Caitlin Blundell

on #informedintuition "The idea that you can improve your performance by relaxing and “just trusting your gut” is popular. While it may be true that intuition is valuable in routine or familiar situations, informed intuition is the result of deliberate practice. You cannot consistently improve your ability to make decisions without considerable practice, reflection, and analysis." ~The Making of an Expert; by K. Anders Ericsson, Michael J. Prietula, and Edward T. Cokely #reflection #executivecoaching #outoftheboxthinking #leadership

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Multi-generational housing and aging-in-place/universal design trends are developing quickly in new housing. As evidenced by this graph (courtesy Statistics Canada) survey results in my data indicate 6 in 10 people over 60 would "strongly" consider moving and building to accommodate "mobility" and design features. There are 20-22 design elements that can be incorporated into construction detail whose benefits allow aging folks to stay more comfortably and safely in their home longer than they typically would. This is known to greatly enhance physical and mental well-being. Construction elements with these design features cost under $1.00 per sq. ft. but the value to the buyer is X10. Again, the market and data leads the way.

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Urban planners and GIS leads: did you miss our October 2 webinar on tools to address the housing crisis? It’s never too late! Watch the recording to discover a toolbox you can leverage to solve one of Canada’s most pressing issues: https://lnkd.in/g2Tfzn4P #housing #HousingCrisis #MunicipalPlanning #UrbanPlanning #GIS

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Introducing an FCM first: a learning journey. We’ve developed  four resources for Canadian municipalities to use to learn how to address climate change through municipal asset management.     Got 5 minutes? Begin with a brief video on the risks that climate hazards pose to municipal infrastructure and learn how you can respond proactively. Get started on your learning journey today.

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#WebinarWednesday In this webinar, panelists present the findings from a research project focused on the implementation of the Host Homes model in Canada. Click here to WATCH NOW: https://bit.ly/4aP3ywG Also, check out the accompanying report: https://bit.ly/4as7YKt

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I always recommend creating a style guide for written content when I start working with a new client. Members of the Canadian Institute of Planners can find out why in this Plan Canada article! (Or send me a message if you don't have access.) Thanks to the Plan Canada editing committee, and especially Glenn Miller! #urbanplanning #Canadianplanners #ontarioplanners #editing #writing

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📌 Why our housing crisis is an environmental problem 🏘 Canada’s severe housing shortage is driving up prices for wannabe renters and homeowners. Yes it’s an economic and equity problem, but is it also an environmental problem? On this episode, three experts expose the environmental angles of the housing crisis, including how it fuels urban sprawl, stifles the green workforce and shortchanges Canada’s cleantech sector. #HousingCrisis #SustainableHousing #UrbanSprawl #GreenWorkforce #CleanTech #EnvironmentalImpact #AffordableHousing #EcoFriendlyLiving #ClimateChange #SustainableDevelopment

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“The VCR Method” is a GAME CHANGER! - says a fellow coaching client that benefited from this framework ---- Alright friends, it's Monday, it's a new week, I'm inspired, excited, and on a mission! Here's a quick coaching method that will help your clients go from stagnant to UNSTOPPABLE (while helping you become a better coach!) It's designed as a framework to help you shape your coaching sessions in a way that helps you position yourself as a leader, while taking a firm stand for your clients' success, and showing up your exceptional coaching skills. ---- The 1st Step: STOP Call Out the Problem that’s keeping the client from taking the suggested steps to achieve their goal This helps the client safely communicate what they are resisting, afraid of, or doubting about themselves or the process you are guiding them through The 2nd Step: Pause Help the client detach from the outcome they want and reassess the plan you have co-created with them. With a revised plan, you can both commit to moving forward. Detachment separates the client from expectations and provides clarity for critical thinking & vulnerability The 3rd Step: Play With resistance addressed, a plan co-created, and the client detached from the outcome [while still committed to their goals,] you can both move forward powerfully. It’s important that you’re in close proximity to the client for the first 2-3 steps they take. This will help them generate the momentum to develop the confidence to achieve their goal without becoming co-dependent to your presence. The 4th Step: Fast Forward Double down on what’s working and help the client increase their capacity for action and achievement. While your client is achieving milestones, they’re generating the confidence to set bigger goals. Repeat steps 1-3 to ensure they remain balanced while they pick up speed and generate momentum. The 5th Step: Reverse While holding your client accountable to their goals, go back to the notes you’ve collected regarding their resistances and pain points. Stay sharp for the client. They’ll be leaving things in their Blindspots while they advance forward. Keep their past challenges close so you can help them continue working through practices that help them transcend what’s held them back in the past Want help building a better coaching practice? Take Your Pick! Quarterly Group Programs 1:1 Mentoring Free Weekly Group Calls Let me know how that framework works out for you!

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The ‘inside out’ leadership journey: How personal growth creates the path to success. 🏃🏃‍♀️It tends to be avoided by most. In the end it is about inner development - and yes that means going beyond just the achiever mindset (a mindset with quite a few blind spots). This article covers some of the inner journey …a stepping stone towards vertical leadership development. https://lnkd.in/eJBWmJFK

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I (virtually) attended the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Conference last week. There were numerous excellent sessions. I'm sharing three key takeaways: 1) Brent Toderian’s keynote, which served as a clarion call for planners to work toward making cities less car-dependent and to advocate for such changes. 2) Creative park acquisition approaches happening in Mississauga and Toronto. 3) The need for increased agri-food capacity-building in municipalities. County of Wellington's Experimental Acres pilot and the City of Ottawa / Ville d’Ottawa's Smart Farm were provided as examples. #oppi2024 #planning #urbanplanning #cities #publicpolicy #ruralplanning #parks #agrifood #transportation

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Want to stay ahead of the changes in the property assessment industry? Join Michael Lomax, Managing Editor, Assessment at Esri Canada, for a webinar on Oct 23 to discover how to anticipate technological advancements and adapt to evolving stakeholder expectations. Register now: https://lnkd.in/ghc5fJTB #propertyassessment #EsriCanada #webinar #industrychallenges

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"Resilient Roofscapes for the 21st Century": GRIN co-curated this session with the BCSLA for the BC Land Summit, and a PDF of the talks is available for free download. We counterpoint BC's terrifying climate projections with the new and emerging roofing technologies that (if implemented at scale) could significantly improve livability, safety and wellness, while enhancing energy production through solar power, suppressing fire risk, cooling the urban heat island and reducing costs (and waste) through membrane longevity. The 3 presentations draw from current research, innovation and practice, and are bookmarked in the PDF. Please let us know if you use it! #greenroofs #climateresilience #biosolar #urbanagriculture #greeninfrastructure #biodiversity #urbanheatisland #firesuppression FireSmart BC ZinCo GmbH SOPREMA Canada Roxanne Miller Jeremy Wright Christine Thuring Karen Ka Yan Liu Joshua Stewart Green Roofs for Healthy Cities The Architek Group of Companies Alison Gu Tony Valente Adriane Carr Lenny Zhou Lisa Dominato, MA, GCB.D Laurie Bates-Frymel Pete Fry Jessica Woolliams Jessica McIlroy Nora Gambioli Melina Scholefield

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Check out this video of last week's CLF Toronto | Carbon Leadership Forum presentation by Kelly Alvarez Doran, Lisa King, MA and I, presenting on our soon-to-be published Embodied Carbon Management Toolkit. We dive into three key topics: 1) Circular Construction 2) Urban Design 3) Low Carbon Procurement Our recommendations show some of the many ways to reduce embodied carbon, and can be applied by policymakers and construction project decision-makers. https://lnkd.in/gFNf6YyB

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The adventure continues! Episode 2 of our "The Municipal Tightrope: Taming the Three-Headed Snake" 5-part series is now available on The HaltingWinter Podcast. 🎧 Episode 2: "When the Snake Strikes: Confronting City Management Challenges" Dive deeper into the complexities of city management during your lunch break! In this compact episode, you'll explore: • The impact of national politics on local governance • Communication barriers in city management • Budget constraints and resource allocation challenges • The influence of social media on city operations Listen now here: https://lnkd.in/e68MUAQk Or find us on your favorite podcast platform. Uncover the real challenges faced by city managers across America. #LocalGovernment #CityManagement #Podcast #PublicService #Challenges

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Does Your Body Language Align with How You Want to Be Perceived as a Leader? As a leader, your body language says more than you might think. Does it convey support, empathy, and rapport with your team, or are you unintentionally pushing them away with your nonverbal cues? Many leaders are unaware of what their body language communicates in the moment, yet it plays a significant role in how others perceive their #leadership style. Your Body Language Conveys Your Leadership Style Let’s dive into some simple but powerful body language hacks that will help you become a more successful and confident leader. 👉🏾Initiate the Handshake and Lean In When you meet someone, initiate the handshake and slightly lean in. This conveys confidence and openness, setting a positive tone for the interaction. It shows that you’re ready to engage and take charge of the conversation. 👉🏾Use Hand Gestures to Enhance Your Message Hand gestures can amplify your message when used correctly. Palms facing slightly upward and outward are seen as open and approachable, signaling that you’re receptive and friendly. However, be mindful of palm-down gestures, as they can come off as dominant or even aggressive. 👉🏾Stand Tall and Make Eye Contact Good posture and eye contact signal that you’re attentive, engaged, and in control. Standing up straight while talking and maintaining eye contact with your team members communicates that you’re confident and focused on the conversation. 👉🏾Avoid Touching Your Face or Neck While using hand gestures is important, be cautious about touching your face or neck during conversations. These movements often indicate insecurity or nervousness, which can undermine your authority. 👉🏾Manage Nerves with Controlled Breathing I often get asked, "Karen, what should I do if I’m nervous or someone gets under my skin but I don’t want them to know?" Here’s a simple trick: Exhale slowly through your nose. This controlled breathing helps release tension that may otherwise show up in your body language as clenched fists, raised shoulders, or tightened neck muscles. The more relaxed your body, the more in control you’ll appear. 👉🏾Make Your Body Language Work for You As a leader, you can’t avoid making an impression—but you can influence the impression you make. The more you practice open and powerful body language, the more natural and effective it becomes. Leadership isn’t just about what you say; it’s about how you say it, and how you show up nonverbally. By aligning your body language with the message you want to convey, you can enhance your communication, build stronger relationships with your team, and establish yourself as a more impactful and trustworthy leader. If you are a leader, and would like to strengthen your verbal or nonverbal communication acumen, feel free to reach out to find out more about our; Executive Communication & Body Language Coaching Programs #BodyLanguage #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipDevelopment

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👣🌳 Check out the new Greenbelt Foundation Guidebook - providing direction and insight for #Canadian #local #governments who are seeking to #undertake #natural #asset #management through asset management #planning. As natural asset management is a relatively new practice, #standard terms and #approaches for its #integration into #municipal asset management #frameworks. This Guidebook helps @close the #gap between #mainstream practices, #infrastructure #challenges, and #naturalasset #solutions by #aligning natural asset #management with #approaches already in place for built assets while: -Using the most current and widely adopted lexicon for natural assets -Recognizing that natural assets have some unique attributes and functions (e.g., much longer or indefinite lifecycles) that do not always allow them to fit neatly into the same “boxes” as built assets -Providing specific guidance on how to meet Ontario’s asset management regulation O. Reg 588/17 requirements related to green infrastructure -Nature is Infrastructure: How to Include Natural Assets in Asset Management Plans was generously supported by the Greenbelt Foundation and the Municipal Finance Officers'​ Association (MFOA)’ . Special thanks to all local government and #Ontario #Conservation #Authority staff for their contributions to this guidebook.' Editor’s note: a previous version of this document listed “Land Ownership” as a dataset category in Table 3; this has been corrected to Land Cover on April 24, 2024. #intergenerational #intercultural #bioregional #placebased #onehealth #wellbeing #naturefirst #regenerative #resilient

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Big News in Accessibility for Alberta! 🚀 I'm pleased to share that Accessibility Standards Canada and the Government of Alberta have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance their collaboration on developing accessibility standards. This agreement marks a significant step towards creating a more inclusive Alberta and a barrier-free Canada. Why It Matters: By working together, these organizations will: - Align their efforts - Share resources - Promote consistent accessibility standards This means better access for everyone, no matter where you are in Canada. The focus will be on the built environment and provincial building codes to ensure seamless accessibility nationwide. As a passionate disability advocate and consultant based in Alberta, I'm thrilled about this development. Collaborations like these are crucial for making our communities more inclusive and accessible for all. #Accessibility #Inclusion #DisabilityAdvocate #CanadaWithoutBarriers #InclusiveAlberta #AccessibilityStandards #BuiltEnvironment #SocialImpact What Do You Think? Feel free to connect and discuss how we can continue to advocate for and implement accessibility standards across our communities.

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Karen Vieth of InSync Training and Bradley Davis, BRMP of International Accreditors for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) get us beyond the basics. The virtual classroom isn't just about how to run fun activities anymore. It's about directing the conversation and making sure learning happens. Take a listen. #virtualclassroom #facilitation

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