Press Room

"Take that bird off your shoulder"

Published on May 30, 2008 — Written by Wallace Immen

It seems incomprehensible that, with all the advice available, far too many job seekers still make inexcusable blunders, pros say
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"Taking a holiday ... from vacations"

Published on May 15, 2008 — Written by Wallace Immen

More Canadians are unable or unwilling to take allotted time off, but those chained to their desks can play it to career advantage
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October 2007 — Cassandra Gierden interviewed for Just Business magazine

“Coaching has been around for thousands of years. There have always been people devoted to supporting others in building their skills. The career of lifestyle and business coaching, however, is slightly less than 20 years old.”

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October 24, 2007 — Cassandra Gierden writes for Globe and Mail Careers Mentor Minute readers

“I am a senior woman in an organization whose power structure is dominated by men. How do I succeed in this game without losing track of who I am?”

View the Article (available for 7 days on Globe and Mail web site)

Women who have attained senior positions in an organization often find it lonely at the top. A 2006 Catalyst Canada study shows that only 4.2% of FP500 companies have a woman as CEO or president. Women make up nearly half the work force, but rarely make it into the ranks of corporate officer. In fact, only 7.3% of so-called “clout titles” belong to women.

As a woman in a senior position, you can maintain your personal momentum by staying true to who you are, knowing your strengths and having the confidence to show them off, as I describe in this recent Globe and Mail article.

Download the Article (PDF)

Although small in number, women in senior positions have led the charge in transforming workplace environments and bringing greater collaboration into the corporate structure. You can find inspiration in the fact that you are effecting change for the organization and blazing a trail for other women to follow.

"Get on the Right Track with Executive Onboarding"

Published in The Canadian HR Reporter July 16, 2007 — Written by Cassandra Gierden

Most organizations offer some level of orientation for new leaders. But without a well-defined plan for integrating the new leader, the risk of poor performance and failure is elevated. Executive onboarding has grown out of traditional orientation to provide a more comprehensive and systematic plan for helping executives transition into new roles. The term onboarding is typically used for leaders who are hired from outside of an organization, but is equally important for supporting internal transfers and promotions in any new management role. Take, for example Russ Jones, an employee with Rona, an employee with Rona, a leading Canadian home improvement retailer. Jones, who had been with Rona for 21 years, suddenly found himself launching a commercial division and managing the company’s new role as a sponsor for the 2010 Winter Olympics...

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"Want to Score? Be a Good Sport"

Published on June 27, 2007 — Written by Wallace Immen (Featuring Cassandra L Gierden)

But as fun and easy as athletic endeavours might sound, a surprising number of people hang back, whether it is playing on an office baseball team, joining the boss for a one-on-one on the tennis court, or participating in one of the many corporate sports events that fill the calendar especially in the summer months. In fact, the prospect of participating in sports fills many people with dread, Ms. Gierden says. "In most cases, it is because they are afraid of making a faux pas or looking like an amateur." Indeed, 40 per cent of the 6,154 people who responded to a globeandmail.com poll last week said they believe sports and work are two separate pursuits, and another 30 per cent said they don't participate in any sport at all.

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"Back down to earth after the boss returns"

Published on April 20, 2007 — Written by Cassandra L Gierden

Your immediate supervisor is returning to the job after an extended leave. It means you will no longer be the acting department head and will have to revert to your former second-in-command status. How do you make the adjustment in terms of your ego and desire for responsibilities? Instead of viewing this situation as a step back, view it as a step aside, with potential for two steps forward from there. Keep your professional future in mind by concentrating on the few areas outlined below.

"Email Can Help or Hurt a Workplace"

Published on November 29, 2006 — Written by Kavita Gosyne (Featuring Cassandra L Gierden)

Recently, a co-worker mass e-mailed a reminder about Internet usage. It reminded me how tricky e-mailing can be in an office environment. Workers can be easily singled out either by CCing one’s boss, mass e-mails highlighting one’s error before speaking to the person, or simply using e-mail as a way to make unprofessional statements. As young employees, it’s important to learn when an e-mail shifts from being helpful and efficient to useless and time consuming. "We’ve become a trigger happy society where the send button is often hit way too soon, without pause and reflection", says Certified Leadership Coach Cassandra L. Gierden. She says the effect can almost become aggressive, like road rage over the Internet. While there are obvious forms where comments or threats are implied there are others that are more subtle and tricky.
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"How to Give Your Family a Makeover"

Published on November 29, 2006 — Written by Cassandra L Gierden

In this day of cell phones, pagers, blackberry’s and emails you think it wouldn’t be hard to reach someone in your family but the truth is it is more challenging than ever... to reach them in a way that keeps you connected. So, how do you stay connected? How can you turn the abundance of quantity in to quality time? How can you give your family a ‘makeover’ in a meaningful way as if you just showed up to your favorite spa for a few hours of a meditative makeover?

In order to begin giving your family this makeover it will be important to take inventory (like a shopping list) of what’s important to each of you now and what you would like more of in your lives to help determine what core values can be built upon for each individual and the family. Finding out what’s important of missing whether it’s time, communication, attention, playfulness, community will help... Remember to keep it fun, simple and energetic.
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Canadian Living Magazine's Family Wellness Makeover

By Ylva van Buuren Featuring Cassandra Gierden as the Life Coach

The Morfidis family found themselves facing a major challenge when they agreed to participate in Canadian Living Magazine's Family Makeover series. George, Despina, Ria and Stefi kept a diary of their journey to create a better lifestyle.

Read the Morfidis family diaries and meet their team of professional life, nutrition, and fitness coaches plus Cassandra Gierden, their life coach.

"Creativity is a Powerful Way of Thinking"

Published on Women-Wise Online — Written by Cassandra L Gierden

Understanding your unique "creativity potential" and then consciously creating leads to greater success in manifesting the results you want for your life. If we are all naturally creative as human beings, what's holding us back?
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"Tapping into Our Creativity – Poetic of the Soul"

Published on Women-Wise Online — Written by Cassandra L Gierden

There are many reasons to get better at tapping into our creative nature including enhancing our leadership roles and building teams that are more effective and efficient. Our daily rituals create a place to rekindle our relationship with our inherent creative self and our soul.
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