Why Motivation Isn’t the Problem—And What Actually Is

Happy Women’s Month, Leaders!

March is a month for celebration. And after the energy of our International Women’s Day event, we are absolutely feeling that.

But every year, Women’s Month also brings us back to a question we sit with at AWL Partners all year long:

Why do capable, motivated, skilled people still struggle to move forward?

It’s not a motivation problem. It’s rarely a skills problem. And it’s almost never a strategy problem.

Most of the time, it’s a willingness gap.

Willingness and Clarity: You Need Both

At the core of our methodology is a framework we call the Willingness–Clarity Formula. The premise is simple: for growth, change, or performance to actually happen, two things need to be present at the same time, willingness and clarity.

Most leaders are good at addressing clarity gaps. They define the goal, map the process, set the expectations. What they miss, what most organizations miss, is the willingness gap sitting underneath.

A willingness gap is when someone knows exactly what to do, but something is stopping them from doing it. And you cannot train, incentivize, or performance-manage your way out of a willingness gap.

When those gaps go unaddressed, they don’t stay contained. They quietly become the culture, the distance between what’s written on the wall and what actually happens every day.

There Are Eight of Them. And They’re Probably in Your Organization Right Now.

Jen and Mel have identified eight willingness gaps that act as the most common barriers to performance and progress in organizations. And in the newest Double Take podcast series, they’re breaking all eight down what each one looks like, why it’s so easy to misread, and what actually helps.

Here’s just a taste of what Part 1 covers:

🔹 The gap that looks like disengagement but is actually something else entirely and why the difference matters more than most leaders realize

🔹 Why your top performer might be the most resistant person in the room and what’s really going on underneath that pushback

🔹 The one leadership quality Jen says matters more than almost anything else and why even consistently poor behavior can outperform its opposite

🔹 Why change fatigue isn’t just about being tired and the practical reason good people quietly check out mid-initiative

There’s also an assessment and matrix you can use to map your own gaps available in the show notes.

If you’ve ever thought “I’m doing everything right and nothing is moving ”this episode is for you.

→ Watch Episode 15 on YouTube  Part 2 is coming soon.

That’s the work. Let’s keep building it together.

FROM JEN

March Reflections Impact

Every year after our International Women’s Day event someone asks me the same question:

“What was your highlight of the day?”

This year, at the end of the event on March 2nd, someone asked me that exact question. And honestly… I couldn’t answer.

The day was just so amazing.

The energy in the room. The conversations. The stories. The laughter. The vulnerability. The celebration. There were too many moments to choose from.

A few days later someone reached out to thank me for hosting the event. I asked her what her highlight was and she shared several moments that really stood out for her. Then she turned the question back to me again.

And again… I didn’t have an answer.

But after thinking about it for a bit, I realized something.

The highlight wasn’t a moment.

The highlight was the impact.

Being part of a team that creates space for women to show up as themselves, to be inspired, to feel connected, and to realize they are part of something bigger  that is priceless to me. It’s not something I take lightly.

To everyone who attended, volunteered, spoke, sponsored, or supported the event in any way  thank you. You are part of what makes this community so special.

I’m going to take a little time to revel in the amazingness of that day… and then we’ll start working with the team on International Women’s Day 2027.

Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:

Impact is what I want to do with my time on this Earth.

What Else Is Happening This Month

March is shaping up to be another exciting month.

Mel and I are heading into the studio (Zoom  lol) to film podcast episodes, which we are really looking forward to sharing with you.

I’ll also be travelling for training and I get to participate in facilitating a workshop alongside the amazing Annie Simpson at the NextGen Women in Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted by Ivey Business School and Huron University. Supporting the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs is something I’m deeply passionate about.

As always, I continue working with clients and organizations on leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication.

One program we are especially excited about right now is a new offering we are developing with Future of Work Strategist and Advisor Shirley, an Executive Presence version of our Speaking Confidently program.

Because confidence in leadership isn’t just about giving speeches. It’s about how you show up in meetings. How you contribute in boardrooms. How you communicate your ideas clearly. How you influence, advocate, and lead conversations.

When leaders project confidence, it builds trust, strengthens credibility, and helps others feel safe to follow their lead. These are skills that can absolutely be learned and developed.

More to come on that soon, if you are interested in more details email us at hello@awlpartners.com 

StratX Women...What a Start

Last month, while we were in full IWD prep mode, we hosted the first meeting of our StratX Women group. All I can say is… it was AMAZING.

The conversation, honesty, and level of support in the room were exactly what we hoped this group would create, a space for women to build meaningful relationships, support each other’s growth, and share ideas openly.

If you would like to learn more about StratX Women, please reach out to Shirley at hello@awlpartners.com.

Join Us for Accelerator Week

Don’t forget to join us for Accelerator Week  a full week dedicated to providing education, motivation, and strategy for leaders who are ready to grow, stretch, and move their ideas forward.

→ Learn more and register here

Thanks for being part of this community.

Jen

IWD 2026 RECAP

The Future is NOW!  March 2, 2026

What a powerful day. The energy, the stories, the community  March 2nd at RBC Place London was everything we hoped for and more.

Some of the most memorable moments included Isabelle Hudon’s moving keynote  including the moment when the men and allies in the room stood to show their support in the fight against domestic violence toward women, the electric energy of MC Mike Stubbs, the inaugural She L.E.A.D.S. Awards, and an incredible group of vendors who helped make the space vibrant and meaningful.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make this day possible. A special thank you to our title sponsor Lerners LLP and the many partners who continue to support women’s leadership. And to Tammy A.M. Belaire for capturing these beautiful moments in photos.

→ View favourite moments on LinkedIn

Interested in what’s next? Here’s how to stay connected:

📧 Get notified for early bird tickets to IWD 2027  email hello@awlpartners.com

📧 Interested in sponsoring or being a vendor?  email hello@awlpartners.com

📝 Attended the event? We’d love your feedback: Share here

🎁 Grab the virtual swag bag: linktr.ee/awlpartners

FROM MEL

January & February were months of “go” for me  and wow, did I go.

I spent three weeks in January and early February in Tanzania as part of the Empowerment Through Skills program with Fanshawe Global, and I am still processing the magnitude of what that experience meant  for the young women and girls in the community who we are lucky to work alongside, and honestly, for me as well.

The program is designed to create more opportunity for economic participation by equipping young women and communities with real, practical tools. I had the honour of facilitating training in entrepreneurship skills, sales and marketing, and leadership development, with a particular focus on socio-emotional skills like confidence, flexibility, and navigating adversity at work.

Here’s what stands out for me: the fundamentals of leadership are universal.

Sitting with these women, watching something shift  the moment someone realizes she is capable, she does have something to offer, that her voice matters  that’s the same shift I see in a boardroom in Ontario. The context changes. The humanity doesn’t.

Coming home, I felt both humbled and fired up. Because if there’s one thing three weeks in Tanzania confirmed, it’s this: when we invest in people  really invest  with skills, with belief, with community, the impact and effect are extraordinary.

And then? We headed into one of the most exciting and demanding stretches of the year. March is Women’s Month. Jen and I are honoured to be supporting a number of incredible events that celebrate, amplify, and accelerate women’s leadership this month. Not to mention, as Jen already recapped, our biggest International Women’s Day Celebration yet: “The Future is Now!"

The Happy Leader - My Book Has Launched!

And there is one more thing I want to share  something deeply personal that has been in the works for a very long time (like ten-plus years long).

My book, The Happy Leader, launched on March 2nd at our International Women’s Day event.

This book is for the leader who is new and feeling uncertain. For the leader who is overwhelmed and wondering if something is wrong with them. For the leader who feels stuck and isn’t sure which way to turn next.

Here’s a glimpse of what it’s about, in my own words:

A Happy Leader isn’t someone who is positive all the time. It’s someone who understands their energy, their impact, and the invisible emotional signals they send into a room  especially when things get hard. Because whether you like it or not, your mood becomes the culture. And culture is created long before strategy ever has a chance to work.

If that resonates with you, or with someone you lead, love, or work alongside, I’d love for this book to find its way into their hands.

→ Grab your copy here

In the meantime, know that I am so proud of what this community is building, and so honoured to be building it with you.

Here’s to Women’s Month, to big launches, and to showing up fully  wherever in the world that takes you.

With gratitude and excitement,

Melissa

COMMUNITY PULSE

Celebrations, launches, and opportunities you don't want to miss.

StratX Leadership Circle Info Session We're excited to have officially launched StratX this February, our inaugural year-long leadership circle for seasoned women leaders who value depth, connection, and intentional growth. Six bi-monthly gatherings rooted in trust, shared leadership, and emotional intelligence. This isn't networking; it's transformation. Due to additional interest in a new cohort, we have an information session coming up → Want more details email us at hello@awlpartners.com 

Planning for the 2026 - 2027 Speaker season has begun. Interested in being a teacher for Let's Get Intentional, a storyteller for the Leadership Circles, featured speaker for IWD 2027, a sponsor, vendor, volunteer or podcast guest → Want more details email us at hello@awlpartners.com 

Is Your Team Set Up to Deliver in Q2? - Q1 is wrapping up. Right about now, most leaders are starting to see which initiatives are gaining traction and which ones are quietly stalling. We launched the Willingness x Clarity Matrix because leaders kept telling us the same thing: "I'm doing everything right and nothing is moving." This assessment helps you identify exactly where you and your people are sitting right now, not where you think they should be. Where they actually are. That's where the real work begins.

Take the assessment. Share it with your team. Start the right conversation.

→ Take the Executive Assessment OR → Take the Employee Assessment

Most leaders will spend their time telling people what to do. The best leaders are obsessed with understanding why they won't.

They're doing something different. 

They're looking underneath. They're asking not just "do my people know what to do?" but "are they willing to do it, and if not, what's actually in the way?" 

They understand that capability without willingness is just untapped potential, and that no strategy, however brilliant, can execute itself through a team that isn't ready to move.

This month, we've introduced the Willingness–Clarity Formula and the gaps that quietly sabotage even the best-laid plans — trust deficits, fear, identity threat, and change fatigue. Four of eight. And if any of them felt familiar, that's not a coincidence.

So here's your reminder:

▶ Willingness gaps are invisible until they're not — and by the time they show up as a performance problem, they've usually been there for a while

▶ You cannot train, incentivize, or manage your way out of a willingness gap — you have to address what's underneath

▶ Curiosity is the most underused leadership tool — the question "what's stopping this person?" will always outperform "what's wrong with this person?"

Until next time, stay curious about what's underneath the surface, stay consistent in ways that build trust, and keep asking the question most leaders skip.

Rooting for your growth, always,

Jen, Mel and the team at AWL Partners 

P.S. If you'd like to contribute an article or be featured in a future issue AND you are part of the Actually, I Can Hub, email us at hello@awlpartners.com with subject line: "Member Spotlight - [Your Business Name]" Let's celebrate what you're building! Not a Hub member yet? Explore individual and Employee Resource Group/Team membership options here → INDIVIDUAL or TEAM Also, if you missed last month's newsletter? Catch up here and keep the momentum going: LAST EDITION

This Month's Events & Opportunities

Let's Get Intentional 

The Power of Reflection in Leading Change

Monday, April 13, 2026  12:00 PM EDT

In this powerful session, women leaders will explore how reflective leadership empowers them to respond  not react  to change with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Join Dr. Mary Grogan, educator, consultant, counselor, coach, and author committed to social justice and humanistic leadership. She has led diverse learning communities locally and internationally and has supported children and families in healing from trauma. This session is an invitation to engage in reflective leadership, enabling you to respond to change with confidence, clarity, and care.

→ Register at awlpartners.com/events.html

Leadership Circle 

Managing Your Mind: Living Life By Design

Wednesday, April 22, 2026  12:00 PM EDT

A story of questioning expectations, mastering the mind, and intentionally designing a life of joy and fulfillment. Join inspirational speaker and transformational coach Jacqueline Mieres-Johnston for a powerful and reflective session that explores how our thoughts, beliefs, and conditioning shape the results we create. Come ready to reflect, shift your mindset, and begin creating a life by design  not by default.

→ Register at awlpartners.com/events.html

🎙️ New on Double Take

Episode #15: Why Motivation Isn’t the Problem  Part 1

The Willingness–Clarity Formula

In this two-part series, Melissa and Jen break down the Willingness–Clarity Formula and the eight gaps that keep people and organizations stuck. If you’ve ever wondered why capable people still struggle to move forward, this conversation reframes motivation, accountability, and performance in a whole new way. The first four gapstrust deficits, fear, identity threat, and change fatigueare on the table, and the conversation is as practical as it is revealing.
Access the Willingness–Clarity Matrix in the show notes to map your own gaps.

→ Watch on YouTube | Subscribe for weekly leadership conversations

💼 Stay Connected

Join the conversation where leadership gets real:

All Women L.E.A.D. (Community & Events): LinkedIn

AWL Partners (Organizational Solutions): LinkedIn