Blog
A-I A-I No
When I hear A.I., I’m drawn to the classic nursery rhyme ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ that teaches children the names of animals and their … Read more
Do You Need a Kick?
Four Strategies to Avoid Procrastination (Part 2) “Why do today what you can do tomorrow?” How many of us have heard that comment? As leaders, … Read more
Connections Leadership Training starts November 2, 2023
To register, complete this form and return it to edwina@availhr.com OR book a call to find out more.
Eat the Frog
Four Strategies to Overcome Procrastination (Part 1) When you procrastinate, the people you lead will lose confidence in you. My accountant will tell you I’m … Read more
The Power of Body Language
“Watch” how I feel and think. Understanding body language does more than improve relationships – you can gain insight into others’ thoughts and feelings. Because … Read more
Read My Body Language – Facial Expressions
“Don’t read my lips.” Most of us have likely heard, or even used, the famous expression, “read my lips” when we what someone to understand … Read more
Read My Body Language – The Eyes Have It
Have you ever gotten or given “le look”? We often use these French-English words as a cue from the eyes to be mindful of what … Read more
Read My Body Language – Hands Speak
To paraphrase my mother, “It’s not what you say, but what you do,” has a great deal of truth to it. As I referenced in … Read more
Read My Body Language – Head Position
Having a deaf-mute brother gives me a personal appreciation for the value of body language in communication. I recall him handing me a card at … Read more
3 Ways to Keep Your Team Motivated
It can be hard to keep your team motivated day after day. Motivation isn’t just an intrinsic drive, nor is it the application of an … Read more
Are you a Desk-Bomber?
There’s been a lot of HR buzzwords since the pandemic. To name a few, there’s the Big Quit (also known as The Great Resignation), hot-desking, … Read more
Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall
Do you have employees who are not focused, lack enthusiasm, and show no interest in their work? Have you wondered why they’re feeling this way? … Read more
Give the Gift of Feedback
In the early days of my journalism career (the late 1980s), during which I worked hard to prove my worthiness to fill this male-dominated occupation, … Read more
Before-and-After Questions to Ask Your Employees
After you’ve successfully implemented your new employee plan, it’s time to sit back and relax. Wrong! Not following up with your employees is like driving … Read more
11 Ways to Empower Yourself at Work
Anyone can attain personal empowerment. It depends more on your actions than on the size of your bank account or the title on your business … Read more
The Link Between Well-Being and Success (Self-Leadership Part 4)
We cannot take care of others unless we take care of ourselves first. This holds true professionally, personally and physically. Being in a healthy state … Read more
Embrace Constructive Thinking (Self-Leadership Part 3)
To be a happy person, you have to think constructively. You have to look at things in a positive way and determine how they will … Read more
Tools to Build Character (Self-Leadership Part 2)
Behaviour is something that comes naturally in intense situations. But we can learn to control our reactions and, as a leader, you are definitely going … Read more
Time to do a “Selfie” (Self-Leadership Part 1)
It’s time to look at leadership from the inside out. I have been privileged to train many leaders at various levels, from CEOs to aspiring … Read more
Reflections and Resolutions
Although I hesitate to use the hackneyed expression “Times have changed,” it does fit with this picture I captured recently just minutes from my home. … Read more
Ending the Year on a Positive Note
Holiday Thoughts While many people in the area have lost everything, there’s no denying we have all been impacted by the September hurricane. Whether you’ve … Read more
How to React to Criticism without Feeling Defensive
Have you ever gone into defensive mode after someone criticized you? You’ll remember your walls going up, and all you wanted to do is shift … Read more
Creating a Culture of Recognition
Being appreciated is a basic human desire. And praise and recognition are essential to an outstanding workplace and its employees. A friend recently introduced me … Read more
Everything DiSC® Virtual Train the Trainer
January 17-19, 2023 Presented by Avail HR Training Solutions in Partnership with The Learning Edge. Experience DiSC®: Experience the DiSC® assessment process Receive personalized profiles … Read more
What’s Your Body Saying?
“Actions speak louder than words.” How many of us have heard this proverb? It’s true. According to Albert Mehrabian’s Communication Model, 55% of communication consists … Read more
Are You a Piece of the Puzzle at Work?
The key to successful leadership in today’s working world is influence, not authority. This is a different mindset for those of us who are Baby … Read more
Carrot vs. Stick: The Secret of Intrinsic Motivation
We all need a little motivation from time to time, and it’s important to know we are not all inspired the same way. What’s your … Read more
Weathering the Storm
What Fiona Has Shown Me It has been a tough month for so many people. Empathy is a word that is often confused with sympathy. … Read more
Tips on How to Say “No”
Do you have time anxiety? Time is moving too fast. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get through the to-do … Read more
Are You for Real?
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or a small act of … Read more
Still Standing
It’s been over two weeks since the southwest coast of Newfoundland was shattered by Hurricane Fiona, destroying our shores and breaking our hearts. Houses were … Read more
Connecting With Your Voice
For those of us old enough to remember Bell’s campaign from the 1970s, “Reach out and touch someone,” it encouraged people to pick up the … Read more
Siri, What is Emotional Intelligence at Work?
Creating the right intelligence system is critical to developing workplace resilience. Employee well-being expands beyond the importance of cognitive intelligence (IQ). The pandemic has brought … Read more
Hitting the Road Post-Covid
Gosh, it feels good to be doing in-person training again! It ‘almost’ feels like things are back to normal. They’re not. Each time I hit … Read more
How Do You Create Constructive Conflict?
Conflict is a normal part of any relationship; thus, it’s an unavoidable part of the workplace. When conflict is not handled appropriately it can impact … Read more
What’s Mine is Yours
“Find a job you love.” This age-old advice has been longstanding from inspirational names like Confucius, Marc Anthony, Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, and many more. … Read more
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Begin with the end in mind. The role of an authentic leader is not understanding how to move an organization forward. The journey towards authentic … Read more
Communicating Your Why
Effective leadership starts with skillful communication. Marathon Gold understands why both external and internal communications are compelling for business growth and performance. I recently attended … Read more
It’s Lobster Season
It’s lobster season in my neck of the woods. Atlantic lobster is a favoured dish that has been fished from these seas for centuries. Area … Read more
Mini but Mighty
I always enjoy providing training at Deer Lake Airport. This mini but mighty airport has grown so much in recent times, modernizing travel efficiencies, offering … Read more
How to Manage Your Workforce
A business is only as good as its team. Whether your business team is 2 people or 20, you are responsible for managing their effectiveness … Read more
More Thoughtful Perks That Won’t Break the Bank
A look at other ways to reward your staff. When recruiting and retaining staff in a competitive market, you need to think beyond the financial … Read more
Thoughtful Perks That Won’t Break the Bank
Never underestimate the power of appreciation. The undeniable secret to the success of all good businesses is the relationship between their supervisors and employees. Sometimes … Read more
Leverage Their Strengths
Einstein said everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life thinking … Read more
Do You Know Your People?
Strengthen your relationships by leading from within… within yourself and your team. What type of leader are you? Are you an independent or an interdependent … Read more
Learned vs Inborn Traits
Because soft skills are talked about as traits of a person’s personality, it may seem as though you have to be born with them. While … Read more
How to Assess Your Business or Department (Part 3)
This article continues from How to Assess Your Business or Department (Part 2) and is the final installment in this series. Step 9: Review Your … Read more
How to Assess Your Business or Department (Part 2)
Continuing on from How to Assess Your Business or Department (Part 1), this article covers the next steps in the assessment process. Step 5: Review … Read more
How to Assess Your Business or Department (Part 1)
If you’re a business owner or CEO, either two years into a new business, or before the first investor is contacted, it is important to … Read more
What’s Your Job Description?
Crafting a job description for a leadership role is not an easy task. There are so many responsibilities that are not often seen in the … Read more
Knit One, Purl One
Just like the art of interlocking two loops of yarn to create something cohesive and valuable, employers need to weave both hard skills and soft … Read more
Avail Releases Online HR Catalog
We are happy to release our new online HR Catalog that includes further details on all our exciting products and services. Click Here for full … Read more
Connections Leadership Journey Program – Open Enrollment
Our Connections Leadership Journey Program has an Open Enrollment for 2022 – see details below:
Avail Takes Another Leap & Re-focuses Direction
Amidst all the Covid-19 chaos, Avail has been busy pivoting, reinventing and learning new training material. Included in Avail’s new model is a partnership with … Read more