Putting climate at the heart of our leadership and business

Climate change has been heavily politicised, and as such has polarised us as a community. In the end though, we all want the same thing: lives full of connection to family and friends, satisfying work, and a clean environment in which to live healthy lives. My own research has put me in contact with people from all over the world, from all types of different social and work backgrounds. When asked how they really want to experience work and life, I’ve never had any responses that involved owning a Lamborghini or earning swathes of money!

I mention this because I believe that this question, “how do you really want to experience your life and work?” is at the heart of the explanation as to why we need to change now. Don’t overlook the why.

Strong, purposeful, moral and collective leadership, is required for us to respond appropriately and decisively. We want to rely on technology alone, because that is easier for us all. A technological response means we don’t have to confront the ways in which our existing lives and work exploit the resources of the planet and people that we now realise are limited.

It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to reprioritise what is most important in our home lives and at work and change our behaviours in response.

I, like other authors, have uncovered a clear shift that is required for us all to make now. And that is a shift from a worldview that is exploitative to one that is caring. It is the caring that is at the heart of the visions I mentioned earlier. Visions of how we really want to experience our lives and work.

This caring worldview also and reflects a perspective that we are all interdependent rather than self-sufficient and separate from each other. A shift in perspective always opens up new opportunities and this one does too.

We can heed the words of Mark Carney, former head of the Bank of England, when he declared in 2019 that “firms ignoring climate crisis will go bankrupt”– or we can follow the opportunities like Twiggy Forrest and look for how we can create a better future. I prefer the latter approach because, as a leader, I know it mobilises people more effectively.

I saw the following quotation in a friend’s email signature, and I wanted to share it with you – I love it!

“The future is not someplace we are going, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination.”

John Schaar

My work has focussed on the people and cultural part of the climate change challenge for the last 15 years. I am delighted to be fielding emails from people wanting to know more about how to engage people in the task of sharing perspectives, learning together, and adapting our behaviours and lives. If you are interested in a chat – please contact me.

You will also notice a couple of opportunities to catch up with me online in presentations in the coming week or two.

To your flourishing future!