There are things you learn about leadership on the front lines of a tough union environment that aren't learned in a textbook.
It's a classroom where nothing could be faked and everything was earned.
Like:
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That tough and fair aren't opposites — they're the whole point
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That you can't fake respect, and you shouldn't try
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That resilience isn't a personality trait — it's a daily choice
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That standing up for your people is non-negotiable, even when it costs you
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That sometimes the most powerful leadership move is choosing grace over the rulebook
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That earning the respect of a crusty union rep is one of the most satisfying things a manager will ever experience
Red Glove Coaching is grounded in ten years of experience as a manager in one of the toughest union environments in Canada + twenty years of leadership coaching with hundreds of middle and senior managers. The red gloves are a symbol of confidence and compassion, worn together, without apology. My coaching clients always learn to be comfortable in their own skin, to follow their instincts, and honour their values. From there, they also get more and more comfortable doing things they once considered hard.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
This quote from Albert Einstein (a recognized scientist of brilliance and wisdom) demonstrates a deep understanding that the mindset, assumptions, or strategies that led to a problem are unlikely to be effective in resolving it.
To find new solutions, it's important to shift perspective, embrace new ideas, and think in innovative ways to approach the problem from a different angle.
I've used my Breakthrough process for two decades with clients, providing space for them to bypass outdated modes of problem-solving and engage with their own creativity and wisdom.
I don't have the answers. You do!
