L6 OLSW - The end of leadership or the creation of multiple opportunities

What is progress according to Steven Pinker: "Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress"

- Easy answer, life is better than death, health better than sickness, sustenance (well feed) better than hunger, safety better than danger, freedom better than tyranny, happiness better than misery. Opportunities to enjoy family, friends, culture, and nature are better than drudgery and monotony. All these things can be measured. If they have increased over time, that is progress.

What does Steven Pinker suggest:

- that progress can be measured by increases in sustenance, life expectancy, health, abundance, peace, safety, freedom, and happiness.

Great acceleration:

The challenge to this progress, describe the rapid increase in human activity and it´s impact on Earth natural system. Since industrialization human population increased leading to more resource consumption and environmental strain. Take more than it´s regenerated within a year.

Country overshoot day:

Marks the date when a country has used up its share of Earth's resources for the year. After this point, it consumes more than the planet can regenerate, leading to an ecological overshoot. To restore balance, we need to absorb more emissions than we produce.

Country overshoot day: Key points

Sweden's Overshoot Day (2023) - Sweden hit its limit on April 3rd, highlighting the gap between innovation and environmental sustainability.

Impact on Earth - Overuse of resources, excessive plastic waste, and high emissions reduce Earth's capacity to sustain life.

Call to Action - We only have one planet, and protecting it requires smarter resource management and pollution reduction.

The United Nations

Recognized the seriousness of the situation and after 2 world wars decided to make a declaration "ability to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment" as a human right. However, this is not legally binding and aims to shape policy and law globally. Called on countries, companies and international organizations to scale up effots to turn that into reality.

- Economically poorer countries suffers the most despite producing many of the resources we consume. Can lead to migration due to survival needs. Need to ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for current and future generations.

AIM:

- Work together to solve global problems, use earth´s resources carefully because we use more than it´s capacity.

- Businesses should team up across countries to share ideas, ways to work for a sustainable future.

VUCA world

describes the fast-changing and unpredictable nature of modern life, influenced by technology, social media, and global trade. It makes planning and problem-solving harder due to turbulence and uncertainty—such as geopolitical shifts like China's rise or Russia's military actions.

VUCA world key points

Impact - Influences decision-making, risk management, and long-term strategies for individuals, businesses, and governments.

Opportunities & Challenges - Creates risks but also opens doors for innovation, new leadership styles, and improved decision-making approaches.

Response - Calls for adaptable, resilient, and inclusive leadership to handle complexity.

Collaboration - Encourages teamwork among diverse groups with different perspectives.

Origin - Introduced by the U.S. Military College in the early 21st century to describe rising global unpredictability.

Leadership challenges:

They need to acknowledge what they don´t know, need people who can observe, assess emissions across supply chains and calculate how much they affect and how to address these e.g. ice cream refrigeration and e-shopping. Connect with multiple stakeholders.

The Donut Economic Framework

guides economies to function within Earth's limits while ensuring social needs are met. It defines a safe and just space for humanity between two boundaries:

Environmental Ceiling - 9 Planetary Boundaries (e.g., climate, water, biodiversity). Crossing these limits harms the planet, leading to crises like climate change or ozone depletion.

Social Foundation - 12 basic needs (e.g., food, water, health, equality) based on global minimum standards. People must have these essentials to thrive.

The donut model shows how economies can operate sustainably—avoiding environmental damage while ensuring well-being for all.

When addressing the challenges of a VUCA world and moving to sustainability requires new leadership skills and mindsets. Leaders need to:

- Leaders need to: acknowledge what they don't know and be able to assess environmental impacts across supply chains where Collaboration with multiple stakeholders and inner development goals are important. They have responsibility for creating a esutainable future.

Inner development goals: 5 Dimensions where businesses integrate these goals to become more sustainable:

- Collaborating: Working together effectively and with empathy.

- Relating: Building strong, supportive connections.

- Taking action: Courageously acting on challenges.

- Curiosity: Being open to learning and growth.

- Learning: Constantly improving and adapting.

- Furthermore to move towards a systainable future we need to shift from independent and competitive organizational models to interdependent and collaborative ones.

Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Businesses and leaders must care for both society and the planet. A strong economy depends on environmental protection and access to essentials like food and healthcare—without these, instability can lead to crises like migration or conflict.

Companies must rethink their practices to support society while staying within ecological limits.

The World Economic Forum stresses the importance of collaboration to drive business innovation, address global risks, promote circular economies, and reduce excessive resource use.

How a bank focuses on sustainability:

- Transition to renewable energy.

- Support a sustainable food system.

- Promote a circular economy (reusing resources efficiently).

- Ensure social justice. Their vision goes beyond profit—focusing on environmental and social value, creativity, and thinking ahead for future generations.

Businesses are part of larger social and environmental systems, and regenerative sustainability aims to minimize harm while helping both people and the planet thrive. Therefore they must have:

Resilience - Companies must build adaptability, embrace change, and use diversity as a strength rather than just managing risks.

System-Focused Approach - Moving away from self-interest and exploitation, businesses should focus on synergy and open-source collaboration for long-term sustainability.

Paris COP 21:

Example of successful collaborative leadership. The process leading to the agreement involved dialogue, transparency, partnership, empathy, authenticity, vulnerability, and respect, rather than being driven by egos. A key element was inviting diverse stakeholders to share their personal reasons for caring about the planet, fostering genuine connections.

Regenerative Sustainability: - This approach takes sustainability to the next level, focusing on six principles:

- This approach takes sustainability to the next level, focusing on six principles:

- Sustainability as Flourishing: The goal isn't just survival but thriving for people and the planet.

- Interdependence: Recognizing that all systems—human and environmental—are interconnected.

- Real Value: Prioritizing meaningful impact (e.g., societal, health, and environmental benefits) over financial gain.

- Imagination: Encouraging creative thinking to solve challenges.

- Intergenerational Perspective: Considering how actions today affect future generations.

- Empowerment: Supporting individuals and organizations to take meaningful action.

Strong sustainability strategy

Call for new skills, new expertise, new forms of collaborations

The DNA of an organisation of the future and past

- Organisations from the past: Independent,, Competitive, Manages risk, Forces, Linear, stable, controlled, resists change, self-focused, exploitative, closed source,

- Organisation of the future: Interdependent, Collaborative, Builds resilience, Forces Adapts, Networked, Dynamic, Emergent, Leverages diversity, System-focused, Synergistic, Open source.

Inner development goals: 5 dimensions

- Being (relationship to self): Inner compass, integrity and authenticity, openness and learning mindset, self awareness, presence.

- Thinking (cognitive skills): Critical thinking, complexity awareness, perspective skills, sense-making, long term orientation and visioning.

- Relating (caring for other and the world): Appreciation, connectedness, humility, empathy and compassion.

- Collaborating (social skills): Communication skills, co-creation skills, inclusive mindset and intercultural competence, trust and mobilization skills.

- Acting (enabling change): Courage, creativity, optimism, perseverance.

In conclusion

In conclusion, achieving a sustainable world requires acknowledging the limits of our planet while striving for social progress. Navigating the complexities of the VUCA world demands new forms of leadership characterized by collaboration, empathy, and a commitment to regenerative principles, guided by frameworks like Doughnut Economics and a focus on inner development goals.

To build societies that meet human needs without harming the natural systems we rely on, we must adopt sustainable practices and rethink how we interact with the environment. This involves:

- *Sustainable Development*: Ensuring that economic growth and societal progress do not compromise the planet's ability to provide resources for future generations. This aligns with the concept of balancing human, social, economic, and environmental needs.

- *Circular Economy*: Transitioning from a "take-make-dispose" model to one where resources are reused and recycled, reducing waste and environmental impact.

- *Collaborative Leadership*: Encouraging cooperation across nations, industries, and communities to address global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.

- *Innovative Solutions*: Investing in technologies and systems that promote renewable energy, efficient resource use, and reduced emissions.

- *Education and Awareness*: Empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions that prioritize sustainability.