Hosts reception to unveil new book, brings decision-makers together to discuss leadership solutions
TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2013 /CNW/ - R. Douglas Williamson, CEO of The Beacon Group, a professional services firm focused on helping leadership teams improve their organizational effectiveness, develop their business strategies and leverage their investment in human capital, today will host a reception to mark the publication of his new book Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, the book lays out Williamson's critique of the current business leadership model, stating that Canadian business leaders suffer from a "deficit of ambition." Williamson then provides a bold vision for developing a new generation of more globally oriented, outwardly focused entrepreneurial business leaders who can help position Canada in the hypercompetitive world of tomorrow.
"My intention for Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis is to provide a wake-up call to all of those involved in shaping Canada's future," says Williamson. "There is a serious crisis in Canadian business leadership that puts our future way of life and relevance at risk. This book is a manifesto for change needed to ensure Canada remains relevant in a rapidly changing world order."
Book Launch Reception
A book launch Cocktail Party and Reception, hosted by Williamson, will be held on September 17 between 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Archeo Restaurant, 31 Trinity Street in the Distillery Historic District in Toronto. Opening remarks will be offered by The Globe and Mail Publisher and CEO Philip Crawley. Williamson will give a glimpse into the story behind the book and lead the discussion setting the stage for the national debate on Canadian leadership.
Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis
"Canada is losing ground - fast. In fact, it is in a crisis!" says Williamson. "Canadian business leaders have been playing a safe, defensive game, instead of playing to win. As a result, they have not developed the necessary leadership competencies required to lead in today's hypercompetitive environment and are falling behind in the battle for economic and social relevance in the emerging new world order."
"We are living in some of the most exciting, opportunity-rich times ever," says Williamson. "Yet, it's a new game - one of perpetual change, where stability, comfort and complacency are the avowed enemies. Canadian business leaders can and must play a much bigger role in defining, shaping and building the global marketplace of tomorrow, planting the Canadian flag more firmly in the ground, both at home and abroad."
Williamson claims that Canada needs a new breed of "transformational leader" to help reshape our attitudes, alter our mindsets and develop new organizational strategies before we become a marginal player in a much better equipped world. He presents eight transformational leadership competencies needed to navigate the future global economy:
Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis engages its audience in a national dialogue to rebuild Canada's business franchise and global brand. Intended to "deliver the stiffening of the spine" that Williamson believes is needed to make the difference, the book explains why Canada is falling behind, what challenges it is facing, what leadership solutions are needed to navigate the future and who are the "hidden champions" to watch for.
Through its Case Studies in Canadian Business, the book highlights successful Canadian organizations and leaders who have followed a transformational path, including The Globe and Mail, Scotiabank, Holt Renfrew and The Four Seasons. Williamson also reviews the lessons from some the less successful Canadian companies to learn from their failures in strategy development, leadership effectiveness, organizational performance and execution.
In addition to practical organizational leadership suggestions, the book presents a Framework for Canada's Transformational Action Plan, leveraging the country's national brand, to make Canada shine on the international stage.
Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis is available through Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.
Doug Williamson's quotes from the book:
"In Canada, our complacent, branch-plant mentality and our ultra cautious and deeply conventional way of thinking mean we have allowed ourselves to become not only risk-averse, but also intellectually lazy when it comes to strategy development."
"Slowly, our international role began to diminish as Canada stepped back from not only its traditional role as a recognized and well-regarded international peacekeeper, but also as a primary source of traditional raw materials exports. Unfortunately, this happened at about the same time the global economy matured to a point where goods, services and intellectual capital were replacing wheat, ore, fish and other natural resources as the primary engines of economic prosperity."
"Canada lacks the type of transformational business leaders needed to build the organizations who can truly compete and which display the leadership capabilities that ultimately determine success in the modern, global economy."
"The process of transformational change begins with developing a new leadership mindset that liberates us from the vicious spiral of reactionary conservatism we have allowed ourselves to be caught up in. We need to place our national stake in the ground and shift to a more offensively minded business game better suited to the conditions we face, the assets we have at our disposal and the opportunity that Canadians can seize if we have business leaders prepared to lift their own game."
About R. Douglas Williamson
R. Douglas Williamson, author of Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis and CEO of The Beacon Group, is a Toronto-based global business strategy and leadership consultant with over thirty years of business experience spanning five continents. He is a sought-after speaker on the issues of leadership and organizational transformation in the new economy. Williamson's firm, The Beacon Group, works with clients ranging from global Fortune 500 companies to smaller entrepreneurial businesses. Prior to forming The Beacon Group in 1996, Williamson had held senior executive positions with a number of large international organizations in both North America and Europe, as well as the Canadian Government. While in Ottawa during the early 1990's, he played an instrumental role in the introduction of legislation to support and encourage the growth and financing of "knowledge-based industries" and served as a Special Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Known for his direct, tell-it-like-it-is, provocative discussion style, Williamson makes a passionate plea for upgrading Canada's business leadership capability in an effort to leverage Canada's brand on the global stage.
View Doug Williamson's thoughts on leadership through his YouTube channel:
For more information, visit dougwilliamson.ca and thebeacongroup.ca.
To purchase Straight Talk On Leadership, visit Amazon or Indigo.
Follow Doug Williamson:
Image with caption: "Doug Williamson, CEO, The Beacon Group (CNW Group/The Beacon Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30838.jpg
Image with caption: "Straight Talk On Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis (CNW Group/The Beacon Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30814.jpg
Video with caption: "video: Straight Talk on Leadership - Doug Williamson describes how Canada is falling behind in today's global economy". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130917_C7021_VIDEO_EN_30815.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30815.jpg&clientName=The%20Beacon%20Group&caption=video%3A%20Straight%20Talk%20on%20Leadership%20%2D%20Doug%20Williamson%20describes%20how%20Canada%20is%20falling%20behind%20in%20today%27s%20global%20economy&title=THE%20BEACON%20GROUP%20%2D%20Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis&headline=Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis
Video with caption: "video: Qualities of a Leader - Doug Williamson explains the difference between the qualities of a manager, and the qualities of a leader.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130917_C7021_VIDEO_EN_30836.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30836.jpg&clientName=The%20Beacon%20Group&caption=video%3A%20Qualities%20of%20a%20Leader%20%2D%20Doug%20Williamson%20explains%20the%20difference%20between%20the%20qualities%20of%20a%20manager%2C%20and%20the%20qualities%20of%20a%20leader%2E&title=THE%20BEACON%20GROUP%20%2D%20Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis&headline=Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis
Video with caption: "video: Canadian Complacency - Doug Williamson on how to cut through complacency to create opportunities.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130917_C7021_VIDEO_EN_30835.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30835.jpg&clientName=The%20Beacon%20Group&caption=video%3A%20Canadian%20Complacency%20%2D%20Doug%20Williamson%20on%20how%20to%20cut%20through%20complacency%20to%20create%20opportunities%2E&title=THE%20BEACON%20GROUP%20%2D%20Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis&headline=Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis
Video with caption: "video: The Pace of Change - Doug Williamson on the unprecedented pace of change in the current global context. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130917_C7021_VIDEO_EN_30816.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130917_C7021_PHOTO_EN_30816.jpg&clientName=The%20Beacon%20Group&caption=video%3A%20The%20Pace%20of%20Change%20%2D%20Doug%20Williamson%20on%20the%20unprecedented%20pace%20of%20change%20in%20the%20current%20global%20context%2E%0D%0A%0D%0A&title=THE%20BEACON%20GROUP%20%2D%20Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis&headline=Douglas%20Williamson%20launches%20debate%20on%20solving%20Canada%27s%20business%20leadership%20crisis
SOURCE: The Beacon Group
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