TWorks

Bosses are bossy. They micromanage details and continually undermine. Their feedback isn’t continual and is often confusing. They may mention a path forward but certainly won’t tell you how to get there. Their opinion becomes gospel, and their style is often dictatorial and hierarchical leading to stressed employees, high turnover rates and medical leaves. They breed a toxic workplace culture. It starts and ends at the top.

Leaders offer autonomy, authority and a safe place to land. They not only show you the path, they will lead the way taking you along for the ride. They become part of your family, a mentor and a beacon. Their feedback is continuous, welcomed and specific and they share the hardships and the glory. Laughter at the workplace isn’t considered a waste of time but rather considered a metric of a positive workplace culture.

(an excerpt of 50 Shades of Beige available this July)

I opened the CEWIL/ECAIT Canada Conference today. Attendees from across Canada that work with universities, colleges, and the public sector focussed on work integrated learning gathered in Calgary, my home city.

Every event is magical and magnificent in its own way. A few notables from this one thad me laughing, learning and sometimes tearing up.
❤️ Anita Abraham,Incoming President for CEWIL is a fellow Mallyallee. Our parents and grandparents came from Kerala, India. Fun fact- Kerala has a 98% literacy rate. Anita said this was the first time she ever saw a Mallu on stage, let alone a women of colour. Though there was an audience of 400 she looked directly at me and said, I can’t imagine the invisible work you did to get here. Our ancestors would be proud. This is not just significant, it is sacred. 👍🏽 During the land acknowledgement, Elder Rod mentioned how important language is. Only 6% of the Blackfoot pop. speak Blackfoot. He said reconciliation is a word. He said the actions behind is what matters. 💡Many attendees introduced themselves and took selfies, shared learnings, shoe recommendations and their a- ha moments. A lovely attendee bravely and boldly told me he expected this to be “yet another feminist talk”. Yet, he said, there was not one person that did not feel seen in that room while I spoke.

This is my why. Diversity is not division. It’s a celebration of everything that matters.