Leaders today face the pressing need to address environmental and societal challenges, as it’s clear that the prevailing mindset alone won’t be sufficient to guide us through this crisis. As conscious leaders, we must foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions.
In today’s world, urgency permeates the minds of leaders who recognize the need for swift action to address the environmental and societal challenges we face. A study conducted by Accenture and the UN Global Compact reveals that an overwhelming majority (98%) of CEOs acknowledge the central role of sustainability in their responsibilities. At the same, it is becoming increasingly evident that the prevailing mindset and approaches that led us to this point of crisis will not be sufficient to guide us out of it.
As conscious leaders, we are being called upon to foster innovation and collaboration and to create truly regenerative and sustainable solutions. In this article, we will explore the importance of urgency and collaboration in effecting meaningful change and outlines practical steps to translate intentions into tangible actions.
The realization that our ecosystems are fragile and that our health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the health of the planet has fuelled a sense of urgency among leaders. In 2019, nearly 200 CEOs, represented by the Business Roundtable (BRT), acknowledged that the purpose of business today goes beyond solely maximizing shareholder profit.
We understand that incremental changes and surface-level fixes are inadequate. A paradigm shift is required to address the complex and interconnected challenges we face, ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss and social inequities. Merely acknowledging the need for change is simply not enough; we must actively pursue transformative solutions.
To create lasting change, leaders must adopt a regenerative mindset that focuses on restoring and revitalizing our ecosystems rather than merely mitigating damage. This mindset entails a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of our social, economic, and environmental systems. It involves questioning conventional wisdom and exploring innovative approaches that prioritize sustainability and regeneration.
Neurobiology research highlights that genuine innovation occurs when our brains are in a parasympathetic state, which means that we are in a state of calm, relaxation, and openness. In this state, our minds are receptive to new ideas, connections, and creative insights, enabling us to think beyond the immediate challenges and constraints. It allows for a broader perspective, enhanced cognitive flexibility, and the ability to approach problems with a sense of curiosity and exploration.
However, the demands of the business world, the constant influx of stimuli, and the prevailing rhythms we consider “normal” in the professional landscape often keep us entrenched in a persistent sympathetic state. This state, far from being conducive to the innovation we need, leaves us in a seemingly perpetual fight-or-flight mode, reacting instinctively to meetings, deadlines, challenges, and conflicts.
As highlighted in the previously mentioned Accenture and UN Global Compact study, CEOs face numerous simultaneous challenges in today’s challenging global context. A significant majority (93%) of CEOs experience ten or more of these challenges. In this sympathetic state, our vision becomes both literally and metaphorically narrowed. We operate from a suboptimal mindset characterized by deficiency and fear. Consequently, our interactions and decisions tend to be transactional and immediate, addressing immediate crises or imminent threats. However, they fall short of fostering genuine innovation and collaboration.
The scale and complexity of the challenges we face necessitate collaboration; no single organization or individual can solve these problems alone. Collaboration allows for diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources to converge, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions. By pooling our collective wisdom and resources, we can accelerate the pace of change and increase the likelihood of success.
In a collaborative setting, we can create an environment that supports the cultivation of a parasympathetic state for innovation. By fostering open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect, we encourage a sense of calm, relaxation, and openness among participants. This facilitates the emergence of new ideas, sparks creative insights, and enables us to transcend immediate challenges and constraints.
Through collaborative efforts and working together, we shift from a transactional and reactive mindset to one that embraces long-term thinking and transformative change.
The Argonauts are pleased to offer an innovative solution, what we like to call Trust Circles. These transformative spaces bring teams and individual leaders together to engage in connected, meaningful conversations that foster trust, creativity, and innovative action. They do so under the expert guidance of one of our facilitators and by committing to the foundational pillars of vulnerable sharing, curious listening, refraining from advice, and withholding judgment. While it requires courage and strong commitment, Trust Circles enable the development of conversational fluency, leading to crucial conversations that generate trust, creativity, and ultimately drive impactful action.
In our transactional world, habitual patterns dominate, making it challenging to forge new habits centered around conversational fluency. However, with consistent practice over time, teams and leaders can overcome these barriers and engage in the crucial conversations necessary for building trust and nurturing creativity. These conversations are the key to driving different actions to address the urgency and necessity we all feel.
While time is of the essence, we understand that creating the innovative and complex solutions required for a different future demands more than rushed action. It necessitates the conversations that elicit wisdom in action. Trust Circles provide the essential space and support for these transformative dialogues to occur.
By embracing Trust Circles and investing in conversational fluency, organizations can unlock the potential for deep collaboration, insightful problem-solving, and transformative innovation. Only together can we meet the urgent challenges before us while also cultivating the wisdom and foresight needed to shape a better tomorrow.
To witness the transformative power of a Trust Circle, we invite you to join our free multi-session event, the Taste of The Argonauts.
Register here to secure your spot and experience the power of conscious leadership first-hand.
Eveline works as a facilitator and product developer at The Argonauts. She is a Neuroscientist and Psychologist trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, meditation and Breathwork.
