Business leaders like to think they have a view into the future and aspire to hire visionary recruits to bolster their team and reach the puck before their opponents.
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In November, the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted its seventh female player, Haley Wickenheiser, at a ceremony in Toronto. By all accounts, Haley is the greatest female hockey player. Now, at 40 years old, she remains humble and gracious to all who played on her team and her opponents. Growing up in Saskatchewan playing on outdoor ponds, her idols included Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Her teammates were mostly boys, which may have helped develop her explosive skating stride, puck strength and tenacity. Gender aside, she simply defined greatness on and off the ice.
Gretzky once coined the phrase, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” To the chagrin of most every Canadian sportswriter, this phrase has become a business cliché. However, in the case of Haley Wickenheiser, known as Wick, this phrase holds the essence of great athletes and business leaders. It’s her vision setting her apart.
Business leaders like to think they have a view into the future and aspire to hire visionary recruits to bolster their team and reach the puck before their opponents. In our economic and political environment, it’s arguable this view is optimistic, if not hubris. In her acceptance speech, Wick singled out one former influential coach and gratefully praised his class, humor and respect. These are traits we look for in leadership candidates, and while the top professionals may not know where the puck will be, if they possess class, humor and respect, they’ll find it.
Wick acknowledged how difficult it was for her as a female athlete in a male-dominated sport. This is an important lesson in business leadership. She gave a shout out to her female Olympic teammates, who won a combined four gold medals together, but who had an even tougher time working through biases. Her parents are from the Czech Republic, and her father was a hockey player in that country. Her competitive nature is reflected in her pride playing for Canada. In business, back story and character can count even more than experience listed on a resume.
Diversity in the workplace should be a key objective for all businesses, and Wick’s accomplishments pay tribute to how extra effort can pay off. Not surprisingly, she hasn’t stopped there. She is now pursuing her medical degree. We can all appreciate talent, hard work and determination, but in Wick’s case, I can honestly say she shakes my own self-esteem. To finally top her accomplishments, Wick has created The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, known as Wickfest, which is celebrated its 10th anniversary this November. She has helped the dreams of thousands of female hockey players come true. Vision in true leaders includes humility, and paying it forward.
No one looks away from a good story, and Wick’s is a compelling one. Not only does her powerful stride, vision and determination make her an obvious choice for the Hockey Hall of Fame, it makes her indispensable to the communities and athletes her vision touches. “The game is truly for everyone,” she said during her acceptance speech. These character traits and vision stand out when searching for great leaders, regardless of gender or industry.
Ian MacNeil is a principal with Worcester firm Standish Executive Search.
