Jennifer had this great idea to interview and publish short articles on women making a difference in their communities. Not only did she have the idea, she took the rare step of following through!
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Ft%2Eco%2Fu2GVSAHf&urlhash=AyB8&_t=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-lnk&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-lnk
This initiative is in addition to her day job as CEO of Fenix Solutions. You can reach her at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/jennifermackinnon
Congratulations Jennifer!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Government Can Excel
We love to travel and having an up-to-date passport is essential. With 3 passports expiring, it was time for the dreaded renewal. A lot has changed in 5 years....and I don't just mean my picture.
I'd like to give credit to the Canadian Government and the revamped passport service. First of all, there is a new simplified form which means you don't have to get someone to sign your photo. Secondly, the face to face service was excellent. The Ottawa office opens at 7:30 in the morning....and I was back at my office by 8:05. When I arrived, there was a line out the door. It moved very quickly and most importantly, they have a couple of people who check out your paperwork BEFORE you get a number and wait to process your passport application. As it turned out, I could not use a simplifed form to renew my children's passports because they had to be of age at their last application. While I went ahead and got my passport processed, at least they gave me the option not to wait twice.
Another nice touch is that you don't have to stand in line; they issue you a number and you sit and wait for the electronic board to post your number and the wicket. Although there were probably 10 people ahead of me, I didn't wait more than about 5 minutes. Barely enough BlackBerry time!
For payment, they accept everything but cash- again, very civilized.
All in all, the staff were friendly, helpful and efficient.
The only improvement I can suggest is that the room itself is kind of dingy- perhaps some free travel posters on the wall? On balance though, they have focused on the right experience: getting you through the process as quickly and accurately as possible.
Well done!
I'd like to give credit to the Canadian Government and the revamped passport service. First of all, there is a new simplified form which means you don't have to get someone to sign your photo. Secondly, the face to face service was excellent. The Ottawa office opens at 7:30 in the morning....and I was back at my office by 8:05. When I arrived, there was a line out the door. It moved very quickly and most importantly, they have a couple of people who check out your paperwork BEFORE you get a number and wait to process your passport application. As it turned out, I could not use a simplifed form to renew my children's passports because they had to be of age at their last application. While I went ahead and got my passport processed, at least they gave me the option not to wait twice.
Another nice touch is that you don't have to stand in line; they issue you a number and you sit and wait for the electronic board to post your number and the wicket. Although there were probably 10 people ahead of me, I didn't wait more than about 5 minutes. Barely enough BlackBerry time!
For payment, they accept everything but cash- again, very civilized.
All in all, the staff were friendly, helpful and efficient.
The only improvement I can suggest is that the room itself is kind of dingy- perhaps some free travel posters on the wall? On balance though, they have focused on the right experience: getting you through the process as quickly and accurately as possible.
Well done!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Social Media in sports marketing: What's your game plan
On Friday I had the pleasure to present at Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance's annual conference. Attendees represent all facets of the industry, including cities, sports assocations, accommodations, transportation and venues. As I walked the tradeshow and perused the brochures, it was apparent that social media does not have a strong presence yet in sports and destination marketing.
Yet what a great opportunity to engage the entire community-a key factor required to winning bids for major events!. Here are three ideas:
1. Place a QR on your branded vehicles
2. For Destination marketing organizations, start offering social media as part of your marketing support. This will differentiate you from others!
3. Tap into your athetes and encourage them to tweet or post on Facebook in real time.
For more tips and how to get started view my presentation at : http://slidesha.re/kRgpC7
Yet what a great opportunity to engage the entire community-a key factor required to winning bids for major events!. Here are three ideas:
1. Place a QR on your branded vehicles
2. For Destination marketing organizations, start offering social media as part of your marketing support. This will differentiate you from others!
3. Tap into your athetes and encourage them to tweet or post on Facebook in real time.
For more tips and how to get started view my presentation at : http://slidesha.re/kRgpC7
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Trying to do too much?
Sound familiar? It should! No matter the size of the organization I have worked with, a constant refrain is that "there is too much to do and not enough resources". Certainly I have felt that way myself as I adjusted to changing priorities, staff departures or adopting new technology or processes. If you work as part of a high performing team, you will enjoy and try to set higher standards or doing more with less. However, if staff are burned out, timelines are being missed or the quality is missing, there may be an issue with your strategic planning and decision-making processes.
As a senior leader in your organization, one of the most important responsibilities you have is to make choices and to communicate the direction clearly and effectively so that the rest of the organization is set up for success.
Studies have shown that organizations who try to manage too many priorities spend more of their time reporting and coordinating, rather than doing. The report card begins to move from a mix of green/yellow/red to mostly yellows and reds.
What's the first step?
Review how many objectives have been set for the year. If there are more than 3-5, take a time out. Remember that if each objective has 3-5 goals and each goal has 3-5 strategies....you get the picture! A lot of activity gets created from each objective.
Your staff are most likely very passionate, creative and resourceful, but ultimately, it is up to the Leadership team to set achievable expectations.
Let me know if I can help you, your team or your organization re-focus and re-energize.
As a senior leader in your organization, one of the most important responsibilities you have is to make choices and to communicate the direction clearly and effectively so that the rest of the organization is set up for success.
Studies have shown that organizations who try to manage too many priorities spend more of their time reporting and coordinating, rather than doing. The report card begins to move from a mix of green/yellow/red to mostly yellows and reds.
What's the first step?
Review how many objectives have been set for the year. If there are more than 3-5, take a time out. Remember that if each objective has 3-5 goals and each goal has 3-5 strategies....you get the picture! A lot of activity gets created from each objective.
Your staff are most likely very passionate, creative and resourceful, but ultimately, it is up to the Leadership team to set achievable expectations.
Let me know if I can help you, your team or your organization re-focus and re-energize.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Health Sector Resources from those in the Know
I was recently following a discussion group related to HIMMS and saw one that invited people to share their favourite health sector sources. As I reviewed the list and started to make notes, I thought, why not share with a broader audience? So here is the list from a variety of colleagues involved in healthcare, for your interest:
Books:
Healthcare Quality Handbook by Janet Brown
Results that Last by Quint Studer
Innovators Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Healthcare by Jason Hwang and Clayton Christensen
Chaos & Organization in Health Care by Thomas Lee MD and James Nonjan MD
Journals:
Health Management Technology
Journal of HIM
Journal of AHIMA
Web:
www. Advanced.com
www. ihealthbeat.org
Twitter:
#hcsmca
#cmaer
#HIMSS11
#ehealth
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Aging: the next hot opportunity
As I approach the mid-century mark in the next few years, you could say this is self-serving. Fair enough! I was inspired by a client I am working on behalf of to think about what aging means to me. Of course, we all know about the aging demographic in North America and Europe. And smart companies and organizations are thinking about how to re-tool what they do to tap into the tremendous opportunities. While cosmetics companies have been promoting anti-wrinkle and age defying make up for years, others are looking at brain mapping, cures for dementia or how to keep seniors living independently for longer. I hope you are thinking about how you and your organization can leverage this exciting shift.
On a personal level, here's my list of why being a senior is better than being a teenager:
1. No pimples
2. You can be cranky and people make allowances
3. Maybe you don't move as fast, but you probably have a better strategy
4. Hopefully you have the money and the time to do what you like
5. Grandchildren to dote on and then send home
6. Friendships to treasure that you have built over a lifetime
7. You have learned how to roll with the punches
8. Ability to start a second, third or fourth career
9. The teen age years of resisting peer pressure on smoking, drugs and alcohol have paid off
10. We were there for the Rolling Stones, Nirvana and countless other hot bands
On a personal level, here's my list of why being a senior is better than being a teenager:
1. No pimples
2. You can be cranky and people make allowances
3. Maybe you don't move as fast, but you probably have a better strategy
4. Hopefully you have the money and the time to do what you like
5. Grandchildren to dote on and then send home
6. Friendships to treasure that you have built over a lifetime
7. You have learned how to roll with the punches
8. Ability to start a second, third or fourth career
9. The teen age years of resisting peer pressure on smoking, drugs and alcohol have paid off
10. We were there for the Rolling Stones, Nirvana and countless other hot bands
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Primary Care as Complex Adaptive System
Primary Care is a fascinating and rewarding sector that I enjoy working in tremendously. I recently summarized a presentation made by Dr. Clare Liddy at the OCRI Health IT lunch series, held February 9, 2011. Please read about it in Michael Martineau's blog at http://ehealthmusings.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/primary-care-as-an-example-of-complex-adaptive-systems-presentation-by-dr-clare-liddy/
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