Bio:
From Avonlea, Saskatchewan, Prohar graduated from Notre Dame College as valedictorian and male athlete of the year before joining McGill in 1994. While at McGill, Prohar earned a degree in economics and political science, played one season at defensive back in football (1994) and four years of hockey (1994-1998). With the hockey team, he wore No. 4 and suited up for 132 career contests, playing both up front and on the blueline, winning the Dick Pound award for proficiency & leadership in his last year. After graduating, he enlisted in the Canadian military, climbing the ranks to Commanding Officer and Chief of Staff for the 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry before retiring after 21 years of service. In his time with the Canadian Forces, Prohar deployed to Afghanistan four times. Notably, he earned a Medal of Military Valour while attached to U.S. Special Forces, as well as a Meritorious Service Medal for work with the Afghanistan National Army. He currently resides in the Edmonton area with his wife Jody and two children, Owen and Emily, and works for the City of Leduc as the City Manager.
Show Notes:
Favorite time at McGill:
Europe trips
Favorite book:
For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway
Also recommends anything by Kurt Vonnegut
Favorite quote:
Luctor et Emergo” - Struggle and Emerge
Advice for first year at McGill:
Don’t eat the pasta at Peel Pub
Don’t take yourself so seriously. University is about personal growth, the relationships you make, learning to communicate, making friends and learning to overcome adversity when things don’t go your way.
Leadership:
The leader should consider his/her role in “Shared hardship” or “shared experiences”. The higher you get in an organization, the easier it is to not share in the hardships of the people actually doing the job. Make sure that as you rise in the ranks you stay in touch with the people that are doing the work. Understand not just the job they do, but who they are.
Teaching leadership:
“You gotta walk the walk”. You have to be out there doing it and you have to show that you are willing to what you are asking other people to do.
Transferable lessons learned from sport:
“Sometimes the easy answer, isn’t the right answer”. It might not make a difference to take shortcuts in the short run, but in the long run it might make the difference between getting the puck out or your equipment malfunctioning in battle.
You need resiliency, which means doing the right things, regardless of what is happening all around you.
In high pressure situations:
Trust your training. Maintain a clear mind. Be resilient. Trust the people around you.
Drill. Practice. Execute.
Mentorship:
It’s important to take examples of bad mentors and note the things that you don’t want to do in your life. You can learn just as much from poor leaders as the good ones.
Habits:
Sleep hygiene and exercise. Getting a good night rest makes you a better person for the rest of the day.
Mastery:
The ability to impart knowledge upon someone else. The ability to teach someone a skill that you know or have.
