Rise Up

Succession planning experts and authors, Jeffrey Cohn and Jay Moran say organizations are lousy at picking leaders despite the fact that the 7 signs of leadership are popping up all over the place.

As Canadians we talk about our shared-vision leadership preference1; a leadership style that expects much from leaders. Henein & Morissette affirm there is a Canadian Leadership Brand1  that consists of characteristics and attributes such as: patience, compassion, humanitarian, moderate, diplomatic, reasonable, ethical, honest, fair, trustworthy, decent, upright, knowledgeable, competent, effective, diligent, accountable, preserving, creative, hopeful, inventive, innovative, resilient, confident, welcoming, respectful, equitable, flexible, tolerant and collaborative.

On August 22, 2011, Canada and Canadians lost a leader whose life and work reflected the 7 Signs of Leadership, Shared-Vision Leadership and the Canadian Leadership Brand. Jack Layton represented a political party as much as he represented the leadership attributes Canadians profess to admire.

Organizations, institutions and even groups may be lousy at picking leaders but we know what we want from leaders and it is in the absence of leadership that we hunger for it. It is the loss of Jack and his leadership attributes that bring us to mourn his passing as well as the gap . . . and the possibility he left behind. No matter one’s political persuasion, Jack Layton leaves us with an example of how to lead in the context of country, purpose, project, family or self.

Jack left a letter to Canadians reminding us that Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. For leaders to fulfill the possibility and responsibility of leadership - we must rise up and practice leadership in all facets of our lives; as an employee, colleague, neighbour, friend, parent or member of a family.

At Jack Layton’s funeral his friend and musical artist sang for all of us Rise Up. Jack invited all leaders to RISE UP!

Questions to ponder . . .

How, when and where do you practice leadership?

Are vision, integrity, empathy, courage, judgment, passion and emotional intelligence part of your whole life?

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1 See earlier posts on shared-vision leadership and Canadian Leadership Brand.