To survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, businesses will need to develop a new leadership paradigm, one that embraces the global common good rather than individual self-interest – a paradigm that supports employees in their personal psychological development.
We need a shift from being the best in the world, to being the best for the world.
We need a new leadership paradigm
To survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, businesses will need to develop a new leadership paradigm, one that embraces the global common good rather than individual self-interest. This paradigm should be based on vision-guided, values-driven leadership that targets not only the success of the company, but also the well-being of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, partners, society, and the environment. It is nothing less than full-spectrum sustainability.
The problem we are facing is that those in charge of our global financial systems and business organizations see themselves as separate from the rest of society. They do not see themselves as part of the global collective we call humanity. They see the Earth as an infinite resource that can be plundered at will. For them, the planet is just an economic externality, not a life-support system.
They think the only responsibility they have is to their shareholders. They see their shareholders as also somehow magically separate from society. It is as if our business leaders are out of touch with reality or live on a different planet. So many of them seem to operate from the lowest levels of consciousness and lead a schizophrenic existence.
When they are at home, they are concerned about their local environment. They want to live in beautiful places. They are concerned about their grandchildren’s futures. They want them to live in a better world. They are concerned about ecological diversity. They want to visit remote wilderness areas or wildlife reserves. They may even support causes that address some of the social injustices in the world.
When they are at work, they step into a different world. They deny that these issues exist, or they see them as impediments to their success. For them, the gambling casino of the stock market is their pathway to self-esteem. The share price of their company and the wealth they have accumulated become proxy measurements of their self-worth. They are driven by their ego’s need for achievement.
We need a new leadership paradigm; one that requires our business and political leaders to set aside their narrow self-interests and embrace a collaborative approach based on values-based decision-making that supports the well-being humanity and the planet, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the best business strategy for creating a sustainable future for all.
The leaders of our organisations need to recognise that business is a wholly-owned subsidiary of society and society is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment. Business can only thrive and prosper in a world where people live at peace with each other and where we all live in harmony with the planet. If the life-support systems of our planet are not preserved, not only will our human society perish, but our economy will disintegrate, too. Building a sustainable future for everyone is not just a societal imperative. It is business imperative, too.
The Barrett Leadership Model
The Barrett LeadershipModel is the breakthrough work of Richard Barrett. Inspired by Abraham Maslow’sHierarchy of Needs and tested over more than two decades of real-world experience, the model identifies the seven most important areas of leadership motivation.
We need a shift from being the best in the world, to being the best for the world.
We need a new leadership paradigm
To survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, businesses will need to develop a new leadership paradigm, one that embraces the global common good rather than individual self-interest. This paradigm should be based on vision-guided, values-driven leadership that targets not only the success of the company, but also the well-being of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, partners, society, and the environment. It is nothing less than full-spectrum sustainability.
The problem we are facing is that those in charge of our global financial systems and business organizations see themselves as separate from the rest of society. They do not see themselves as part of the global collective we call humanity. They see the Earth as an infinite resource that can be plundered at will. For them, the planet is just an economic externality, not a life-support system.
They think the only responsibility they have is to their shareholders. They see their shareholders as also somehow magically separate from society. It is as if our business leaders are out of touch with reality or live on a different planet. So many of them seem to operate from the lowest levels of consciousness and lead a schizophrenic existence.
When they are at home, they are concerned about their local environment. They want to live in beautiful places. They are concerned about their grandchildren’s futures. They want them to live in a better world. They are concerned about ecological diversity. They want to visit remote wilderness areas or wildlife reserves. They may even support causes that address some of the social injustices in the world.
When they are at work, they step into a different world. They deny that these issues exist, or they see them as impediments to their success. For them, the gambling casino of the stock market is their pathway to self-esteem. The share price of their company and the wealth they have accumulated become proxy measurements of their self-worth. They are driven by their ego’s need for achievement.
We need a new leadership paradigm; one that requires our business and political leaders to set aside their narrow self-interests and embrace a collaborative approach based on values-based decision-making that supports the well-being humanity and the planet, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the best business strategy for creating a sustainable future for all.
The leaders of our organisations need to recognise that business is a wholly-owned subsidiary of society and society is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment. Business can only thrive and prosper in a world where people live at peace with each other and where we all live in harmony with the planet. If the life-support systems of our planet are not preserved, not only will our human society perish, but our economy will disintegrate, too. Building a sustainable future for everyone is not just a societal imperative. It is business imperative, too.
The Barrett Leadership Model
The Barrett LeadershipModel is the breakthrough work of Richard Barrett. Inspired by Abraham Maslow’sHierarchy of Needs and tested over more than two decades of real-world experience, the model identifies the seven most important areas of leadership motivation.
