What Sustainable leadership means to me?
Well, a few things.
First, what I would call enlightened self-interest:
Valuing the interests of stakeholders, rather than using others for individual gain.
Seeing stakeholders in the broadest sense, for example including future generations.
And having a long-term orientation: Focusing on long-term goals and not being
deterred, or side-tracked,
by pressure from parties with different goals.
At the same time you have to be aware that there is no long-term success without short-term
delivery.
What’s called ‘presencing’ is another aspect of sustainable leadership.
It is a combination of the words presence and sensing - sensing your potential and purpose
and at the same time being present in the moment.
This kind of awareness really helps to focus, and to achieve the highest possible.
And you need courage.
Courage to counter resistance, courage to make difficult decisions in uncertain
conditions - it’s not always easy.
And integrity.
For leadership to be sustainable a leader has to show honesty and moral values,
in both their professional and personal lives, so that stakeholders trust them,
and see them as role models.
And last I would say, open-mindedness - being open towards new ideas
and the beliefs of other stakeholders - and transparency - giving the bad news as well
as the good, giving both positive and critical feedback,
to bring out the best in people.