TAIT: Leadership 101

It's not often Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) CEO Bob Nicholson is seen in an orange and white T-shirt and a pair of jeans. But there he was Thursday morning, looking like a veteran carpenter rather than the seasoned hockey executive he is.

Nicholson took to the stage this morning to give the daily devotional as an encouraging cursor to Day 4 of the Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity.
He embraced the day alongside other OEG staff members who were headed toward: working on two of the 75 houses being built for families in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan. But, as good leaders exhibit, and more importantly follow through with, vision.
"Let's find ways we can keep helping this project after Friday," Nicholson said to an attentive and eager audience. "Let's keep the community involved."
Leadership 101 to a T.
And a good leader recognizes and celebrates other exceptional leaders.
A good leader knows another good leader. In his first sentence to the crowd north of 900, Nicholson saluted Alfred Nikolai, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, whose vision, in no small part, led to this being the biggest build in Canada for Habitat for Humanity, and, remarkably, the second largest project worldwide.
Such huge undertakings, Nicholson nobly pointed, do not have a flicker of hope starting without the selfless acts of volunteers.
"Before I came to Oilers Entertainment Group I was the CEO of Hockey Canada," Nicholson said, adding he moved from Calgary to Edmonton three years ago.

"When I look out in the crowd this morning I see volunteers, the same type of people I saw at Hockey Canada. And it's people like you who get things done."
Nicholson was the second President and CEO from a professional Edmonton sports team to share the morning devotional this week. On Tuesday, Edmonton Eskimos Football Club President and CEO Len Rhodes addressed the volunteers.
Proven leadership is needed on the football field and on the hockey rink for a team to succeed. Nicholson took pride in introducing Oilers Alumni Al Hamilton, who was the first captain of the Oilers when they skated into the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. He was also the first Oilers player to have his jersey raised to the rafters of Rexall Place.
Hamilton sat with the OEG group, and like the rest of the gang, was ready to do whatever it took.
Then, it was off to walk to the worksite, a few blocks south of the main tent where the morning meal took place.
Three hours later, Nicholson and the rest of OEG's crew returned for a bowl of chili, a scoop of potato salad and one of those-oh-so-yummy cookies.
"This is absolutely the right thing to do for Habitat for Humanity and for our staff," Nicholson said from his position near the head of the table.
So, how did the morning go?
"We're working on building stairs at our home," he said.
Always looking up and ahead - another trait of a great leader.