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In addition to being an accomplished keynoter and seminar facilitator, Merge is an award-winning published author, writing for many well-known organizations and publications. In addition to her books, audio programs and online learning programs, Merge is also a monthly columnist for The Globe & Mail, and has written over 150 articles published in newspapers, and professional and trade magazines, most of which can be accessed below.
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The articles are organized in thirteen main categories. Either go to the category of your choice, or browse through our complete catalog below. Also be sure to visit Merge’s blog which contains numerous posts and discussions in each of these categories.
- Change management tools
- Communication tools
- Leadership tools
- Motivation tools
- Problem-solving tools
- Productivity tools
- Recruitment tools
- Self-development tools
- Social media tools
- Team-building tools
- Training tools
- Tough situation tools
- Workplace relationship tools
Merge is a regular columnist for Canada's national newspaper, The Globe & Mail. Approximately once a month, her insightful columns on a variety of leadership issues run in the weekend edition in Business section. For a period of time, she was also a regular Opinions columnist for Canadian Accountant, Canada’s independent news source for the accounting profession focusing on informational, motivational and aspirational content relevant to finance and other professionals. For two years, she was a regular contributing leadership columnist to the online version of Profit Magazine. And for eleven years, Merge wrote a regular column titled Further than Figures (Savoir-être in French) for CGA Magazine, a glossy print magazine read by over 75,000 professional accountants and their associates. Merge's columns cover various topics in “soft skills”, mostly in different areas of leadership and communication.
Merge has also written articles for FMI Journal, Landscape Trades Magazine, and several other professional periodicals. In 2004, Merge was awarded the Alan G. Ross Award for Writing Excellence for her article in FMI Journal titled “Employee Retention and Turnover”. You can find it in the archives below under Leadership Tools.
Change management tools
- Things won’t ‘get back to normal’, but we can embrace ‘another ordinary’. The Globe & Mail, Monday May 3, 2021 (online and print editions). It’s time to face the uncomfortable truth – we are never going back to the way it was before. Too much has changed – realities, expectations, technology – and whatever the postpandemic future has in store for us, it will not be “back to normal.”
- In the post-pandemic workplace, the ‘new’ normal is just the ‘now’ normal. The Globe & Mail, Monday June 29, 2020 (online and print editions). Anticipate changes in three main areas, and accentuate your interpersonal strengths to be successful.
- How to communicate unpopular decisions and changes. The Globe & Mail, Monday June 1, 2020 (online and print editions). The six things you must focus on as you craft and deliver your message.
- How to prosper in the age of accounting robots Canadian Accountant, July 12, 2018. Three strategies for embracing rather than fearing artificial intelligence
- How to spot the warning signs of disruptive innovation The Globe & Mail, Monday July 9, 2018 (online and print editions). Here are three ways to recognize whether it could happen to you, and more importantly, how you can prevent it
- Braving the tides of a shifting retail industry The Globe & Mail, Saturday November 25, 2017 (online and print editions). The rules are changing for those who aspire to carve out a place for themselves in the online marketplace
- Managing Workplace Change HR Voice, October 30, 2013.
- Implementing Change | Dynamique du changement CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2012. What it takes to transform organizational culture
- Dealing with Change | Faire face au changement CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2005. While negative change is often unpredictable, people’s reactions to it tend to follow a classic model
Communication tools
- What to do when you get mixed messages from the boss (or anyone else at work). The Globe and Mail, Monday August 23, 2021 (online and print editions). Mixed messages are confusing and if you don't get clarity, they can jeopardize your success. Five specific detailed steps to get your priorities sorted out.
- Seven ways to be a better conversationalist at work. The Globe & Mail, Monday June 28, 2021 (online and print editions). Some people come by the gift of gab naturally, but most of us need to make a conscious effort to engage and practice conversation.
- Zoom gloom? Here are eleven ways to make your online events more engaging. The Globe & Mail, Monday April 5, 2021 (online and print editions). It is possible to make your participants connect emotionally and contribute thoughtfully
- How to have a conversation with your boss about postponing your return to the office. The Globe & Mail, Monday August 24, 2020 (online and print editions). What to do if you’re not yet ready to return to a shared work environment, post-pandemic
- The right way to communicate unpopular decisions to your staff. Profit Magazine, Wednesday August 10, 2016. Sometimes you have to do things your people aren’t going to like. How to break the bad news
- How to give instructions your employees will actually follow Profit Magazine, Friday October 16, 2015. Staff don’t always hear what you’re trying to tell them the first time. The five-step method for crystal-clear communication
- How to become a persuasive triple-threat Profit Magazine, Wednesday May 20, 2015. Prospective clients will be eager to buy your ideas if you exhibit these qualities
- Take the toxins out of office gossip The Globe & Mail, Thursday May 7, 2015 (online edition); Friday May 15, 2015 (print edition)
- Make the company grapevine work for you The Globe & Mail, Tuesday March 10, 2015 (online edition)
- Selling to senior executives Canadian Facility Management and Design Magazine, Oct-Nov 2013. Communication strategies for facility managers to improve their persuasiveness and credibility when they’re making a pitch to the C-suite
- Working With International Clients | Les relations de travail internationales CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2013. Four ways to build a solid relationship
- The Art of Empathetic Listening | L’art de l’ecoute empathique CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2012. Paraphrasing what you hear can create better working relationships
- The Art and Skill of Convincing Others | L'art de convaincre les autres CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2011. Three crucial aspects of persuasiveness
- When Management Doesn’t Listen | Lorsque les gestionnaires ne vous ecoutent pas CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2010. Communication strategies to improve your persuasiveness
- Communicating clearly | Pour une communication claire CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2009. The case for reducing jargon in the workplace
- Defusing Defensive Employees | Apaiser les employés sur la défensive CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2008. How to give negative feedback positively
- Leading by Influence Statements Magazine, Oct-Nov 2007. How can you be successful in influencing others? Go to the FAB world of advertising and sales for the answer
- Working the Grapevine | Alimentez la machine à rumeurs CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2007. Harness the power of the company rumour mill
- Listen up! | Écoutez! CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2005. What causes poor listening and how to overcome it
- Writing for Results | Écrire efficacement CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2005. What you might not have learned in your high-school English class …
- The Silent Communicator | Le communicateur silencieux CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2004. Body language says much more than you might think
Leadership tools
- Workplace rituals matter, more than you might think. The Globe and Mail, Friday April 28, 2023 (online and print editions). Workplace rituals can create inclusivity and relevance for employees, leading to improved performance
- Manifesting 'workplace courage', an important but underrated skill. The Globe and Mail, Monday February 8, 2021 (online and print editions). A recent distressing situation at a major hospital prompts this article about workplace courage.
- Four principles for creating an effective hybrid workplace culture. The Globe and Mail, Monday January 11, 2021 (online and print editions). 2021 will be the year of the virtual or hybrid workplace. As a leader, here's what you need to do to make it work!
- As video conferencing fatigue continues, here are 10 ways to make virtual team meetings engaging and fun . The Globe and Mail, Monday December 14, 2020 (online and print editions). People may be getting Zoomed-out, Meet-maxed and Webex-weary, but it is possible to change that!
- The compelling case for ‘good enough’ in the workplace. The Globe and Mail, Monday November 16, 2020 (online and print editions). “Good enough” often carries a negative connotation. But perhaps it’s time to celebrate its biggest advantage – adaptability.
- Five lessons learned as a first-time supervisor. The Globe & Mail, Monday February 10, 2020 (print and online editions). If you watch for and avoid these five traps that most novice leaders fall into, you will set yourself up for early supervisory success.
- Artificial intelligence is the next revolution in customer service The Globe & Mail, Monday April 16, 2018 (online and print editions). If your business isn't considering and acting on the fast-changing potential of AI, it is risking its competitive advantage
- Five tell-tale signs leadership is slipping The Globe & Mail, Monday March 19, 2018 (online and print editions). Exceptional leaders understand that there is a difference between management and leadership
- The five top leadership issues to watch out for in 2018 The Globe & Mail, Monday January 1, 2018 (online and print editions). From employee mental wellness to artificial intelligence, these are the key areas to focus on in 2018
- Sexual harassment and the C-suite The Globe & Mail, Saturday July 22, 2017 (online and print editions). The world of work is no place for the threat of unwelcomed sexual innuendo -- and leaders need to create safe workplace cultures
- Lessons from the United debacle (or how not to destroy your brand) The Globe & Mail, Wednesday April 19, 2017 (print and online editions)
- The 5 rookie mistakes new leaders often make Profit Magazine, Thursday March 31, 2016. Starting a business or stepping up into a managerial role requires a person to learn new skills and realities fast. Avoid these common traps
- Why CEOs should not take a vacation The Globe & Mail, Friday December 11, 2015 (online edition)
- Three reasons to ignore your company's policy manual The Globe & Mail, Wednesday day October 7, 2015 (online edition)
- Amazon's leadership forgot that 'how' is as important as 'what' The Globe & Mail, Saturday August 22, 2015 (online and print editions)
- Why do smart managers do stupid things? The Globe & Mail, Tuesday November 4, 2014 (online edition); Friday November 7, 2014 (print edition)
- Why are so many managers useless as leaders? The Globe & Mail, Friday October 3, 2014 (online edition); Friday October 10, 2014 (print edition)
- How to be the boss when your co-workers are your friends The Globe & Mail, Thursday January 23, 2014 (online edition)
- Continuing Education in the Workplace | Formation continue au travail CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2013. It's a leader's job to actively promote lifelong learning
- Workforce Economics | De gens et d’argent CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2013. Why spending on your employees is “smart money”
- What’s the Buzz? | Que dit-on de vous? CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2011. Keeping your finger on the pulse of opinion
- A Manager’s Folly | Le gestionnaire qui se croyait leader CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2010. A leadership fable about how actions speak louder than words
- Are you giving your people butter knives or bread knives? American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic Connection Magazine, Sep-Oct 2009. Are you guilty of setting your employees up to fail?
- Going Against the Grain: A Contrarian View to Common Recessionary Tactics The Better Business Advocate (special insert in Alberta Venture Magazine), April 2009. Go to page 3.
- Giovanni’s Folly | La folie de Giovanni CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2009. A leadership fable about how one manager lost sight of the big picture
- Putting Your People First | Pensez d’abord aux employés CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2008. A central role of leadership is to develop and support your people.
- Supervising Friends | Superviser ses amis CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2007. Maintaining peak performance when a promotion puts you in charge of workplace pals
- Valuing Experience | La valeur de l’expérience CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2007. How to bring out the best in long-term employees
- Managing Virtually | La gestion virtuelle CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2006. Four ways to overcome the challenges of long-distance leadership
- Staff Retention | Fidéliser les employés CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2006. Keeping talent in a competitive economy
- Effective Evaluations | Des évaluations efficaces CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2006. Tips for conducting performance evaluations
- Crossing the Bridge: Going from Non-Management to Management | English | French FMI Journal, Autumn 2004
- Employee Retention and Turnover: The Real Reasons Why Employees Stay or Go | English | French FMI Journal, Winter 2004. This article went on to win the 2004 Alan G. Ross Award for Writing Excellence
Motivation tools
- Hate your job? You have three choices The Globe & Mail, March 9, 2020 (online and print editions). If you hate your job, then it’s time to stop whining about it at the water cooler and to do something.
- Five strategies to help ensure top performers don't jump ship The Globe & Mail, Monday November 26, 2018 (online and print editions). While fair pay is important, money doesn't make the list
- Five ways to make "flexible work" actually work The Globe & Mail, Monday October 29, 2018 (online and print editions). If you are not open to this approach, you are putting your organization at a competitive disadvantage
- What it really takes for an employee to be engaged The Globe & Mail, Monday June 11, 2018 (online and print editions). Some tips and tricks you can use to breed the kind of work culture that rewards ...
- It's time to get rid of performance reviews The Globe & Mail, Monday January 29, 2018 (online and print editions). Managers and employees alike seem to despise these yearly meetings, so let's replace them with something far more worthwhile and more collaborative
- Why money is not an employee motivator The Globe & Mail, Monday January 31, 2017 (online edition); Wednesday February 1, 2017 (print edition)
- 16 Ways to motivate your people without spending money. Profit Magazine, Thursday October 13, 2016. How to reward your employees on a shoestring budget
- Forced employee ranking is a foolish approach The Globe & Mail, Tuesday May 10, 2016 (online edition)
- Five foolproof ways to destroy employee morale The Globe & Mail, Friday August 14, 2015 (online edition)
- The Age-Diverse Workplace: Inspiring the troops – all the troops Food Service & Nutrition Magazine, Spring 2015.
- Motivating Employees: Ideas to create high-performing workplaces HR Voice, January 22, 2014.
- Are We Having Fun Yet? | Siffler en travaillant CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2012. Creating a workplace that is playful and productive
- Employee Rewards | La reconnaissance des employés CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2006. How to motivate people on a shoestring budget
- Motivating Your Employees Landscape Trades Magazine, June 2006. Money isn’t the answer
- Motivating Employees | La motivation des employés CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2003. An old principle still holds true today when it comes to inspiring staff
Problem-solving tools
- How to stop doing employees' work for them Profit Magazine, Monday July 20, 2015. There's no point assigning a task to someone else if you're just going to take it back and do it yourself later. Avoid reverse-delegation
- Sharing Information and Knowledge | Mise en commun de l’information et du savoir CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2013. Mass collaboration — a layperson’s guide to the why and (some of) the how
- Developing Independent Thinkers | Encouragez l’autonomie CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2010. The business case for not solving the problem
- Avoiding Reverse Delegation | Dites non à la délégation à rebours CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2007. Empowering staff to solve their own problems is positive for all involved
Productivity tools
- Three powerful rules to make every meeting productive The Globe & Mail, Monday September 20, 2021 (online and print editions). The meeting from hell! — no structure, too long, nothing gets accomplished, boring, irrelevant, adversarial. The list goes on. Yet productive meetings ARE possible.
- Are you a human bottleneck, slowing progress in the workplace? The Globe & Mail, Monday September 21, 2020 (online and print editions). When work slows down or stops because activities need to be funnelled through a single individual, it creates ineffeciencies
- Work/life balance is a myth The Globe & Mail, Monday October 1, 2018 (online and print editions). The concept implies a negative that needs to be offset by a positive – an outdated, needlessly stressful approach. Consider work/life blend instead
- Should Canadian businesses consider a moratorium on e-mail? The Globe & Mail, Saturday September 23, 2017 (online and print editions). To learn how to not take your work home with you, look to Germany’s employee-friendly economy
- Six Rules for the Open-Office Environment The Globe & Mail, Thursday November 3, 2016 (online edition); Saturday November 5, 2016 (print edition)
- A 9-Point Plan for Overcoming Procrastination Profit Magazine, Tuesday September 8, 2015. Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Four reasons why you avoid working on necessary tasks, and five ways to stop
- How to stay focused by managing workplace interruptions Profit Magazine, Thursday June 18, 2015. To maximize productivity you need to minimize distractions. Three steps to getting more done
- Perfectionism is Not a Plus | Le perfectionnisme, cette qualite a eviter CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2012. The business case for 80 per cent results
- Voicemail Etiquette | Etiquette en matiere de messagerie vocale CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2011. Taking productivity from mediocre to masterful
- Mastermind Circles | Les cercles de réflexion CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2008. A powerful and easy way to create your own advisory panel
- Twelve Surefire Signs That Your Meetings Need a Makeover Sep 2008. A fun article about the challenges of meeting management
- Phone Power | Téléphone: mode e’emploi CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2006. Tips for managing an endless onslaught of calls
- Checks and Balances Landscape Trades Magazine, Sep 2004. A professional accountant herself, Merge is keenly aware that accountants can be guilty of speaking in a foreign language that non-accountants have trouble understanding. For that reason, she occasionally takes her communication skills to a slightly different arena – helping non-accountants understand the accounting lingo! If you’re a non-financial person, learn how to use the “balanced score card” in your businesses.
- Effective Meetings | Des réunions productives CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2004. Five rules for holding successful meetings
- You’ve Got Mail | Vous avez du courrier CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2004. Avoid the pitfalls of electronic mail
Recruitment tools
- How to Reduce Employee Turnover | Comment reduire le roulement du personnel CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2014. Building strength and sustainability in your workforce
- Hiring Right the First Time Landscape Trades Magazine, Mar 2006. Minimize the costs of poor hiring decisions by using sound interviewing techniques
- Sterling Silver: Why You Should be Recruiting Employees Aged 50 and Over | English | French FMI Journal, Autumn 2005. If you’re missing out on recruiting in this important demographic, you’re doing your organization a huge disservice
- Hiring Right | Savoir engager CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2005. Use behaviour descriptive interviewing to hire the right person
Self-development tools
- AI may be coming for your job, but all is not lost. The Globe and Mail, Friday June 2, 2023 (online and print editions). Will AI steal your job? Possibly! But all is not lost. Humans cannot compete when it comes to gathering and processing data, but we can differentiate ourselves elsewhere.
- Nine ways to love your job again once tasks feel tedious. The Globe and Mail, Friday January 13, 2023 (online and print editions). Are you getting tired of your current job? Moving to another one may not always be the best solution.
- Is working from home good for your career? Six drawbacks that point to no. The Globe and Mail, Friday November 25, 2022 (online and print editions). Just because you can work remotely, doesn't mean that you should.
- Want to be the employee who gets promotions? Seven steps to gaining high-potential status. The Globe and Mail, Friday November 11, 2022 (online and print editions). What is it that HiPos (or high-potential employees) have that gets them noticed ... in a good way.
- How to differentiate helpful from unhelpful negative criticism. The Globe & Mail, Monday October 18, 2021 (online and print editions). A great two-step process to unemotionally evaluate the criticism you receive so that you can decide what to do next
- Five clues you're in the wrong job. The Globe & Mail, Monday July 26, 2021 (online and print editions). If three or more of these clues are true for you, then don’t settle for what you have right now; you deserve more for yourself
- Five ways being a kind person can help your career. The Globe & Mail, Monday July 27, 2020 (online and print editions). Genuine kindness can often do more to further your career than your exceptional work ethic, or your results-focused determination, or your dogged persistence
- Want respect at work? Here are eight ways to earn it The Globe & Mail, January 13, 2020 (online and print editions). If you want to be respected at work, then understand that you need to work at it.
- The informational interview – your secret advantage for your next job The Globe & Mail, November 11, 2019 (online and print editions). Part networking, part information-gathering, and part low-key self-promotion, an informational interview is a powerful way to get your next job.
- Seven lessons learned as a first-time entrepreneur The Globe & Mail, October 7, 2019 (online and print editions). If you're thinking about taking the leap from employee to entrepreneur, then these will help you avoid a few speed bumps along the way.
- The better way to deal with criticism at work The Globe & Mail, September 9, 2019 (online and print editions). A simple two-dimensional model leaders can use to first, evaluate the criticism, and then thoughtfully respond, based on that assessment.
- What does it (really) take to get promoted? The Globe & Mail, August 12, 2019 (online and print editions). Is it possible that what some people call 'sucking up' may simply be learning how to work with your specific supervisor or manager?
- Eight steps to finding a mentor The Globe & Mail, July 8, 2019 (online and print editions). Mentorship is something you engage in, not something that just happens. It is a process, not an accomplishment.
- You need to cast off your shell if you want to continue to grow The Globe & Mail, June 17, 2019 (online and print editions). To get ahead in the world of work, do as the lobster does
- Six steps to take today, toward a leadership role tomorrow The Globe & Mail, March 18, 2019 (online and print editions). There are things you can do today to position yourself as a future leader, in the eyes of those who can help get you there
- Nine easy ways to take charge of your professional development The Globe & Mail, February 25, 2019 (online and print editions). Often lack of time and resources means that continued learning takes a back seat. Don't let it!
- Looking to rise in the ranks? Here are 7 things you need to do now Canadian Accountant, January 24, 2018. Want to climb the corporate ladder? Then get recognized as a high-potential employee
- Five ways for CPAs to build a kick-ass personal brand Canadian Accountant, October 4, 2017. Want to build a kick-ass personal brand? Get real
- Five keys to breaking free from accounting stereotypes Canadian Accountant, July 19, 2017. Break free from negative labels with these five keys to the C-suite
- 5 Reasons why accountants make great leaders Canadian Accountant, May 25, 2017. Professionally trained accountants bring far more to the leadership arena than do some other professionals, here's why
- 5 Practical ways you should invest in yourself Profit Magazine, Friday February 5, 2016. You can’t help anyone else if you’re running on empty. What leaders must do to refuel
- Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure | Sous pression? Gardez votre sang-froid CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2012. How to stay calm and composed even in the most trying situations
- Taking Education Beyond the Classroom The Bottom Line Magazine, Mid-May 2009. Six specific ideas to keep you at a competitive advantage.
- Responding to Criticism | Répondre aux critiques CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2009. Use a simple grid to evaluate feedback
- Serving on a Board | Siéger à un conseil CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2007. Being on a board of directors is different from managing a business
- Good Manners Matter | Les bonnes manières en disent long sur vous CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2005. Don’t underestimate the importance of business etiquette
- Business Casual | La tenue de bureau décontractée CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2005. What does it mean anyway?
- Overcoming Speaker Anxiety | La peur des discours CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004. Getting past the fear of speaking in public
Social media tools
- I am not a social media expert Outlook Magazine, Spring 2011. My story of why and how I entered the world of social media (and why every leader should care)
- Communicating in 2010 | La communication en 2010 CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2010. Why leaders cannot ignore the impact of social media
Team-building tools
- If they give, you will get back | Donner pour recevoir CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2013. The case for employee volunteer programs
- Conflict and disagreement are not always bad Lab Manager Magazine, October 2012. In fact, they are essential to high-performing work teams
- The Abilene Paradox and Groupthink | Le paradoxe d’Abilene et la pensee de groupe CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2011. Why conflict and disagreement are essential for high-performing teams
Training tools
- Training Justified | Justifier la formation CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2012. When you’re asked to justify your training budget, this classic model can help make the case
- Training as an Investment | La formation: un investissement CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2009. Why slashing training and development budgets is not a good idea
- Training by the Senses Landscape Trades Magazine, May 2005. Two powerful concepts to make your training produce results
- Training and Motivating for Quality Management: A Practical Model. Paper presented at the ASQ’s (American Society for Quality) 54th Annual Quality Congress in Indianapolis IN, May 2000
Tough situation tools
- Is is a good idea to give negative feedback to your boss? The Globe & Mail, Friday March 3, 2023 (online and print editions). Should you tell your boss your grievances, with a goal of improving your relationship? Or should you suck it up and hope they leave?
- What does it take to lead in times of crisis? The Globe & Mail, Monday April 6, 2020 (online and print editions). The COVID-19 pandemic is a living case study of crisis leadership at its best (and worst).
- How to survive the 'extreme' narcissist and make your workday bearable The Globe & Mail, Monday December 9, 2019 (online and print editions). They come across as full of noise and bluster, but the outward confidence belies deep-seated internal insecurities
- How to work with almost everyone — even those you don’t respect The Globe & Mail, Monday January 28, 2019 (online and print editions). You will likely have to work with people you don't like, but you can still function
- Bracing for the boomer brain drain The Globe & Mail, Monday August 6, 2018 (online and print editions). Fight corporate amnesia and retain crucial institutional knowledge with these strategies
- Why good leaders make grave mistakes − and still thrive The Globe & Mail, Monday May 14, 2018 (online and print editions). When it comes to battling blunders and successfully moving forward, three essential actions separate the leaders from the managers
- How to break bad news to a client Profit Magazine, Wednesday May 25, 2016. Sometimes things just don’t go your way. Seven steps to telling your customers the unfortunate truth without jeopardizing your reputation and credibility
- Got a problem employee? Don't whitewash The Globe & Mail, Friday June 19, 2015 (online edition); Friday June 26, 2015 (print edition)
- How to inspire the close-to-retirement employee The Globe & Mail, Wednesday August 20, 2014 (online edition); Friday August 29, 2014 (print edition)
- Unmet Expectations | Objectifs non atteints CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2013. The four reasons for employee non-performance
- When Co-workers Get Angry | Quand les collegues se fachent CGA Magazine, Mar-Apr 2011. Tips on how to respond with composure and equanimity
- Breaking Bad News | Annoncer une mauvaise nouvelle CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2010. How to deliver unpleasant information with compassion and credibility
- Conquering the Negativity Toxin | L’attitude negative CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2009. Strategies to deal with negativity in the workplace
- Following a Tough Act | Après un geste difficile CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2009. Four crucial steps to take after firing an employee
- The Leader’s Guide to Difficult Conversations Statements Magazine, April-May 2009. Are you avoiding that “difficult” conversation with an employee or co-worker? Here are the tools to take command now. This article received positive feedback in the subsequent June-July issue of Statements Magazine. Read the Letters to the Editor
- Dealing with Micro-managers | Composer avec les microgestionnaires CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2008. Strategies to save your sanity
- Giving a Negative Review | Les rencontres d’évaluation négatives CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2007. Two things you must do before meeting with a problem employee
Workplace relationship tools
- Tips for a hybrid workplace: How not to be out of sight, out of mind. The Globe and Mail, Monday May 31, 2021 (online and print editions). Will hybrid work make it harder to get things accomplished? Will your career progression be negatively affected? Possibly. Unless you do something about it.
- How to display true empathy in the workplace. The Globe and Mail, Monday March 8, 2021 (online and print editions). Empathy means being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and trying to feel what the other person is feeling.
- Want to be more persuasive? Become more likeable. The Globe and Mail, Monday October 19, 2020 (online and print editions). The seven simple things that extraordinarily likeable people do, consistently and repeatedly
- How to maintain that long-distance relationship with your boss The Globe & Mail, Saturday May 9, 2020 (print edition); Monday May 11, 2020 (online edition). The single deliberate action (and six steps) you must take to make working remotely a success
- Making the most of organizational politics is one of the keys to good management. The Globe & Mail, Monday April 15, 2019 (online and print editions). Four specific ways to make organizational politics work for you, rather than against
- Unintentional behaviours may be sending co-workers signals you're untrustworthy The Globe & Mail, Monday December 31, 2018 (online and print editions). Workplace trust is essential not only to establish your reputation, but also to build a strong network of people who will help you throughout your career
- How Gen Zers differ from millennials in the workplace The Globe & Mail, Monday September 3, 2018 (online and print editions). If you’re a leader, don’t make the grave error of thinking that Gen Zers are just millennials magnified.
- Is workplace loyalty dead in the age of the millennial? The Globe & Mail, Saturday October 21, 2017 (online and print editions). Build an attractive working environment to draw millennials in and keep them around
- Want respect, millennials? Here's how to earn it The Globe & Mail, Tuesday June 10, 2014 (online edition); Friday June 13, 2014 (print edition)
- Don't gripe about millennials at work, appreciate their talents instead The Globe & Mail, Wednesday April 30, 2014 (online edition); Friday May 2, 2014 (print edition)
- Four things millennials hate about you The Globe & Mail, Monday March 31, 2014 (online edition); Friday April 4, 2014 (print edition)
- Clashing Co-workers Creating a Commotion? | Des differends entre collegues destabilisent votre milieu de travail? CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2014. How to handle employees who don't "play nice"
- How to be the boss when your co-workers are your friends The Globe & Mail, Leadership Lab series, January 23, 2014.
- Ages Apart Perspectives Magazine published by the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, Fall 2012. How to bridge generational differences to create productive and successful workplaces
- Leading the Multi-Generational Workforce | Diriger une equipe multigenerationnelle CGA Magazine, Jan-Feb 2011. Awareness and adaptation are the key to success
- Traditionalists to Millennials | Batir des ponts entre les generations CGA Magazine, Nov-Dec 2010. Five things every leader should know about the multi-generational workplace
- When the Boss Moves On | Quand votre patron s’en va CGA Magazine, Jul-Aug 2008. Strategies to re-establish your reputation with a new manager
- Welcome to Your First Job | Bienvenue su le marché du travail CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2008. Tips on getting respect despite your youth
- Power Networking | La force des réseaux CGA Magazine, May-Jun 2004. Put six degrees of separation to work for your career
- Support for Soft Skills | Exploiter son savoir-étre CGA Magazine, Sep-Oct 2003. People skills are as important as technical skills
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Merge Gupta-Sunderji turns managers into leaders. Through engaging keynotes and seminars, she gives people specific and practical tools to achieve leadership and communication success. Contact her at www.TurningManagersIntoLeaders.com or 403-605-4756.
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