We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcus Canady a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marcus, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Reminding yourself that you earned your place in the room and make sure I am a voice for those coming behind me. The unfortunate reality of being a minority officer in the military, especially a minority aviation officer, I have been the only person in the room a number of times. In order to be successful, you must continue to do what got you into that position in the first place…hard work. You have to block out the noise from those questioning how or why you got into the room, and focus on your opportunity to make a difference. You have to understand that being that one minority is important because your presence inserts a different perspective that would otherwise be void. Finally, you must be okay with being that different voice in the room. If you are the one minority in the room and try to act like everyone else, then the room doesn’t benefit from the diversity you bring. Losing that benefit negatively impacts the performance of the team, and negatively impacts those that are following you hoping to one day join you in that same room.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Marcus Canady and I am the CEO of the Canady Leadership Group. I began this company with the purpose of improving the leadership abilities of people that truly desire to inspire and motivate people to be the very best version of themselves. Last summer I published the first and only book on Intrusive Leadership and I truly believe it is the most critical leadership style for the future. The book entitled, Intrusive Leadership: How to Become THAT Leader, dissects and discusses a leadership style that is solely focused on connecting with the people that you lead. The term “intrusive leadership” has been around for some time but I have finally provided a definition for it. Since publishing that book, I have traveled all over the country providing leadership presentations to diverse audiences. It is clear that this is a leadership style that people want and unfortunately too often…not getting. I aim to change that and improve workplaces all over and for everyone.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Courage, persistence, and faith.
It does take a lot of courage to be vulnerable and tell your story, and allow people to critic your every move. Every time someone reads the book or hears my presentation, I am opening myself up to be judged and questioned. That takes courage.
Starting a business, writing a book, and delivering presentations takes time and effort. There is a lot of sacrifice that comes along with the journey. There are a number of rejections and setbacks along the way. You must persists and see it through until the end if you want to succeed. I have a long way to go but I will remain persistent.
The most important thing is faith. I constantly pray that I am following the plan that God has ordained for me. That I walk through the doors that he has opened for me. I seek guidance for the right words and wisdom for decisions that have to be made. You must have faith that what you are doing is right and stand firm knowing your truth.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The easy answer is that they loved me. However, they showed their love through their sacrifice to make sure that my sister and I had everything we needed to be successful and provided for. They worked hard, made smart financial decisions, and spent valuable time with us to mold us into the woman and man that we have become. Their sacrifice to make sure we had things when they did not, had the biggest impact on me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.canadyleadershipgroup.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canady-leadership-group/