The Bedford Consulting Group

Five Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders

2012-01-10T17:00:00.002-05:00

John Coleman and Bill George from the Harvard Business Review discuss 5 New Years resolutions for aspiring business leaders. Click Here to learn more.

The Changing Face of America

2011-12-13T17:29:00.001-05:00

Glenn Llopis discusses why the changing face of America requires more diversity in executive leadership in the pages of Forbes. Click Here to read more.

How to Find the Right Mentor

2011-11-22T12:12:00.002-05:00

Allison Cheston looks into the advantages of a mentor in the workplace, and how to identify the right individual for you in Forbes magazine. Click Here to read the whole article

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

2011-11-15T09:59:00.003-05:00

Simon Sinek presents this TED talk with a simple and powerful model for inspirational leadership, all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?". Click Here to watch the talk in its entirety.

Never Too Early To Find Your Successor

2011-10-31T17:03:00.002-04:00

Harvey Schachter, the Globe and Mail's Monday Morning Manager comments on the value of selecting a successor early into a senior executive's tenure. Click Here for the full article

The Best CEOs Of The Last 20 Years

2011-10-27T14:40:00.003-04:00

Business Insider takes an in depth view into the top 20 CEOs of the past 20 years, including Steve Jobs, Allen Mulally and Meg Whitman. Click Here to view the entire list.

25 Weirdest Interview Questions from 2010

2011-10-12T17:14:00.002-04:00

BNET compiled this list of odd interview questions including "How many ridges are there around a quarter?" and "An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents and a grapefruit costs 60 cents, how much is a pear?" Click here to see if you would pass Goldman, Deloitte, Amazon and Google's most difficult questions.

Words of Wisdom: Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T09:18:00.002-04:00

Steve Jobs was one of the great innovators of our time. His influence has changed the way the world works, communicates, listens to music and watches movies. Please click here to read some of Steve Jobs' most memorable quotes.

Good Leadership Begins with Good Values

2011-09-16T09:02:00.003-04:00

Harvey Schachter discusses leadership and management theory with Jeffrey Gandz, a professor of strategic leadership at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in the Globe and Mail. Click Here to read more.

Senior Team Leadership: The Unbearable Complexity of Simplicity

2011-07-28T10:20:00.001-04:00

The Bedford Group's strategic partner, RHR International, presents a piece on Senior Leadership teams, why they are underleveraged, and how they can perform optimally. Please click here to read the article.

Bouncing Back The Rory McIlroy Way

2011-07-13T10:53:00.002-04:00

Karl Moore and Devon Bigoness discuss the lessons we can take as leaders from golf phenom Rory McIlroy as he bounced back from a tough defeat at The Masters to win the U.S. Open. Click here to read the full article.

Order is Great It's Bureaucracy That's Stifling

2011-05-05T13:55:00.002-04:00

Adam Bryant of the New York Times interviews Lars Bjork, CEO of QlikTech about how he has adapted to the role, and what he has learned about leadership on the job. Click Here to read more

The Best Leadership Advice Marshall Goldsmith Ever Got

2011-04-13T12:12:00.003-04:00

Marshall Goldsmith, best selling author of 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There' and 'Mojo' discusses the Best Leadership Advice He Ever Got, and how it changed his life: Click here to read more

Good C.E.O.'s are Insecure (and Know it)

2011-03-15T14:49:00.002-04:00

Adam Bryant from The New York Times interviews Howard Schultz, Chairman, President and CEO of Starbucks on turning insecurity into strength. Click here to read more.

Google's Quest To Build A Better Boss

2011-03-15T14:32:00.003-04:00

Adam Bryant of The New York Times examines Google's 8-point plan to building a better boss. Click here to read more.

The 500 Year Evolution Of The Résumé

2011-03-11T10:13:00.002-05:00

Dona Collins at Business Insider and Credit Loan discusses the evolution of the résumé from Leonardo Da Vinci to the current, digital résumés with social media links, visuals and multimedia. Click Here to find out more

Job Outlook Brightens For 2011

2011-01-07T13:36:00.002-05:00

Wallace Immen of the Globe and Mail discusses the job outlook for 2011. Click here to read more

Why Chasing Balance is a Waste of Time

2011-01-07T12:25:00.002-05:00

Barbara Moses of the Globe and Mail discusses the myth of work-life balance.
Click here to read more.

CEO Succession: Getting Your Successor On A Board

2010-12-13T17:43:00.002-05:00

Beverly Behan of Bloomberg Business Week speaks with Arrow Electronics Chairman Bill Mitchell about the value of board assignments for both CEOs as well as CEOs in training. Click Here to read more

Executives See Innovation As Key

2010-10-04T14:31:00.002-04:00

Richard Blackwell of the Globe and Mail reports on what Canadian Senior Executives feel the best way to enhance innovation throughout the country is. Click here to read more

Public sector leaders have much to offer

2010-08-06T14:28:00.002-04:00

Dr. Rebecca Shalm recently wrote a piece about the difficulty in transforming a private sector CEO into a public sector leader, and the various skill sets involved with being a public sector CEO. Check out the article via the Financial Post here

What's expected of leaders now?

2010-07-14T16:37:00.002-04:00

Wallace Immen from The Globe and Mail discusses the shift in attributes that employers are looking for out of their leaders in the wake of the recession. Click Here to find out what you need to know.

Enterprise 2.0 changes what kind of leader you need to be

2010-06-28T09:15:00.002-04:00

This article from Rawn Shah at Forbes illustrates the shift that management must take with the variation and growth of digital tools. Click here to read the entire article.

The innovation imperative: How CEOs can deliver the type of innovation they seek

2010-01-04T16:34:00.003-05:00

In this article from chiefexecutive.net, Peter Maulik sets out a roadmap to "make the most of the moment, to set your company up for greatness and be in the best position to deliver results in the new decade." Read the article in its entirety here.

Pursuing personal excellence together...

2009-11-25T17:03:00.002-05:00

Read this article from chiefexecutive.net which is a Q&A from the world's fastest man Usain Bolt and his coach Glen Mills. It gives some interesting insights into the process of translating potential into achievements.

How to keep your best executives

2009-11-05T12:48:00.002-05:00

In this article from the Wall Street Journal last week, the authours give insight into an often overlooked facet of talent management during tough economic times "Companies that neglect the issue during a downturn maybe in for a nasty surprise when things start looking up." Read the article on the Wall Street Journal website here.

When the complete stranger is better suited than the boss

2009-10-23T08:56:00.002-04:00

Check out this article from the Globe & Mail which points to some interesting research that suggests "decision makers who share a psychological connection with their predecessors....are subconsciously motivated to continue past policies and investment rather than make big changes." Read the article in its entirety here.

No time to waste getting back into fighting form

2009-09-01T17:35:00.003-04:00

"Even amid a downturn, unexpected opportunities await executives who can capitalize on their firms' internal strengths" says McKinsey's Jiri Maly in this article that appeared in the Globe & Mail last week. Mr. Maly points to a recent McKinsey study that found adaptable organizations are more likely to thrive coming out of downturn. Read the article on the Globe & Mail website here.

Glint of jobs seen in mining

2009-07-22T09:05:00.003-04:00

"I think the optimism is increasing as we go forward" says Bedford Managing Partner Russ Buckland, in this article that appeared in the Financial Post last week. The article posits that mining executives are moving out of "survival mode" and beginning to bolster their teams. Read the whole article on the Financial Post website here.

"Coaching the team" launched by The Bedford Consulting Group and Leadership Advisor Dr. John Burdett

2009-07-09T10:11:00.004-04:00

Nothing defines business possibility more clearly than the quality, capability, flexibility and speed of response of the key teams that populate your organization. The Bedford Consulting Group and Leadership Advisor Dr. John Burdett, have launched a Coaching the team assessment tool. The proprietary workbook will allow team leaders and/or team members to "step back and reflect on the quality of the team that is being led or that they are part of...providing a platform to orchestrate the changes needed to "coach" the team to the next level." Contact The Bedford Consulting Group for more details.

Even in a tough market, execs ready to jump ship

2009-07-02T17:25:00.002-04:00

Take a look at this article which highlights the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) regarding executive tenure.

Times are right for the silent type

2009-06-19T13:51:00.003-04:00

Tough times call for a different type of leadership, but what kind of leadership qualities are desirable in our economic environment? We tend to associate the hardened, outgoing leaders who take control and shoot from the hip as the type of leaders that are successful in tough times. But this is not necessarily the case according to workplace expert Jennifer Kahnweiler in her new book The Introverted Leader: Building on You Quiet Strength, read the synopsis of her argument here on the Globe & Mail website.

Bedford hosts mining executive roundtable

2009-06-05T15:11:00.002-04:00

On May 25th, 2009, Bedford Resources hosted a Mining Executive Roundtable at which some 12 senior executives from a variety of base metal producers, EPCM contractors and intermediate and junior firms attended to discuss, in-camera, how their firms have been dealing with the turbulence in financial markets and the impact on their operations. The group also discussed how they were planning for the rebound and reviewed some of the results from the recently released Bedford Resources Global Mining Survey.

In praise of dullness

2009-06-02T13:31:00.004-04:00

This article, which appeared in the New York Times in May, explores the most important characteristics and abilities for a CEO. The conclusions drawn may surprise you, check out the article here.

Mining execs on recovery

2009-05-25T16:03:00.002-04:00

Take a look at this blog entry regarding Bedford's Global Mining Survey by Senior Writer Sharda Prashad of Canadian Business online, read the bog entry on the Canadian Business website here.

Google develops algorithm to stem talent loss

2009-05-22T14:36:00.003-04:00

Check out the interesting approach Google has undertaken to attenuate the "brain drain." Read the article here.

Canadian survey of world's leading mining executives reveals surprising optimism for industry recovery

2009-05-04T14:18:00.006-04:00

An international report released this week by the Bedford Consulting Group illustrates optimism for the international mining industry for 2009. Read the key findings of the report Bedford_MiningReport2009.pdf

Managing Director Howard Pezim on 680News

2009-04-21T16:07:00.002-04:00

Listen to Bedford's Managing Director Howard Pezim discuss on 680News why inspirational leadership is a key characteristic for CEOs to have during tough economic times. Pezim_680News.mp3

Hiring smart: It's who, not what, that matters

2009-04-01T09:15:00.003-04:00

In this morning's Globe and Mail, Harvey Schachter reviews the book "Who" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street of ghSmart, strategic partners with the Bedford Group. Read the review on the Globe and Mail website here.

How a positive outlook helps business

2009-03-31T14:22:00.002-04:00

"A downturn is also a great time to snatch up new talent and get a head start on the war on talent, which will resume in full force once the economy picks up" says the CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Perrin Beatty, in this interesting article by Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco, from Monday's Financial Post. The article explores how having a positive outlook can increase the odds of small businesses surviving difficult times. Check out the article here.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion leads charge in wave of tech sector hires

2009-03-18T09:09:00.004-04:00

"This is the exact time to invest- if you can- because not only is there opportunity, but there are lots of resources out there" says Founder and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. Check out the article here and see how RIM ( and other Canadian-based tech companies) are anticipating waves of hires as the broader Canadian economy sheds jobs.

Presidents & CEOs: The letter you should be writing in 2010

2009-03-10T12:44:00.003-04:00

Check out this interesting letter written by Gregg Thompson, President of Blueprint Leadership Development. The letter is written from the perspective of a President/CEO looking back at 2009. View the letter here.

Tricky manoeuvre

2009-01-22T17:06:00.003-05:00

In yesterday's Globe & Mail, a thought provoking article by Eric Reguly on true leadership in turbulent times, the man behind Italian auto maker Fiat's turnaround, Italian-Canadian Chief Executive Officer, Sergio Marchionne. Read the article here.

Managing through a crisis: The new rules

2009-01-12T15:44:00.004-05:00

In the January 19th issue of BusinessWeek, Emily Thorton pens an interesting article on how leaders can effectively manage through the economic crisis, " The pie is getting smaller, and less nimble rivals are getting weaker. Don't wait for your competitors to fall to the ground. Hire away their best people while taking steps to make sure they don't grab yours." Read the whole article on the BusinessWeek website here.

Meet your new leader...

2008-12-01T14:06:00.003-05:00

In the November issue of Fortune magazine, Senior Writer Jennifer Reingold explores how the fallout from the financial crisis could very well breed a new type of corporate leader. Read the article in its entirety here.

For true leaders, a crisis just might be a terrible thing to waste

2008-11-24T17:13:00.004-05:00

"To those of you in leadership positions...It is truly time to lead, follow, or get out of the way" says Daniel Muzyka in todays Globe & Mail, where he pens a thought provoking piece on the quintessential value that strong leadership can provide during rough economic periods. Read the article here (subscription required).

Moving upward in a downturn

2008-11-18T13:46:00.003-05:00

Check out this interesting article from Harvard Business Review, which was originally published in 2001 after the dot-com bubble burst. The authour, Darrell Rigby, studied hundreds of companies and found that the recession winner placed counterintuitive bets to outperform slumping competitors. Read the article here.

Managing employees in a downturn

2008-10-31T08:57:00.004-04:00

This article in the November issue of BusinessWeek tackles a number of prescient issues surrounding talent management in an economic downturn "... smart leaders see downturns as having plenty of upside, too. Talent is cheaper." Read the whole article here.

How to succeed during the hurricane

2008-10-27T13:21:00.003-04:00

Amid all the ubiquitous doom and gloom articles, this particular article stood out in today’s Globe & Mail. The authors, business professors Daniel Muzyka and Lawrence Weiss stress that “Downturns provide exceptional opportunities to acquire key talent, important assets, expand markets, and acquire businesses.” Read the whole article here (subscription required).

Evaluating the CEO

2008-10-14T13:17:00.001-04:00

In this month’s Harvard Business Review, the former CEO of Arrow Electronics and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, Stephen Kaufman, explores why CEO evaluation must extend beyond “Hitting the numbers” and why “All the Incentives in the world won’t transform CEO’s into better decision makers.” Read the executive summary of the article here.

Hit the ground running

2008-10-01T11:24:00.003-04:00

“If you don’t make an impact right out of the gate, they’re going to wonder why they hired you.” Says Bedford Managing Director, Howard Pezim, in this piece from the Globe and Mail that investigates the problems encountered by newly hired executives. Also featured are a set of useful Ground Rules from John Burdett and Bedford’s QuickStart programme. Read more (subscription required).

Don't neglect employees in a down economy

2008-09-08T13:11:00.003-04:00

This month’s Advertising Age includes a particularly timely article by Rob O'Keefe, in which he says: “including a statement in your company’s annual report proclaiming ‘our people are our greatest resource’ can't be the culmination of your organization’s efforts.” Read more.

Only a quarter of Canadian firms have strong recruitment program

2008-06-25T10:43:00.003-04:00

The Ottawa Business Journal highlights some of the key findings from Bedford’s 2008 Business Survey. Read more.

World’s most influential headhunters—Steven Pezim

2008-04-23T10:35:00.002-04:00

Steven Pezim, Managing Director of the Bedford Group, is chosen as one of the World’s Most Influential Headhunters in the current issue of BusinessWeek. Read more.

The sustainable executive

2007-03-07T10:27:00.002-05:00

In this article from the Financial Post, Bedford Managing Partner Russ Buckland is quoted on the growing importance that a definitive understanding of corporate social responsibility plays in executive career trajectory. Read more.

Skills shortage

2006-03-02T10:22:00.003-05:00

In this excerpt from the Mining Journal, Bedford’s Managing Partner Russ Buckland is quoted on the short and long-term effects that are arising with increasing competition for talent within the Mining Industry. Read more.

Welcome to the Bedford news archive!

2006-02-26T17:05:00.000-05:00

Constantly finding innovative ways to address organizations’ human capital issues. The Bedford Group strives to be on the forefront of the latest advancements and trends in human capital solutions.

Please browse through our recent postings and archives to read articles, commentary and Bedford exclusives on how the quest for and the management of talent is transforming the way the world does business.