In Part 1 of this series, we explored why hiring right matters and how high-performing teams think about outcomes, behaviour, and values before posting a role.  Now let’s get practical.  Now let’s get practical. Most organizations say they want high performers, but their recruitment process is built for speed or comfort — not performance. Job descriptions focus on tasks. Interviews focus on experience. Decisions rely on gut feel. Then leaders are surprised when new hires str

Welcome to our column, Dear Toby. We take real life HR questions and give real HR advice. Have a question or topic you'd love covered in our column? Send us an email at info@aandaconsulting.ca   Dear Toby,   I am a small business owner and, honestly, everyone who works with me is a contractor.  When I started, it made sense. I was small, cash flow mattered, and I did not want to deal with payroll, source deductions, vacation pay, CPP, EI, and all the things I know I would pro

Dear Toby, I keep hearing about businesses switching to a 4-day work week, and I’m wondering if that’s something a small business like mine should consider. What are the real benefits, and how can I make sure it works without hurting operations? — Curious in Canmore Dear Curious, Fantastic question — and one a lot of small business owners are asking right now (usually around Thursday afternoon when the weekend still feels far away). The 4-day work week has gone from “interest

If I asked you to describe your workplace in one word, would “joyful” come to mind?  Most leaders wouldn’t say yes — not because they don’t want it, but because “joy” feels like something that belongs at a birthday party, not in a boardroom. After all, work is about performance, deadlines, and budgets… right?  Here’s the thing: joy isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage.  When people find joy at work — through purpose, connection, and belonging — they don’t just f

On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 30: The Working for Workers Seven Act . If passed, it will make changes to three...

Discover how strategic benefits management unlocked over $20k in annual savings for a small business, without compromising quality.