The word “leadership” has always meant the ability to guide, but in a world facing unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges, who is guiding whom—and where to? This question is more pressing than ever. As a senior business and human rights advisor supporting organizations through change over the past 15 years, it’s a question I frequently return to and it remains a central theme in my sustainability work, for both me and the people I work with.
New Leadership Challenges Require New Leadership Solutions
Since the first industrial revolution, leadership has often been defined by control, procedure, and a top-down approach. This model, where a few leaders give orders to many, shaped the world we live in today. However, the environmental, social, and economic challenges we now face – systemic inequality, climate change, political and economic instability – are far too complex and interconnected to be addressed by traditional leadership alone.
To create meaningful change, we must rethink leadership as a shared responsibility. True leadership involves taking ownership of our actions and decisions, recognizing that each of us has the power to influence not just our workplaces, but also our communities and the broader world. This requires a new approach—one that moves beyond the habits that contributed to these global challenges in the first place.
The businesses we work in today are more than just participants in the global economy; they are key players in shaping our world. By setting trends, meeting needs, and providing solutions to societal challenges, companies hold immense responsibility. To fulfill this responsibility, we must all evolve by unlearning old habits and embracing new skills that empower us to drive meaningful, positive change.
Unlearning Old Leadership Habits to Let Go of “Business as Usual”
I understand how difficult this can be, as we still operate within an “old” system where profit often outweighs purpose, and shareholder interests are prioritized over stakeholder needs. Yet, I am inspired by the growing number of passionate, purpose-driven individuals who refuse to accept “business as usual.”
Much like a therapist might ask: “What beliefs from your past are now causing problems?” we too, need to ask a similar question and strive to unlearn outdated practices that no longer serve today’s needs. Here are some common assumptions about leadership that need to be reconsidered:
- It is not adequate to show my true self and my emotions at work.
- A leader must always be strong.
- A leader should have all the answers.
- A leader’s primary job is to maximize profits.
- Uncertainty is bad.
- Creativity is for artists, not leaders.
- A good leader always has the last word.
- Conflicts are bad.
- Mistakes need to be avoided at all costs.
Learning New Leadership Habits to Embrace Sustainability Transformation
Once we’ve identified these limiting beliefs, the next step is to embrace new leadership habits that will empower us to address today’s challenges. Based on my personal experience with leadership and professional experience guiding organizations through change, I’ve identified the following key elements for effective leadership today:
Connect to Our Humanity
- Get to know yourself better: Engage in regular self-reflection to understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, and biases.
- Be kind to yourself and others: Cultivate self-compassion and create trust-based, safe environments that foster both personal and professional growth.
- Take responsibility and don’t shy away from conflicts: Embrace accountability by owning up to your decisions. Engaging with conflicts constructively is vital for building stronger, more resilient relationships, as it helps negotiate different worldviews and understandings.
Create a Positive Vision of the Future
- Lead with purpose: Envision a future full of possibilities, and let that vision guide your decisions and actions. By articulating and striving toward this inspiring future, you motivate and align others to join you in turning that vision into reality.
- Accept change and uncertainty as constants: Embrace adaptability by recognizing that change and uncertainty are inevitable and integral to progress. They mirror the continuous evolution of both nature and humans in their pursuit of growth, discovery and resilience.
- Explore innovative solutions and learn from mistakes: Foster a culture of creativity and experimentation by encouraging out-of-the-box thinking within transdisciplinary teams. Cultivate a growth mindset by treating mistakes as valuable learning opportunities rather than failures.
Lead Collectively
- Benefit from the power of collaboration: True strength comes from collective effort. Only by harnessing the diverse skills and perspectives of transdisciplinary and inclusive teams can we achieve meaningful and long-lasting solutions.
- Learn from others, ask questions, and listen: Stay curious and seek out diverse viewpoints by asking open-ended questions and actively listening to those around you.
- Establish meaningful channels for feedback and communication: Create structured channels for open and constructive feedback and communication, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment towards shared goals.
Leadership for Sustainability Transformation
While I initially wanted to avoid using the term “sustainability” due to its overuse, its essence remains critical to understanding the transformation we need. Sustainability embodies the principles of intragenerational and intergenerational justice, ensuring equal opportunities and rights for all people, regardless of nationality or age. It emphasizes the holistic integration of social, ecological, and economic dimensions through global-local connections, active stakeholder participation, and preventive, long-term strategies.
Connecting this essence of sustainability with the above understanding of leadership, we can conclude that leading towards sustainability transformation means guiding our organizations collectively towards systems that foster social, environmental, and economic balance and equity.
As leaders with this understanding, we ultimately contribute to creating a world where both current and future generations can enjoy their rights and live a life of their choosing.
Let’s connect our leadership purpose to this positive vision of the future and commit to (un)learning outdated habits and evolving into a sustainable future together!
If these thoughts resonate with you, I’d love to hear from you: lisa@peopleatcore.com
Lisa for the CORE team
