A bit about me
Cynthia here! Owner, creative director & host of Les Ateliers SM&RT
Growing up I was really lucky to be raised by super social parents.They drilled into me all the people skills one could possibly need. I left home with nothing more than overconfidence and hope and I relied on those skills to get my foot in the professional door. I landed the job of a lifetime in the Province of Ontario’s Protocol Office and gradually moved up the ladder. I parlayed that initial success into other jobs, including teaching and consulting. The soft skills I value are the cornerstone of my personal and professional relationships, the same goes for sharing and teaching these valuable traits to my three children. I can see how they have used these skills to maintain relationships and achieve success in school and work. Thanks to the massive advances in technology, we have never been more connected and less connected at the same time. This evolution presents new challenges. Almost every day we hear about the importance of building a child’s self-esteem and confidence; of course! However, encouraging empathy and learning the basics of social know-how are equally important. Soft skills are key to good relationships; both social and professional. This is how SM&RT came to exist today.
Conversation Chicken
One night when my son was about 5 years old, he was watching me set the table for dinner. Out of the blue he asked if we were going to have ‘conversation chicken’ for dinner.
Hmmm I said, what’s that?
You know, ‘conversation chicken’, he kept saying, getting very excited. So after more questioning and going through my repertoire of chicken recipes in my head, he finally said, ‘you know Mommy, the thing we eat when people come over and we have a big conversation!’
The light went on.
In my early parenting days, my cooking skills were pretty basic. Which meant that I only had a few acceptable ‘go to’ recipes to offer dinner guests. One dish that I frequently prepared was Chicken Divan. Not only was it something I could prepare with confidence, but it was also a family favourite.
From that night Chicken Divan then became known at our house as Conversation Chicken.
What was so revealing for me was how excited my son was about us all being at the table and having good conversation. I had underestimated how much he and his siblings loved being a part of family and special occasion dinners. In the early years, I would often feed my three children at the kitchen counter, one in a highchair and the other two on stools (it was faster and clean up was easier). However, after that evening realizing how much they enjoyed participating and interacting I started serving dinner at either the kitchen or dining room table as regularly as possible.
A new tradition in my young family was born.
As I look back, I see how much this tradition has contributed to building a sense of trust, stability and open communication between my children, my partner and me.
A great deal can be taught, and a great deal can be learned around a table. When everyone is eating, engaged with one another, sharing moments of the day and discussing weighty issues as well as light and fun topics, I believe this is a recipe for success.
Why SM&RT?
My late grandmother was and remains a huge influence in my life.
When I was young, I found her intimidating. She was strict and had strong opinions. It wasn’t until I started my first ‘real’ job in the Ontario Protocol Office that I could really appreciate and understand who she was and why. She was a mom and a working woman at a time when it was not conventional. With no choice, she had to provide for her young family. She learned early in her life to be smart, strong and resilient.
My grandmother would often visit my office to have lunch with me. She would always take time to speak with every one of my colleagues (all women). She would encourage them to ‘keep at it’ and tell them how proud she was to see so many young women working and making their way. Everyone loved her. She was so positive and a real champion.
She had countless expressions. One has stuck with me to this day. When I was about ten, I remember walking with my cousin on the sidewalk in front of our grandmother when she yelled, ‘you two, pick up your feet and walk smartly!’ While we laughed, we understood the message. Stand up straight, pick up your feet, walk with purpose and act smart.
One day as I was developing my workshops, I was thinking about my grandmother and reminiscing about the many happy times we had. Then came the ‘eureka’ moment. I found the name for my workshops. In tribute to my wonderfully smart grandmother who still guides me, my workshops are called SM&RT – pronounced smart and short for Social Management & Relevant Techniques.
