Is leadership the art of delivering in the most challenging of times?

This post/article is the final in 4 interconnected posts and short articles, on design through all the main scales. From micro to macro. By macro, I mean global.? And by micro, I mean local. Very, local. i.e. ?People, in interconnected places, and in interconnected geographically disperse, communities.

There’s a wee story in this, that I think is worth sharing. Particularly for those, like most of us, that find creativity and leading, into an often, uncomfortable future unsettling.? For the truth is, the future is always unknown and can be a little bit scary.? Remember covid? And that is, for ALL of us – even those with decades of experience to call on.

The project illustrated below is an example of rural or sub regional scale work, in a wider whole system. Its focus was on sustainable transport and active travel. Budgets were VERY tight (no change there then…).? And the timeframe INCREDIBLY tight.? Additionally, the technical base-line, the multi-faceted engagement AND reporting programme was to be run over 6 months, in a part of Scotland where very real issues of Winter snow were fresh in folks lived experience.? The previous winter had seen the M74 Motorway closed in perilous conditions, and travelers being rescued by local folks in tractors.

I had previously created a small, experimental, company called Urbantu ltd. based on pulling together collaborative teams who could be tailored to clients’ needs and budgets.? The principle (and name) came from Ubuntu – the South African golden thread that hold folks together in some of the the poorest places on the planet - the Shanti communities.

Our team included (at Urbantu’s risk) the world-renowned engineers and transport planners #ARUP. It also included two other micro consultancies working under the Urbantu ltd. flag (and our PII and PL insurances). Our methodology included local volunteers and the Rural Development Trust (our Client) who also brought practical support and local knowledge to the project.

To be clear, this article ISN’T about the details of how we, as a #team, brought that project in on time, and on budget.? Or indeed, the follow up commission to revisit each of the 9, dispersed communities and give further briefings on what the Sustainable Travel Action Plans (Frameworks) had delivered (which importantly, were locally responsive, mapped series of detail design projects which would see the local needs, more likely than not, being better met – sustainably and equitably – for all).

This post is about a simple conversation, with the client, on a bridge over the River Clyde in Abington, South Lanarkshire…

We were nearing the end of the commission at this point.? Having developed a response to the brief, agreed who is doing what, addressing risks (and updating those iteratively, through the process). We had measured the clients budget expectations and calculated what we could reasonably do in very, very tight budget and time constraints. So I took the opportunity to ask the client if, what we had delivered in draft, had met with their brief and met with the client’s (including local folks) expectations.? The answer was…

NO.

(Yikes…)

But he immediately followed up with this, I paraphrase:

“They, as the client, didn’t completely know what they were doing with this work.? They knew what outcomes they needed.? But they were not experts with the in-house experience or resources to deliver these 9 interconnected plans.

So, the answer, within context, was…

“YES”

Context, matters…

“They were delighted with what a Place-Based (movement) Frameworks had provided – pragmatically.? The outputs were not just strategically grounded in the wider democratic systems.? They had a practical way forward which stakeholders could relate to.? They helped.

The humility, on all parts, to be able to co-learn together, working in the conditions and values of trust and #mutualrespect, were essential ingredients.

As the project unfolded, and we ALL pulled together, there were days where we were all ‘buzzing’ with the work in co-delivering – especially with the local schools and young people. It had been a co-learning experience.? And a successfully delivered programme of multiple projects? - for ALL.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/jonathan-clarkson-bdes-hons-pg-dip-urban-design-frsa-29998524_teamanguscouncil-teamperthandkinrosscouncil-activity-7239232297646923776-fpYL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/jonathan-clarkson-bdes-hons-pg-dip-urban-design-frsa-29998524_framework-smalltown-20minuteneighbourhood-activity-7238846106288214016-ybFa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/jonathan-clarkson-bdes-hons-pg-dip-urban-design-frsa-29998524_im-often-asked-about-actual-project-delivery-activity-7238581274582355968-95m1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Note on the author: Jonathan Clarkson is an interdisciplinary designer, teacher, gardener and urbanist practitioner with over 30 years of experience using design as a tool for, analysis, collaboration, solving problems and adding value.?Jonathan has publish a number of design articles, is proud to serve in various Local Authorities. Jonathan is also an occasional visiting lecturer and tutor at both Edinburgh School of Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee and the Mackintosh school of art in Glasgow.