Thank you for visiting our new web site. As a Calgary-based consulting firm, Dickson    Wood and Associates Inc. is well positioned to serve clients throughout western North America. We are a team of organizational and leadership specialists that bring a diverse set of skills and a broad range of experience to benefit our clients. Please, explore our site. We are sure you will find it interesting and informative. 

Leadership is one of the critical determinants of success in today’s complex business environment. Finding and developing people with the desire and the aptitude for leadership has become the fulcrum of corporate excellence.

Without effective leadership corporate resources cannot be fully leveraged, conflicting priorities compromise productivity and, the competition to attract and retain essential talent is lost.

The extraordinary demands imposed on leaders today are unparalleled in history. The current pace of change can be daunting for even the most seasoned professionals. The complex and dynamic nature of organizational leadership demands a broad assortment of skills, strategies and techniques.

A major challenge facing organizations is the development of collective ‘leadership competence’. The difference between surviving and thriving now lies in the ability to infuse the entire organization with leadership capability.

We often find metaphors useful in conveying concepts and principles. The kayaks provide such a metaphor. A nautical expedition involves many of the elements inherent in organizational leadership. Planning, resourcing, aligning people, effective teamwork, communication, risk management, etc. are all part of a kayak trip. The paddles themselves provide an interesting metaphor. We often talk in business of the need to leverage our strengths. A kayak paddle is simply a lever that, when applied with skilful technique, creates almost effortless progress toward a destination. The more skilful the paddler the more efficient and enjoyable the trip becomes. Even the importance of celebration is highlighted There's nothing like a glass of wine with friends on the beach of a remote little island under countless stars.

Dickson and his family enjoy a variety of outdoor and wilderness activities. Our kayak trips have been extraordinary experiences and we enjoy sharing pictures and stories with others.