ARCHIVE: PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Knowing Yourself: The Key to Effective Leadership Anne Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer Winter 2009

Glancing at the news these days gives one ample grounds for discouragement about the calibre of leadership in public and private sector organizations. Whether in the financial services sector, the auto industry, or government, failure of leadership dominates the headlines. The fact that these failures come in the wake of decades’ worth of publications, advice, and training programs from acknowledged “experts” in leadership development provides all the more reason for cynicism.

The Niagara Institute is unique in this country because it places personal transformation and the cultivation of emotional intelligence at the heart of its experiential leadership program.

The Value of Emotional Intelligence

When we think about the leaders who do inspire us today—those who act with thoughtfulness and conviction, and whose words resonate with us—we can see how much emotional intelligence matters. Think of the way Barack Obama gripped many Canadians in 2008, not least because of his ability to relate to people in a way that inspires extraordinary levels of enthusiasm and commitment. Or within Canada, consider the qualities shown by corporate leader Michael McCain as he handled the Maple Leaf Foods crisis through honest, convincing, and highly empathetic communication.

The capacity to build this kind of rapport, regardless of individual leadership style, can be cultivated. That’s why the Conference Board is so proud of the Niagara Institute’s leadership development programs, which are an integral part of our mission to build leadership capacity for a better Canada. The Niagara Institute is unique in this country because it places personal transformation and the cultivation of emotional intelligence at the heart of its experiential leadership program. Through 360-degree assessments, facilitated learning, and coaching, leaders gain insight into their own skills, the way their behaviour affects others, and ways to better manage their behaviour. Executive coaches ensure that participants understand the feedback they receive and help them become more effective. Once back in their workplace, leaders have the ongoing support of these coaches to ensure that they realize their self-development plans and achieve results.

A New Approach for a New World

The Niagara Institute’s positive results are needed more than ever in the current environment of economic upheaval and the ongoing dislocations caused by globalization, where old-fashioned assumptions about slow and steady learning seem not to apply. The old-school scenario saw leaders develop skills gradually within a stable organizational culture, moving through progressively more challenging assignments and getting feedback from peers and subordinates, as well as coaching from experienced mentors. However, the conventional approach isn’t enough in times of rapid change, when organizational cultures are in turmoil and leaders’ growth must be accelerated.

Praise From Participants and Managers

The testimonials we receive about our experiential programs attest to their remarkable impact. In the words of a recent participant in Niagara’s Building Leadership Essentials program, “This has been the best opportunity I have had to identify and focus on areas that may be holding me back in my career.”

The results are evident to participants’ organizations, too. A vice-president of human resources whose organization recently sent one of its managers to a Niagara custom program commented, “It is the first time in many years in the HR profession that I have witnessed this depth of success with a single training intervention.”

In troubled economic times, it should be the highest priority for organizations to invest in producing leaders who can enable and motivate their people to achieve their potential. As we all ride out the turbulence of the months and perhaps years ahead, the Conference Board will continue to help Canadian organizations prosper by ensuring that the Niagara Institute offers the best leadership development available.

Anne Golden President and Chief Executive Officer