Upskill Consulting

11 years.

That number feels both big and humbling.

Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of working with incredible leaders, teams, and organizations - helping build stronger workplaces, better conversations, and more human leadership.

There have been moments of growth, challenge, learning (a lot of learning), and so much gratitude along the way.

What’s stayed constant?

Our belief that great workplaces don’t happen by chance - they’re built intentionally.

To our wonderful team and every client, partner, and supporter - thank you for being part of this journey.

Here’s to continuing to grow, evolve, and make an impact together.

Have you ever waited to see what mood your boss was in before deciding whether it was safe to ask a question? I have.

Looking back, I realize how much energy we spent managing one person’s emotions instead of focusing on the work. This is the ripple effect of leadership. A leader’s mood does not stay contained. It spreads.

In our latest blog, we explore the impact of emotional contagion, the hidden cost of unstable leadership, and practical ways to become a steadier presence for those around you.

Check out our blog - https://upskillconsulting.ca/2026/05/19/energy-shapes-an-entire-workplace/

The Mood at the Door: When One Person’s Energy Shapes an Entire Workplace | Upskill Consulting This blog explores emotional contagion, leadership steadiness, and how your presence shapes your brand and legacy.

One of my team members attended the CPHR event and sent me a message afterward saying someone mentioned they had attended a feedback session last year and are still using the workbook from it today.

What made me smile most was when he said he had a proud moment getting to respond with, “Oh… I know who you’re talking about.” 😊

Honestly, pumped to hear that. Because this is what it’s about.

Creating work that actually lands, sticks, and continues being used long after the session ends.

That ripple effect matters.

Incredibly grateful for moments like this and the reminder that the work we do can have impact far beyond the room.

✨ Two training sessions in one day with the team at Loren Nancke - and such a great reminder that when it comes to performance management, alignment is everything.

We started the day with the leadership team, focusing on how to approach the upcoming annual performance review cycle. We explored practical tips, dialogue strategies, and ways to ensure feedback becomes part of the everyday culture, not just a once-a-year event.

Next up, we met with staff … because performance conversations are a two-way street. We walked through how to complete the review process, set meaningful SMART goals, and use the conversation as an opportunity for real career and skill development.

When organizations invest in training both leaders and employees, the magic happens. Expectations become clear. Conversations become stronger. And performance reviews shift from a formality to a meaningful tool for growth.

Grateful to work with teams who are committed to strengthening how they show up for one another.

It’s been a full month of coaching and one thing is clear: Leaders, at every level, need support.

🤝 We’re working with leaders just stepping into their roles - navigating that steep learning curve, figuring out how to lead, not just do.
🤝And we’re also coaching leaders who’ve been in their roles for decades - still committed to growing, learning, and getting better.

Because leadership doesn’t have a finish line.

One theme that’s come up across the board? Leaders are tired. And understandably so.

People are incredible … and also complex. And that makes leadership both meaningful and messy.
That’s why having space to pause, reflect, and work through real challenges matters.

Coaching creates that space - a place to think out loud, build awareness, and move from stuck to unstuck.

Grateful to see more organizations investing in their people this way - helping leaders swim instead of sink.

If you’re thinking about how to better support your leaders, let’s connect. https://upskillconsulting.ca/contact/

Came across this community puzzle set up in a client’s office and immediately loved it.

People can stop by for a few minutes and add a few pieces. No meetings, no agendas - just a small, intentional way to connect.

It is a great reminder that culture is often built in the little things.

⭐️ The informal moments.
⭐️ The shared experiences.
⭐️ The opportunities to contribute, even in smallest of smallest ways.

Happy Friday! Have fun getting creative with the little things that bring people together and strengthen culture.

Looking to lead better, more intentionally, and more effectively?

We’ve got you covered.

At Upskill Consulting, we regularly share practical, no-fluff insights on leadership and all things HR through our blog - designed to support organizations of all sizes.

👉 Check it out: https://upskillconsulting.ca/blog/

And if you love tools you can actually use …

Don’t miss our free templates and toolkits, including:
✔️ Guide to Effective Feedback
✔️ Employment Agreement Checklist
✔️ HR Audit Checklist
✔️ Training Needs Assessment Template

👉 Explore here:

https://upskillconsulting.ca/
https://upskillconsulting.ca/services/
https://upskillconsulting.ca/step-by-step-guide-for-effective-feedback-conversations/
https://upskillconsulting.ca/free-template-hr-compliance/
https://upskillconsulting.ca/shop/

Because the right tools, paired with intention, can make all the difference.

Take a peek 👀

One of the most impactful pieces of work we’ve been supporting organizations with lately?

Upward feedback.

Creating space for leaders to receive feedback from the people they lead.

At first, there’s often hesitation …
👉 “What if we open the floodgates?”
👉 “What if it turns into performance critique?”

But what we’ve consistently seen across organizations is this:
👉 Leaders gain clarity on their blind spots
👉 They better understand how their behaviours are experienced
👉 And they become more intentional in how they show up

Because the truth is - as leaders, we don’t know what we don’t know.

And stepping into the arena to ask for feedback? That’s where real growth begins.

At Upskill Consulting, we support the full upward feedback cycle from start to finish:
👉 Designing and facilitating the process
👉 Gathering and analyzing feedback
👉 Delivering it in a coaching-based format

We partner with leaders to move from stuck → unstuck in how they lead moving forward.
With one organization, we’re now in year five, supporting hundreds of leaders through this process and we couldn’t be more grateful for their trust. The same goes for the many clients who have leaned into this work with us.

If you’re thinking about how to strengthen leadership effectiveness in your organization - this is a powerful place to start.

Let’s connect. https://upskillconsulting.ca/contact/

They say an organization is only as strong as its people - and I feel that deeply.

As I reflect on 11 years of building Upskill Consulting Inc., I can honestly say … I never imagined we’d be here.

Not just in terms of the work we get to do - but the people I get to do it with.

I’m incredibly grateful for the team behind Upskill. The individuals who show up, who care deeply about our clients, and who bring their full selves into the work every single day.

These are people I respect, trust, and truly adore.

They’re thoughtful, committed, and real - and they make this work not only possible, but meaningful.

To the Upskill team - you are absolute gems. Thank you:

🙏 Deanna Isfeld
🙏 Tiffany Baker
🙏 Jasmine Moore
🙏 Kirsten Dubreuil
🙏 Rishi Appadu

Thank you for everything you bring, not just to the business, but to me personally.

If you haven’t met them yet, take a look:
👉 https://upskillconsulting.ca/aboutus/

After attending the Royal Roads event this weekend, I keep coming back to a few themes that really connect to leadership and the work we do every day with organizations.

A few things that have stuck with me are the ideas that everything is interconnected, that culture can either heal or harm, that empathy and trust matter deeply, and that values are shown through our choices and behaviour far more than words on a wall.

It really made me think about how often we focus on strategy, results, and performance in workplaces, while sometimes overlooking the everyday moments that actually shape culture - how people are treated, how leaders respond under pressure, what gets tolerated, and whether people feel safe, heard, and supported.

The phrase “culture is medicine” especially stayed with me. Workplaces have such a significant impact on people, and leaders play a huge role in shaping that experience through how they show up.

Another reminder for me was that leadership always starts inward first. Self-awareness, emotional regulation, understanding our impact on others, and being intentional in how we respond are all critical leadership skills especially in environments that feel increasingly fast-paced and reactive.

Lots I’m still reflecting on and looking forward to bringing back into the work we do at Upskill Consulting Inc.!