Canadian Leaders

Are Canadian Leaders Really Invisible?
By Maggie Chicoine

“From teaching leadership in Canada, I am almost always disappointed that most Canadians have such a hard time identifying Canadian leaders they admire.

I invite you to try the following test. Test yourself first and then try it with your friends and colleagues. List 10 well-known Canadian recording artists, 10 well-known Canadian athletes, and 10 well-known Canadian leaders you admire. Time yourself or ask someone to time you. You have one minute for each list.

Almost all of the people who take this test do a significantly better job of identifying Canadian recording artists and athletes than identifying Canadian leaders they admire. This reinforces my premise that Canadians under-acknowledge, under-appreciate and under-recognize our home-grown leaders.” – Dr. Brad McRae, CSP, ALDI

You’ve just been introduced to “The 7 Strategies of Master Leaders” by Dr. Brad McRae Director of the Atlantic Leadership Development Institute.

In this text, Dr. McRae presents interviews with significant Canadian leaders ranging from corporations to government agencies and community organizations. The stories punctuate 7 key strategies for leveraging leadership skills. Surprisingly, even the crustiest and most experienced can learn from this book. For new leaders, this should become their “bible” for the journey. Finally, a current, Canadian context for learning to lead will be available in 2009.

Before you click over to try to purchase the 7 Strategies, let me warn you that Dr. McRae continues to edit the material, and has confidentially released it into the hands of Leadership Thunder Bay’s class of 2008 – 2009. This is an organization which promises an “immersion” into community leadership over 10 months, and which has already graduated over 100 alumni from the corporate, governmental and volunteer sectors.

Why did Dr. McRae let the cat out of the bag?

Leadership theory refers to transparency and trust. What better way to know if his Canadian work on leadership stands the scrutiny of 23 curious and ambitious participants? With their input, editing and keen attitudes toward life long learning, 7 Strategies is being molded by the very people it aims to support. In the process, they are learning about themselves and more importantly, discovering role models which have been invisible on the Canadian landscape.

So here’s the invitation.

Spend an evening with Dr. Brad McRae on Thursday January 15 2009 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. His topic, based on the book, is “Live Your Legacy”, don’t just Leave Your Legacy. Tickets only $50.00 with dinner.

Registration is open on line now at http://www.leadershiptb.com/.

Dr. McRae, CSP, is a platinum level presenter, and author of several best selling Canadian books.

Maggie Chicoine is a professional speaker, Master Coach, and lead facilitator for Leadership Thunder Bay. She specializes in Strategies to Think Ahead. Maggie is a founding Director of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, member of the International Coach Federation and Professional Writers’ Association of Canada. She is the Lead Facilitator of Leadership Thunder Bay. Reach her at 1 800 587 1767 or www.theideasculptor.com.