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Leadership Insights

Refinery’s leadership insights are written by our experts from around the world with decades of leadership development experience. We’re always learning and always sharing. Get the real dirt.
Paddles Up: A Lesson in Teamwork

Paddles Up: A Lesson in Teamwork

I had the privilege last month to participate as a member of Team Canada in the 2024 IVF World Sprints Outrigger Championship in Hilo, Hawaii. The year leading up to this 2-week, multi-race event was filled with strenuous, physical training both on and off the water. ...

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A Love Letter to Jasper

A Love Letter to Jasper

When I initially heard the news, I was surprised at my immediate reaction—I just started sobbing. What I realized days later was the impact of my experiences in Jasper, particularly the multi-day backcountry hike along the Skyline Trail with my three friends, and how...

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This request from my leader made me tear up.

This request from my leader made me tear up.

I have been working with leaders for over 30 years and can say the pressure, pace and demands are like never before. This is no surprise to anyone; however, it can be challenging to admit we humans are not built to sustain this pressure and pace without a respite. As...

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7 Signs of Misaligned Leadership Teams

7 Signs of Misaligned Leadership Teams

In turbulent times, misaligned leadership teams steer in different directions, struggling with internal conflicts and wasted effort, leaving the organization confused and disheartened. Truly aligned leadership teams work together to foster a positive culture while...

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5 Ways to Improve Leadership Team Alignment

5 Ways to Improve Leadership Team Alignment

As we embark on a new year, we’re partnering with many of our clients as they launch their 2024 strategies. This is the season of clarifying priorities, communicating plans, and cascading goals. One thing we can be sure of: few plans will survive contact with reality....

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4 Steps to Building a Successful Strategy

4 Steps to Building a Successful Strategy

You’ve probably been there.  Faced with developing a strategic plan—for your company, your department, or a non-profit board that you sit on.  You need to involve others, but how?  You need a meaningful, practical approach, but what does it look like?  You need to end...

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Part Three: Building The Better Boss: The How

Part Three: Building The Better Boss: The How

In my previous two blogs, I explored the reasons why Refinery decided to design a leadership development program focused on psychological health and safety in the workplace; a two-module program that would focus specifically on psychological resilience (leading self)...

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Part Two: Building The Better Boss: The Why

Part Two: Building The Better Boss: The Why

In my previous blog, I shared some context around what we understand are challenges facing leaders today and a little about how Refinery decided to design a program that focuses on supporting them through those challenges – with focused development around mental...

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Part One: Building The Better Boss: The Challenge

Part One: Building The Better Boss: The Challenge

In my role as Director of Design at Refinery, I’m often asked to describe our approach to leadership development and even more often asked to comment on what sets our work apart from other offerings. Because these are frequently asked questions, I like to think I’ve...

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Refinery – What’s It Like to Be Our Client?

Refinery – What’s It Like to Be Our Client?

People often ask us what they can expect when they sign up their organization to engage in a Refinery Leadership Program. They know – more or less – what they want and what they are looking to achieve. What they don’t know is what it’s going to take to get there, what...

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What is Needed from Leaders in 2022

What is Needed from Leaders in 2022

Leaders have faced many challenges they never expected over the past two years.  And today, many are not only still dealing with the fallout of the pandemic, but they are also facing a labour shortage that for some is already reaching crisis levels. And these same...

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Safety in Mining Part 1- Susan we have a problem

Safety in Mining Part 1- Susan we have a problem

“Susan, we have a problem at our Lost Wolf Mine Site*.  Despite the fact that we implemented an intensive safety program last year, we continue to see a rise in critical safety incidents and fatalities.  Can you help us?” This request was not one that we commonly...

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Learning the Recipe of Refinery’s Secret Sauce

Learning the Recipe of Refinery’s Secret Sauce

When Rhonda Gorman first joined the Refinery team in February 2019 in a business development role, she wasn’t sure if she had made the right decision or not. Of course, she knew of Refinery, but like many others that she now comes in contact with on a daily basis, she...

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Banking and Leadership

Banking and Leadership

I’m pretty proud of the fact that I spent a good majority of my formative career years in the banking industry. Fortunately, I had some great leaders to guide me through the sometimes treacherous political waters of “big bank” hierarchies. Over the years, I worked in...

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Questions for a New World of Leadership

Questions for a New World of Leadership

Last March, as we contemplated the need to adapt our in-person programs to virtual programs, we knew it was not as simple as just taking the same content and activities and delivering them via an online platform such as Zoom. After all, Refinery is best known for our...

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Effective Leadership During Times of Uncertainty

Effective Leadership During Times of Uncertainty

Over the past few weeks, change has occurred rapidly and drastically. As a leader, engagement with your teams might be one of the few things our employees can depend on to guide them through their days. Now more than ever, we must remember the fundamentals of...

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What leadership looks like in times of turmoil

What leadership looks like in times of turmoil

In the wake of the tragedy that took place on March 15th in Christchurch New Zealand, I shared something powerful and hopeful with my LinkedIn community: the picture of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, accompanied by a comment on her display of empathy and inspiring...

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Knowing How Isn’t Always Enough

Knowing How Isn’t Always Enough

Last November, I took a break and spent a (well deserved if I do say so) vacation in Jamaica. While there, my wife and I went for a dive on one of the reefs off the coast of Negril. Despite being a proficient diver, having dove for many years in Central America,...

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Shedding the Corporate Armour—Part One

Shedding the Corporate Armour—Part One

It was May of 1985. I had just finished my last final exam during my third year of undergrad, and had heard back from my internship coordinator that I was scheduled for my first interview for a professional internship at the Marine Bank Corporation in Milwaukee,...

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Sometimes You Just Need to Get Punched

Sometimes You Just Need to Get Punched

I love this excerpt from a recent New York Times interview with Amy Schumer where she was asked: “What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift?” Whether you like her comedy or not, her reference to The Professional pulls out an inherent truth in how she...

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