SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP EXPLAINED
LEADING CHANGE
The sustainability transition requires leadership from all of us. To tackle today’s sustainability challenges, we need to rethink all aspects of society and life as we know it. To solve our pressing social and environmental problems, we need a new generation of sustainability leaders who will be on the forefront of change.
LEADING BY VALUES
Leadership means taking responsibility and standing up for what we hold dear. The commitment this requires can only come from a place of personal values and purpose. It takes reflection to form a sustainability vision that is personally meaningful and it takes courage to align one’s actions and practices with their guiding vision and values.
LEADING WITH OTHERS
We need to take responsibility for creating a just future that is sustainable for all. This means shifting from an individualistic understanding of leadership towards collaborative and relational modes of leading. Sustainability challenges require leading with rather than over others.
SYSTEMS THINKING
To address sustainability challenges, we need to understand the world (and the various sustainability goals) as tightly interconnected. In our complex and constantly changing world, systems thinking serves as a framework for analysis and action for sustainability leaders.
Transformational leadership
Transforming societies starts with transforming mindsets. Leading the sustainability transition in our communities and organisations means empowering others to take action to realise a shared sustainability vision.
Social sustainability: the foundation
Sustainability leaders work towards creating inclusive and caring environments where people from all spheres of society can thrive and are treated with dignity and fairness. Equity, health and well-being are preconditions for a community to exert efforts toward broader sustainability goals.
Co-creating a sustainable future
Employees, community members, citizens and various stakeholders need to be involved in the development of a shared sustainability vision that is aligned with their values and interests. Including marginalized voices in this process is crucial. Sustainability leadership is based on dialogue, collaboration, participation and community engagement.
Navigating complexity
Sustainability challenges are ambiguous, complex and conflicting interests and values are at stake. Sustainability leaders guide others in navigating this complexity by facilitating collaborative sense-making and decision-making processes.