I like to think. I like to think more than I like to feel. For me, thinking is a more orderly process with more structure and rigour. Feelings, to me, seem disorganized and nebulous. Thinking is lists and charts; feelings are an abstract painting.

I have learned in work, as in life, there are all kinds of people – and thank goodness for that! Imagine a world where no one created abstract art and no one appreciated it? I may find abstract art and feelings harder to deal with or more work for me to manage but it doesn’t mean I am not in awe of the creation, the expression and the people who are gifted in that way.

One of the aspects I enjoy most about working with different clients and teams is the diversity and the gifts that each person brings to the table. The research is very clear that the more diverse the group the better decisions they will make and the better work they will produce. The diverse group may take longer to process and have more bumps along the way but the outcome will surpass what a homogeneous group will deliver.

My skills and experience allow me to work with a variety of individuals and teams to provide a quality process and product. If you would like to hear about the groups I have worked with please check out my website at www.TreeToadConsulting.com or email me at TreeToadConsulting@gmail.com

We welcomed our first international student into our home last week. Before his arrival, I was a little nervous about how the Toad would handle not being an only child anymore, if we would have difficult language challenges to overcome and if our food choices would not be accepted. Not a single worry of this nature crossed Toad’s brain – the only thing that worried him was if his new friend would be very sad at having to say goodbye to his Momma.

Despite a six year age gap and a language difference, I have watched these two boys share information and collectively teach each other baseball, Wii games, and piano duets. It is heartening to see two young men find their way through a series of firsts together.

Working together to bring forward the best is at the heart of the Tree Toad philosophy. My professional mission statement talks about honouring the past and working together to accomplish great things. Working with diversity and complexity is what Tree Toad is all about. Check out my full professional mission statement at www.treetoadconsulting.com

The Toad and I are headed “home” the day after tomorrow. Two weeks after that we will head “home” from there. Toad and I have two homes – one in Ontario and one in BC. Despite not being born in Ontario, Toad refers to Ontario as home. This quote speaks to my whole life and to the tree symbol I have included in my business. I have roots that are strong and go deep. My roots help define me. My roots also help define my work as I am always aware of who and what has come before me. Almost 20 years ago I moved across the country and planted my roots in a new place.  It is those roots that will ground Toad, allowing him to know the importance of his history and the new heights and new places he can choose for to build his legacy.

There is a multitude of personality assessments on the market. Some are well researched and validated while others are mostly fun team building exercises. One of my own theories of personality is about how and why. My theory is not based on research nor is it a marketable commodity.  My theory is based on years of working on projects and in programs of all shapes and sizes. My work focus has ranged from financial to clinical to system improvement to organization development to integration activities. In every situation, I find there are “why” people and there are “how” people. This orientation seems to be 2^nd nature to the individual and is the “go to” place as a new idea is introduced or a problem needs solving.

You can tell if a person leans to “how” or to “why” by the questions they ask and by the information they provide or focus on. Of course, everyone will ask both types of questions but watch where a person goes first, where they spend most of their time and where they can get stuck.

It is important to know which camp your team members and key stakeholders fall into because your communication will need to be tailored to increase its effectiveness. You also need to be aware of your own bias to ensure the information you provide is sufficient for those with the other perspective.

I am a “how” person. I review situations by how something occurred, how a process works (or doesn’t work), how something needs to change or how something new should be implemented. I very quickly (sometimes too quickly) move to the how of action or execution. It is hard-wired in me. I have learned over my career that to get everyone on board you also have to spend time on the why of the situation. I also know through experience that the folks that focus on why uncover some very important information that the team will need to be successful.

I am pretty sure the Toad is epigenetically a “How” person too. I say this because when he was a wee lad I did not get bombarded by the incessant “why Momma?” questions. I got the incessant “How Momma?” questions. I learned very quickly that his generation will never accept the notion of not knowing (i.e. “Toad I don’t know how a velociraptor would beat a triceratops in a fight”). Even as a toddler his immediate response to “I don’t know” was “Google it Momma – Google it!” As we integrate new generations into our teams, the “how” and “why” distinction may remain but technology is completely shifting our response to these needs.

 If you want to discuss how my experience can help move your work forward please contact me at treetoadconsulting@gmail.com. If you want some insight into why I do what I do please check out my professional mission statement on my website at www.treetoadconsulting.com or contact me at 250-215-2626.

I checked the plum tree in my backyard to determine if the plums were ready for picking.  Something I have been doing regularly for the last 3 weeks or so.  Today was the day.  The time was ripe (groan!).  But what’s that got to do with Leadership?  As I picked the plums I kept hearing “low hanging fruit” run through my head like a mantra.  Anyone who has ever sat in a business meeting of any kind in any industry has heard this term . . . “let’s start with the low hanging fruit; the quick wins”.  Seems obvious but just because it may seem like a quick win does not mean these wins are not fraught with complexity, angst and yes, even danger.  There are 5 easy steps to avoid those pitfalls:

1)    Set a goal

Every strategy needs a goal otherwise why are you bothering?  My goal was to pick the plums at their optimum ripeness – not too green; not too ripe.  This meant monitoring the tree over a period of time and periodically testing the fruit for ripeness.

2)    Timing is everything

Implement too soon and you lose the ripeness and sweetness the fruit of your tree bears.  Wait too long and the opportunities rot on their branches or drop to the ground wasted.

3)    Plan

Ah – the plan.  Too often we forge ahead because this is easy, right?  It’s the low hanging fruit after all.  We’ll plan later for the more complex stuff.  Well I’m here to tell you that many scratches, prolific curse words floating in the air, and one particularly harsh poke in the ear by an errant branch later that low hanging fruit does not come without obstacles and I needed a plan!

4)    Regroup and Reassess

So, I took a step back.  I assessed the situation – where were the plums exactly; how best to reach them; did I need additional resources or equipment; what obstacles did I need to remove.  These questions all swirled in my head as I walked the perimeter of the tree planning.  This is perhaps one of the least applied steps in any project.  We are so determined to carry out our plan that we worked so hard on and achieve that goal that we consider any change as failure.  However all too often we run into a well-entrenched network of branches that block access to the very goal you want to achieve.  What this step will help you do is determine whether that network is a vibrant branch still bearing viable fruit or is it long dead and weighed down with years of history, custom and tradition?  More often it is a mixture of the two.  Reassessing will allow you to plan for extricating those viable fruit bearing branches from the deadwood.  It will enable you to snap off the no longer useful and nurture the productive.  If you forge ahead without taking this time you risk damaging the fruit.  A consequence you may not realize until next season.

5)    Share and enjoy the fruits of your labour!

This one IS easy.  Don’t forget to celebrate!  You worked hard, you achieved great things!  Share that success and take a moment to bask in the glow of a job well done.  I have a bowl of freshly washed plums waiting for me . . . 

I am guessing that every one of us has that list of things that sits off to the side in large part because you have no idea how to even get started. There is no right way, there is no right answer and there is no right path. What do you do with your hard to do pile?

I will be honest – the hard to do pile stresses me out a bit. By nature, I am a finisher so any tasks sitting idly on the list bug me. After years of reflection and experimentation, I have learned the following steps to get started.

1. Let it percolate until it is ready – Sometimes ideas need time to come together. Even if you are not actively working on something it is sitting in your brain and synapses are firing around it. Like a good cup of coffee, the idea has its own time to brew. Try to relax and let the process begin.
2. Talk it Through – Fins someone who will listen to you ramble and process and vent and ponder your hard to do task. The exercise of listening to yourself speak about the issue, the possibilities, the ideas, the risks, the frustrations and anything else that spills out will help clarify what you need to do. It is a bonus if your person asks a couple of wickedly hard questions to challenge your thinking.
3. Put Pen to Paper – I am a list maker. When I am crafting a strategy for a hard to do item a list maker is a gross understatement. I make lists of lists. I link lists. I make sub-lists. Not everyone’s brain thinks like mine (thankfully). Some people draw pictures, models, and diagrams. Although these pictures may be Greek to me, I have seen the light bulb come on for other people. Grab a pencil and some blank paper (or a dry erase marker and a white board) and let everything spill out unchecked. It doesn’t need to make sense at this moment it just needs to be set free.
4. Chuck it Down – Not every part of your hard to do pile is hard. Peel off the layers and put a plan in place for the easier part of the hard stuff. When you get to a stuck place set it aside and do some more of the easier items. When you have some energy and confidence flowing go back to the stuck place and try again. You can park and revisit as many times as you need to and in the meantime, you have identified a place to start with the easier tasks.
5. Ask for help – The most valuable skill today is not knowing everything – it is knowing where to get information and having the capacity to learn what you need to know for the situation. There are many ways to ask for help in today’s world – it might be google or WikiHow. It could also be an online forum with participants from around the world. It might be a connection with a subject matter expert made through a friend of a friend on LinkedIn. It might even be the person you sit beside on your next airline flight.

The next time you have something on your hard to do pile give these ideas a try. Or call Tree Toad at www.treetoadconsulting.ca

Toad: What is your vision for Tree Toad?

LM: I want Tree Toad to be a relationship driven partnership with businesses and organizations that need help to move a piece of work or a project forward.

Toad: What type of businesses or organizations do you want to work with?

LM: I think my support would be most beneficial to small and medium sized businesses who don’t want to hire a new employee but who require a particular skill set or capacity. My general operations and project management experience can be applied to any industry.

Toad: What is your greatest skill?

LM: I think my greatest skill is taking someone’s idea and planning and executing steps to bring that idea to reality.

Toad: What is Tree Toad’s mission?

LM: Many years ago I worked through an in-depth process to identify my personal mission statement. The statement has 3 parts – one for my most important role as a Mom, one for my role as a friend and one as a professional. That statement has been my guiding direction ever since. My professional mission statement is:

As a Leader, I am on a journey creating the future with my colleagues. My goal is to make a difference to clients, staff and the system through the work that I do (what) and the way I bring myself to that work (how). I want to be a leader who is mindful of complexity, who honours past accomplishments and facilitates change happening in a generative and integrated way.

Toad: Where did the name Tree Toad come from?

LM: My son’s nickname is Toadie. Trees are a strong symbol for me representing roots and growth, past, present and future as well as connectedness and relationships.

Toad: What are you most proud of personally and professionally?

Personally I am proud to be the Momma of an extraordinary 9 year old boy who is kind, loving and full of light and life. Professionally I am proud of the relationships I have developed over the course of my career. I am still in regular contact with people from early in my career. There are many accomplishments I am also proud of but each accomplishment was successful because of the work and relationships with many people.

Toad: Is there something you want to say to anyone thinking of hiring Tree Toad Consulting?

LM: I would like to encourage anyone who has an idea they are mulling around to call me. I am happy to talk through possibilities and offer my help if it is needed. If I don’t think I can help then we will have a brainstormed together and hopefully made a connection.

Stay tuned!