In my previous post on The evolution of sustainable leadership I wrote:
"The evolution of sustainable leadership is commitment to a process of self development that begins with “me” but necessarily expands to include and transcend “me.” The deeper we dive, the broader we roam, the richer our understanding of our place and purpose."
So how does this process work? The short answer is it must necessarily work in different ways for different people. Though the aim may be the same, we start from different places, different life spaces and conditions. Yet there some constants. One of those is capacity.
To deepen our capacity means to target our capability to perceive and act from what we are learning. At Interkannections we view this as the journey of capacity evolution where G, I and T-shaped leaders become H, A and U-shaped leaders. Here, again, there are many paths up the mountain. However, it would be foolish to ignore some well-worn trails:
In “integral” speak this means being able to leverage what is called a 4Q perspective: deepening and balancing insight gained from perspectives on
Peter Senge has popularized systems thinking as a way to access the meaning to be made from the inter-relationships listed above. The key to systems thinking is to focus on the relationships between key agents, stakeholders and constituents. The beauty of systems thinking is that it helps us perceive the non-linear, hopelessly complex and deeply intertwined realities affecting us on daily basis. Understanding those realities is the necessary first step to wisely affecting and influencing them.
Otto Scharmer uses “Theory U” and presencing to take individuals and groups on learning journeys that allow them to access and leverage intuitive inter-connection and insight. Theory U and presencing are simple, powerful forms of meditation. They help practitioners access the power of intuition and tap the well of perception and insight we all have available to us when we let go of our illusions and assumptions about our selves and the world around us. Less important than the technique is the process of becoming still, observant and creating the space for reflection. Any meditative practice can help you do this.
At Interkannections we employ all of the above-when necessary-to help our clients make the shift from their current patterns of thinking and behavior to a more sustainable, life giving, value generating way of living and engaging with the world. The key in evolving your approach to leadership and your life, in general, to a more sustainable one, in the end, is, of course: YOU. You have to want to take on the challenge, have the will, discipline and commitment to evolve. You must have the courage, wisdom and humility to learn and seek out experiences and teachers to help you evolve.
And, most importantly, YOU can start, NOW.Expanded from The Capacity Evolution Blog
Related Stories: | Topics:Innovation, Leadership, Management, Ethonomics, Capacity Building, sustainability, social responsibility, wellness, Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer |
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Recent Comments | 5 Total
August 17, 2008 at 10:30am by John Agno
Boomers' Leadership Needed
Last summer while on vacation in Maine, I purchased a $.25 well-used book from the Great Cranberry Isle library. This best-selling book was written in 1972 and targeted to young Baby Boomers to help them understand the political health of their country and what they must do to get the country back on track.
Here is the author's Foreword to the bestseller "Captains and The Kings" in 1972:
This book is dedicated to the young people of America, who are rebelling because they know something is very wrong in their country, but do not know just what it is. I hope this book will help to enlighten them. The historical background and the political background of this novel are authentic. The "Committee for Foreign Studies" does indeed exist, today as of yesterday, and so does the "Scardo Society," but not by these names.
There is indeed a "plot against the people" and probably always will be, for government has always been hostile towards the governed. It is not a new story, and the conspirators and conspiracies have varied form era to era, depending on the political or economic situation in their various countries.
But it was not until the era of the League of Just men and Karl Marx that conspirators and conspiracies became one, with one aim, one objective, and one determination. This has nothing to do with any "ideology" or form of government, or ideals or "materialism" or any other catch-phrases generously fed to the unthinking masses. It has absolutely nothing to do with races or religions, for the conspirators are beyond what they call "such trivialities." They are also beyond good and evil. The Caesars they put into power are their creatures, whether they know it or not, and the peoples of all nations are helpless, whether they live in America, Europe, Russia, China, Africa, or South America. They will always be helpless until they are aware of their real enemy.
President John F. Kennedy knew what he was talking about when he spoke of "the Gnomes of Zurich." Perhaps, he knew too much! Coups d'etat are an old story, but they are now growing too numerous. This is probably the last hour for mankind as a rational species, before it becomes the slave of a "planned society." A bibliography ends this book, and I hope many of my readers will avail themselves of the facts. That is all the hope I have.
Taylor Caldwell
Now 35 years later, Baby Boomers are the best educated of all former generations. However, they need to read or re-read "Captains and The Kings" to better understand how their countries are being weaken through politically created wars and inflationary monetary policies.
Boomers are valued and needed to exercise their responsibility, serious work ethic, "can do" attitude and competitiveness in stopping the bankruptcy of their country. They need to exercise their sustainable leadership capabilities in finding, promoting and voting for political candidates in 2008 who are for free markets, sound money, reasonable tax policies, reducing global warming and ready, willing and able to fight terrorism the way Canada, Sweden and Switzerland do.
August 17, 2008 at 6:06pm by Zach Smith
John,
A thought provoking comment. Thank you.
I agree. The Boomers' definitely need to get it in gear. I know too many who have decided to go quietly in that good night. To continue the Dylan Thomas riff, I truly believe they need to "burn and rave at close of day" and "rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Sustainable leadership means regular, deep and honest reflection on one's self and one's relationships with others and the world around us. As you point out, it also means being aware of how we are are being affected by the systems in which we live and that WE have created-especially economic, political and governmental.
Sustainable leadership demands action when OUR economic, political and governmental systems seemed poised to steer us down dead end roads. I believe we are at a time where the ends of some of these roads are near and becoming clearly visible.
Those with the vision, creativity, courage and commitment to innovate need to provide alternatives to dead end leadership, manufacturing and energy generation. WE have the potential to transform the our communities, businesses and governments. WE do this by deepening our capacity to see, do and wisely change what isn't working.
"It's not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change." -Darwin