LEADERSHIP
There is no magic formula,
yet there are many good ideas
about how to succeed
By Mark Buckshon, publisher, Canadian Design and Construction Report
Leadership. It’s a simple word, yet if you set out to investigate its
meaning, you’ll discover many nuances, variations and
concepts. For example, what makes a great leader, and how do you
define leadership success?
We can find some answers to these challenges – and
keys to leadership achievement – by asking a few more
questions. The first and most important thought is: “Can you
describe the ‘why’ (or purpose or higher goal) that drives
leadership?” Then you can take the inquiry in more personal
directions: Could we reach out to leaders we know, and
invite them to share their insights and inspirations?
While leadership isn’t necessarily defined by job title (it
is quite possible to be an effective leader without a big
corner office or celebrity status), context undoubtedly is
important. In researching this story, originally for the Society for
Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Marketer
magazine, I connected with several past SMPS presidents,
along with others I knew with leadership experience.

SMPS, with a chapter in Toronto and more than 60 in
different U.S. cities, represents architectural, engineering
and construction marketers and business development
leaders. For more information, see www.smps.org or, in
Ontario, www.smpsontario.com.

The informal survey doesn’t provide a single magic bullet
leadership answer. Rather, we can discern some themes
and concepts that will provide guideposts for your own
journey. If you apply even some of the thoughts here (and
in the related contributions in this feature) you’ll
undoubtedly be on track to become a successful and
effective leader.

The why behind the leader: The team that fits
Simon Sinek in Start with Why: How great leaders inspire
everyone to take action suggests that leaders are driven by
– and able to connect others to the cause – goals and
aspirations beyond the obvious material motivations.

He cites how English adventurer Ernest Shackleton set
out to explore the Antarctic in 1914. The project ended up
a failure in one sense – the ship never made it to the
The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Summer 2017 – 5