Forward Ready Leadership Pathway

BUILD

A Forward Ready Leadership Pathway to BUILD your best TEAM

The GridSmartCity (GSC) Forward Ready Leadership Pathway BUILD (formerly Future Ready Leadership Leadership Level 1) program has been designed for GSC local distribution companies (LDCs) and consists of five CORE leadership training courses.

This Learning Pathway is designed for those looking to BUILD their best TEAM.

  • Graduates of the former GSC-FRL Leadership Level 1. 
  • Middle managers with 8+ years of management experience.
  • New Directors.

To continue to enhance participants’ learning between each course, participants will be required to complete an ‘Apply the Learning’ assignment to reinforce the learnings from the previous session and to prepare them for the upcoming session. 

Below you'll find an overview of each day of learning and the learning outcomes resulting from successful participation in the day's activities.

GSC BUILD Leadership Pathway
Who's it For?
This Learning Pathway is designed for those looking to BUILD their best TEAM
Graduates of the FRL Leadership Level 1 program (now Forward Ready Leadership Pathway BUILD)
Middle managers with 8+ years of management experience
New Directors
Day 1
Leading with Impactful Conversations

Impactful conversations aren’t only about fixing problems. Leading with Impactful Conversations explores how the right conversation, at the right time, builds trust, reinforces expectations, strengthens relationships and creates room for growth before issues escalate. It gives you practical ways to handle feedback, recognition, resistance and difficult moments with more confidence. ⁣

  • The differences between drop-in, developmental and difficult conversations, and how to choose the right one for the situation.
  • How to give behaviour-based feedback that is clear, fair and specific.
  • How to start the conversations you tend to avoid or delay.
  • How Emotional Intelligence, assumptions and communication habits shape the outcome of a conversation.
  • How listening, curiosity and empathy help you respond with intention when a conversation gets hard.
  • How to work through resistance, defensiveness and emotional reactions.
  • How to build clear agreements and follow-through, and use conversations proactively to strengthen trust and team relationships.
Day 1
What You'll Gain
  • You’ll leave with a clearer sense of which conversation each situation calls for, practical ways to prepare for and lead it, and the confidence to address issues early instead of waiting for them to grow.
  • The goal isn’t a perfect script. It’s to use conversations intentionally, every day, so people know where they stand, feel safe to speak up, and follow through on what was agreed.
Day 2
Strategic Thinking & Innovation

Strategic thinking isn’t reserved for the boardroom. Strategic Thinking & Innovation explores how to look at challenges from multiple perspectives, weigh risks and opportunities, consider the people affected, and move ideas from concept to implementation. It gives you practical tools to lead your team from reactive problem-solving toward intentional, forward-looking decisions.

  • How to apply strategic thinking to workplace problems, priorities and decisions.
  • How internal readiness and external factors affect what you can implement.
  • How to use strategic planning tools to assess risks, opportunities and constraints.
  • How to identify stakeholders and plan how to engage them.
  • How to anticipate long-term impacts, barriers and implementation challenges.
  • How to use structured innovation techniques to generate and evaluate ideas.
  • How to prioritize solutions by impact, feasibility and alignment, and communicate your recommendations with clarity and confidence.
Day 2
What You'll Gain
  • You’ll leave with practical tools for strategic analysis and innovation, a clearer way to prioritize ideas and weigh risk, and the confidence to present recommendations and turn them into an implementation plan.
  • The goal isn’t to predict the future. It’s to make more intentional choices today, so your team spends less time reacting and more time moving toward what matters.
Day 3
Presentation Skills 101 for Leaders

Presenting is a leadership skill, whether it’s a formal presentation, a project update or a meeting you’re leading. Presentation Skills 101 for Leaders helps you organize your thoughts, structure your message for your audience, manage nerves and pressure, and use your voice, body language and pacing to build credibility. It gives you practical ways to speak clearly and confidently, including when you’re put on the spot.

  • How to structure presentations, updates and meetings with clarity and flow.
  • How to tailor your message and style to different audiences and situations.
  • How tone, pacing, body language and intentional communication build leadership presence.
  • How to manage nerves, pressure and emotional responses when speaking live.
  • How to organize your thoughts quickly when speaking spontaneously.
  • How to respond to questions, interruptions and feedback with confidence and curiosity.
  • How to facilitate meetings with clear direction, and use visual supports more intentionally.
Day 3
What You'll Gain
  • You’ll leave with practical frameworks for structuring what you say, strategies to manage nerves and think on your feet, and feedback on how you come across, so you can speak with more confidence in every setting, from team meetings to stakeholder updates.
  • The goal isn’t to become a polished keynote speaker. It’s to communicate clearly and credibly, so people listen, understand and act on what you say.
Day 4
Leading Through Conflict

Leading through conflict isn’t about avoiding tension or forcing agreement. Leading Through Conflict explores how to create the conditions for honest dialogue, shared understanding and productive resolution between the people on your team. It gives you practical ways to step in early, guide difficult discussions, and rebuild trust when things get tense. ⁣

  • How to facilitate conflict conversations between others with more confidence.
  • Structured approaches that guide a discussion toward resolution.
  • How to respond to emotional reactions, defensiveness and tension in the room.
  • How to identify the root causes and recurring patterns behind team conflict.
  • How to stay neutral, professional and present during mediation conversations.
  • How to adapt your approach to the people, the situation and the outcome you need.
  • How to build clear agreements and next steps, and strengthen team norms that help prevent the next conflict.
Day 4
What You'll Gain
  • You’ll leave with a structured approach to facilitating conflict, more confidence stepping into tense situations between others, and practical ways to move people from disagreement to agreed next steps.
  • The goal isn’t a team without conflict. It’s a team that can work through it, with a leader who helps people be heard, understand each other, and move forward together.
Day 5
Advanced Union Management Relations

Leading in a unionized environment takes more than knowing the collective agreement. Advanced Union Management Relations explores how to apply consistent judgement, communicate clearly and make sound, well-documented decisions when the answer isn’t obvious. The course offers practical ways to gather the facts, weigh mitigating and aggravating factors, manage precedent and consistency, and recognize when an issue needs HR involvement and when it’s yours to lead.

  • How to strengthen leadership accountability in unionized workplaces
  • How to distinguish employee relations issues from labour relations issues in practice
  • How to apply sound judgement when the collective agreement is silent or unclear
  • How to conduct fair, well-documented fact-finding conversations
  • How to assess mitigating and aggravating factors in disciplinary situations
  • How to determine when HR involvement is needed and when to act as a leader
  • How to manage precedent, consistency and documentation in complex situations
Day 5
What You'll Gain
  • You’ll leave with more confidence handling complex labour relations situations, a clearer approach to fact-finding and documentation, and a better sense of when to lead independently and when to bring in HR.
  • The goal isn’t to have a rule for every situation. It’s to make consistent, well-reasoned decisions you can stand behind, and to protect trust and credibility while you do.

I enjoyed the balance of interactions with the instructor and peers, as well as the material and instruction. Peer experience has enhanced the experience.

Steve Voulgaris Grid Operations & Modernization, GrandBridge Energy

I particularly liked the part where we all shared stories from our experiences on different topics we were assigned. Very interesting to see how the different people engage.

Carl Thall Operations Supervisor, Greater Sudbury Utilities

Bob is really knowledgeable and makes the learning enjoyable.

Shaun Wang Manager of Sys Planning & Cust Connections, Enova Power Corp

Your MCE Business Development Officer

Business Development Officer for Southwestern Ontario - Brantford to Windsor Sue Buckley

Sue Buckley is a Business Development Officer with MCE, responsible for the Southwestern Ontario – Brantford to Windsor area.

During Sue’s career she has received a reputation for her excellent organizational skills, customer service focus, efficiency, accuracy, and outstanding interpersonal skills.

Sue has over 25 years of experience as a results-driven professional in business management. As a well-rounded professional, Sue has experience in project management, training, sales, marketing, strategic leadership, and human resources management. Sue's proven success and direct experience as a qualified Canadian Human Resources Leader (CHRL) have allowed her to partner with businesses in providing human resources expertise. Email or call Sue at 226.387.1985.