The Leadership Lab

In Plato’s  Phaedrus , the soul is depicted as a charioteer steering two horses. One is noble, disciplined, and obedient to reason; the other is wild, lustful, and driven by appetite. The charioteer’s task is not to destroy the unruly horse, but to bring both into harmony so the soul can ascend toward truth and beauty. For Plato, this image captured the eternal struggle between our higher and lowe...

Leadership, in its truest form, has always demanded a price most are unwilling to pay. It is not the glamorous projection of authority that many chase, nor the public acclaim that adorns titles and awards. True leadership is an act of sacrifice — a transaction between conviction and comfort, integrity and ease, accountability and applause. Those who embrace it must walk a lonely road, stripped of...

Modern society suffers from a terminal misunderstanding of leadership. Everywhere you turn—classrooms, corporate retreats, TED Talks, LinkedIn manifestos—you are told to  lead . Children are instructed to “be leaders, not followers.” Managers are told to “own the room.” Even universities, once devoted to the pursuit of truth, now churn out “leadership programs” as if producing commanders for an in...

As we approach 2026, the environment for leaders is more complex, interconnected, and unpredictable than ever before. Technological acceleration, geopolitical uncertainty, demographic shifts, and evolving workforce expectations are creating conditions where traditional leadership approaches are no longer sufficient. Leaders are being asked not only to make decisions faster and with greater precisi...

Every generation retells the story of Hercules at the crossroads because it captures a truth so central to the human condition that civilization continues to orbit around it. As the myth goes, the young Hercules reaches a fork in the road where he encounters two women. One is beautifully adorned in bright colors, smiling with promise— Kakia , the spirit of vice, ease, and pleasure. She offers him...

We have long mistaken the mystery of leadership for its absence of order. Because it deals with human emotion, motivation, and meaning, we treat leadership as art rather than science, as something that belongs to instinct and charisma rather than knowledge and principle. Yet mystery is not the opposite of science. Mystery is what exists before science begins. We once thought storms were divine rag...

As an HR professional, Vicki has had an immensely diverse leadership journey. Join us to hear about Vicki's story and the lessons she has learned about leadership working in different industries and companies across Canada.

In this episode of the Leadership Lab we dive into the concept of Adaptive Leadership. We explore what it is, why it matters and how it complements the other models of leadership that we have already discussed. In essence, where Situational Leadership adapts your leadership style to the person's needs at the moment, Adaptive Leadership adapts your style to the problem that you're facing.

On this episode of the Leadership Lab we sit down with leader Andrew Boutilier and discuss his thoughts about leadership, what's important, and his path to where he is today.

This episode digs into the fundamentals Transformational Leadership, the four components of it and why its changing and challenging leadership thinking today.

In today's episode of the Leadership Lab we explore the concept of Servant Leadership. The concept was born in 1970, when a man named Robert K. Greenleaf—a management researcher who’d spent over 40 years at AT&T studying how organizations function—published an essay called The Servant as Leader. Greenleaf wrote, and I’ll quote him directly here, “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins...

Today we explore Imposter Syndrome. We examine what it is, how it appears, and some simple tools to combat it.

A keynote presentation to the City of Saskatoon on the Leadership as Your Craft

Psychological safety is the belief that one can speak up, share ideas, and take risks without fear of punishment, ridicule, or reprisal. It’s about feeling safe to bring your whole self to work without the anxiety of making mistakes or being judged. The term was popularized by Harvard Business School professor Dr. Amy Edmondson, who defined it as a “shared belief held by members of a team that the...

Today we’re diving into one of the most foundational elements of great leadership—character. As a senior leader or an aspiring one, understanding the true meaning of character is essential. It’s more than a buzzword; it’s the bedrock upon which trust, influence, and sustainable success are built. In this episode, we’ll talk about what character is, why it’s so vital for leaders, and how understand...

The Forgetting Curve is a concept developed by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in the late 19th century. It represents how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. Essentially, as soon as we learn something new, we begin to forget it. The speed at which we forget depends on various factors such as the complexity of the information, the relevance to us, and whethe...

A discussion of a recent facilitation session that I did on collaboration, it's importance, and how to minimize confusion with decision-making models. The big ideas are: -Collaboration tend to provide better answers to the problems / challenges being faced. -Collaboration is connected to organizational culture and a psychologically safe work environment -Collaboration is method for working and is...

Authenticity in leadership is a crucial attribute that has gained significant attention in recent years. Authentic leaders are perceived as genuine, transparent, and trustworthy, traits that are essential for fostering a positive and productive work environment. This article will delve into the concept of authenticity in leadership, its importance, and practical steps to cultivate authenticity in...

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and constant change, the importance of continuous learning cannot be overstated, particularly for those in leadership roles. Leaders are tasked with steering their organizations through complex and often unpredictable landscapes. To do so effectively, they must not only remain adept at their core competencies but also stay abreast of new develo...

If you ask a group of people to list the traits and characteristics they believe a good leader must possess, being a person of moral and ethical character always seems to be near the top. But what does ethical and moral character really mean? The prevalence of ethical and moral scandals in both government and the private sector highlights that this “standard” is more flexible and permeable than mo...

Trust is the bedrock upon which relationships, both personal and professional, are built. At its core, trust is the belief in the reliability, integrity, and competence of another party. It is the confidence that one’s actions, decisions, and intentions align with stated values and commitments. Trust operates as a lubricant in the machinery of organizations, smoothing interactions, facilitating co...

Winston Churchill once said;  “I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." Feedback helps us to get closer to achieving our goals by providing insight and information as to where we currently are so that we can make changes to some aspect of the system or process to drive us towards to the desired result faster and more efficiently.  Without feedback, we are simply...

In this episode of the Leadership Lab we explore the "missing" sixth level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; and it's a game-changer. Late in Maslow's life, he realized that there was a sixth level missing from his pyramidal representation of the hierarchy of needs. Maslow realized that there was something beyond self-actualization that sits atop the original version of his hie...

Most people misunderstand stoicism as the absence of feelings or emotions.  This is absolutely incorrect.  Stoicism is simply the decision to not allow your emotions to control you and your responses.  In fact, Stoic techniques have been integrated into modern therapy and coaching to help individuals develop resilience and manage stress. By using these techniques, therapists can help individuals d...

To be a great leader, one must care about their role and the duty that it holds. A leader is fundamentally responsible for those that they lead. From their health and safety to their professional and personal development and the quality of the work products they create, a leader must be constantly focused on the people they serve. A great leader is more concerned about the service they can provide...