Below are some of the more commonly requested webinars. Drawing on a deep bench of grounded and practical content related to mindfulness, resilience, focus, conscious leadership, ancient wisdom and modern science, each webinar is customized to the context, language and stories of the people in your organization. And, if you want to create something unique and new for your people, custom workshops or webinars are also available.
Fostering “Deep Work” in a Distracted World
Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel like you accomplished nothing of meaning? We’ve all been there, caught up in the busyness of responding to internal and external clients, managing our inbox, and meeting deadlines. Yet consistently prioritizing responsiveness over focus limits our potential. You need to go deep to be your most productive, and to thrive and innovate in a rapidly changing world. And you need to do this in an environment that is constantly whirring with distractions and fracturing your focus.
In this session, you will learn:
· Why “Deep Work”* is so important for CPAs today.
· The neuroscience behind what limits or challenges our ability to consistently perform “Deep Work”.
· How to train the skill to focus longer and with greater concentration.
· How to do “Deep Work” (and there’s more than one way).
· How to leverage the hybrid workplace for greater focus and “Deep Work”.
· How to give your brain what it needs so that it is better prepared to do the heavy lifting of “Deep Work”.
* the term “Deep Work” was first coined by computer science professor and author Cal Newport in his book Deep Work, Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
tools to manage “Imposter Syndrome” and other negative thought patterns
Do you worry that sooner or later your colleagues are going to realize what you have suspected all along - that you don’t measure up? Do you compare yourself to others and how they are doing in unhealthy ways? Do you get angry or frustrated when things don’t go your way? Do you get lost in looping thoughts of negativity, about yourself or others? Or do you struggle to connect with others on your team because they seem less competent or driven than you?
The good news is you are in good company - many, many people experience some version of these afflictions. The even better news is that we aren’t stuck in these patterns. There is a way out.
This webinar helps you understand why a healthy ego is essential for self-efficacy, confidence and setting boundaries. And how an unhealthy ego, gets lost in its troubles and worries and hampers your performance and happiness. How ancient wisdom has been dealing with these issues for thousands of years and how they point to the way out. And, how modern science is affirming and building on much of that ancient wisdom. You will leave this webinar with clarity and five practical tools that will help you thrive and flourish at work and in life, despite some of our unhelpful innate tendencies.
Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction
Workshop or Webinar
One of the most common challenges in the workplace today is staying focused on the work at hand when constantly interrupted. Ironically, the importance for focus has never been greater than it is today. Or seemingly harder to achieve. The technology we enjoy allows us unprecedented productivity through easy access to information, ideas and individuals. It also has the undesired effect of overwhelming us with too much information and fracturing our focus. We live in the age of distraction - where the steady and abundant input from multiple devices, programs, apps and social media connections, as well as the many work, family and social commitments all turn into a fog of distraction.
Participants will learn why we are so easily distracted, what’s going on inside our brain and five practical tools they can implement right away to be more focused. Guaranteed outcomes for participants from this webinar include:
30-90 minutes of ‘found’ time in their day,
90-minutes of more productive work during their workday, and
Greater end-of-day satisfaction and joy in life.
“Scott was intelligent, plain-speaking, personable, honest, and clear. His use of inter-active exercises to illustrate concepts was spot-on. His webinar - Focus in the Age of Distraction - was the frank, realistic reminder I needed as I try to multi-task my way through a mountain of work at home during the lock-down. Very glad I took his seminar - the results of which are already starting to pay off in greater efficiency and well-being.”
- S. Forbes
The Art of Saying “No!” and Setting Boundaries (NEW)
Are your days unrealistically overbooked? Do you routinely get bumped out of your own work to respond to someone else’s urgent needs? Do you feel guilty if you do say “No” or “Not now”? Do you feel you need to say “Yes” because you might not get another opportunity? If so, this webinar is for you.
We are a social species, and this means we are wired to collaborate and support each other. We are inherently wired to please. But when healthy collaboration and support becomes endless pleasing, letting our own needs slide, or living with guilt for simply setting fair and realistic boundaries, we have gone too far.
This webinar helps you understand the neuroscience behind saying “Yes!” and not setting boundaries, and gives you five practical tools to bring more balance, self-respect and productivity back into your life.
Developing Your Leadership Presence
Leadership Presence is our ability to fully connect with the people on our teams to understand them, inspire them and help them grow in their role. But in a world with a constant whir of incoming emails, IMs and zipping off to our next meeting, we can lose our leadership presence. In this engaging session, we will explore tools to help you increase your Leadership Presence, and the results you are able to achieve with your team.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
Be More Caring and Connected: People connect strongly to leaders who they feel have their best interest at heart. The key is being true to who we are, comfortable with ourselves, and yet humble and putting others first.
Create Clarity. A big part of our leadership presence is our ability to create clarity. First for ourselves and then for others.
Lead With Virtue. As a leader, our character matters. But if we aren't careful we can react in ways that weaken our character and leadership presence. As a leader, you will learn why virtue is as practical and necessary for leaders today as ever.
Create Positivity and Hope. We are at our best as leaders when we create an environment where people flourish. Positivity and hope are core ingredients for individuals and teams to flourish.
Be More Present, Aware and Calm. To gain clarity ourselves in times of uncertainty, and to navigate the inevitable storms, we have to first create and carry an inner calm within ourselves. To have room to connect with others, we have to first find spaciousness within ourselves.
Habit Change 101 - How To Create The routines, rituals and processes You Need to thrive as a busy professional
Deep down, we all know that we are creatures of habit. Whether they are the good habits (like planning our day or week) that keep us on track, or the bad habits (like checking social media on our phone, only to get lost in it longer than we intended) that defuse our productivity, we can feel their presence and pull shaping our behaviour. The key is to create the routines, rituals and processes you need (and can trust) such you can thrive. Routines that help you create the energy you need to be at your best, the focus you want to do your best work and the resilience you require to pivot and adapt to a changing world.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
understand why inspiration and willpower are useful, but limited
learn why routines, rituals and processes are essential for anyone to perform at their best
learn the key obstacles we that prevent us from creating or sticking with a habit we want, and how to overcome them
learn a simple, practical and instantly implementable process for creating new habits
select and implement one high-leverage habit they want to add to their life and use it to practice the process on, and
leave the webinar with a plan to stay accountable to the process, and in a growth mindset such that they can learn and grow from the process
Habit Change 102 - How To maintain The routines, rituals and processes You Need to thrive as a busy professional
This is a companion webinar (or workshop) aimed to deepen the learning in Habit Change 101. The key to maintaining the routines, rituals and processes you need is understanding the neuroscience behind why we resist our good habits (both in the beginning before they are anchored, and over the long run even once they are anchored). Their are a number of unconscious drivers that will trip us up (without us even realizing it) - but there are also ways to stay aware and prevent them.
When we recognize the demands that our careers and lives place on us, it becomes clear that habit is the way. To thrive, perform at our best and be happy in our busy lives, routines, rituals and processes are necessary to create the energy you need, the focus you want and the resilience you require in a noisy, distracting and ever-changing world.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
deepen their understanding of the habit change process
learn from the experience of implementing a high-leverage routine, ritual or process in at the end of Habit Change 101
arm themselves with additional tools aimed at staying aware of when they are drifting off course from an established habit, and how to use any ‘wobbles or lapses’ in the habit to their advantage to strengthen the habit
select and implement another high-leverage habit they want to add to their life and use it to practice the process on, and
leave the webinar with a plan to stay accountable to the process, and in a growth mindset such that they can learn and grow from the process
Maintaining Focus in the Age of Distraction
This is a follow-up webinar to “Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction” that further develop the skills we need to focus in our world today. In that webinar, participants were guaranteed:
30-90 minutes of ‘found’ time in their day,
90-minutes of more productive work during their workday, and
Greater end-of-day satisfaction and joy in life.
In this webinar, we check in on how it went after Session 1 with the opportunity for real time coaching on challenges that came up. Participants then learn:
How to anchor the mindset they need to survive in the age of distraction - since their mindset will govern their choices after the webinar.
The Three Habits they need to maintain focus over the long-term, which include how to:
1. Own Your Morning
2. Own Your Day
3. Own Your Evening and Sleep
And importantly, the tools and practices to create and maintain habit change following the course.
Meditation 101 – The “What?”, “Why?” and “How?” of Meditation for the Busy Professional.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you and your team had greater immunity to stress? Most everyone I speak to these days experiences more stress than they would like. Often stress that affects their performance, their health and their relationships. Not to mention their wellbeing and joy in life.
The good news is that there is a stress ‘vaccine’! It is called meditation and mindfulness practices! There is no lack of science to back this up. In as little as 8 weeks of meditation, studies have seen a reduction in the activation and size of the amygdala, a part of our limbic brain highly involved in the stress and anxiety response.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
understand the effect that stress has on our brain
learn what meditation is, breaking down some of the myths that many people still have,
learn how meditation changes our brain and nervous system,
learn the many benefits people typically gain from meditation, and
learn the “How?” of meditation, basic mindfulness practices to use during the day and experience a guided meditation coaching them on how to sit and train their mind.
Meditation 102
Building on Meditation 101, this webinar takes participants deeper into the “What?”, “Why?” and “How?” of meditation, allows them to experience different types of meditation, and shows them that they can meditate longer than they might think through a guided longer meditation.
This session also gives them tips and tools to develop and sustain new habits, since this will be crucial following the session.
STAYING CONNECTED, COLLABORATIVE AND FOCUSED IN A HYBRID WORK WORLD
We live and work in unusual times. On one hand, many of us have adapted to working from home so well that we find it unfamiliar and even uncomfortable to be back in the office. Commuting can add stress and challenge our work-life balance in ways we haven’t experienced for over two years.
And yet the home office isn’t perfect either. Many of us can feel exhausted after a day of online meetings and calls. And we miss the sense of deeper connection, and the ease of collaboration and creativity that online meetings struggle to foster. And then there is our productivity; are we genuinely more productive or less productive in the office environment? You can quickly see the many conflicting challenges and benefits we are navigating.
Given that many organizations are moving forward with a hybrid work model, there is a need to be intentional about how we move between the office and the home office. This webinar will highlight why connection and collaboration are so important for us as individuals and organizations, and give you practical tools to balance staying connected and collaborative, while also staying focused and productive, in whichever work environment you are in.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
understand why the hybrid model may create new challenges and stressors for them
learn the influence that our mindset has in the type of experience we have while shifting between in office and remote work, and how to choose a mindset that makes the most of the situation
understand their own specific energy needs and learn how to optimize their energy whether they are in the office or working remotely
understand why we need to create time for both focus blocks and collaboration time, and what happens if these two modes are out of balance, and
how to leverage the hybrid model to train the foundational tool of “awareness” to get the most out the whole experience.
Creating the energy you need to focus and thrive
As a mindfulness and resiliency coach, one of the first things we assess when working with someone one-on-one is “How is your energy?” Many accounting professionals are exhausted and have been for some time. With low energy reserves everything becomes harder: you have less concentration, less patience or tolerance for issues in the day, poorer prioritization and decision making and get sucked into low-level problems, less self-discipline when it comes to unhealthy habits related to junkfood, screen time, alcohol and other numbing strategies.
In this exhausted, ineffective mode, many CPAs feel the need to work longer hours to keep up with everything and put their own needs related to exercise, sleep and downtime aside, hoping to get to back on track “next week”. All of which only perpetuates and deepens the cycle.
What if you could break this cycle and get back to your previous high-energy self?
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
understand how their energy affects their brain’s ability to perform well
learn the neuroscience behind not practicing self-care and prioritizing the needs of others over our own
understand the knock on effect our energy has in all domains of our life, and in the lives of those around us
learn five simple, practical ways you can increase your energy everyday, and a bonus practice proven to increase our overall wellbeing
create a habit change plan towards restoring their energy to where it needs to be.
The Art of Gratitude
As we grind our way through darker, wetter, colder days, it is easy to feel worn down and less motivated. The human brain has a strong tendency to notice problems and what’s not going well, and tends to overlook or become complacent towards the many good things in our lives. Whether it is ancient wisdom or modern science, gratitude is recognized as one of the strongest virtues to positively shift our motivation, happiness, health and even improve our sleep. But many of us could be be far more grateful in our day and leverage this as a source of wellbeing in our lives. Like other virtues, being grateful is a skill we can learn.
Participate in this science-based, practical dive into gratitude, leaving you with a host of tools you can practice right away, and an immediate sense of gratitude and well-being.
Maintaining Motivation
Some days it just feels like the same old grind. Other days it is the news that throws a wet blanket on the day. And other days it is the continued uncertainty about when the pandemic will be over and things will be back to ’normal'.
If your motivation is low, you aren’t alone. Maintaining motivation throughout the pandemic has been a persistent challenge for many of us.
This science-based webinar looks at the factors that kill motivation, why motivation and enthusiasm are so important for us, and provides a five practical tools we can implement right away to get our motivation back and keep it there.
tools to help you navigate and thrive Through Change
Change can be hard. Whether it is the frustration that comes with running into heavy traffic (when we didn’t expect it) or dealing with the bigger changes in life (like going back to school, changing career, ending a relationship, becoming a parent, or looking at retirement), it is normal to experience some stress, resistance and even wishing the change was easier. Whether we like it or not, life is about change and we are always in transition.
Unfortunately, we can become overwhelmed by too much change or overly resist, fight or avoid change, which only makes our lives harder. The goal in life is to become a good ‘transitioner’ through all of the changes we face.
Through a combination of ancient wisdom, modern science and practical tools, this webinar equips all of us to get better at facing adversity, exhibiting courage in the face of our anxieties, coping with loss, and perhaps even embracing the many changes life brings, good or bad.
Tools to help you move From ‘Surviving’ to ‘Thriving’
Some days we feel like we are stuck and not even sure why. Other days we feel like we are languishing - not stuck, yet not thriving either. And every once in awhile we might feel like we are thriving, but it is hard to sustain this sense.
Building on foundational resilience skills, this webinar help us shift our minds from a mode of ‘surviving’ to a mode of actively ‘thriving’ in our world. It will remind us that, as humans, we are not wired to stay stuck, and that we have a fundamental need to move back to growth, flourishing and thriving.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
understand that our brain has two modes; “Security” and “Growth”,
understand why the “Growth” mode is so important,
learn how to cultivate a thriving mindset,
learn how the essentialist mindset helps us to thrive,
understand why positivity is so important and how to be more positive in your day, and
be able to create the daily habits that will that will help you to thrive.
Creating an organizational culture with Greater Gratitude, Grace and other virtues to help you thrive
We live in a busy, often distracting and constantly changing world. From our technology, to social-political issues, to increasing extreme weather, there is no shortage of change and potential stressors in our world. If you are having trouble feeling resilient, focused and at ease in your world, you are not alone.
Learning how to live life and work with a sense of greater gratitude, grace and other virtues offer powerful tools we can leverage to change our perspective, be more positive and inspire others to do so as well. Our mindset and behaviours matter, not just for us but for those around us, as we have far more influence on others than we realize.
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
see their brain in a new light and with greater clarity,
understand why ancient wisdoms all include virtue in one form or another as a means to thrive in life, no matter what is happening,
learn ways to bring a deeper, felt experience of gratitude, grace under pressure and other virtues in their work day,
leave the webinar inspired to be a more positive force in their world.
more Tools for greater Resilience, motivation and Grit
Some days life just feels harder than it should be. We might be worn down by the overwhelm of work during the busy season. We might have low energy seasonally due to the shorter, colder, wetter and darker days. We might find ourselves in a bit of a funk and not quite sure why. Thankfully, there are tools to help us with this.
This webinar or webinar series builds on the “Developing Mindfulness Tools for Greater Resilience, More Focus and To Better Cope With Change” webinar. In this webinar, we look at:
- The neuroscience of the stress response, willpower and loss of motivation
- The characteristics of resilience and why we are stronger together
- The ingredients of ‘grit’, willpower and motivation
- Where to find hope and inspiration during hard times, and
- The importance of connection, compassion, empathy and kindness.
These are the tools and habits you will need to "keep on keeping on”.
Developing Mindfulness Tools for Greater Resilience, More Focus and to better cope with Change
The world today can feel more uncertain and unpredictable than in the past. This takes a toll on us. If you are having trouble being OK with ongoing changes, getting your work done or staying focused, you are not alone. If you are struggling with your shifting moods, and at times, unhealthy thinking patterns or habits, you are not alone. So how can you hold your focus, maintain your perspective and manage your mental wellbeing through changes and challenges in your life?
This webinar helps you learn the neuroscience behind our stress response and provides the tools and practices you need to navigate these ongoing challenging times.
At the end of this course, participants will:
understand the effect the ongoing challenges and changes on our nervous system,
understand the need for self-care and prioritize it in their day,
be able to find more ‘grit’ and be more resilient to the uncertainty they face today and in the near future,
be more focused on what is their control,
be more able to find positivity and gratitude in their world, despite what is happening, and
be more open to change in their world and able to adapt, pivot or leverage the change in a positive way.
“Scott was a fantastic presenter and engaged our group in important discussions that I suspect will help many of us both professionally and personally. His calm demeanour, insightful observations and knowledge about the science behind the topics presented made for an excellent zoom workshop, which was highly valuable, particularly during these challenging COVID times.”
- A. Luke
Introduction to mindfulness
One of the most popular sessions is a simple introduction to mindfulness. While mindfulness has become increasingly popular inside more and more organizations, many people still wonder what it is and if it is relevant for them. This webinar is aimed at demystifying a practical set of tools that are simply a way to better manage your brain, which can become overly stressed, distracted and compulsive at times.
What You Will Learn
What mindfulness is, and what the opposite of mindfulness looks like: Autopilot.
The consequences of Autopilot in our day (stuck in patterns, over-reactivity) and why we need tools to help override this.
The neuroscience behind why our brains are the way they are.
The research-based benefits of mindfulness for our lives today.
Three practical tools you can implement right away that will help you get started on the “How?” of mindfulness.
The Neuroscience of the Connected and Resilient Leader
Our brains are constantly assessing our world; do we move towards what we are experiencing or do we move away. We do this unconsciously and on Autopilot, based on our beliefs, previous experiences, assumptions and filters. Automatically categorizing people, situations and experiences into toward or away. The challenge is if we aren’t aware of this, where leaders can inadvertently create an environment where people don’t feel safe enough to perform at their best or work effectively as a team.
The good news is there are simple, practical tools and practices leaders can leverage to increase their own awareness and resilience, thereby allowing them to more effectively fulfill the unique role they have – creating the environment for safety, respect, creativity, cooperation and collaboration.
What You Will Learn
Why we are exceptionally good at noticing threats, why our survival brains are wired for reactivity and how this can trigger the survival brain of others. All of which decreases collaboration and creativity.
That when we perceive threats to be minimal and feel safe, we are wired for connection and collaboration.
How to create psychological safety for the team, connections with each member and how to manage your own survival brain.
How You Will Learn
A mix of presentation, stories and video clips
Experiential practice of mindfulness techniques
Personal Reflection
Group discussion
Developing an Open Mindset
In a world that changes quickly, we need the skills for greater creativity, innovation and agility. All too often we can find ourselves defending a position, or sticking to what we know, when what is required is for us to see other perspectives, possibilities and options. The ability to accept what is happening (rather than resist it or wish it were different), explore options outside of the norm and find fresh options to our challenges not only produces better results, it greatly lowers our stress levels. Fighting for our opinion or belief is important in some situations, but all too often we rigidly (and often unconsciously) cling to what we know—pushing us in a fight or flight response. This is physically, emotionally and mentally draining and limits our creativity and ability to develop options.
What You Will Learn
Introduction to mindfulness
Open vs. Fixed Mindset
How to be aware of limited thinking patterns
How to find better solutions to problems through creativity and curiosity
How You Will Learn
A mix of presentation, stories and video clips
Experiential practice of mindfulness techniques
Personal Reflection
Group discussion
Managing Reactivity When Triggered
We need the skills to manage our reactivity when triggered. ‘Triggered’ is what happens when we have an irrationally strong emotional response to an encounter, event or situation, often throwing us unwittingly into a reactive state of fight of flight. In a fight response, we may say or do something that is unhelpful to the situation and we may regret our actions later (even if we feel justified at some level). In the flight response, we may retreat or avoid the situation in an unhealthy way. In either response, our minds can become overly pre-occupied with endlessly looping thoughts of what happened, how we have been wronged, what we did or should have done, etc. It is exhausting, undermines our focus and confidence, damages relationships and is detrimental to our health. To perform at our best, we need the tools to move past our reactions and respond intentionally to triggers in our lives, rather than react unproductively.
What You Will Learn
Introduction to mindfulness
How your brain reacts to triggers
How to manage reactivity and have a more intentional response
How to foster compassion and self-compassion
How You Will Learn
A mix of presentation, stories and video clips
Experiential practice of mindfulness techniques
Personal Reflection
Group discussion
About Your Facilitator
Scott is a mindfulness trainer and coach, who gives leaders and busy professionals the tools they need to thrive in a chaotic and distracting world. He has studied mindfulness under the guidance of a local expert, Ray Williams, and brings 10 years of designing and delivering highly successful leadership development programs from his former corporate life. Using a powerful mix of mindfulness tools, clear metaphors, powerful experiences and simple practices, he provides people with the tools they need to be more resilient, more focused and more productive in an age of distraction.
He was previously the National Leader of HR for one of Canada’s largest employee-owned engineering and science consulting organizations. Scott draws on his 27 years of corporate experience to connect the concepts of mindfulness with the world of corporate leaders and the analytical minds of busy managers and professionals.
He also walks the walk every day. As a business owner and entrepreneur, he uses these skills to manage his focus, his resilience and his reactivity to the world on a daily basis. He has an 11-year old son, who while amazing on so many levels, deals with anxiety. Anxiety that can express itself as highly emotional, oppositional and stubbornly defiant behaviour. Mindfulness has become the most powerful tool he has as a parent in dealing with difficult parenting situations.
Scott has had the great fortune to work with the brilliant people at UBC, BCIT, Urban Systems Ltd., Miller Titerle + Co. LLP, Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Clark Wilson LLP, Miller Thomson LLP, EA Canada, SAP, Habanero Consulting, Smythe LLP, Schneider Electric, Covenant House Vancouver, BC Assessment, plus numerous entrepreneurs and sole practitioners.