Welcome to My Leadership Blog! 

My blog is all about helping current and emerging leaders learn how to transform difficult conversations and dysfunctional workplace relationships into positive and productive ones.
I hope you find it helpful!
Brie Barker

Most Recent Post

Essential Post

Quick Decision-Making for Introverts

Quick Decision-Making for Introverts

If you’re more introverted than extroverted, quick decision-making is something you’re not likely known for around the office. However, research shows this ability is critical to high-performing leaders and executives. Here are some tips …

read more
Risk Management:  Can You Save Your Organization?

Risk Management: Can You Save Your Organization?

I had a truly life-changing experience this past weekend. And it was only when I was thinking about what to write about in this week’s blog post that I came to see how it relates to leadership: it’s about risk management … and perhaps your organization’s very existence.

read more
Addressing a Diminishing Job Performance

Addressing a Diminishing Job Performance

Addressing an employee’s diminishing performance is something that most leaders/managers consider to be a difficult conversation. Here’s how you can begin that conversation in a way that will set you on a path towards a positive and productive outcome.

read more
Culture Change: Beware the CEO Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Culture Change: Beware the CEO Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Most would agree that it’s almost impossible to successfully bring about a major culture change throughout an organization without it’s leader as the ultimate champion of the initiative. However, this very same leader/champion can also be the reason the desired culture change is doomed to fail.

read more
Learning from “Negative” Workplace Emotions

Learning from “Negative” Workplace Emotions

The idea of a passionate workplace conjures images of people who are brimming with smiles, positivity and energetic collaboration. However, you and your organization can also benefit from high intensity, “negative” workplace emotions — the “dark side” of passion.

read more
4 Steps to Detoxifying Toxic Employees — Step #1

4 Steps to Detoxifying Toxic Employees — Step #1

Mention the term "toxic employee" and almost every manager will shudder as their mind conjures up an image of a specific employee, past or present.  Consider this as you read: it's effectively managing these "troublesome" employees that justifies your paycheque; it's...

read more
Whose Good Ideas Aren’t You Hearing?

Whose Good Ideas Aren’t You Hearing?

As a leader, it serves you to consider where your own persona might be what's preventing you from hearing the potentially valuable ideas of particular employees.  Don't miss the gems that aren't expressed with the fanfare of a brass band.   Friends of my wife...

read more
4 Ways to Earn Trust as a Leader

4 Ways to Earn Trust as a Leader

Trust is the lifeblood of effective, enduring leadership. Want your employees to trust you enough to follow you just about anywhere?   Here are 4 things you can do to earn trust as a leader.    Read the following list while embracing two important concepts: »...

read more
Stacked Questions and The 3 Typical, Problematic Responses

Stacked Questions and The 3 Typical, Problematic Responses

If you lead a team of people, be they senior executives, managers or support staff, you might be unknowingly asking stacked questions.  The end result is that you're not likely to get the information that led you to ask the questions in the first place ... and you...

read more
The Value of “I” in “Team”

The Value of “I” in “Team”

We all know the adage, "There is no 'I' in 'Team'."  Actually, there are times when the 'I' needs to be embraced in order to get the most out of the team.    I was working with a client this past fall -- we'll call her Josée -- who felt at a loss on how to better...

read more
A Tragedy Leads to a Manager’s Dilemma

A Tragedy Leads to a Manager’s Dilemma

All managers are human ... and managers need to be able to reconcile their human values with their managerial responsibilities.  Sometimes, that's easier said than done.   Recently, I was helping a client -- we'll call him Jack -- who is less than a year into his...

read more

The Workplace Relationship Dance

Introducing Guest Blogger Judy Kiar:   Judy Kiar is an Ottawa therapist with over thirty years experience who, for the past fifteen years, has been serving individuals, couples and families through her private practice, Judy Kiar Counselling. Judy's guiding...

read more
Mr. Spock and Workplace Relationships

Mr. Spock and Workplace Relationships

Mr. Spock may seem like an odd source of wisdom regarding effective workplace relationships. After all, what could we possibly learn about such relationships between actual human beings from this logical, non-emotional, alien character from Star Trek?  Well, quite a...

read more
The Day I Quit My Boss

The Day I Quit My Boss

The saying that “people don’t quit their jobs, they quit their boss” holds a lot of truth.  If you’ve had a such an experience, you're not alone.  Actually, I’m right there with you.  However, there's a deeper truth.  Back in my twenties, had I known then what I know...

read more
5 Steps for Mindfulness at Work

5 Steps for Mindfulness at Work

Developing and practicing Mindfulness is something everyone can do and it's a powerful skill in terms of creating and maintaining positive and productive workplace relationships.      Many years ago, I took an 8-week course called the Mindfulness Based...

read more
Beginning Our Connected Conversation …

Beginning Our Connected Conversation …

  Hello! My name is Brie Barker. I’m the Founder and Chief Learning Facilitator of Connected Conversations and I want to welcome you to my blog. If you already know me, then thanks for joining me on this new adventure. If we haven’t connected directly yet, then I...

read more

About Brie

I help current and emerging leaders learn how to transform difficult conversations and dysfunctional workplace relationships into positive and productive ones.

Why?  Because your health, career and organization may depend upon it.  Really.

© 2019 Connected Conversations™

Brie Barker’s

LEADERSHIP BLOG

My leadership blog is all about helping current and emerging leaders learn how to transform difficult conversations and dysfunctional workplace relationships into positive and productive ones.

Most Recent Post

Essential Post

Scroll for More!

Quick Decision-Making for Introverts

Quick Decision-Making for Introverts

If you’re more introverted than extroverted, quick decision-making is something you’re not likely known for around the office. However, research shows this ability is critical to high-performing leaders and executives. Here are some tips …

read more
Risk Management:  Can You Save Your Organization?

Risk Management: Can You Save Your Organization?

I had a truly life-changing experience this past weekend. And it was only when I was thinking about what to write about in this week’s blog post that I came to see how it relates to leadership: it’s about risk management … and perhaps your organization’s very existence.

read more
Addressing a Diminishing Job Performance

Addressing a Diminishing Job Performance

Addressing an employee’s diminishing performance is something that most leaders/managers consider to be a difficult conversation. Here’s how you can begin that conversation in a way that will set you on a path towards a positive and productive outcome.

read more
Culture Change: Beware the CEO Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Culture Change: Beware the CEO Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Most would agree that it’s almost impossible to successfully bring about a major culture change throughout an organization without it’s leader as the ultimate champion of the initiative. However, this very same leader/champion can also be the reason the desired culture change is doomed to fail.

read more
Learning from “Negative” Workplace Emotions

Learning from “Negative” Workplace Emotions

The idea of a passionate workplace conjures images of people who are brimming with smiles, positivity and energetic collaboration. However, you and your organization can also benefit from high intensity, “negative” workplace emotions — the “dark side” of passion.

read more
4 Steps to Detoxifying Toxic Employees — Step #1

4 Steps to Detoxifying Toxic Employees — Step #1

Mention the term "toxic employee" and almost every manager will shudder as their mind conjures up an image of a specific employee, past or present.  Consider this as you read: it's effectively managing these "troublesome" employees that justifies your paycheque; it's...

read more
Whose Good Ideas Aren’t You Hearing?

Whose Good Ideas Aren’t You Hearing?

As a leader, it serves you to consider where your own persona might be what's preventing you from hearing the potentially valuable ideas of particular employees.  Don't miss the gems that aren't expressed with the fanfare of a brass band.   Friends of my wife...

read more
4 Ways to Earn Trust as a Leader

4 Ways to Earn Trust as a Leader

Trust is the lifeblood of effective, enduring leadership. Want your employees to trust you enough to follow you just about anywhere?   Here are 4 things you can do to earn trust as a leader.    Read the following list while embracing two important concepts: »...

read more
Stacked Questions and The 3 Typical, Problematic Responses

Stacked Questions and The 3 Typical, Problematic Responses

If you lead a team of people, be they senior executives, managers or support staff, you might be unknowingly asking stacked questions.  The end result is that you're not likely to get the information that led you to ask the questions in the first place ... and you...

read more
The Value of “I” in “Team”

The Value of “I” in “Team”

We all know the adage, "There is no 'I' in 'Team'."  Actually, there are times when the 'I' needs to be embraced in order to get the most out of the team.    I was working with a client this past fall -- we'll call her Josée -- who felt at a loss on how to better...

read more
A Tragedy Leads to a Manager’s Dilemma

A Tragedy Leads to a Manager’s Dilemma

All managers are human ... and managers need to be able to reconcile their human values with their managerial responsibilities.  Sometimes, that's easier said than done.   Recently, I was helping a client -- we'll call him Jack -- who is less than a year into his...

read more

The Workplace Relationship Dance

Introducing Guest Blogger Judy Kiar:   Judy Kiar is an Ottawa therapist with over thirty years experience who, for the past fifteen years, has been serving individuals, couples and families through her private practice, Judy Kiar Counselling. Judy's guiding...

read more
Mr. Spock and Workplace Relationships

Mr. Spock and Workplace Relationships

Mr. Spock may seem like an odd source of wisdom regarding effective workplace relationships. After all, what could we possibly learn about such relationships between actual human beings from this logical, non-emotional, alien character from Star Trek?  Well, quite a...

read more
The Day I Quit My Boss

The Day I Quit My Boss

The saying that “people don’t quit their jobs, they quit their boss” holds a lot of truth.  If you’ve had a such an experience, you're not alone.  Actually, I’m right there with you.  However, there's a deeper truth.  Back in my twenties, had I known then what I know...

read more
5 Steps for Mindfulness at Work

5 Steps for Mindfulness at Work

Developing and practicing Mindfulness is something everyone can do and it's a powerful skill in terms of creating and maintaining positive and productive workplace relationships.      Many years ago, I took an 8-week course called the Mindfulness Based...

read more
Beginning Our Connected Conversation …

Beginning Our Connected Conversation …

  Hello! My name is Brie Barker. I’m the Founder and Chief Learning Facilitator of Connected Conversations and I want to welcome you to my blog. If you already know me, then thanks for joining me on this new adventure. If we haven’t connected directly yet, then I...

read more

Click to Discover

© 2019 Connected Conversations™