6 Approaches Driving Canadian Competitiveness - Innovation and competitiveness aren't just economic buzzwords. These words strike at the heart of one of the most urgent issues facing Canada as it struggles to compete on the global stage: They drive employment, the economy and Canadians' very standard of living. Click here for more.

Do Provinces Have to Make PRPPs Mandatory for Them to Work? - With the release of draft legislation for the new pooled retirement pension plans, previously pension-less workers in small and medium-sized Canadian companies have high hopes of finally enjoying workplace pensions.But unless the provinces make PRPPs mandatory, take-up by employers and the impact on pension coverage will be minimal, warns Fred Vettese, chief actuary of Toronto-based Morneau Shepell. Click here to read more.

Canadian Banks Will Buy Jefferies: U.S. Analyst - Capital-rich Canadian banks are the most likely buyers for struggling Jefferies & Co., a U.S. investment bank that recently fell out of favour with investors because of exposure to risky European sovereign debt, according to a U.S. analyst. Jefferies has become an "acquisition target" and strong Canadian lenders such as Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion Bank are the most likely buyers. Click here to read more.

Forecast for Canadian Business Remain Optimistic - Recent surveys this fall by The Bank of Canada and PwC boast bright futures for Canadian business. "Despite the economic slump, Canadian private companies are more optimistic than ever; 82% plan to grow and expand over next 12 months," says PwC. Their Business Insights Survey that looks at issues affecting Canadian private companies showed a 16 per cent increase of respondents striving for growth compared to 66% last year. Click here to read more.

Canadian Craft Brewers Turn Passion into Profit - It has long been the lament of small business owners that so-called big business controls too much of the economy and there remains little room for effective competition. This sentiment would seem to ring truest in the Canadian beer industry, but small players are making surprising headway with innovative approaches to marketing and operating their craft breweries. Click here to read more.

For the first time in history we have four generations - each with a different set of ideals and priorities about work - working side-by-side in the workplace. There was a time when older workers were the bosses and younger workers did what they were told, no questions asked. There were definite rules as to how the boss was treated and how younger workers treated older workers. There was an expectation that younger workers would put in their time, earn respect, and get promotions after years of proving themselves to their bosses. Now, the rules are being rewritten daily.

At work, generational differences can affect everything. The way that these four groups of employees look at work affects how you can effectively build teams, deal with change, motivate and manage, and maintain productivity. It affects how you communicate, attract and retain workers, and how they work together (without misunderstandings rooted in generational differences).

As an employer, it's critical that you understand what motivates, inspires, and is important to each generation if you wish to create a work environment where everyone is working at peak productivity, getting along with one another, and working well together. One size management definitely no longer fits all employees. Greg Hammill, Director of Intern and Student Programs at Fairleigh Dickson University's Siberman College of Business, offers the following summary to help you understand the workplace characteristics of each group.

The Veterans (born between 1922-1945)

Work ethic and values - Veterans value hard work and respect authority in the workplace. They are willing to sacrifice to help the company be successful, and believe in duty before fun. They have no trouble adhering to the rules and put their heads down to get the job done, not matter how boring or unsatisfying. Work to them is an obligation - a way to support the family.

Leadership and Communication - Veteran leaders are directive - they command and control. They prefer formal communications in the workplace (memos and reports). Their interaction style is individual - one-to-one.

Feedback and Rewards - No news is good news for the Veterans. Their satisfaction comes from a job well done, not from external rewards. They do not require praise from an employer, and as long as they are paid fairly for their work, they are happy. They are motivated by having their experience validated and respected through increased responsibility and promotions.

Work/Life Balance - work is work and family is family, and the two do not connect.

The Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964)

Work ethic and values - Boomers tend to be workaholics. They work efficiently, desire quality, and look for personal fulfillment in their work. They question authority and crusade for causes. They view work as an exciting adventure, and are generally not interested in work they don't enjoy.

Leadership and Communication - Boomers tend to lead in a way that is consensual and collegial. Their style of interaction tends to be team-oriented, and they enjoy participating in group activities at work. They prefer in-person as opposed to digital communication.

Feedback and Rewards - Feedback is great, but Boomers prefer to see their rewards by way of money and recognition. Give them a bonus and a new title and they're happy. They are motivated by being valued by their employers, and feeling needed in the organization. They want to know they're making a difference.

Work/Life Balance - this is a misnomer for most Boomers - as they have had little balance in their work lives - work has always come first.

Generation X (born between 1965-1980)

Work ethic and values - Gen X'ers value structure and direction. They are self-reliant skeptics and work for them is a difficult challenge. It is a contract between them and the employer where they are paid for agreed upon work.

Leadership and Communication - Generation X leads in an egalitarian way. They want to see a level playing field and feel everyone is a player in the game. They are not afraid to challenge others (including authority) and ask why. Their interactive style is entrepreneurial and they look for new ways to do things. They communicate directly, and prefer communication to be immediate.

Feedback and Rewards - For Gen X, feedback is vital. If they don't get it, they'll come and ask for it. They are motivated by freedom, the ability to do things their way, and a lack of rules.

Work/Life Balance - Gen X is the first generation to really bring the idea of work/life balance to the workplace. They believe work is equally as important as family and are committed to both.

Generation Y (born between 1981-2000)

Work ethic and values - Gen Y is always looking at what's next. They are born knowing how to multi-task and demonstrate tenacity and an entrepreneurial spirit in the workplace. They are tolerant of other perspectives and are accustomed to accepting everyone's way as a possibility. Work for them is a means to an end - they do want fulfillment in their work, but work funds fun.

Leadership and Communication - Gen Y'ers have not been in the workforce long enough for the characteristics of their leadership style to be determined. They prefer to communicate electronically - via email, text or voice mail and their interaction style is participative. They value others on the team and want to collaborate.

Feedback and Rewards - This generation looks for meaningful work, and want feedback that is immediate. They want everything at the push of a button. They are the "instant" generation. They are highly motivated by the promise of working with other bright, creative people.

Work/Life Balance - work is great, but fun is better. Gen Y wants balance, but would err on the side of "life" if they had to choose.

Understanding the way the different generations think, what they value, how they are motivated, and how they communicate can give you a better sense of how to manage them in your business to achieve greater productivity and collaboration.

To read Hammill's informative article in its entirety, click here.

If you've been in business for a while, you may have experienced the kind of plateau entrepreneurs sometimes go through when business is humming along. There's nothing really wrong, but you can get in a rut where you're not necessarily keeping things fresh and innovative either. We've come across some unique Canadian businesses that have gained success by putting a new twist on an old idea, responding to a trend already present in the marketplace, or doing something no one else has done. We hope you enjoy reading about these interesting, proudly Canadian businesses and that they may cause you to think about your own business in a new and inspired way.

The Soap Dispensary
The Soap Dispensary, a Vancouver based company that opened in October, offers a wide range of biodegradable and gentle soaps suitable for children, pets and people with sensitivities and allergies. A variety of established Canadian soap brands are represented among its offerings, as are products from other regions that fit with the store's refill-friendly focus. Products available at The Soap Dispensary come in bulk quantities and fully reusable bottles, thus helping to keep single-use plastic packaging out of landfills, watersheds and recycling systems. www.thesoapdispensary.com

Make Cheese
With a rising consumer interest in the ethical and environmental credentials of their grocery essentials, as well as increasing food prices, "grow your own" initiatives that put the food supply power back in the hands of the consumer are becoming increasingly popular. Now in Alberta, Make Cheese enables households to do exactly that for cheese, with all-in-one kits containing ingredients, equipment and recipes. Providing consumers with simple ways to create their own produce in the home, initiatives such as these offer chemical-free and cheaper alternatives to supermarket shopping. www.makecheese.ca

Moral Fibers
This ethical fashion label was started by two Canadian business students earlier this year. Currently working with artists in Haiti, their mission is to give artists employment opportunities that will help them to develop their creative talent, and enable them to earn a wage almost four times higher than the national average. Moral Fibers commissions each artist to produce 12 pieces of art a month, which they buy for $10 US a piece. If a painting is chosen to be printed on clothing, its creator will also receive 15 per cent of the revenue from every t-shirt sold. With hopes to expand to other countries, the Moral Fibers business model ensures a constant supply of fresh designs, while guaranteeing artists a decent salary to support their families. www.moralfibers.co

Library Rents People to Supplement Books
A new public library, soon to open in Surrey, B.C., is planning to lend out human beings as well as more traditional media as a way to supplement books with local human expertise. Slated to open sometime in the coming weeks, Surrey's 77,000-square-foot City Centre Library will be notable in many ways. The $36 million library will allow users to "check out" human experts with knowledge of particular topics. Numerous such "living books" have reportedly already volunteered and will be available for chats over coffee in the library's new Café. www.surreylibraries.ca

Free Press Café
The Winnipeg Free Press is the first newspaper in Canada to open a news Café where three of their employees work permanently, giving the public direct dialogue with newspaper staff. The Café serves up a menu of locally-sourced, organic dishes to office workers, while also functioning as the workspace of the newspaper's multi-media team. Open daily, it also hosts special events organized by the newspaper, such as book readings, music gigs, and earlier this month it streamed the live results of the Manitoba election, followed by a Q&A session with Café guests. The Café gives the public open access to journalists and editors. Hoping to attract a larger younger audience, the paper claims to have seen increased social media presence as well as more visitors to the Café, which suggests that giving a face to the newspaper has succeeded in boosting community engagement. www.winnipegfreepress.com/cafe

Innovation is the key to business survival in a competitive, global marketplace. Can you take something your business currently offers and give it a unique twist? Can you capitalize on a current trend? Have you got an idea for something that's never been done? Look at your business with fresh eyes to see what new ideas you might bring to the marketplace.

In your mind you have a very clear vision for your business. You know exactly where you see it going and how you are going to get it there. You live it and breathe it every day and it rolls around in your head during almost everything you do. You are looking at that picture 14 hours a day. But are the people on your team (your family, your employees, your partners) seeing the same picture? Do they know what you see and are they aware of their role in helping you get there? Having it written down in a formal plan is effective, especially in helping keep you on track, but using creativity and visual tools can help the people around you get on board with your vision in a much more powerful way. Think of the difference between watching a movie on the big screen and having someone else tell you about the movie. Which has more impact? When they see the picture too, they can get excited about it. When they see their role in the picture, they'll work twice as hard to make it happen. Here are some creative ways you can start that process.

Map
Just like we use maps when we are looking for directions to get from point A to point B, draw a map that shows where you are now, where you want to go, and the route you want to take to get there. One method, if you're particularly creative, is to draw the map yourself and then present it to your team and discuss the details. You might find it more helpful to simply enter your start and end points and have your team brainstorm the potential routes. You might be surprised at the things they come up with. Use all the typical things you'd find on a map - roadblocks, street signs, bridges, rivers or lakes, expressways and back-roads. There are all kinds of processes to get where you want to go. You might even want to discuss alternate routes in case you run into construction, or road closures. Once your team has created the map, have it reproduced in a large format and hang it in your staff room or office as a visual reminder of your chosen direction.

Stairway
Another effective visual is the image of a staircase. Draw a staircase with the bottom step being where you are now and the top step being where you'd like to be in a given timeframe (say 3 years). Write down the broad steps that need to be taken to achieve your goal (with timeframes for each step). Once you've listed the broad steps, break each step down into a smaller staircase and write down the micro-steps you need to take to get to the next main level. Again, once you're done, enlarge it and place it somewhere prominent so it becomes a daily reminder of your goals.

Blueprint
If you've ever built a house, you'll know it's impossible to do so without a blueprint. This is another visual tool that can be effective in imagining your vision. It's a bit more metaphorical than the first two, but can be fun nonetheless - especially if you or someone on your team is familiar with the blueprint process. What is your foundation? What do your studs consist of? Where will you place the walls and why? Where are the doors and in which direction will they open? Where will your windows be located? How much room do you need for storage? How many floors will your building have and how will they be organized? What will make up your roof? What materials will you use to build with? Create your blueprint and display it so your team can see how you're progressing on the building of your business "house."

Drawing
Drawing can be a fun and creative way to envision business success. Gather your team together and let them come up with the metaphor that will represent your business. Maybe it will be a farm, or a city, perhaps a playground, an office complex, a resort, or a small town. Let your creative juices flow. Once you've created your metaphor, draw it out and ask yourself the questions that might be pertinent to that image. If you've chosen a small town for example, where will you put your town hall, the library, the industrial sector, and what do each of these represent in your business? Have some fun with this. You could even hire an artist once you're done to create a professional representation of your work. Hang it in your reception area. It will be a great conversation starter for people who come in to your business and will give you and your staff the opportunity to share your vision with them as well.

Photograph Collage
If you're a hobby photographer, take pictures of things that represent your business success and vision. It might be the wide open spaces of a cornfield that represent infinite possibility, it might be a mountain climber that represents commitment and dedication to a task, it could be a computer chip that represents progress, innovation and the future. Combine them to create an artful collage of the elements that are important to you. Get your team to contribute their photos and/or ideas to add to what's already there. Look at each photo you've presented and ask what other images or ideas are generated from that photograph. Once all your photos are collected, mount them onto a large board and laminate it to display in your workplace. Don't let not being a photographer stop you from trying this exercise. There are plenty of sites on the web to download stock photos inexpensively. These sites are highly searchable so you could type in concrete words like "field" or "street signs", but you can also type in context words like "dedication" and "ingenuity" and it will bring up images that relate to your chosen theme.

If you're feeling a little stuck and want to generate excitement about your business vision, try one of these creative activities. They'll not only give you and your team a concrete visual reminder of your goals, but will provide some fun, out-of-the-ordinary experiences for everyone to build a stronger sense of team and synergy in your business.