The Leadership Challenge

Abraham Lincoln said: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work for various types of leaders and one question continues to come up: How do you deal with leaders who are saying the right things and doing the wrong things? And, conversely, how do you recognize those who are doing the right things yet selflessly refuse to be recognized?

In the past, I’ve worked with leaders whom I’ve thought to be brilliant and inspiring, and more so, who have integrity and character. When faced with a problem or when under stress, these leaders will encourage their employees to keep working their best; they will keep their own performance at the top of the class, and will never denigrate or offend those around them. Their stress is their problem, not something their colleagues or employees should be concerned with. These cool and collected people are usually the first to set expectations with their employees, give recognition appropriately and consistently, and be willing to mentor those around them even if it means a late night at the office. They’re the first to appreciate it when people recognize them, and are genuinely surprised when it happens.

On the flip side, I’ve worked for leaders who walk into the office with a black cloud over their heads. You never know if what you say will be met with anger or praise. You feel de-valued, de-motivated, and defunct. And unfortunately, many of these “leaders” happen to be the ones who brag about their “vision” and “leadership agenda”…they have “change strategies” and language filled with more buzz words than a marketing textbook. An example of one of these types of leaders was a CEO who bragged about his company and its “sustainability”. He once asked me for assistance to fix his printer settings and I suggested that he change his settings to double-sided printing. His response to my suggestion was: “To hell with the environment, it’s easier for me to make notes when it’s single-sided.” And here I thought that, as a leader and as a business-person, it was important to actually care about current issues that society is facing. Especially when Thursday’s Globe and Mail polls state that the most important issue that voters are concerned about is the environment. And it’s an issue leads the pack by 29% lead!

How do we address leaders who refuse to walk the talk? How can one make change if there are leaders in high-ranking positions who have habits and methods that are still stuck in the Stone Age? Is it right to encourage youth to make change if the people they’re trying to impact refuse to be flexible in their thoughts, actions, and speech?

Media's Impact on Youth

Traditional media is no longer the norm. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of seeing a speaker at the International Association of Business Communications discuss the role of traditional media and communications, especially as it is targeted at the youth segment. His company had recently been involved with the sponsorship of bringing Al Gore to Saskatchewan and how they were able to get involved with Saskatchewan young people as a result.

The speaker's talk centered on the communications and media reaction to this sponsorship. News-media, instead of supporting a Saskatchewan company’s involvement in the Environmental movement, reported that it was a waste of money, Al Gore was just a failed politician, and that the environment didn’t need saving. Youth, however, had a different spin on it. Young people who were polled at the Al Gore event stated that they fully supported environmental initiatives, that Gore had inspired them to take action, and that the older generation was naïve to ignore the effects of climate change. Some young people went as far as to say that they just turned off the radio and television to escape the uninformed opinions of the reporters.

Along the same lines, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix today used Facebook, a social networking site, to describe a young man charged with assault. They report: “(Facebook) shows a happy and outgoing young man… (The suspect) describes himself as interested in women, conservative, and Catholic.” What an invasion of one’s personal space and privacy! How can Facebook be representative of a person? Additionally, I really don’t think Facebook is intended as a means to “check-up” on suspected criminals. This is another way the media is targeting youth in a negative light and forcing us to look to alternate means of gaining information, communicating with each other, or just posting our opinions.

It is such a shame that some journalists are continuing to alienate the younger population but using media in ways that it was not intended. I take comfort in knowing that journalists who alienate young people are just catering to their retiree demographics.

To Grant a Wish

The alleys wound like a serpent through the dust and chaos that can be Delhi. We walked along the path, like pilgrims, asking along the way: “Dargah kahan heh?” Which way to the Dargah? Passing kiosks and salesmen selling blessed flowers, sweets, religious posters, artwork, and food, we wandered through the ever-narrowing lanes. We neared the end, taking off our shoes as you do at any sacred or historic site in India and stepped through a medieval archway and into a scene from the last millennium.

People from all walks of life were scattered throughout the courtyard: praying, meditating, or chatting quietly. We were met by a guide who explained the different tombs and monuments: the domed marble tomb of Amir Khusrau, Nizamuddin’s devotee and a Sufi poet, constructed in 1605 and the tomb of Nizamuddin Aulia, a Sufi Saint and the reason we were there. Between the two tombs were situated a few more graves: Jehanara, the daughter of Shah Jehan (who built the Taj Mahal), and Emperor Mohammad Shah. As we were directed into Nizamuddin’s tomb (women to the outside as only men can enter the inner sanctum), we were handed pieces of thread. It is said that as you tie a thread to the marble jali (screen), you make a wish which Nizamuddin will grant.

As we were quietly reflecting, another man came to us recognizing my mother’s Muslim heritage and blessed her in Urdu, a long unused reminder of her tradition. As we walked through the Dargah, she told us parts of the history of Nizamuddin and how her wish had unquestionably been granted.

We walked past the tombs and down a few more alleys to an ancient step-well (baoli). Legend has it that when Nizamuddin began to build the baoli during the reign Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in the 1300s, the Sultan refused to allow workers to help on the build. Nizamuddin prophesied then that the new Tughlaq fort would be inhabited by nomads and eventually left to ruins, yet the Dargah would be still be standing many hundreds of years later. Now some seven hundred years later, Tughlaqabad is certainly in ruins and, Nizamuddin’s Dargah is still visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually.

Sufism is, in its essence, the way of love. Walking through this truly holy place with my mother and brother was one of the most moving experiences I had in India. The true beauty of the Dargah is the sanctuary that it offers to the homeless. As you leave, you are given the opportunity to feed the homeless. For what we would consider pennies, we were able to give those in need a meal – and for me, it didn’t seem like nearly enough.

New Delhi - Chapter 1

It is amazing to me how people associate certain memories and feelings with the places they visit. For me, India is place of great comfort and happiness. Although I haven’t been here that many times, I always have a great sense of peace associated with my arrival. The smell of India is so distinctive: A mix of dust, pollution, people, and culture. Is like the familiar smell of coming home: Not always pleasant, but always comforting.

A mix of chaos combined with progress: Delhi’s sprawling lights could be seen as far as the eye could see. The airport and roads were surprisingly un-crowded. I couldn’t help but laugh at how a country changes peoples’ behaviour. As I attempted to line up to go through customs, the crowds became a bit of a pandemonium. I thought: “Ah, this is India!” As I looked around, I realized that I was in a crowd of foreigners and that every passport I could see was either American of European!!! What is it that makes a line filled with the same people perfectly orderly in Amsterdam, and complete mayhem in Delhi??

The drive home was another surprise. Being past midnight, the roads were relatively empty. I could feel the beauty of India – crumbling monuments mixed with new construction, dusty scooters puttering over huge overpasses, red traffic lights that apparently mean “go faster” after midnight.

There is chaos in the construction: concrete mixed with culture, development mixed with beauty, and progress mixed with tradition.

On y vas

My walk home last night was reminiscent of Dr. Zhivago's trek through the Russian Tundra….it is only a great relief then, that in 48 hours, I will be soaking up 25C sunshine (and smog) in New Delhi!!!

I’m off for a 2-month jaunt in India and Thailand. And I just can’t believe it has happened so fast! I’ve had an incredible time in Toronto, an invaluable professional experience, and made life-long friends.

So…thank you! Thank you to all of you who have touched my life, who have mentored me over the past two years, and who have made an indelible impression on my life.

Talking about Impact?

Sir Richard Branson’s latest “stunt” is a challenge to make true global impact. According to Green Business News (http://green.itweek.co.uk/2007/02/bransons_climat.html), Branson is offering up $25 Million to the first scientist who is able to develop a workable means of removing at least one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

What a brilliant, world-changing challenge! And has this great use of celebrity gained world-wide attention? Actually, quite the contrary: Branson’s challenge has instead been called a “futile PR-stunt of a craven self-publicist.”

Personally, I think this is absurd. Not only is Branson lending his celebrity to help find a truly global solution, but he’s recruited highly credential scientists to help the cause. Al Gore, former US Vice President; Sir Crispin Tickell, former British Ambassador to the United Nations; James Lovelock, inventor of the Gaia theory; James Hansen, climate scientist and head of the NASA Institute for Space Studies; and Tim Flannery, Australian mammalogist and palaeontologist have all agreed to sit on the judging panel for the new prize.

It reminds me of an article I read last year where business leaders spoke out about NOT being recognized for their community service as the publicity inevitably led to criticism. This challenge is case and point of society’s need to be critical. How can we expect talented young people to step up to new business and political challenges if even the good things that leaders do leads to criticism, disapproval, and denigration?

I say “Bravo” Sir Richard Branson! Not only is he taking a lead role in tackling climate change through a triple bottom line approach (people, planet, profit), but he has appreciated that clean technology is a needed and valuable investment opportunity. So what if he’s using his PR skills...who better to highlight the seriousness of the threat of global climate change?

The Future or Now?

In 2002, the Liberals held a retreat in Meech Lake, QC to debate whether to ratify the Kyoto agreement on climate change. (Globe and Mail, January 29, 2007, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070129.wxclimate29/
BNStory/ClimateChange/home)

At the time, Dr. Gordon McBean, one of Canada’s top climatologists warned the Canadian leaders of the effects of climate change, but admitted that society would only see the benefits a few decades down the road. According to the article, one of the ministers had an unfortunate but predictable reaction: "And there will be nothing for us between now and the next election?" the minister asked, "Why would we do this?"

When political leaders have some of the most power and influence in making significant change in society, how easy is it for them to balance the need for human benefit, and the need to be re-elected? I think that in an ideal situation, political leaders join the ranks to "change the world" or at least, to make positive change in their country. But isn’t it a realistic fact that on some level, all politicians share the same common goal: To be re-elected? How does a four-year cycle impact the decision-making in a country?

With important and on-going issues such as the environment, health care, and education often topping the lists of issues that politicians need to deal with, how do they appropriately balance the benefit to future generations and the benefit to themselves? As we’ve seen, even when certain governments agree to abide by long-term agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, it is easy for another government to choose not to fulfill that obligation. Are there ways to coerce the country to think in long-range forecasts?