Reading Time: 3 minutes People with charisma stand out. It’s a trait that we associate with leadership — that something special that makes an individual seem exceptional. But it turns out that charisma has little to do with good looks, wealth, titles or authority, and although it can seem that individuals with charisma must have inherited it at their […] Read more
Guide HR: A question of charisma
Good leaders seem special. It’s a talent you can grow
Friendships for your life
For more and more of us, loneliness is a serious health risk
Reading Time: 5 minutes In the farming community, being independent is a point of pride. However, too much independence is actually bad for your health if it leads to social isolation. The research is clear. Multiple studies over the past three decades have shown that loneliness kills. It’s as bad for your health as smoking, being obese, having high […] Read more
Guide Health: Do you need an injectable for diabetes?
Good management of diabetes is possible with a combination of oral drugs, but it can also include injectable medications
Reading Time: 3 minutes Diabetes is a metabolic disease, which means it is associated with a problem in the way your body metabolizes a substance. Specifically, in the case of diabetes your body has problems with a carbohydrate, i.e. glucose. In 2010, it was estimated that 2.7 million Canadians were living with a diagnosis of diabetes, and that over […] Read more
Lead change, don’t just manage it
Book review: Leading Change by John P. Kotter
Reading Time: 4 minutes Leading Change John P. Kotter Harvard Business Review Press, 2012 Two decades ago, Harvard professor John Kotter revolutionized how we should think about change, and in the first edition of Leading Change, he laid out an eight-step process for how to transform a business. Although he mainly targets large organizations, Kotter’s thinking seems equally pertinent […] Read more
Communications 101
These simple strategies will reduce day-to-day conflict on your farm, increase efficiency, and help get everyone on the same page
Reading Time: 5 minutes Ever feel like other people just don’t understand you? Do people on the farm complain that you always misunderstand what they’re saying? Does it sometimes feel like you’re all speaking different languages? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Frustrations around communication are common. Nor should that surprise us, […] Read more
Guide Health: Dietary supplements —should you or shouldn’t you?
A Consumer Reports panel has identified 15 supplements to avoid. Check the ingredient lists on the products you take. Toxicities can be significant
Reading Time: 3 minutes Dietary supplements provide additional nutrition to your diet. Most often, the term may make you think of vitamins and minerals, but natural products and herbal remedies are also part of this category. Should you buy them? Vitamins are organic substances from plants or animals that your body needs in small amounts. Minerals are needed in […] Read more
Guide HR: Declutter your life
Be happier and more productive
Reading Time: 3 minutes Today, people have a lot more “stuff.” Houses are bigger, there is more storage space, and with new technology, online “clouds” store our virtual photos, videos, and documents. It seems as though there are an infinite number of spaces to accumulate “stuff.” Is it good to have so much stuff? Does all this stuff actually […] Read more
Clutter Busting 101
These tips really will help you take charge of the stuff in your office, and in your life
Reading Time: 6 minutes Do you feel stressed by the clutter on your desk, the dining room table and the kitchen counter? Are you tired of tripping over things that “might come in handy” someday? Do you have a basement full of stuff that’s too valuable to throw away, but you can’t decide what to do with it? If […] Read more
Guide HR: How to deal with a manipulator (without going crazy yourself!)
Reading Time: 3 minutes It is always about him. He doesn’t care about his children or spouse or employees’ needs. He treats me like I cannot think for myself and that I have no value. I’m going completely crazy.” Does this ring a bell? If so, you’re probably dealing with a manipulator. We all manipulate from time to time. […] Read more
Guide Health: The increasing problem of allergies
Guide Health with Marie Berry
Reading Time: 3 minutes There does seem to be an increase in allergies, with about 30 per cent of adults and 40 per cent of children affected in Canada. This trend is thought to be due to several factors, including the fact that today we are able to diagnose allergies that previously may have been dismissed as a sensitive […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
