A Microsoft Canada survey conducted by Harris/Decima recently revealed that a large majority of Canadians believe business leaders need to take more intelligent risks, and Microsoft Canada President Eric Gales has made it his mission to engage Canada’s future and current business leaders and address this important trend.

The January 2011 survey polled senior and junior/mid-level Canadian and U.S. office workers to better understand their views about technology and innovation in the workplace. The results were clear: 84 per cent of Canadians believe business leaders need to take more risks to create innovation, while only 53 per cent of Canadians feel the company they work for is already driving innovation.

This is a topic Mr. Gales is very passionate about.

“Canadian business leaders must embrace an appetite for intelligent risk instead of shying away from it to stay within the comfort of status quo,” he says. “Now is the time to create organizational cultures where risk is not a dirty four-letter word, but is encouraged as a valuable ingredient in fueling learning, creativity and inspiring innovation.”

Starting with an event at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, about two dozen students joined Eric Gales and DeGroote’s Dr. Benson Honig to discuss risk-taking in business. 

The McMaster MBA students certainly had something to say about the state of Canada’s innovation and how risk plays a role. Check it out:

On March 31^st, Microsoft Canada then hosted a media event where Mr. Gales, Peter Aceto, President and CEO of ING Direct Canada, and Dr. Honig, participated in a panel on the very same topic.

The lively exchange, which received coverage in the Financial Post, IT World Canada and IT Business, inspired all of us to take intelligent risks in both our personal and professional lives, but also encouraged Canada’s business leaders to lead the path by creating organizational cultures that encourage teams to take a chance on a great idea.

Having been a part of the High Road team for almost nine years (the company is eleven years old), it’s gratifying to see High Road be named to top 25 SMB places to work. From day one, we wanted to be a workplace based on great people – the most passionate, innovative and results-oriented professionals in the business. And despite our growth (we had a dozen employees when I joined in 1999 – today we are 85 strong), our entrepreneurial spirit has never wavered. Everyone in the company, regardless of seniority or title, can make a difference. The Globe and Mail article highlights five key attributes that all 25 companies listed share: employee input; career opportunities; proactive employee communications; talent development; and a responsive leadership team. Such an environment creates a strong culture of empowerment, allowing employees to take chances, accomplish great things and achieve real personal satisfaction in their work. This is no easy feat and employers that make this level of commitment to their employees should certainly be recognized for their efforts. Now, bring out the cake.