By: Barbara Bowes
Date: June 5. 2010
The Winnipeg Free Press

It's strange how weather affects our mood. A sunny day seems to bring smiles, happiness and a sense of freedom, while a rainy day is known to bring out glum faces, frowns and a sense of isolation as people feel trapped and unable to go outdoors.

For instance, while an individual can be celebrating because of a promotion to a senior ranking job, he or she may also now be isolated from former colleagues, no longer able to share information or confidences. At the same time, this new leader will not quite fit into their group of management colleagues because they have to earn their stripes, so to speak.

On the other hand, this successful manager might also find there are no other management colleagues in their workplace with whom to develop a relationship. More than likely, as well, the new manager will be spending a great deal of time learning the new job and so will become even more isolated without realizing it.

Successful entrepreneurs, especially sole proprietors, are prone to experiencing isolation. While they have started and grown their businesses to impressive levels of success and have professional staff with whom they can explore strategies and operational issues, in reality they still find themselves needing to make solitary decisions. After all, there are just some things you can't discuss with your staff.

And what about learning and professional development? Senior managers and executives may find that seminars and/or conferences no longer satisfy their thirst for knowledge. In many cases, the seminar topics are too elementary and don't provide enough depth of information. Or, programs may simply be too academic without much attention being paid to practical application. As a result, many business owners and executive leaders stop attending and instead reach out to the latest author, devouring book after book and learning on their own.

Now, I very much applaud learning on your own but it also tends to reinforce the isolation. And if you aren't careful, one day you'll wake up and realize there's no one to turn to for good, down-to-earth practical advice on how to run your business. In fact, you will wake up to find you've morphed into an isolated island. While your island may still receive customers, you will not have many friends to turn to, especially those who understand the trials and tribulations of running a business.

The issue of the isolation of senior business leaders coupled with the need to learn has been well recognized in business literature. And as an entrepreneur, I can tell you that these feelings are indeed real. Some organizations such as the local chambers of commerce, universities, industry and professional associations have tried to fill this gap through networking groups, lunch and learn sessions, mentoring and/or other special events.

Still others have formed groups that meet monthly in a more formal and committed way. TEC Canada, for instance, is a 23-year-old independent business that facilitates monthly meetings of senior executives with the specific goal of learning from each other to increase their personal effectiveness as well as that of their organization.

Catherine Osler, the newly appointed president of TEC Canada, was a member for over 12 years. During those years, Osler started and operated a highly successful corporate communications business in Alberta. While the business was doing well, she knew her practical business management skills were weak and at some point would affect the continued growth and success of her company. Recognizing that no business is an island, Osler went searching for help. She found it with TEC Canada and has since become deeply committed to the organization. Her involvement now spans over 20 years.

When asked what benefits TEC Canada brought to her, Osler spoke most highly about the TEC peer learning module. It was this learning module that introduced her to other successful business professionals who, in sharing their experience, gave her the courage to realize the dream of opening a Vancouver office. It was through this group that she learned, received confidential advice and built her leadership and business management skills. And, after experiencing the power of the peer learning model, Osler herself became a group chairwoman and for six years acted as a facilitator for other members.

Now, as the newly appointed president of TEC Canada, Osler wants to move the organization out from behind the shadows of being the best kept secret in business to being "top of mind" for business leaders. She wants to take the power and wisdom of the peer learning model and use it to help accelerate the growth and influence of Canadian business as a whole.

There are many other benefits of joining such a group, such as the opportunity to:

- Meet peer business leaders who can challenge your ideas and satisfy your thirst for knowledge and stimulation.

- Learn practical applications and ideas from others who have experienced the school of "hard knocks" and which you can apply immediately, thus avoiding common pitfalls and unnecessary mistakes.

- Share with others and receive advice in a confidential and safe environment.

- Gain professional support and personal energy from listening to the stories and challenges experienced by your peers, thus reducing the risk of personal burnout.

- Develop a close network where you can collaborate with colleague, call for advice and/or develop more formal business relationships.

- Learn about the latest trends and best practices in a variety of industries.

- Access a seasoned mentor/facilitator who can not only provide personal guidance but also increase the level of accountability for achieving your vision.

The success of modern leaders and their enterprises will depend on best corporate practices and new leadership paradigms. This means that business and/or senior leaders must recognize that if they want to excel, they can no longer act as though they were an island. They must reach out to others, not only to network and become known but to experience the wisdom that other leaders can bring to the table.

Source: Interview with Catherine Osler, president, TEC Canada.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCHRP, CMC is president of Legacy Bowes Group, Manitoba's leading Talent Management Solutions firm. She is also host of the weekly Bowes Knows radio show and is the author of another new book called Resume Rescue. Barbara can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .