SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP

SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP

Sustainability includes three key aspects: environmental, social and economic. According to John Elkington’s triple bottom line, People, Planet and Profits (PPP) are closely interconnected. He claimed: “society depends on the economy and the economy depends on the global ecosystem, whose health represents the ultimate bottom line.”

Following Elkington’s thought, developing a sustainable leadership means to embrace sustainable practices and the triple bottom line concept. Meaningful actions and behaviors embrace a global view to recognize the connection between planet and humanity. Thereby, through personal and organizational choices, it affects positive environmental and social change.

Sustainable leaders manage companies focusing on the triple bottom line (PPP) and long-term development goals in mind. They take into account stakeholders (employees, customers and future generations) and not just shareholders (investors).

This is the reason why sustainable leaders need to be brave: it’s not easy to be up against people investing millions in your company.

One man knows this better than anyone: Paul Polman of Unilever. Harvard Business Review called him “Captain Planet" due to he redesigned Unilever’s business model to actually contribute to society and the environment instead of hurting them.

Polman is truly a champion advocate for sustainable leadership. He’s supported the need for integration within companies to support the shift to sustainable leadership for years and he is adamant that “CEOs cannot be slaves to shareholders.” Polman told shareholders in Unilever they would no longer issue quarterly profit reports and Unilever would be adopting a long-term value model for business.

However, in order to set a sustainable leadership model within the company, it’s so important everyone looks at the same page: sustainability should be fully integrated into the way a company does business.

Although Unilever’s CEO was able to stand up to investors and the board of directors, not every CEO may feel powerful enough to do so. That’s the reason why a sustainable leadership involving the whole organization should be prioritized.

Sustainable leadership means planning and preparing for succession not as an afterthought, but from the first day of a leader's appointment.

A sustainable leadership system provides intrinsic rewards and extrinsic incentives that attract and retain the best talents. Such system provides time and opportunity for leaders to network, learn from and support one another and coach their successors. A sustainable system carefully addresses its resources in developing all employees, rather than provide a few proven stars with rewards.

A sustainable leadership system takes care of their leaders and encourage them to take care of themselves and their employees.

If you want a sustainable change will matter and last, you need to prioritize the systems where leaders and all employees work. Fulfilled leaders and employees inspire and support actions toward a better world.

Focus on Planet, People, Profit for a sustainable and long-lasting business and working environment.?

_______________________________________________________________________

Have a look at Coaching Juice to get more insights on personal empowerment, leadership, management and career enhancement.

www.coaching-juice.com