Our Book

Rise Up: Leadership Habits for Turbulent Times
In this engaging and thought-provoking guide, Ali Grovue, Vice President of Ignite, and Mike Watson, Ignite’s President, explore Six Essential Habits all leaders must adopt to foster organizational resilience: Trust, Inquisitiveness, Humility, Optimism, Courage, and Discipline. By embracing these traits, leaders cultivate a high-performing culture where employees are empowered to be their best selves and work collaboratively toward a shared goal.
Drawing on real-world examples from Ali and Mike’s experience as strategic leadership advisors in business and sport, and supported by insights from academic and psychological research, Rise Up offers an insightful, practical pathway for leaders to build organizations that can adapt and thrive in today’s times.
RISE UP
Six Habits of Resilient Leaders
The following six habits are essential for leaders who are committed to continuous growth, enhanced effectiveness, and making a positive impact within their organization. Cultivating these traits helps build trust, foster collaboration, and navigate complex challenges with resilience and purpose.
Trust
If your team does not trust you, you cannot succeed. Build relationships based on mutual trust.
Inquisitiveness
Every perspective has value. Be present, ask questions, and listen deliberately.
Humility
Galvanize the collaboration of those around you to achieve great results. Humility is not modesty but the understanding that one person alone cannot do the job.
Optimism
Believe that hard work will lead to positive outcomes.
Courage
Have the courage to push into discomfort zones necessary for individual, team, and organizational growth. Defining moments will arise when your values conflict with those of others. It takes courage to follow your convictions.
Discipline
Establish what needs to be done, decree consequences, and take action in a disciplined manner. Great leaders master personal discipline in key aspects of their lives.

In the Press
“How doughnuts and discipline can lead you to managerial success”
Globe and Mail
“The Five Cs Of Trust”
Chief Executive
“Corporate leaders need to admit to imperfection, be more caring and adopt new habits to survive turbulent times, say the authors of Rise Up.”
Vancouver Sun
“Organizations would be wise to require everyone heading off for leadership training & development to first read Ali Grovue and Mike Watson’s book Rise Up and do some serious self-reflection. It’ll be time well spent.”
Hamilton Spectator
“The authors of Rise Up on what it takes to be a modern leader.”
Business in Vancouver
“Stuck between a boss and lack of leadership”
The Winnipeg Free Press

Shauneen Bruder
Corporate Director, CN Railway; Former Executive VP, RBC
Hon. Perrin Beatty
CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Jordan Zweig
Senior VP And Chief Human Resources Officer, Championx
Tamara Vrooman
CEO of Vancouver International Airport Authority and Chair of Canada Infrastructure Bank

Resilient Leadership Assessment
Become a leader who positively influences others and creates a thriving team environment. Take control of your development with a detailed, resilient leadership analysis, supported by actionable insights and recommendations.