to-do-when-work-feels-well-like-work/



Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

Because I actually do believe that we need another leadership blog, I am doing so at "Babs’ Doing Leadership Differently Blog".

https://northernengagement.ca/blog/

Most recent post is a reflection on learning about strategy activation from IDEO U.



Image: Push button for walk signal to cross the street.
Photo by Josh Calabrese on Unsplash

I had the privilege of being able to attend this event yesterday. It was heart filling-ly wonderful and inspiring.

Truly a moment where leadership, reconciliation, and action met.

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/ancestral-land-acknowledgement-important-at-prince-george-library-6524493

Ancestral land acknowledgement important at Prince George Library Plaques were presented to the Prince George Public Library Friday morning to acknowledge the ancestral lands of the Lheidli T'enneh.