Business

  • Embracing Change: Support for Successfully Changing Careers

    by Megan Hughes
    Are you looking to make a major career move? Or maybe you want to explore other careers, but aren't sure what industry to explore? Maybe you’ve bee...
    Posted in business, human resources

  • First Impressions Matter: Creating an Inviting Office Space

    by Megan Hughes
    Through COVID, and for us, even before COVID, we were working from our homes. While we had separate office areas in our homes, it was fairly common...
    Posted in business

  • Finding Harmony: Tips for Achieving a Better Work-Life Balance

    by Megan Hughes
    In today's fast-paced and demanding world, finding a balance between work and personal/home life can be challenging. Many people find themselves ca...
    Posted in business, people, Productivity

  • Keeping it Fresh Since 2017

    by Megan Hughes
    Have you ever fallen so deeply in love with a product, feeling like it was indispensable and you couldn’t imagine living without it?  Well this hap...
    Posted in business, Plant Based, Vegan

  • Breaking the Flow: Navigating Interruptions in the Workplace

    by Megan Hughes
    Interruptions are a common occurrence in the workplace and they can range from a quick chat with a colleague to a major crisis that demands immedia...
    Posted in business, people, Productivity

  • The Power of Feedback: Why it matters and how to give it effectively

    by Megan Hughes

    Feedback is a crucial component of personal and professional growth, yet it is often overlooked or avoided. Let’s be honest, giving and receiving feedback can be intimidating.

    When we give feedback, whether it be positive or negative, it can provide the recipient with valuable information that can help improve performance, behaviours, and enhance social connection or affiliation within the workplace.

    When we give and receive feedback effectively, it not only motivates us and helps us learn, it can enhance productivity and help foster a sense of community in the office.

    Posted in business, Productivity

  • Setting Intentions for your Work Week

    by Megan Hughes

    In the hustle and bustle of our busy work weeks, it’s not surprising that come Friday, we often feel slightly deflated. But, why do we feel this way? 

    Feeling deflated or worn out by the end of the work week is a common experience for many people, and there are several potential reasons why this may happen.

    As the week goes on, we often accumulate physical and mental fatigue from work, which can gradually wear us down. Work-related stress can accumulate throughout the week, leading to exhaustion or even burnout. Additionally, if your work is monotonous and routine, it can contribute to feelings of boredom and lack of motivation, which may intensify over the course of the week.

    At Willow Oak, one thing we are a really big fan of is setting a positive tone and starting our week off right, which begins by setting intentions for each day.

    Posted in business, human resources, Productivity

  • Decluttering Your Business

    by Megan Hughes
    Lately, there has been so much talk around how decluttering your homes can create a beautiful space that welcomes creativity, safety and functional...
    Posted in business

  • Time Management Best Suited to You

    by Megan Hughes

    Time management is not only important for running a business, but in all areas of our lives. However, as business owners and full-time mamas, we understand that finding the time to focus on time management strategies isn’t always at the top of mind.

    This is why we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite strategies on how you can optimize your time so it is best suited to your needs both at work, and in your everyday life.

    Posted in business, people

  • Four Simple Tips to being a Stand Out Candidate

    by Courtney Hughes

    The interview process can certainly be a grind for candidates and employers these days, and we want to help both parties succeed! 

    Here are some items that help candidates stand out to me as I do the initial phone screen.

    Posted in business, candidate, hiring, human resources, people, recruitment

  • Unconscious Bias: What it Is and How to Manage it

    by Megan Hughes
    Unconscious Bias is in all of us - and it’s an incredibly important thing to be aware of.  What is unconscious bias? Well, it comes in many, many f...

  • Money Mindset

    by Megan Hughes
    Money may seem scary, but in reality it is simply a tool we use to trade for something in exchange. The more we understand about any topic, the more benefits we can receive. Rather than shy away from it, I challenge you to look strongly at your money and set real goals around it.