Lessons in Leadership for Transportation Executives from Jack Layton

This week Canadians lost an exceptional leader and citizen with the sad passing of Jack Layton, the head of the New Democratic Party (NDP), the official opposition party.   The outpouring of grief across Canada and the fact that a state funeral, a rarity in Canada, was held in his honour, is indicative of the impact that Jack had on people across the country.’

Unfortunately I never got to meet Jack Layton but I saw him speak on television many times.  I listened to the messages that he communicated and to his approach to politics and life.  Here are some of the lessons I learned from observing Jack.

Despite the fact that we had differing political views and I did not support many of his positions, I had an enormous respect for his passion, his honesty and his concern for underprivileged Canadians. Jack was a man of convictions and ideals who reached across partisan lines to work pragmatically and for the public good.  He fought for homeless people, abused women and for native Canadians who were mistreated over many years.  These constituencies do not represent large or powerful groups of voters but they were important to Jack.  The homeless were so important to him that he wrote a book on the topic. While never leader of the country, he was able to effect change that helped these groups of citizens.  He listened and cared about the people of this country, particularly of lesser means, and did everything in his power to improve their lives.

The fact that he was a Toronto-based Anglophone politician (who spoke very good French), who was able to win 59 seats in Quebec in the last election, is absolutely amazing.  One of the most lasting images of Jack during his last election campaign was of him wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey while hoisting a mug of beer in a pub in Quebec.  While many politicians are viewed in the same class as used car salesmen, people respected Jack’s genuineness and sincerity.   Fighting Cancer and recovering from hip surgery, he fought a wonderful election campaign.   Jack was one of the boys, a fighter, who captured the hearts, minds and votes of Quebecers and many other Canadians. 

I also greatly admired his optimism and sense of higher purpose.  He ran in various elections and lost several times.  But that did not deter Jack.  He picked himself off the floor, learned his lessons and fought another day.  Often times he won.  What was remarkable about Jack’s career is that in each of the last several elections, the number of seats held by the NDP increased culminating in Jack becoming the first ever NDP leader to be the head of the official opposition party, a significant achievement.

What can trucking company executives learn from Jack?  A lot.  Company CEOs must serve three groups of constituents - - - investors, customers and employees.  Jack understood this as a political leader.  He worked hard in all three areas.  The outpouring of affection for Jack from all groups is a reflection of how successful he was in meeting the needs of all of his stakeholders.

A number of trucking company executives don’t get it.  I recall going to a trucking company Christmas Party several years ago.  I was the only executive in attendance.  The room was filled with truck drivers and clerical personnel who worked hard on behalf of their company all year long.  The fact that no other executive showed up sent a loud message about how little the contributions of these people were valued.  With hours of service regulations, CSA requirements, speed limiters, fines for late deliveries, crumbling roads and bridges, the truck driver’s job seems to get tougher all the time.  How many trucking company executives truly value the work of their drivers and let them know how much they mean to their companies.

So many trucking company leaders sit in their offices much of the day as their sales teams slog it out trying to retain customers and add new ones.  Tight capacity and intense competition make these jobs very challenging.  There is so much that trucking company leaders can do to demonstrate support for their team and genuine interest in their customers by being out on the front lines on a regular basis.

Jack Layton got it.  Let’s hope his leadership abilities, his communication skills, his empathy for people, his sincerity and his optimism will be a source of inspiration to everyone whom he touched during his lifetime.