What are the most important leadership skills for sustainable development?

Ter uma vis?o de longo prazo, gostar de pessoas, ter clareza sobre os limites do planeta, entender que as mudan?as climáticas s?o uma amea?a à nossa sobrevivência como espécie, valorizar as pessoas pelo que elas s?o e n?o por aquilo que elas têm, acreditar na democracia como fundamento para o desenvolvimento dos países, respeitar diferen?as culturais sem abrir m?o dos próprios valores e "last, but not least", nunca perder a esperan?a na possibilidade de um mundo melhor para todos, mas n?o depender dela. O futuro n?o está determinado, é escrito a cada dia por todos nós.

1. Authenticity - you can't bring people with you if you don't truly believe you can make a difference or if your belief is superficial. 2. Acceptance - not everybody will come on the journey with you or care as much as you will, you cannot boil the ocean. 3. Reality - you can inspire people with meaningful stories but you need to join up the dots to make it meaningful to everyone at grass roots level.

A leader in Sustainable development has to think about people, planet, and prosperity all in equal measure. The leadership team should evolve a metrics to include an organisation's contributions to social justice, environmental well being, and an equitable economy.

To advance sustainable development, it is important for leaders to be purpose and values-driven. True sustainability leadership often means making tough choices, taking a longer-term view or taking unpopular stands. A commitment to purpose and values can help leaders stand strong for the right course of action even when it is unpopular or sub-optimal in the short-term.

There needs to be a clear understanding that the planet is going to outlive us and therefore we have a responsibility towards future generations. The steps that we take have to take into account nature and all living beings around us so that we are making mindful decisions. Therefore value based thinking has to be aligned with actual operational aspects of organizational readiness to meet current and future needs.

The only way to build effective systems in sustainable development is to go build it upon the ground truth. This means going to consult with the people affected by the challenge you are trying to solve and including them in the building of the solutions. Solutions built 1000s of miles away in a conference room are doomed to fail.

Atender las causas estructurales de la problematica y no solo concentrarnos en atender los sistomas del problema es la base del pensamiento sistemico. Hay una frase que se utiliza no solo veas la rama que hay en el arbol sino todo el bosque al que pertenece.

Systems thinking is essential for sustainable development and energy transition due to its holistic approach that identifies interdependencies within a broader system. This methodology aids in recognizing complex interactions and patterns, guiding decision-makers in comprehending the full scope of sustainability challenges. It identifies underlying barriers to systems change, facilitating effective solutions that consider the dynamic interplay of economic, environmental, societal, and policy factors. By integrating systems thinking, policymakers and planners can navigate trade-offs, optimize synergies among diverse goals like the SDGs, and balance stakeholder needs, leading to more impactful and efficient strategies for sustainability.

Las soluciones de final de tubo ayudan a resolver emergencias y situaciones urgentes, si lo que se busca es resolver y mejorar el desempe?o de cualquier proceso, una visión preventiva con análisis de causa raíz y retardo el estatus quo es la mejor inversión. La visión holística permite identificar los impactos de ajustes o cambios dentro de un proceso establecido. Algo que no puede obviarse en el pensamiento sistémico aplicado a innovación en sostenibilidad es la gestión del cambio en la organización. La gestión del cambio es lo que permitirá hacer perdurables los beneficios y generar una cultura que sea partícipe y promotora de la innovación.

You need to think system since everything is connected together. When you move something it is the entire chain that is shaking. This chain is about business but not only, it is about the environnement, suppliers, people, families. When making a decision you must take it all in consideration and see how a positive impact on one side can stay positive throughout the chain.

Selecting the "best" leadership skill ultimately depends on the specific context and challenges you're facing in your sustainable development efforts. However, if I were to recommend one skill that is particularly foundational and versatile, it would be "Collaboration and Partnership". Crucial for sustainable development, collaboration is the linchpin skill. It amplifies impact, encourages holistic solutions through diverse perspectives, fosters shared responsibility, sparks innovation, and ensures community engagement. Sustainable development is a collective journey, and collaboration lays the groundwork for a more inclusive, effective, and enduring approach.

Building trust and mutual respect is crucial for successful collaboration. However, it might also be helpful to address potential challenges in forming and maintaining partnerships, such as aligning different agendas or measuring shared success.

Hay personas y organizaciones que pueden lograr cosas importantes por si solas. Pero el impacto será mucho mucho mayor si podemos trabajarlo a traves de alianzas estrategicas el impacto que se logre puede ser mucho mayor que el de hacerlo en solitario. No solamente por la mayor capacidad de recursos economicos, sino tambien por los distinttos enfoques que se puedan dar para dar solución a una problematica.

Leaders need to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. This includes being open to new ideas, and being willing to change course when necessary. Leaders need to empower their teams to take ownership of their work and to innovate.

In my experience, collaboration and partnership is an important pillar for: - ensuring proper thinking goes into design - ownership of the initiative until its conclusion stage - continuity through local actors

Para poder ejercer un liderazgo efectivo dentro y fuera de tu organización es necesario contar con habilidades de comunicación que permitan influenciar de manera positiva en tus equipos y con otros grupos de interes. Ello a su vez pertmitira poder articular con otros actores para generar alianzas estrategicas que permitan innovar y crear acciones concretas en beneficio del desarrollo sostenible.

Innovation and creativity starts with culture. A top down approach is a great start, but top down cultural norms is the more integrated leadership style that will allow employees and teams time to bring out their best.

Hoy en día las organizaciones y personas deben aprender a convivir con el rápido desarrollo de la innovación tecnológica. Por ende deben existir programas de desarrollo de talento alineados a las nuevas tecnologías y cada día capacitarse más. Además es importante convivir con la inteligencia artificial y otros desarrollos tecnológicos para evitar caer en la frustración y así generar resiliencia. Paralelamente también se debe buscar eficiencias productivas al eliminar tareas clericales o de bajo valor. En mi experiencia, teniendo claridad de la ruta a seguir y con la mentalidad de mejora continua habrá que iterar tantas veces sea necesario, y no frustrarse en el camino.

Creatividad para Innovación El liderazgo en el desarrollo sostenible es creativo y debe ser promovido ya que esta en la búsqueda de soluciones innovadoras para los retos que tienen que afrontar. La creatividad es fundamental para encontrar nuevas formas de hacer las cosas que resulte más eficientes y con una visión de triple impacto, ello debe convertirse en parte de tu cultura organizacional.

Many organizations get 'stuck' thinking within the confines of their long-standing business model. Search for inspiration outside of your four walls (and even outside of your industry). Allow yourself to dream of a drastically different solution or approach, then use "back casting" to map out the achievable steps to get there.

A good balance between passion and patience! Passion to bring a sense of urgency and patience if the change is taking time (which it invariably does).

The capacity for adaptation and resilience is crucial for fostering sustainable development, particularly in politically unstable countries facing pervasive challenges in governance. The ability to modify strategies and plans while demonstrating courage is essential for the successful formulation, implementation, and oversight of established plans, as well as for the implementation of necessary mitigating measures to maintain focus and sustain development.

I agree. The text captures the essence of sustainable development’s dynamic nature, emphasizing adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning as key to navigating its complexities and uncertainties. But there is clearly the need for both individual and organizational flexibility to respond to change effectively.

In my experience, life never gets easier, however your ability to bounce back after going through the mill shows how resilient we are. Take a time back, review the disruptions , deploy new methods of doing things and bounce back better

This is a capability what we called ‘Deliberate Calm’ in our similar titled book. Sustainable development requires a longer term perspective and dual awareness: knowing what’s at stake and also understanding what is needed: what does the situation need and what do I need as a leader to lead effectively for the task at hand.. instead of responding without thinking first, asking these questions help to be able to adapt and be resilient to possible discomfort of choosing a response that is better for the longer term…

Cada vez mas personas y organizaciones reconocen la importancia de promover la cultura de la sostenibilidad social como parte de un enfoque mayor de desarrollo sostenible. Para ello debemos visilizar las buenas practicas que desarrollan las organizaciones con el objetivo de estimular a las organizaciones que los practican pero tambien para motivar que mas empresas las repliquen en sus organizaciones.

Empathy, strategic thinking, authenticity and effective communication are the key for influence and advocacy in sustainable development efforts.

En el contexto empresarial, aplicar la sostenibilidad implica comprender las interrelaciones entre departamentos y procesos. La sostenibilidad es transversal y abarca todas las acciones de la empresa, no es responsabilidad exclusiva de un solo departamento. Para que la organización internalice estas conexiones y su papel en la sostenibilidad, se necesita un liderazgo empático que facilite la comprensión de estas interconexiones y promueva la colaboración. Implicar a todos los departamentos en los temas de sostenibilidad y brindarles formación es esencial para inspirar e influir. El objetivo principal es que todos reconozcan que la sostenibilidad se logra mediante la contribución de cada individuo dentro de la organización.

One crucial element lies in securing leadership commitment. Top-level support is indispensable; leaders must go beyond mere words and demonstrate their dedication through actionable steps. Leading by example and actively engaging in the change process are essential. Effective communication stands as another vital aspect. Communication should not only address rational factors but also consider emotions, attitudes, and behaviors. It should be frequent, regular, and inclusive of open channels for feedback, while also addressing any concerns promptly.

If you want to change a system, you first need to change/convince the people you are working with or for. The ability to convey a convincing message, to be listened and trusted critical. Influencing is to me the key to a successful transition, but surely one of the most challenging and resource intensive aspect of our work.

Sustainability's not a sprint, it's a lifelong marathon. Leaders must wear many hats – humility for constant learning, empathy for interconnected systems, courage for ethical choices, and storytelling savvy to connect hearts & minds. Action-oriented results fuel the journey, ensuring every step leads to a thriving future for future generations.

Leadership is intimately linked with trust. I personally appreciate the concept of the "triangle of trust", which consists of 3 main components: logic, empathy and authenticity. - Logic serves as a foundation: people need to understand the decisions you are making. - Empathy requires the ability to put yourself in other people's shoes. - Authenticity means being yourself. You don't need to conceal your weakness or play a role, you just need to be who you are. By staying within the triangle of trust, you can significantly boost your leadership.

Communication skills are often seen as a nice to have, but are essential. Sustainability is an incredibly complex topic that many people struggle to understand. Effectively communicating these topics to all types of stakeholders is a non-negotiable skillset for all leaders in the field

Empathy. To lead with empathy will bring you and your team far. It will benefit both leaders and people they lead — and organisation at large. Often times, this side of leadership tend to be seen as weakness. However, in this ever changing environment and times, leading with empathy has proven to be an important element of a successful team.

One key leadership skill or a characteristic, a leader for sustainable development should possess is "Empathy". The leader should display unflinching empathy towards people, society, plants, animals and finally towards the planet.