We live and work in an age that demands ultra-smart leaders – those who confidently possess both the knowledge and the tools needed to deal with exponentially accelerating and unpredictable changes in today’s complex, often chaotic business environment. These are the leaders who know how to capitalize on emergent micro-trends, reconcile seemingly intractable contradictions, discern insight from infoglut and design a future of choice for their organizations as well as themselves. In short, these mindful leaders know where to focus their attention and thus how to seize immense unforeseen opportunities while others become the victims of risks misunderstood.

Smart leaders are "plugged in" to the idea spaces of our uncertain times. They are nimble and shrewd, creative but savvy – they actually "think up" new ideas rather than hoping they fortuitously arrive. They know what their "blind spots" are and this self-knowledge helps them avoid making poor decisions or otherwise doing really stupid things. They invest in nourishing their own brainpower and readily acknowledge, then let go of unproductive traits. For they have made a conscious choice to replace the power of habit with the power of focus.

The leaders of the 21st century will be those who can both see and understand the bold contrast between the success that comes from embracing change and innovative ways of thinking and the failure that invariably follows an over-reliance on logic and analytical tools and a preference for risk aversion. Smart leaders have reconciled the seeming paradox between supreme confidence and profound humility. They have confidence in their inner genius – they know who they are, they know where they are going and they have figured out how to get there. Yet they are also mindful of their mental traps and limitations. Their authenticity inspires others and their moral compass sets a direction that others can both trust and admire.

Leaders of the past relied on the lens of rational analysis to peer into the future only to discover, too late, that the urgent and vital task of understanding how their world – their business and their personal lives – would unfold requires a different kind of thinking discipline. Situations in which accepted rules and norms supply all the answers are now an endangered species. Imagination, the ability to free oneself from the grip of present reality, is the mind’s faculty for grasping emergent challenges before they come into being, recognizing patterns that are neither spatially contiguous nor logically related, and looking around corners to anticipate high-risk, high-impact events.

This timely and provocative new program is the creation of Dr. Jim Murray who has a proven track record of success in helping senior executives and over 600 organizations think differently in the pursuit of achieving their full but typically underappreciated potential. He has been researching and teaching creative problem-solving skills and innovation principles for almost 40 years. Prior ICAO students have called him "a man of brilliance" and his clients have referred to him as "a rare breed." His life’s quest is to liberate personal and organizational genius and to change lives (see the testimonials below).

Who Should Attend

The question every competent executive today must ask is whether his or her current thinking style is up to the dictates of an era in which ideas are the raw materials of prosperity. Whether you seek to run your business better, grow it through revenue-focused invention or transform it entirely, innovation is really about everything you do and how you strategically choose to do it. Even if you decide not to change, the world around you most certainly is and will continue doing so at an ever more breathtaking pace.

If you want to learn how to synthesize pertinent information, challenge conventional wisdom, reconcile paradoxes, focus on what really matters and create intelligent yet feasible solutions, this program was designed with YOU in mind. What you will discover will likely contradict everything you’ve probably ever been taught about how to solve problems and make the right decisions.

The ability to think better is the most significant competitive advantage you will ever possess. Your ultimate success lies not in what you know but rather in how you think, and therefore in what you DO with what you know in the time you have remaining. Only when you can truly think for yourself can you discover your genius and ascend to places and new realities you never thought possible.

Dates, Facilities, and Registration Information

Date:
December10 – 13, 2012
The program begins on Monday, December 10 at 5:30PM and ends on Thursday, December 13, at 3:00PM

Location:
White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Program Fees:
The program fees include the cost of the program, course materials, all meals and individual room accommodation at the White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa (a limited number of spots without accommodations are available).

White Oaks is a premium, four diamond, five-star resort and has achieved a reputation for outstanding comfort, service and atmosphere to ensure a memorable learning and retreat experience for all executives who attend.

	All-inclusive (meals and accommodations) - Recommended	Day package (all meals included, accommodations not included)**
ICAO Members and CAs	$3,250	$2,750
Non-Members	$3,750	$3,250

**A limited number of program spots are available to those who do not wish to have accommodations. As there may be evening activities (including networking opportunities and group work), to maximize your program experience, this option is recommended only for those who reside in the near vicinity. This option is subject to availability.

Registration:
To register, please complete and return this form.

For more information, please contact Lawrence Wong, CA, at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario at: 1-800-387-0735 ext. 343 or at lwong@icao.on.ca.

What Others Say

The best promotion we can think of are testimonials from your colleagues, members of the ICAO, who have previously attended Dr. Murray’s courses. Leaving aside the fact that he has been teaching members of the accounting profession since 1982 through Institutes of Chartered Accountants in several provinces, has been nationally honoured by the Canadian Association of University Continuing Education for his career in adult education, and formally recognized by the University of Alberta for "excellence in the design and delivery of lifelong learning," here is what the CAs who have attended Smart Leaders in the past have to say:

"Great use of my time to reflect on where I am in my evolution as a leader and what I need to focus on next."
"I now have different methods to unblock my self-imposed barriers – barriers that have prevented me from creating a new vision for my career."
"Heightened my awareness with respect to behavioural qualities that leaders use and demonstrate."
"The impact of your techniques of creativity on my firm will be endless – I just need to keep it going."
"I learned that mistakes and failure can be a good thing ... an incredible eye-opener."
"As a result of some difficult business/personal events, I had lost my drive but I have it back now."
"Provided a lot of insight into the value of exercising a vital organ often overlooked – my brain."
"I obtained a lot of tools for ways to instill a culture of innovation within the organizations I lead."
"Vast amount of information ... I liked the fast pace, the humour and the content."
"The intellectual stimulation was very demanding."
"I very much enjoyed the group – there were few (if any) free-riders. The exercises and group work allowed me to operationalize the concepts."
"Jim, this course was a revelation for me. Thanks for the outstanding experience."

Alumni

Our alumni include participants from: Trudell Medical Marketing Limited, Grant Thornton LLP, Adidas Group, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Canadian Executive Services Organization, Princeton Holdings Limited, Export Development Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Science North, Swarovski Canada Limited, City of London, Dare Food Limited.

The Curriculum

The program begins Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. sharp and concludes on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Evening activities include team assignments and readings as well as opportunities for networking and attitude adjustment. Daily sessions run from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.The format is practical, reflective of the latest research, and highly interactive. Participants are encouraged to discuss their personal and professional challenges with each other in confidence. Attendees are expected to complete some tasks (contained in a Pre-Course Workbook) prior to arrival. Additional subjects are covered in supplemental notes and program resource materials. The following is a detailed outline of the program topics:

What the Future Portends

The rate of change: the law of accelerating returns. Just keeping up. Critical forces shaping the future. The flat world. Disruptive technologies. Old and new business models. Biggest bang for the buck? The changing nature of work. Emerging microtrends. Five minds for the future. The Smart Leader thesis. Levels of leadership. Delusional thinking. Survival of the smartest.

Thinking Styles: As We Think So Shall We Be

Processing the inputs. Eastern vs. Western thinking styles. Types of thinking and problem solving. Why we rarely think. Truths about analytical thinkers. Head vs. gut thinking. Seeing vs. perception: Is seeing believing? Dis-eases of the mind: Blind spots and mental traps (why smart people do dumb things). Cognitive bias. Faulty memory. Dissonance and self-justification. Motivated reasoning. Antidotes for overcoming confirmation bias. The power and addiction of knowing. Social conditioning and creativity lost. Attributes of transformational thinkers. Defining "the box." Achieving mindfulness and focus. Becoming a synthesizer.

Analysis, Creativity, Intelligence, Imagination and Intuition

Creativity vs. analytical thinking. When analysis matters. The fallacy of being certain. Analogical thinking. Clarifying terms and relationships. The Ying and Yang of innovation. Multiple intelligences. Self-perception: How smart do you think you (really) are? Developing intuitive aptitude and insight. Creative dreaming.

Brain Neurology and Physiology: Understanding the Hardware

Models of brain function. Levels of consciousness. New thinking about how we think. The plastic brain. Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. It actually can be done.

Innovation at Work: Practical Realities and Critical Necessities

Uncomfortable truths. Acknowledging the basics. Auditing organizational DNA. Types of innovation. Rooting out dogma. Managing the paradoxes. Efficiency vs. creativity. What an innovation strategy must address. Fostering a culture of innovation. Essential principles, rules and tactics.

Barriers and Constraints to Creativity and Innovation

Organizational conditioning: We are what we repeatedly do. Small-cage habits. Risking and the paralysis of fear. Assessing risk and enhancing one’s risk intelligence. Dealing with the notion that "it can’t be done!" The relentless pursuit of ever more information in search of answers. The effect of formal schooling. The value of research. Success and complacency. Judgement. Problem definition and the antidote to complexity.

Decision-making by Consensus: The Power and Perils of Groupthink

Groupthink: Symptoms, decisions and consequences. Overcoming groupthink: The rules. Communication styles and impacts. The power of groups: Applications and caveats.

A Framework and Process for Innovation

List making. Divergent and convergent thinking. Steps in the process. Useful tools.

Attention Management: Shifting Frames of Mind

Linear vs. lateral thinking. Traditional frames. Attention-directing techniques and tools.

Group Thinking Tools, Techniques and Methods

Brainstorming. Synectics and innovation labs. Free association and forced relationships. Nominal grouping technique. Six thinking hats. Collaboration and idea sharing groups.

Individual Thinking Tools, Techniques and Methods

Check lists. CoRT thinking tools. Attribute listing. Reverse PoV. Concept challenge. Bio-heuristics. TRIZ. Brain mapping and strategic mind maps. Morphology. Future forecasting. Overcoming autopilot.

Unleashing Genius: Personal Liberation and Transformation

Evaluating and selling your ideas. The healthy brain. Mental fitness: The active (thinking) brain. Nurturing genius. Investment planning for professional development. Personal transformation. What defines smart leaders and what will distinguish you going forward. Finding the authentic self. Defining your moral compass as a leader. Continuing the dialogue.

For more information or to register, please contact Lawrence Wong, CA, at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario at: 1-800-387-0735 ext. 343 or at lwong@icao.on.ca.