Leadership lessons to be learned
Former MSP tells Fusion conference people key to shaping Scotland’s future
By Ian Forsyth
Published: 19/11/2010
North entrepreneurs were told yesterday that it was people, and not fancy plans, that would make the difference when it came to building a better Scotland.
That was the message from Susan Deacon, honorary professor at Edinburgh University’s school of social and political science.
The former Labour MSP was speaking at the annual Fusion conference, in Inverness. Ms Deacon said: “I am very lucky as I have had 25 years of being able to work with a range of people to try and explore with them how we can build a better Scotland.
“I think this can be achieved if people believe in themselves, have confidence and work together to focus on what actions to take.
“I believe that it is people that make the difference. You can get lost in fancy plans.”
Ms Deacon, who stood down from the Scottish Parliament in 2007, said: “I wanted to move on from the tribalism of party politics and use my skills and experience to do more to bring people together across boundaries to bring about change.”
She said Scotland had many strengths, in areas such as innovation, and she pointed out that renewable energy was just one field in which it had the opportunity to excel. The former MSP, whose current roles include chairman of ScottishPower Renewables, said Scotland had to move quickly to maximise this “brilliant energy opportunity”, adding: “We need to move fast to develop things like infrastructure to help the renewables industry.
“Sometimes we spend too long analysing a situation and not just getting on and doing things.”
Ms Deacon wanted to see businesses and politicians working together more to Scotland’s advantage.
On the subject of leadership, she said: “People drive change. We have got to stop seeing leadership as something other people do.
“We must stop waiting for others to lead, for example expecting our governments to sort things that we can influence at our own hand. I believe that in building a better society we will build a better economy and vice versa. The two go hand-in-hand.”
Ms Deacon said everyone needed to play a part in creating a better society and a better economy.
She added: “The future has to be about sharing, collaborating, confidence and action; not sitting waiting for someone else to do it. We need to help people build confidence and work together to bring about real and meaningful change.”
About 140 people attended the eighth conference held by Fusion, an organisation which helps to link ambitious entrepreneurs.
Delegates at the gathering at The Ironworks, in Academy Street, included youngsters from nine Young Enterprise Scotland projects, who are running their own businesses in schools.
Fusion deputy chairman David Fraser said: “We are delighted to see so many people participating in this event today.
“It was a chance for the more experienced business people to mix with a younger audience who might eventually be employees or even competitors. Leadership was a big theme that came through on the day.”
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