Each year about this time, the whole nation of New Zealand invests in leadership. In honor of the late Sir Peter Blake the nation reflects, promotes and gathers together conversations, events, launches, speakers and activities – all designed to focus the minds of youth and the not-so-young on being great leaders.
Last Friday, hundreds of schools, businesses, organizations and community groups around New Zealand honored Sir Peter’s life and legacy on Red Socks Day, and used the day as an opportunity to celebrate their leaders, and what it means to be a member of their communities.
Each year The Sir Peter Blake Trust encourages all those who take part to celebrate in ways that reflect their own vision, values and special characteristics – and to have a great time doing it! Many people dream, but Sir Peter Blake set his mind to a goal and went for it, believing that “change comes through realising the vision and turning it into reality.” Leadership Week is an annual event for all ages that highlights the value that great leadership provides for New Zealand.
There are lessons here for other countries here, including Australia, of the benefit in investing in leadership as a whole nation.
Sir Peter’s leadership also inspired me to write Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? This paper positions the nature and function of team development in today’s modern organization.
