Bulletproof strategies required everywhere
Published Saturday October 17th, 2009
Leadership: Former general translating military experiences into solid management principles at TD bank
A couple of days after former chief of defence Staff Rick Hillier retired on July 2, 2008, he got a phone call.
On the line was former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna. The two powerhouses had become good friends in Washington, D.C. when McKenna served as ambassador to the United States and Hillier worked with Canada's counterparts in the Pentagon.
Although they had a lunch scheduled a few weeks later, the former premier and deputy chairman of TD Bank Financial Group knew opportunity had knocked.
In September 2008, after a distinguished and storied career as Canada's top military officer, Hillier became a senior advisor for TD Bank.
"The first thing Frank told me was not to make any decisions quickly," retired General Rick Hillier said Thursday during a Fredericton Chamber of Commerce event. "He told me to let the dust settle so I could assess calmly and coolly what to do next."
"The second thing he said was, 'TD would love to have you come work for us.' "
McKenna knew Hillier was the best man for the job.
In his ambassadorial role for TD, Hillier draws upon his public credibility - and celebrity icon status - to reach out to corporate and retail customers and raise the banks profile.
During his speaking engagements, the retired general translates his military experiences into good management principles that are accessible to the business community.
By sharing gripping anecdotes from the field, Hillier illustrates the similarities between the military and business.
"It's all about people," Hillier said in an interview. "It doesn't matter if they are wearing a uniform or wearing a suit or wearing a blue collar - people need good leadership."
Hillier said military leaders and business managers require a similar skill set.
"People look to leaders to be focused and inspired," he said. "In good times they took to leaders to help them achieve more and in tough times they look to leaders for security."
The analogy between warfare and the recent economic crisis is one Hillier uses to illustrate the importance of good leadership.
Although soldiers in Kandahar face a dramatically different reality than workers in a downtown office tower, both the military and civilians require leaders with a clear vision of the future and bulletproof strategy get there.
"If you keep changing your vision, especially during times of uncertainty, you'll have disorder in your organization and chaos in no time," he said. "When you're a leader you need to maintain a strong focus on your goals."
While a chunk of the former General's time is tied up in speaking engagements and seminars for TD Bank's leadership development and training activities, Hillier has found time to write a book.
After inking a deal with HarperCollinsCanada last year, Hillier had an unofficial book launch Thursday night at the Kingswood Lodge during the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce event.
Hillier signed copies of his new book, A Soldiers First, which is officially released Tuesday. Described by the publisher as a hard-hitting, honest account of "Canada's most popular, and most controversial, military leader since the Second World War," it offers a first-person account of the Newfoundland-native's life.
After joining the military as a young man, Hillier quickly climbed the ranks playing an important role domestically and on the international stage.
Although he has lived across the country and around the world, from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Afghanistan, he said coming to New Brunswick is like coming home.
"I've spent a good deal of time at CFB Gagetown," he said. "New Brunswick will always feel like home."
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