Workplace Connections

When we think about workplace culture, we often look to leadership or management to set the tone. But in reality, culture is shaped by everyone—it’s built in the small, everyday interactions between colleagues.
Being a workplace citizen means taking ownership of your role in creating a respectful, ethical, and inclusive culture. And the best part? Small actions can create a big impact over time.
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When we think of citizenship, we often think of being a good citizen in society—following laws, treating others with respect, and contributing to the greater good.
Now, let’s apply that to the workplace.
Workplace citizenship is about taking ownership of your role in shaping the culture. It’s not just HR’s job or management’s responsibility—everyone contributes to workplace culture through daily interactions, whether we realize it or not.
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
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Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
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Skills
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One of the most effective ways to manage incivility in the workplace is by using a structured approach. Rather than reacting emotionally or ignoring the problem altogether, the SOFT approach gives us a way to assess situations and respond thoughtfully.
SOFT stands for:
• Situation: What’s happening, and what factors are contributing to the behaviour?
• Observe: Does the behaviour require intervention, or is it a one-time issue?
• Future: Will this behaviour have a lasting impact if not addressed?
• Turn Around / Think & Talk: What is the best way to respond while maintaining professionalism and civility?

By following this approach, we can prevent knee-jerk reactions and handle workplace incivility in a way that preserves relationships and workplace culture.
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
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Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
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Skills
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There are three key steps to increasing civility in our workplaces:
1. Establish
Civility needs to be more than just a buzzword. It should be woven into the culture of an organization. This means defining what civility looks like in action and integrating it into company values, policies, and daily interactions.

2. Foster
A workplace culture of civility depends on each person taking ownership of their behaviour and holding others accountable.

3. Take Action
Even in the most respectful workplaces, incivility will arise. We need tools like the SOFT approach to address these situations effectively.

Civility doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intentional effort at every level of an organization. To create a workplace culture that is truly respectful, inclusive, and civil, we need to establish clear expectations, foster a sense of responsibility, and take action when incivility arises.
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
Funded by the Government of Canada
Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
https://buff.ly/wsSrqlV
Skills
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Congratulations, Kellie Donohue, on achieving the
Master-Level Relational Skills Trainer Certification

Remarks from Kellie Donohue, B.A., M.A., CPHR, Senior Consultant, Associate
Kellie has two decades of generalist HR leadership across diverse sectors, with significant focus total rewards program development and reviews and supporting leaders in creating respectful workplaces. She has developed compensation frameworks, including benefits, job bands, and incentive plans, to ensure systems and tools are efficient and effective. Kellie ensures that every aspect of total rewards contributes to organizational success. Kellie recognizes that effective total reward philosophies must be embedded within the broader organization, reflecting its culture, values, and long-term vision, along with a commitment to a respectful workplace.
Kellie’s experience further includes a specialty in civility programs, harassment investigations, coaching, and developing human resource programs that support leaders at all levels of the organization in addressing conflict, building respect and improving the bottom line.
Her experience across various sectors, including professional services, non-profits, oil and gas, technology, and Indigenous organizations. From designing comprehensive executive compensation including base and incentive compensation elements for non-profit leaders, ensuring legislative compliance, conducting workplace investigations, coaching employees through conflict she developed frameworks and support materials for management and non-management staff.
Kellie has a Master of Arts in Leadership and holds the Certified Human Resources Professional (CPHR) designation. In addition, Kellie holds a Master-Level Relational Skills Trainer, Workplace Fairness Analyst and Advanced Workplace Restoration designations from the Workplace Fairness Institute. Her training also includes the Psychological Health & Safety Advisor Certification from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Relational Skills supports career and business
Developing Relational Skills has strengthened how I support leaders and teams in real workplace moments: difficult conversations, conflict, performance issues, and investigations. The biggest impact for my consulting practice is having a shared, practical language for “how we work together” that goes beyond policies and compliance. It helps leaders build trust, read situations more accurately, address tone and misunderstandings early, and manage change with less friction, especially in diverse and hybrid environments.
For Social Media: Relational Skills gave me a practical framework to build trust, improve communication, and reduce unnecessary workplace conflict, especially during change and in diverse teams.

Reflection
What stood out most was how practical and measurable the framework is. It connects core workplace behaviourscommunication, collaboration, systems thinking, resilience/adaptability—with social intelligence,— cultural competence, civility/citizenship, and continuous learning. That combination is unusually relevant to today’s workplaces, where tone, inclusion, and change-readiness are daily realities (not “nice-to-haves”). I also appreciated that the program focuses on building skills people can apply immediately, not just concepts.
Social Media: a practical, modern toolkit that links communication and collaboration to social intelligence, cultural competence, and civility—exactly where many workplaces struggle today.

According to Civility Experts Worldwide, civility is defined as:
• A conscious awareness of the impact of one's thoughts, actions, words, and intentions on others; combined with,
• A continuous acknowledgement of one’s responsibility to ease the experience of others (e.g., through restraint, kindness, non-judgment, respect, and courtesy); and,
• A consistent effort to adopt and exhibit civil behaviour as a non-negotiable point of one's character.
Civility is intentional and requires effort; it’s not just being “nice.”
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
Funded by the Government of Canada
Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
https://buff.ly/wsSrqlV
Skills
https://buff.ly/1Ad7pIa

Congratulations, Evelynn Srey, on achieving the
Master-Level Relational Skills Trainer Certification

Remarks from Evelynn Srey

I am a student of Organization Development and Change with a strong interest in participatory leadership, co-creation and systems thinking. I work with individuals and communities in creating moments to explore the complexity of our behaviour through art and curiosity. Through reflection, resilience, and purposeful action, I aim to support their growth and sustainable transformation.
The Relational Skills certificate has strengthened my ability to balance performance with relational wellbeing; how we shape conversations, hold tension, and create space for others, is what contributes towards meaningful learning. Allowing me to support healthier systems and more collaborative forms of change through creative workshops and open dialog.
What was most meaningful about the certificate was the opportunity to question and examine my thoughts through practical frameworks. Affirming that relational skills can be learned and further developed when supported. I feel grateful for being given the opportunity to participate and complete the program as it has contributed to my growth as an individual.
Connect with Evelynn Srey [email protected]

One of the key principles of systems thinking is that no decision happens in isolation. A single action can set off a ripple effect, impacting people, departments, and even external stakeholders.
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
Funded by the Government of Canada
Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
https://buff.ly/wsSrqlV
Skills
https://buff.ly/1Ad7pIa

Congratulations, Carissa Caruk-Ganczar, on achieving the
Master-Level Relational Skills Trainer Certification

Carissa Caruk-Ganczar is the Founder of Flourish Leadership Development, a Canadian business dedicated to helping organizations navigate growth, change, and uncertainty through high-impact training, team development, and coaching. She supports leaders and teams in building the skills, strengths, and workplace connections needed to thrive.
Carissa’s strengths-based, coach-approach focuses on how people relate, communicate, and work together in real workplace settings. Relational skills are foundational to her work, helping organizations build trust, engagement, and resilience. Investing in these skills supports not only performance, but also sustainability, wellbeing, and engagement over the long term.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this Program for Carissa was connecting with and learning alongside facilitators from across Canada. The program deepened her toolkit with practical, ready-to-use resources she now integrates into her leadership and team development work.

Connect at:
Website: buff.ly/S6Vedwp
Email: [email protected]

Systems thinking helps us move beyond quick fixes and see how solutions impact the bigger picture. By considering the whole system, we can create more sustainable, effective solutions that benefit both individuals and the organization.
To Learn more:
Enroll in the Relational Skills Mini Courses at NO COST
Funded by the Government of Canada
Use this link to gain access until March 31, 2026
https://buff.ly/wsSrqlV
Skills
https://buff.ly/1Ad7pIa

Congratulations
Thierry Chetchouang, on achieving the
Master-Level Relational Skills Trainer Certification

Thierry is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology, with minors in Theology and Human Relations, shaped by a multicultural background and a strong interest in mental health, human connection, and social responsibility.
Alongside his studies, he works as an Administrative Assistant, is a Certified Relational Skills Trainer, and engages in community volunteer work, including food distribution initiatives and assisting in meetings with homeless and incarcerated individuals. He is particularly interested in community services, social impact, and people-centred practice at the intersection of psychology and relational development.
Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Thierry enjoys photography, discovering new places, and learning through books and acquiring new skills and experiences, all of which continue to shape his curiosity, creativity, and openness to growth.