Elbows-up: A Canadian Mantra for Career Professionals

-By Sharon Graham, Founder and Chair of Career Professionals of Canada –

Canada is known for its warm and friendly reputation: holding the door open for others and offering a hand to strangers. Beneath that politeness, though, lies quiet steel. The hockey phrase “elbows-up” captures this balance: a player angling their elbows to shield the puck, firm, poised, and ready.

For career professionals, this image offers more than a catchy slogan; it provides a framework for serving clients, engaging employers, and shaping the labour market. Here’s how to bring an “elbows-up” mindset into everyday practice without losing the purposeful kindness that defines our profession.

The Spirit Behind “Elbows-up”

The phrase “elbows-up” is more than a hockey metaphor, and it’s not about throwing punches. It’s a call to claim the space required for fairness, dignity, and progress. It signals respectful determination, resilience, and readiness to overcome obstacles. This type of assertiveness, combined with integrity, is a distinctly Canadian brand of advocacy.

Practical Applications of “Elbows-up” in Career Development

Career professionals encounter diverse client needs, including career development, job search strategies, and work-life management. For practitioners, the mantra of “elbows-up” resonates profoundly, symbolizing the tools, mindset, tactics, and strategies required to support clients in navigating complex career landscapes. It reinforces the importance of staying proactive and resourceful while guiding clients toward success.

In practice, “elbows-up” encourages professionals to:

• Promote adaptability: Help clients embrace change and develop resilience in the face of uncertainty, whether navigating layoffs, pivoting industries, or advancing their careers.
• Empower self-advocacy: Equip individuals with tools to advocate for their strengths and potential in interviews, negotiations, and professional settings.
• Foster community connections: Encourage networking and leveraging relationships as critical components of career success.
• Facilitate continuous learning: Inspire clients to pursue lifelong learning opportunities to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving labour market.

Guard the Goal: Advocate Relentlessly for Clients

Don’t let anyone stickhandle away your client’s worth. Just as a skater protects the puck, protect your clients’ stories, aspirations, and dignity.

• Fair Hiring: Push back politely but firmly when you see exploitative, unpaid “opportunities” or biased job ads. The Canadian Human Rights Commission offers guidance on workplace discrimination and fair hiring.
• Equitable Compensation: Encourage clients to research pay ranges and practice confident salary conversations. Use Job Bank’s Wage Reports for up-to-date Canadian salary data.
• Confidentiality: Safeguard your client’s data. When uncertain, prioritize privacy and limit the sharing of information. Refer to CPC’s Code of Professional Conduct for best practices.

Draw Your Blue Lines: Set and Model Clear Boundaries

Helping is noble; overextending erodes effectiveness.

• Define Your Scope: State what services you provide, and when. A concise service agreement prevents confusion.
• Protect Your Time: Schedule “no-meeting blocks” for focused work and renewal. Share this practice with clients as a productivity tip.
• Respect Your Energy: Notice compassion fatigue early. Step back, recharge, and return stronger.
• Avoid Burnout: The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and the Mental Health Commission of Canada provide various resources for managing burnout.

Protect the Ice: Uphold Ethical Standards Profession-Wide

The rink must be fair if everyone is to skate.

• Call Out Corner-Cutting: If you see résumé fraud, ghostwriting that veers into dishonesty, or discriminatory screening tools, raise the flag. CPC’s Certified Career Strategist course helps you identify other ethical dilemmas and maintain an ethical practice.
• Champion Inclusivity: Advocate for immigrant talent, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and other under-represented groups. Hire Immigrants and Indigenous Works are excellent starting points.
• Share Knowledge: Facilitate workshops on bias-aware hiring, accessible job ads, and trauma-informed coaching. Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion provides training and resources.

Play the Whole Rink: Balance Tough Feedback with Compassion

Purposeful kindness pairs honesty with empathy.

• Stretch Goals: Challenge clients to aim one notch higher, then walk beside them.
• Reality Checks: If a résumé is unfocused or an interview story is weak, say so directly and coach the fix.
• Celebrate Wins: A sincere “Well done!” after each milestone reinforces resilience and self-belief.

Coach Team Canada: Shape a Future-Ready Workforce

“Nice” and “naïve” are not synonyms. We safeguard the economy and communities we cherish by lifting elbows at critical moments.

• Promote Lifelong Learning: Encourage micro-credentials and upskilling so workers stay employable in a shifting market.
• Support Emerging Sectors: Guide clients toward green tech, AI ethics, healthcare, and other roles that address national priorities.
• Mentor the Next Line: Volunteer with newcomer employment programs, high-school career days, or CPC committees. Purposeful kindness scales when we pass it on.

Apply the “Elbows-up” Mindset to Build Stronger Client Relationships

Integrating the “elbows-up” mindset means blending assertive advocacy with purposeful kindness, positioning yourself as both a protector and a partner for your clients. Here’s how you can apply this approach to forge deeper, more resilient client relationships:

• Advocate assertively: Offer honest feedback, flag issues early.
• Build trust through transparency: Explain processes, set clear expectations.
• Partner, don’t just provide: Align with the client’s goals, invest in relationships.
• Set and model healthy boundaries: Say no when needed, adapt when valuable.
• Invite feedback and improve: Ask for input, and act on it.
• Show empathy and kindness: Balance directness, personalize support.

Adapt your approach to suit each client’s unique personality, needs, and lived experiences. By tailoring the “elbows-up” mindset to each client’s personality and context, especially those who face systemic barriers, you build trust, empower authentic self-advocacy, and foster stronger, more resilient client relationships.

Put “Elbows-Up” Into Practice Today

• Refresh Your Boundaries: Block two hours for professional reading or certification work.
• Audit a Client File: Identify one place where stronger advocacy is needed.
• Post a Resource: Share an article with your network, adding your “elbows-up” perspective.

Take these small actions and notice how the ripple effect strengthens you, your client, and Canada’s workforce.

Resources for Career Development Professionals in Canada

To embody the “elbows-up” spirit, leverage the following resources:

• Labour market: Government of Canada Job Bank
• Online upskilling courses: LinkedIn Learning
• Career development articles: CareerWise
• Upskilling: Future Skills Centre
• Volunteer opportunities: Volunteer Canada

Final Whistle

By applying the “elbows-up” mindset, you move beyond being a transactional expert to becoming a trusted advisor who protects, empowers, and partners with clients for long-term success. You will claim the space needed for fairness, dignity, and progress, and defend that space respectfully. Over time, you’ll create rinks where everyone can skate, pass, and score.