Congratulations to all Olympic Athletes – they’ve been training most of their lives, they have competed all over the world with other contenders.  The ‘ski industry community’ is very small – each name comes with a story and athletes are very familiar with one another.  Canadians with Russians, [...]]]>

Photo Courtesy Walt Blackstaffe 2008

Congratulations to all Olympic Athletes – they’ve been training most of their lives, they have competed all over the world with other contenders.  The ‘ski industry community’ is very small – each name comes with a story and athletes are very familiar with one another.  Canadians with Russians, Swedes with Americans; they all know each other and their personalities and reputations follow them all over the world.

Alexandre Bilodeau has his own legacy, one that has followed him around within the industry – and now he has triggered a new legacy as the world congratulates him on winning the gold medal in Men’s Moguls for Canada. What people in the skiing community know about Alexandre is that his older brother is one of his heros.  Frederic has cerebral palsy, and his medal winning brother attributes much of his success to what he has learned from Frederic.  Alex has made his mark.  But it doesn’t stop there!

As of yesterday, Alexandre Bilodeau has just taken on a new leadership position.  He is the first Canadian to win a gold medal on Canadian soil and is a new role model for young athletes’ world-wide.  His job is about to get a whole lot bigger than it has in the past, and he has just boarded a new lift.  He will be inundated with sponsorship offers, event invites and much more.

Alex is about to test his leadership skills more publicly than any of us in business usually do – they will be tested in front of the world for all to see and base opinion.  The stats only tell a portion of the story – he won the gold medal, that’s the stat.  Each step he makes from here will define his leadership and mentorship of a community within an industry that pushes for excellence and hard work. The public will (rightly or wrongly) judge his character and lay expectation before him of how a ‘gold medal winner’ is to behave.

Sponsors he chooses to work with will want their products represented with just the right persona.  All leadership roles take on this kind of pressure and expectation, a bit less public but all people who are being led make assumptions and build opinion about their leaders.

What’s often missing is guidance for the new leader – that ideal element leading to the success of leaders within organizations.  Having advisors to train, coach, or guide them through how to manage opinions, expectations and build alignment with teams and collaborative business units can make the difference between success and failure.

Being a great leader and mentor calls for being authentic. One cannot build a false ‘persona’ for the public then lead a different life in private because they will always be found out.  (I don’t need to share examples here, you know who they are.) Leaders can choose to be a ‘better self’ making their actions a legacy worth sharing with their children and for all others to follow.

Strategic Sense offers a program for new and emerging leaders called “14 Weeks of Managers Making the Mark” teaching leaders to make their mark by leaving a positive leadership legacy in their role as leaders everywhere. Contact us to find out more about our programs for leaders.

I’d like to contribute this blog to asking what you are doing on Remembrance Day.  For my subscribers outside of Canada, this is the day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war.  Observed on November 11, [...]]]>  

I’d like to contribute this blog to asking what you are doing on Remembrance Day.  For my subscribers outside of Canada, this is the day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war.  Observed on November 11, (next Tuesday), in Canada to recall the end of World War 1 on that date in 1918.

Canadians wear a poppy during the two weeks prior to November 11 to show respect for and understanding for the many great sacrifices taken on by those who have gone before us and those who are currently working hard to maintain our freedoms and ensure our country remains as great as it always has been.

The Canadian Forces definition of effective leadership is “Directing, motivating and enabling others to accomplish the mission professionally and ethically while developing or improving capabilities that contribute to mission success” and is a reflection of the environment that faces our Canadian Forces Leaders today.

Many of us understand leadership in one form or another, however, few of us in typical corporate or small business roles are asked to do so under extreme circumstances.  While the odd day may feel like you are avoiding missiles, navigating around land mines and having dirt wind-blown into your mouths – the reality of it all is that we truly are a pampered lot.  We take time in our week to have a lunch out in a great restaurant, we go home every day to a loving family and brick and mortar homes and we have a leisurely shower usually using much more water than is absolutely necessary. 

I would like to prepare you for next week, for the day when you are challenged to take a little time to consider the impact leadership under extreme conditions might be like, and to applaud those who are willing to make continual sacrifices on a daily and yearly basis to make our lives what they are.  For those who have gone before us living and not living; for the civilians who are left behind, for the civilians who support the work of the Canadian Forces and for the many leaders who are asked to motivate men and women who have been away from their homes and their families for a cause outside of their personal gain please offer gratitude, your love, and your support.

Aside from what you feel about war, aside from how you feel about world conflict, what might be very important to remember is that on November 11, we are recognizing the life sacrifices and daily dedication of many people that have been and are being made on your behalf.  If you are with a company that recognizes the importance and observes the day, please find time at 11am on Tuesday to gather in support and memory with others who are doing the same.  If your company does not observe this day of remembrance, please take some time in the morning to gather with a few people who are near you, to observe a moment of silence at 11am on Tuesday.

If you are a leader, please lead by example by; “Directing, motivating and enabling others to accomplish the mission professionally and ethically while developing or improving capabilities that contribute to mission success” for your team, all the while noting that you are not asked to do this under dire or extreme circumstances.  When you are ready to wave your hands in the air and give up, remember others are out there practicing leadership in places where giving up is not an option!