NAVIGATING WORKPLACE STUMBLING BLOCKS
Barbara May is a high-impact keynote speaker helping leaders improve communication, reduce conflict, and lower stress.
“Sometimes we get stuck in the things that trip us up, our stumbling blocks, and this was a great opportunity to hear that somebody else has experienced those issues too.”
Shawna Miller, President, Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce
Workplace Challenges Don't Usually Begin as Crises. They begin as Friction.
A meeting that doesn’t land.
A conversation that goes sideways.
A team that looks aligned — but isn’t.
Over time, small stumbling blocks create unnecessary conflict, unclear communication, and rising stress.
Barbara works with leaders and teams to navigate those moments directly — using a practical framework from her book:
Face it. Feel it. Fix it.
Not avoiding the hard parts.
Not escalating them.
Working through them with clarity and steadiness.
“Barbara presented to our department at a time of significant change. Her sessions helped get conversations started about the impacts of change in a way that was fun, engaging and accessible to all who attended.”
John Younk, Director, Strategic Planning Ancillary Services, University of Alberta
When Leaders Start to Feel the Strain
Most leadership strain doesn’t come from lack of effort.
It comes from:
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Conversations that don’t resolve
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Accountability that feels uneven
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Tension that sits under the surface
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Repeated issues that resurface in new forms
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Leaders carrying more than they should
Left unaddressed, these patterns increase stress and reduce performance — even among strong teams.
The solution isn’t working harder.
It’s learning how to recognize stumbling blocks early and respond effectively.
“Barbara May is an engaging speaker who effortlessly adapted her material on the fly to suit our specific needs, providing insightful feedback tailored to our office and managers. In a group that is hard to impress, we were all genuinely impressed by her expertise and delivery.”
Fay Eagles, Operations Manager, Avison Young
Watch Barbara in Action
“I want to thank you again for the great day! Our team continued conversations around points discussed throughout the evening. I even heard, 'Now, that’s a stumbling block.'”
Carrie Scammell, Team Lead, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc.
Ready to book your next keynote, team-building seminar, or leadership training program?
Talk to Barbara May