FRESH IDEAS FOR LEADERS: Vision Coaching turns 18, our roster keeps growing, helping amid a crushing wave of retirements

FRESH IDEAS

FOR LEADERS

NOVEMBER 2023

An 18-year journey of (mostly) ups and (some) downs

Vision Coaching is no longer a kid.

Last month, the coaching business I launched on a dream and a $10,000 line of credit turned 18 years old.

It’s so hard to believe. Less than three in 10 small businesses in Canada survive after 17 years, a statistic that surprise me.

Truthfully, there were some occasions on this journey when I worried that Vision Coaching would be one of those that went out of business. (It’s hard not to think back to the business climate during the financial crisis of 2009, for instance.)

Thankfully, I am surrounded by amazing people that I could lean on during some of the more challenging times along with an amazing and very loyal client base.

When we launched on Oct. 1, 2005, it was a time of good chaos and great promise.

Navigating the next chapter: re-imagining retirement

Increasingly, our coaches are being asked for support in planning for retirement or life beyond work as senior leaders have known it.

This isn’t surprising. The number of people 55 or older is growing rapidly in Canada while post-COVID retirements are on the rise. More than one in five Canadians aged 55 to 59 years are now completely or partially retired.

We are pleased to announce that we have launched a new Pre-Retirement Coaching program.

Earlier this month, coaches Lianne Krakauer and Chantelle Courtney facilitated an introductory workshop entitled Navigating the Next Chapter: Re-imagining Retirement.

The interactive session explored opportunities for employers to provide resources to significantly benefit their retiring leaders and the organization into the future and outlined the new program.

Exploring a leadership journey

A recent episode of The Boiling Point with Emily Rodger and Dave Veale explores Andy Posner’s extraordinary leadership journey. Andy is the visionary founder of Capital Good Fund and its innovative loan programs.

Andy’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of determination and a bold vision. His story began while pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Studies at Brown University, where he uncovered the groundbreaking work of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate renowned as the father of microfinance. Inspired by Yunus, Andy recognized that equitable financial services held the potential to uplift communities, both in clean energy and poverty alleviation.

To watch or listen, visit The Boiling Point website or your favourite podcast platform.

As Harvard Business Review points out in Four Phrases That Build a Culture of Curiosity, strengthening our connections to others doesn’t just foster good feelings, it’s also good for business.

Navigating the hybrid workplace is one of the biggest issues facing leaders today. Inc. provides some guidance in How to Choose the Best In-Person Workdays for Your Hybrid Company.

Forbes features In Praise Of The Middle Manager, and explores the value of those leaders. “Good leaders…help people see their purpose,” it notes. “They understand the vision. They know how to communicate it.”