Our guest contributor this month is Phillip Haid. Phillip founded PUBLIC in 2008 to disrupt the way companies think about doing “good”. Driven by a passion to prove that social and environmental impact is a key business driver to achieve profit with purpose, he set out to build a social impact agency – designing social […]

The post How To Succeed With Purpose appeared first on Innovators Alliance.

While I like to start the year on a positive note, I feel compelled to share with you an article on a serious topic: What do you foresee for your company in 2023 in terms of your company’s biggest business risks?   One business leader I follow is Jim DeLoach, managing director of Protiviti, member […]

The post Are You Prepared for “the Riskiest Year” in Business? appeared first on Innovators Alliance.

As the daylight hours shorten, colourful lights emerge to illuminate the long, dark nights. Our cozy shelters invite us to gather. This is December and, in Canada, that means it’s time to reflect and celebrate! 

A month of diverse celebrations, December is a time for coworkers, families and friends to socialize together, relax and recharge. A time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and plan for the months ahead.

Entrepreneur and personal development coach, Briony McKenzie, advises entrepreneurs to make space for resting in your business year. ‘Diligently book your rests and stick to them,’ she writes. However, she states entrepreneurs define relaxation differently depending on the stage of their business. 

“Rest” McKenzie says, “means switching off, recharging and intentionally doing nothing [work-related].”

In the first stage of your business, where your personal effort makes a big difference to the success of the business, consider resting and refueling in micro re-energizing breaks (such as a short nature walk, a stretch break or a refreshment break), because if you burn out, there may be no one to carry on the business. 

In the second phase of your business (when you are leading a team), the suggestion is to take a physical break away from the business to review, reflect and strategize. 

For many entrepreneurs, 2022 has been a roller coaster of a year.  They had to consciously redefine how their business would function in the face of unpredictable economic factors and cope with critical labour shortages.

Last December, businesses were still operating in pandemic mode if they had managed to keep their doors open. This year, it feels different. After several years of having their resilience tested, entrepreneurs are finding new normal ways of working and sensing a hum of new possibilities. There’s a reawakening of optimism tempered with caution. 

According to KPMG, “A sizable majority (83%) [of small and medium-size businesses] say they are optimistic about their company’s growth over the next three years, with 82% feeling the same about their industry or sector.”

That’s something to celebrate!

And this December, it seems that companies are planning bigger celebrations with their employees and clients as a chance for people to connect and create relationships in person. “Having an event and thanking your employees is an investment [and] … a motivator for productivity,” says Patrick McGannon, owner of PM Gigs in Calgary.

However, companies may still want to offer a hybrid approach to celebrating together, given the rise in respiratory illnesses and differing levels of comfort with in-person celebrations.

As 2022 winds to a close, we look to the future with hope and expectation. 

Here at Innovators Alliance, we are excited about the prospects for growth in 2023. We will begin exploring expansion across Canada, bringing our members the opportunity to meet more business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators.

If you understand the value of learning with and from other like-minded entrepreneurs, consider attending an Innovators Alliance event. Innovators Alliance is Canada’s most valued ‘idea ecosystem’ for entrepreneurs, developed by entrepreneurs. 

Join us in-person or virtually in 2023 to explore a fit for you, and your business. You’ll meet other business innovators, share knowledge about handling business challenges, and discuss solutions in an atmosphere of confidentiality, respect and mutual support.

Till then, happy holidays and best wishes for the new year!  Treat yourself to some precious time to relax, reflect and recharge!

The post A Precious Gift to Yourself this Month appeared first on Innovators Alliance.

As the daylight hours shorten, colourful lights emerge to illuminate the long, dark nights. Our cozy shelters invite us to gather. This is December and, in Canada, that means it’s time to reflect and celebrate!  A month of diverse celebrations, December is a time for coworkers, families and friends to socialize together, relax and recharge. […]

The post A Precious Gift to Yourself this Month appeared first on Innovators Alliance.

Many organizations are facing a dilemma: 60 percent of employees do not want to come back to the workplace after working remotely for two and a half years. At Innovators Alliance, we are seeing a similar reluctance to get back together in person, so let’s take a closer look at this trend and how to resolve it.

The Value of In-Person Meetings

According to Forbes magazine, some meetings work better in person, such as discussions of complex topics and innovations. In-person meetings are also most effective for establishing or re-establishing connections between team members or checking out newly configured office space. In-person meetings also reinforce culture and foster engagement when managed effectively.

At Innovators Alliance, we know the value of meeting in person. Live networking establishes connections of trust and sharing that don’t happen to the same extent online. We know our members cherish the tips they learn from each other—after connections are made at our in-person meetings.

Innovators Alliance member Steve McGowan has said, “Having those friendly faces around the table, helping guide you in dealing with these problems is invaluable.”

Acknowledging Post-Pandemic Stress Disorder

Do you know someone who’s still reluctant to join larger groups with unknown contacts?  

Psychotherapists are noting an increase in what is being called ‘post-pandemic stress disorder’ (PPSD) as a result of the relentless trauma experienced during the COVID pandemic. Distressing experiences that people may have experienced during the pandemic include fear of infection, job loss, lockdown, loneliness, loss of social life, and isolation due to quarantine.

Although PPSD has not been introduced to the international classification of mental and behavioral disorders yet, therapists are observing recognizable patterns of thinking and behavior such as social withdrawal; negative or catastrophic thinking; disrupted sleep; feeling numb, powerless or hopeless; lacking motivation; and increased anxiety, irritability or anger. 

Businesspeople are noticing that some folks are not willing to re-engage socially as they did before the pandemic. 

As leaders, we need to move past this fear and malaise. We need to acknowledge and understand the fear and model getting through it.  

One way to start is to choose a group of 10-15 individuals who you meet with on a regular basis.  Perhaps you’ve already resumed in-person operations at your business, so you’ve expanded that circle of contacts.  

Another circle you should expand for your own professional wellbeing is your circle of peer advisors—other business leaders who value the time to share concerns, recommendations and inspiration with fellow business leaders.  

Now is the time to be meeting with your peers and working through this fear of re-engaging so you can discuss effective strategies for getting workers back to your workplace.

How do we get people back together?  

Here are 5 suggestions from Forbes:

1. Give people a reason to attend in person. 
2. Help people feel safe. For example, meet in a large room that allows for lower density, make masks and sanitizer readily available, and build in breaks for people to get outdoors. Be honest with attendees about your own hesitations about getting back together and how you dealt with your fears.
3. Provide a remote option for attendees.
4. Engage in check-in/team-building/icebreaker activities to help people connect/reconnect.
5. Include structured social interaction during meals and breaks, demonstrating further value for attending in person.

At Innovators Alliance, we encourage business leaders to help each other. We do that best by meeting in person and having those deep, reflective conversations that only happen in a ‘safe space’ with peers you trust.  If you’re concerned about returning to our live meetings, let us know how we can make this a safe space for you.

If you’re feeling ‘stuck’ about getting back to in-person meetings, challenge yourself to reconnect with people you value, like Innovators Alliance’s trusted group of business peers. Focus on the benefits you’ll get from exchanging new ideas and gathering invaluable business intelligence. 

We look forward to seeing you and exchanging ideas with you again!

If you’ve ever wanted to reach out and discuss your business challenges with other like-minded entrepreneurs, consider attending an Innovators Alliance event (in-person or virtually) to explore a fit for you and your business. You’ll meet other business innovators, share knowledge about handling business challenges, and discuss solutions in an atmosphere of confidentiality, respect and mutual support.

The post Let’s Get Together Again! Why In-Person Meetings Are Still Important appeared first on Innovators Alliance.