Finding Sustainable Leadership
Finding Sustainable Leadership
If there is one thing we can predict it is that the future will be unpredictable. So much has changed for business over the last few years, globalisation, tech disruption, climate change, geopolitical instability and it is fair to say that this will continue. This new business landscape requires something extraordinary in leadership: individuals who can navigate volatility, harness resilience, foster agility and integrate paradox. This unicorn breed of leaders are sustainable leaders, and their value has never been clearer.
By delivering long-term benefits for investors, employees, customers, and the wider community against a backdrop of complexity, sustainable leaders can outperform the competition while still driving financial value. All good so far, but what exactly makes a sustainable leader and how can you find one?
“What makes a sustainable leader and how can you find one?”
Many articles out there talk about what sustainable leadership can achieve but there are few that know exactly how to pinpoint the characteristics that can predict sustainable leadership behaviour in individuals. In order to come up with an answer, Alumni has reviewed existing leadership theories and research on sustainable leadership, coupled with our own experience and data to identify leadership behaviours crucial to achieving sustainable leadership.
Alumni’s Model of Sustainable Leadership
Combining our 30 years’ of executive search experience and the expertise of our team of occupational psychologists, we have discovered a unique subset of traits that help define and better predict sustainable leadership behaviours.
These subsets of traits together form the basis of our model that identifies sustainable leaders based on four over-arching competencies. These are connected and interact in ways where strengths in one area also adds value to others.
Humanity - Sustainable leaders display humanity, act ethically and empathetically. They have a genuine interest in the wellbeing of others and are able to view things with a wide perspective, whether it be organisationally, societally or environmentally.
Agile mind - They have the ability to analyse complex information. They are cognitively capable of embracing change and the emotional capacity to do things differently.
Authentic connection - Sustainable leaders genuinely engage with others. They are able to formulate and communicate clearly a vision that connects to the hearts and minds of others. They dare to show their true selves and their vulnerability. Their words match their actions, and they have truthful conversations with others.
Drive for growth – Sustainable leaders make the development of people a priority both personally and for others. They challenge, encourage action and display an experimental mindset to dynamically drive their team and business forward.
Where does one find sustainable leaders?
Analysing our data we were keen to see if these traits and competencies were over-represented in any specific group of executives. This type of insight would allow for more informed recruitment practices, help us avoid bias and help us improve in our advisory role.
Chief Marketing Officer
E-mail
“Mining over 100,000 datapoints from a bank of 3000 anonymised candidate assessments we have discovered that these traits do not particularly follow any hard and fast rules. ”
Mining over 100,000 datapoints from a bank of 3000 anonymised candidate assessments we have discovered that these traits do not particularly follow any hard and fast rules with little difference between the sexes or ages for example. Our steadfast belief has been that key to reaping the benefits of a diverse organisation has been diversity of thought - It really comes down to analysing an individual regardless of their protected characteristics. Our latest research into sustainable leadership further strengthens this belief.
But back to the initial question of where one finds sustainable leaders; the answer is, they can be found across diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. The essence of sustainable leadership transcends traditional socio-economic boundaries, recognising that individuals from various sectors, cultures, and experiences can possess the traits we have identified linked to sustainable leadership. By acknowledging this we can foster a more inclusive and impactful approach to identifying and assessing the leadership of today.
Integrating Sustainable Leadership
Our aim is to identify and help match the very best candidates in each assignment, based entirely on their competence and team fit. Alumni’s unique combination of functional and psychological expertise allows us to identify these unique traits within a wide pool of candidates.
“Our aim is to identify and help match the very best candidates in each assignment, based entirely on their competence and team fit.”
Making the shift towards a sustainable form of leadership connects in its very nature to the whole organisation and leadership ecosystem. The Alumni Sustainable Leadership solution provides a foundation that covers key areas that enable a successful holistic transformation:
Implement with Impact – Alumni provides advice on how to integrate the Alumni Sustainable Leadership model into your organisation’s Talent Management processes, to ensure operational efficiency and optimising the benefits for the wider organisation.
Leadership Assessment – providing evidence-based assessments of leaders, ensuring a systematic and precise approach to talent acquisition, succession planning, management audits and Human Due Diligence processes as part of M&A:s. Alumni’s unique combination of functional and psychological expertise related to different roles, business areas and markets allow for an in-depth evaluation which directly connects to the needs of your business.
Leadership Development – Alumni offers a powerful and flexible Sustainable Leadership development suite that includes a Sustainable Leadership 360 for evaluating and developing your current leaders, Management Team Development workshops, and Sustainable Leadership Development Programs.
If you are interested in hearing more about the facts and figures arising from our research or to discuss how you can ensure sustainable leadership in your organisation, please get in touch. You can also contact us below if you wish a copy of our Sustainable Leadership Guide.
Did you know that Alumni in addition to working with top Executive Search, Interim Management and Recruitment, are also experts in the field of Leadership Assessment and Development? We are happy to help if you are looking for ways to select and grow the leaders that will boost the success of your organisation.
Contact us
Perspectives
Unleashing Sustainable Leadership
Perspectives
Leadership for the Fifth Industrial Revolution
Perspectives
Leadership Theory Overview: Part III, Sustainable Leadership