A personal tale of two choices, and when the hardest decision is the honorable one. — On a recent blistering hot Saturday, I drove two hours to visit my biological dad at a homeless shelter north of Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The dingy grey shelter is situated in an industrial park amidst trucking depots near the airport, far removed from residential areas and out of sight from…

Where does the traditional role of a Business Analysts fit into an agile organization, and what type of training is available to navigate the new world? — Over the past few years, I’ve spoken with countless Business Analysts who express confusion over where they fit into their agile work environment. Agile Transformations focus primarily on adopting and cultivating specific roles and corresponding responsibilities pending on the chosen framework.

Let’s break down communication styles based on natural metaphors and relate the concept to Agile Coaching. — Are you a grass, tree, or forest person? In a recent work session, one of my esteemed colleagues, Hemal Trivedi, brought forth his riveting question. For some context, Hemal and I work for the same organization in an agile leadership capacity and are currently involved with a large-scale agile and…

Everyone experiences trauma, even if you’ve lived a pleasant life. Here’s an easy way you can begin your journey towards recovery. — Can we be traumatized even if we’ve had a “nice” life? People often think we have to suffer from childhood abuse or the war to have trauma. However, this is not true. Trauma is caused by being overwhelmed and feeling powerless. While the concept is relatively subjective, some good examples…

Saying “no” upfront is a better option than delaying the inevitable. — Have you ever said yes to too many opportunities until you stop and realize that life doesn’t provide enough hours in the day to accommodate all those “yes’s” you’ve committed to? I am one of those people. And I guarantee I’m not alone. While I have written extensively on the…

We must bring critical thinking and meaningful discourse back into society. — In the winter of 2018, I went on a ski trip with a girlfriend to the frigid slopes of Mont St. Anne, north of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. One evening we ventured out of the resort and visited a local hot spring with delightful pools of various temperatures to rest…

When the belief systems we adopt as children inform our adult world views and influence psychological theories. — Donald W. Winnicott, an English pediatrician, and psychoanalyst first introduced the theory of False-self and True-Self in 1960. In our final, Part Three story, we delve into Winnicott’s Christian, Wesleyan upbringing and how his False-Self, True Self theory was impacted by his belief system despite the psychoanalyst’s intention for his…

A defining competency of psychotherapy and coaching practices is the safe and effective use of self. — Self-care is a buzzword thrown around haphazardly these days, generating mixed reactions depending on who you talk to. However, the term holds relevance in the therapeutic and coaching community. How can a therapist or coach have safe and effective use of themself while engaging with clients? Enter the acronym “SEUS.”