Leaders Needed

May 16, 2017

– Deb McClelland is the executive director of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached email at deb@kamloopschamber.ca.

KAMLOOPS – Leadership. It’s a word we are familiar with; a position many of us aspire to; a driving force behind the way that our world operates; something that is appreciated by some and disliked by others, yet needed all the same.

When we turn on the news, open the newspaper, scroll through social media – it’s everywhere; in good ways and in ways that, well, could use some improvement.

The fact is that we, as a people, need leaders and we, as individuals (though we may not lead on a world-stage or even on a community level) need to be leaders in our own way – leaders of our own lives, in our homes and within our social groups.

But to lead well, we need to know our purpose and our passion so that we are able to lead where we have the greatest ability, leaving others to lead where they excel.

Andy Stanley spoke well to this when he said “there are many things I can do, but I have to narrow it down to the one thing I must do,” and “once you step outside your zone, don’t attempt to lead. Follow.”

So what is your zone? What is your purpose or your passion? Not sure?

We invite you to spend some time focusing on discovering it and finding out how you can be ‘Powered by Purpose’ at our Leadercast Kamloops event on May 5th. Hear from speakers like Andy Stanley, Dr. Henry Cloud, Suzy Welch and more. Learn more at: kamloopschamber.ca/Leadercast.

And as you think about ways you can lead over the coming weeks, we have two simple suggestions for you:

  1. Lead by example in your community and province by voting in the upcoming provincial election. Your voice truly does make a difference; one only has to look to the States to see that clearly. Not sure who to vote for?

To help, our chamber has interviewed each of our local candidates and asked them to state where they stand on current economic issues, current economic opportunities and access to provincial health care.

These short, unedited videos will give you some important insight as to which leader you believe is best suited to guide our province and help you to make a more informed decision at the polls.

  1. As you lead by example in your businesses or notice those around you that are doing so, make sure to nominate them, or have others nominate you for our 2017 Business Excellence Awards.

As Kamloops premier business recognition event, this is a prestigious opportunity to be recognized and/or recognize others who are helping the Kamloops business community to thrive through areas such as manufacturing, community service, technology, tourism and more. Nominations open on May 10th  and close on June 30th. Visit kamloopschamber.ca to learn more.

As you focus on what being a leader means in your own life, just remember what John Adams said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more – you are a leader.”

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