This past year has been an especially challenging one. As we start to emerge from this global recession, we find ourselves navigating through difficult and uncharted waters. The economy remains in a state of flux and an aura of fear and uncertainty still looms over every company and independently owned business. And companies continue to respond by cutting back on expenses and letting people go.

And what about the people who are left behind to lead? How do they motivate, inspire and engage their people so that they can get on with the business at hand? How do they increase performance and productivity with fewer resources available? How do they keep employees energized and engaged? And finally, how do they attract and retain the best people and the best clients?

In our view, it all comes down to leadership. From our perspective, the overwhelming reason we are in this recession to begin with, is due to a lack of genuine leaders. There were people in positions of power who misused their positions, heads of corporations who focused on increasing their net-worth with total disregard for how their actions would affect the lives of others – primarily their employees, clients and stockholders – all because of their inability to care. And now they are finally being held accountable, but we are paying the price.

And so today, more than ever, there is a call and a need for leaders who really care about their people. We need leaders who lead from a place of compassion and respect. We need leaders who understand the real meaning of respect and the subtleties of respect at home, in the workplace and in their communities.

Genuine leaders recognize that there is a direct correlation between respect and results, compassion and motivation. They recognize that both within the company and beyond, they must consistently do the right thing. They must be committed to creating win – win situations and have values to follow that will inspire others to emulate them. After all, “if you lose your values while acquiring it all, when you have it all, you will ultimately lose it all.”1

The good news is that today's reality will inspire a time of positive and healthy change. Companies will survive and even thrive. It will be those companies, however, who continue to invest in their people and who are committed to building a culture of genuine leaders, who will do so.

Today people at every level of the organization long to see and be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to embrace a grander vision – one that inspires them to give the best of themselves to their employer.

Yes it is true that difficult times shake the belief in an organization’s future and makes people think twice about whether they really want to work there. And yes, this ominous feeling tends to linger long after the cutbacks and changes are over. That is why the more demoralized people are, the more inspiring and genuine an organization's leaders must be.
Genuine leaders recognize that difficult times represent a real opportunity to shape the culture of any organization. As such, they will embrace these times of change and adversity and see it as an opportunity to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy.

But perhaps the real motivation for being a genuine leader and inspiring the best in others can best be summed up in the words of a Cherokee chief who once said, “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.”

Genuine leaders will help chart that course and steer the company and its people, into a better and safer harbour.