On November 11 and 12, 2025, the Palais des congrès de Montréal will host the 13th edition of Stratégie PME, a must-attend event for Quebec SMEs. More than 130 speakers and 500 experts will come together to discuss a variety of topics.
Joaquim Blanchette, CEO of Hydrexcel Inc. and member of EntreChefs PME, will be part of the event program.
His lecture, entitled “Prioritizing the well-being of your managers: how can you use it as a performance lever for your SME?” will focus on well-being at work and the impact of caring leadership on team performance.
To provide a glimpse into his story, the EntreChefs PME team conducted an interview with Joaquim, who shared his personal experience and vision of leadership.
Rethinking presenteeism in SMEs
In many small and medium-sized businesses, staying at the office after 5 p.m. is often seen as a sign of commitment and leadership. However, Joaquim challenges this view.
“I judged myself based on my hours. I was the one putting myself under stress,” he confided.
Circumstances forced him to be away for over a week. Against all expectations, the company continued to run smoothly.
“A week and a half away, and everything was fine. No one judged me,” he said.
This experience made him realize that performance does not depend on the number of hours spent at the office, but on the quality of presence and leadership exercised.
The data supports this conclusion. A study conducted by Laval University reveals that in 2020, 50% of Quebec workers were experiencing psychological distress (56% of women, 41% of men). In addition, 37% of respondents admitted to practicing presenteeism, i.e., working while sick
Being present in a different way
These figures remind us that it is essential to rethink the way we work, focusing on quality rather than quantity. This is one of the approaches adopted by Joaquim, who no longer hesitates to incorporate moments of relaxation into his working week.
“I leave the office at 4 p.m. to go running. It’s not just time for myself, it’s an investment in my team. I’m more inspiring the next day,” he explained.
He emphasizes that it is not the number of hours that counts, but the quality of presence.
“Being a source of positive energy for the team is part of my job as a leader,” he said.
He also acknowledges that the pressure to be constantly present often comes from within.
“The judgment came mainly from myself,” he admitted.
Manage yourself better to lead better
For Joaquim, taking care of himself is a professional responsibility. He surrounds himself with resource people, mentors, co-development groups, and coaches who help him grow in his role.
“Developing my interpersonal skills and empathy helps me to better manage complex human situations,” he said.
He believes that the well-being of leaders is not a luxury, but a strategic lever. By feeling better about themselves, they become more available, more relevant, and more motivating for their teams.
Joaquim will be at Stratégie PME on November 12 to share his experience and insights.
Now is the ideal time for SME leaders to take a step back, reflect on their own role, and explore a leadership approach that focuses on people, presence, and well-being as drivers of performance.
A must-attend conference for anyone who wants to develop their leadership skills.
A text by Zeineb Khalfallah,
Community and Digital Content Manager at EntreChefs PME
