Our values are not found in the positions or roles we play, but in the quality of the interaction we bring to everything we do.
Based in Halifax Nova Scotia, Robert uses his experience, skills and values to provide strategic support for leaders and their teams in the areas of negotiations, conflict resolution and coaching. He offers his clients a confidential and respectful environment for solving problems and he understands that by building respectful and authentic relationships, individuals and organizations will have a greater opportunity to achieve their goals.
Robert’s approach to leadership coaching is to work with strengths, clarify goals and look for the alignment of values. From a confidential place of support and encouragement he will help leaders and their teams find what they need to be their best. He has achieved the ACC designation from the International Coaching Federation and is committed to upholding their Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and the integrity of the profession of leadership and executive coaching.
Robert has earned a reputation for fairness, executive presence and collaborative leadership over his extensive career in the private and public sectors. He worked with the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Ottawa and Atlantic Canada, as an educator, researcher and negotiator and lastly as Atlantic Regional Director. He spent nearly 17 years as a politician, 12 years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, the Leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, the Leader of the Official Opposition and then a term as Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. Robert established his own consulting business providing important service in the areas of Public Affairs and Employee Health and Benefit Plans, Human Resources, crisis management and communications. He served on the Boards of Directors of numerous organizations including the Prior Learning Centre, Dalhousie University and the United Way of Halifax. Currently he is a member of the Board for the Public Good Society and volunteers with the IWK and United Way of Halifax Region.
Passionate about social justice, Paula Simon worked at a senior level in the criminal justice field for over 25 years with both the Federal and Provincial governments in three different Provinces. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Social Work from Dalhousie, as well as four negotiation and mediation certificates from the Harvard Negotiations Project.
Paula is an intuitive and passionate believer in relationships and human potential. Undeniably spirited, she brings a genuine interest to every encounter. Paula believes you and your organization can achieve their highest potential through authentic behavior and conscious decision-making.
Paula understands the importance of giving back to her community. She's been a volunteer board member of of Phoenix Youth Programs, the IWK Health Centre, Big Brother Big Sisters, served on the Board of Governors at Dalhousie University and as President of the NS NDP.Paula has recently published a book entitled, "The Gift of Loss" which shares her journey with Robert through the loss of their son to a life of hope, joy and gratitude. For more information click The Gift of Loss.
In her spare time Paula likes to paint and write.
Fundamental to the success of your organization is the alignment of personal with organizational values/purpose.
We will work with you to:
Catherine McGrail
Associate Vice-President
Cruise/Operations and Corporate Affairs
Mark Samson
Recording Secretary
Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council East
Young Professional feedback
Manager feedback
Senior Administrator feedback
Senior Director feedback
Senior Director feedback
Director feedback
Senior Director feedback
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois/Professor/Professeur Titulaire
Professor in Food Distribution and Policy
Paul MacIsaac
Seniour Vice President
Halifax Port Authority
Confidential conversations focused on supporting your desire for change. If you are willing to explore why and how you do your work, are committed to replacing habits that cause you problems, with habits that better reflect your purpose and meet your professional and personal goals, we can help you achieve success.
One of my responsibilities/blessings as a leadership coach is learning. My work with clients involves being present, listening without judgement and asking questions. To do this I read what others are saying about issues such as: trust, teamwork, anger and discrimination. This helps me ask better questions and move forward on the journey to be a better coach and a better person.
For example leaders are increasingly expected to make organizations more welcoming and representative of the community. But why are these efforts so difficult, so long in the making and so slow in the implementation? I was curious about what people who are engaged are saying about race, gender and intersectionality. To that end, I recently read two remarkable books on these issues: “So You Want To Talk About Race”, by Ijeoma Oluo and “The Person You Mean to Be”, by Dolly Chugh..
I consider myself an ally in the fight against discrimination but at this time is that enough? These authors helped me consider more directly my white male privilege and whether I was truly listening. Was I hesitating to have the difficult conversations when it was necessary, instead of speaking up? If I didn’t step up and call out racism and discrimination when I saw it, was I really an ally?
Chugh challenged me to go beyond being a Believer and become a Builder. And Oluo helped me understand my privilege and to take time to ask how my experiences would have been different were I a black man.
As I learn more I integrate these lessons into my professional and personal life.
I love this piece. I’ve been learning about and practicing leadership coaching for almost 3 years now. At every step I’ve thought to myself how helpful it would have been to me, in my various leadership roles over the past 35 years, to have had access to a coach. Especially as I witness the benefits it brings to the leaders I work with.
There continues to be however a belief that only leaders who have problems need coaches and that working with a coach is almost a sign of weakness. I post this video as a reminder that using a coach is like doing anything else to help yourself get better, like following an exercise program or eating better. As leaders you have an enormous impact on your organization and the people around you, make the most of it.
Check out the video here.
Lead and/or support principled negotiations. We believe negotiations can lead to successful outcomes when conducted ethically, with respect and fairness and a commitment to sustainable relationships . We can lead or provide support for negotiations internal and external to your organization.
Resolve conflicts and build relations inside and outside the organization. Conflicts arise and can be satisfactorily resolved with respectful communication and the identification of shared interests. Resolving disputes fairly and respectfully recognizes the value of relationships to those involved and the organization.
We believe that authentic relationships are the cornerstone of great work. We help individuals and organizations identify their key questions and inspired solutions. We will engage with you in processes that encourage truth telling and acknowledges that wisdom comes from within. In this way we will help you tell your story, and bring life to your organization’s values.
We believe that things happen ‘for you’, not ‘to you’. Whatever is happening in your personal and professional life, presents an opportunity for learning and growth. So rather than being a victim you become a ‘leader in your life’.
Some of the guiding principles we bring to every engagement:
We believe that authentic relationships are the cornerstone of great work. We help individuals and organizations identify their key questions and inspired solutions.