Leaders on Leadership

We asked Tony Haddad (Past President AMCTO) six key leadership questions for today’s existing and upcoming leaders, here are his responses...

Was there one experience that really helped your career? Why?

      My career was assisted by a secondment to manage a public transit company.  This provided me with valuable operational experience to blend with corporate administrative skills to provide a more balanced perspective toward leadership and providing direction and advice to staff and board of directors.

What do you believe to be the most important leadership skill?

        I think the one of the most important leadership skills is the ability to assess matters and provide advice/direction in a timely manner. The ability to articulate and communicate to your audience is essential to effective leadership.

 What do you consider to be the most important decisions you make in your role as a leader?

       Among the most important decisions leaders make are those based on collaborative consultations with colleagues, representing the best interests of the organization.

 In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing tomorrow’s leaders?

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing tomorrow’s leaders?

        Challenges facing tomorrow’s leaders will include support networks that include sufficient experience to support leadership initiatives.  In addition, adaptation to cultural shifts in how we communicate and effectively engage stakeholders and customer expectations.

 What one thing is it that a newly appointed leader needs to be doing more of?

      Newly appointed leaders should ensure and encourage collaborative consultation among the leadership team, comprising diverse representatives to and sustain effective decision making.

 What advice would you give to a new and upcoming leader?

        Surround yourself with a balance of skilled professionals, new and seasoned, with a cross-section of experience as the basis for a dynamic and effective leadership team.

The Seeds of Greatness

The Seeds Of Greatness...

Ah, summer vegetables, fruit and such. How wonderful is the harvest of the season? What about your harvest season?

This tomato was from a single plant in my garden that became lunch today. It grew from a single seed. 

But, look at the abundance of seeds within it! How many more plants could be started from this one piece of fruit?

Sometimes we wonder if we are having an impact in our lives, or the lives of others around us. Sometimes we doubt if we make a difference. 

Next time you feel that way, think of the tomato, it all starts with a single seed and that seed is you. Go make something awesome happen in the lives of others. 

Who knows how many you can inspire?

Hummingbirds - So tiny, so big!

HUMMINGBIRDS - IMPORTANT?

We met this little fellow when we stopped at a roadside cafe in Costa Rica this winter. In fact there were dozens of these tiny mini jets zooming around our heads as we looked at the flower gardens.

I never knew they could make such a racket. These birds are very territorial and when some other bird gets near their spot they let them know it! For such a small creature they can make a lot of noise! Does that sound like anyone you know?

What can we learn from such a small non aggressive little bird? Perhaps sometimes it’s the little guy you have to watch out for that is making all the noise...

Or, how about this, you don’t have to be a big dog to get the attention of others?

The list could go on forever when it comes to the hummingbird.

These little powerhouses beat their wings anywhere from 12-80 times per second! And you thought your heart rate gets going when you go jogging...

Size, does it matter? Well frankly, yes, to a hummingbird. They have to land on the most precarious perches. If they were a “normal” sized bird they would break the flower. I think hummingbirds are nature’s idea of a bee on steroids!

Colourful and fun to watch they can brighten your day just by buzzing by. You know people in your life like that don’t you? 

Tell them they brighten your day, it will probably brighten theirs!

Only One Captain

Only One Captain

While working on a cruise ship is exciting and a great way to see the world one must always remember there is only one Captain on board.

The Captain is the ultimate authority on a ship. His word is final, and not to be questioned. That is the command role of senior officers.

We have sailed with many different styles of Captains. Some are very reserved, quiet, serious, and all business. They are probably “C” and “D” styles. They are not very talkative when we are on the bridge doing a commentary of the port being sailed into. They are respected for their authority and precision and expect others to do their job as directed.

We have also met Captains who have “S” in that mixture and are a real pleasure to sail with. Talkative and concerned we are comfortable they command with not only respect from their crew but the crew also like them a lot.

Here we are pictured with Captain Tony of the Princess Coral, a really nice guy.

Of course when you are responsible for 3,000 lives and a ship worth over $350 million there is not a lot of room for any kind of joker. This is serious business and every Captain we have ever had the privilege to sail with has demonstrated a no nonsense, serious approach to his command. We have always enjoyed working with these pros.

We may be the Dynamic Duo and meet people from all walks of life through our workshops on Teamwork, Teambuilding, Communications, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and our newest Bullying in the Workplace, but we know there can only be one Captain. While we may work well as a team there are lines we each respect and don’t cross. When it comes to program content Barb is the Captain, when it comes to relationships Bill is the Captain. This way we both have designated areas of responsibility and we take them seriously.

With all that being said we often have passengers on board who are captains in their own world. Some are captains of industry, manufacturing, religion, and even their own small boats. We have met ambassadors, politicians, judges, even a Supreme Court Justice, who are all captains of their country as well. However on board, there is only one Captain. We see lots of armchair quarterbacks when we miss a port due to weather or other unsafe conditions, but there is only one captain and he makes that decision.

In most companies the most effective Captains operate differently from their sea counterparts. On land these managers/leaders often consult with their deputy managers, for valuable insight into the operation of the various departments. It can be much more collaborative, than in a pseudo military environment.

Land, or the office, is not the place for a command structure and in fact is probably the weakest form of leadership. On land the serving leader is the highest level of leadership. Caring and compassionate with vision and direction is the formula for success in today modern companies.

So as you can see there are different styles for management and effective leadership.

Our hope for your department is that there are no Captain Ahabs at the helm. If there are... we need to talk.