OT
Farah Nasser
Global Speaker | Digital Storyteller | Journalis
5 Leadership Lessons from Canada's favourite 92-year-old
I just had the privilege of hearing Canada's former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien speak. He just got back from a trip to Ukraine where he flew into Warsaw, took a 3 hour bus and 10 hour train to get to Kyiv....at 92!
He's still sharp, funny, and full of wisdom.
Here's what stuck out to me most:
1. Keep Historical Perspective: Reflecting on 70 years in politics, Chrétien says "There's never been a good time". He reminded the crowd that we often forgot about these terrible periods we lived through when we are on the other side of them. When you look at the whole picture it shows massive progress. Despite today's challenges, he says remains deeply optimistic.
2. Listen More, Lecture Less: "Even if you disagree with people, you have to know why." He says don't lecture, just listen and give your view. In an age of hot takes and talking past each other, this felt revolutionary. Understanding why you disagree matters more than winning the argument.
3. Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously: Chrétien says being relaxed and making jokes is really important. "Some leaders take themselves too seriously. It's good to bring them back to the ground." Chrétien's humour wasn't just entertainment, it was a leadership tool.
4. Authenticity Wins: "Apparently I'm the same guy at home and in public." This is why he's so likeable. No performance. No persona. Just consistency. Authenticity builds trust and that trust outlasts individual disagreements.
5. Show Compassion, Not Wealth: "Wealth is a disease. The more you have, the more you want. I would have never invited all the richest men in Canada for my swearing ceremony. I would have been ashamed." He didn't mince words about leaders who parade billionaires while people are poor, starving, and jobless. "You don't build a country like that. You don't show wealth, you show compassion." According to him these are the values that make us uniquely Canadian. |
