Effective Leadership

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Sustainable communities and businesses depend on the principles of sustainable development being applied by committed people on a continuing basis. The behaviour of people needs to be consistent with these principles in a natural way. For this to be achieved, effective leadership at every level sets a good example. This means 'walking the talk'. Real progress towards sustainable development depends on the willingness of people at every level to both give and accept effective leadership.

Styles of effective leadership for different situations

Three kinds of situation help to identify different styles of leadership appropriate for each situation. Each is given a descriptive title relating to the behaviour required from those being led. Two examples of each situation clarify the kind of situation being described:

• Command and compliance, for example:

  • a doctor prescribes a course of antibiotic pills for a medical condition, and the patient takes the medicine

  • a car breaks down and a technician uses expert knowledge to repair the fault or tells the driver how to   carry out the repair

• Involvement and commitment, for example:

  • The doctor diagnoses bronchitis and advises the patient to give up smoking in order to avoid recurrence of the illness; recovery depends on the patient changing his/her behaviour

  • a young adult wants to use the car; this requires commitment to learning how to drive properly and understanding how to find the way to and from selected destinations

• Participation in problem definition and problem solving, for example:

  • the patient's illness is hard to diagnose and there is no recognised treatment, as is the case with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as ME).  In these cases the search for a diagnosis and deciding which treatments to try are left to the patient,  with varying qualities of medical guidance

  • the car is in good repair and the driver is competent and knows how to read a map but there can still be problems caused by severe traffic congestion. The car mechanic, the driving instructor and map reading skills do not solve the problem. In may places with traffic problems a good diagnosis is lacking and the search for solutions is only just beginning, often involving all sections of the public.

The style of leadership in each of these situations is different. In the first pair of situations a directive style can work well. In the second pair of situations the 'leader' needs to gain some commitment and contribution from the person with the problem. In the third pair of situations the 'leader' needs to involve the people with the problem in the diagnosis as well as the solution. Today's complex world reveals an increasing number of situations like the third case. Participative leadership gains respect and is increasingly in demand. These leaders align the contribution of those being led and stand the best chance of achieving effective results

Aligning energy

This means that within organisations of all kinds and at every level the leadership approach needs to move away from command and compliance. Sometimes it is appropriate to move to involvement which gains the commitment of those being led. However, in order to establish sustainable communities a different leadership approach is required. This gains the enthusiasm and commitment of people at every level to join the search for a good diagnosis and then take part, with others, in finding appropriate solutions. This approach concentrates on aligning the energy of people behind attractive visions and goals with true commitment. Several organisations are now developing this approach and delegating more authority right through a 'flatter' hierarchy.

Managing with mixed disciplines across boundaries

Many of the complex problems in today's world require the contribution of people who understand various disciplines and have loyalty to different organisations. This means that people with different backgrounds, skills and interests need to work together to find solutions. Mutual respect and high ethical standards are a prerequisite for effective problem solving. With this approach solutions emerge that cut across boundaries between people and organisations. Successful negotiation at these boundaries requires a mature and responsible approach where people listen to and respect each other. At the global level it is salutary to remember that we share one world and need to accept that everyone has the right to a sustainable future.

Setting a good example, or "walk your talk"

A leader is best when people barely recognise that they are being led and when they succeed can all say "we did this ourselves". A good way to test whether you "walk your talk" is to see how many of the things described on the page on living lightly are part of your lifestyle.

New Leadership

New Leadership is run by Jonathan Wolf-Phillips of Cambridge, England (email: jwolfphilips@btinternet.com). Their vision is: organisations playing an increasingly significant role in developing a sustainable and meaningful future for the planet. Their mission is: to empower organisations to evolve into successful working communities that balance economic, environmental and social accountability with the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual.

A leadership acronym 

A leader who sets a good example is respected more than one whose behaviour indicates "do as I say not as I do". The acronym ATTRIBUTES, devised for this web site, provides guidance for achieving a sustainable future:

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Last modified 24 November 1999