A Buffer Against Mediocrity

How do you teach and inspire leadership attitudes and behavior? This is the challenge for leadership programs like 21 Inc.’s 21 Leaders for the 21st Century. Skill development is necessary. Mentorship is important. Contextual knowledge is often forgotten. None are by themselves sufficient. Unless they combine in ways that foster entrepreneurial and collaborative attitudes there is more work to do.

Reaching this outcome is not easy. Which is why it’s unfortunate that two national leaders in the field have recently halted operations. The Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation recently announced the conclusion of their Global Fellows Program, and Action Canada (of which I’m a 2007 Fellow) discontinued their program this year.

If we’re learning one thing about fostering the attitudes and skills we need in our future leaders it’s that the peer networks created through programs like our 21 Leaders program, and the discontinued ones mentioned above, are crucial.

In the same way that people come to identify with being part of a certain group (Canadian, New Brunswicker, an X alum, or Maple Leafs fan), participants in these programs start identifying themselves with and against others in these networks. As a result they begin to expect more from themselves. They are more willing to take positions of responsibility and be effective in them. They hold themselves up to a higher standard of excellence. These programs are buffers against a Canadian culture that more often inspires muddling along.

The WDG Foundation did create a Northern Fellows program that they’ll start up this year. However, Canada is nowhere near capacity yet with these programs so the loss will be felt. The results of these programs are long term and their disappearance is going to be manifested as potential not reached, rather than an acutely felt loss. More muddling.

This is not to say these programs are perfect. As an Action Canada fellow I can tell you that that specific program needs reform. But their termination leaves a big hole for young Canadians wanting to be better prepared to make a positive impact on our world.