Evolutionary Leadership The Importance of Systems Thinking in Creating a Sustainable World Sustainable Enterprise Conference Session 1 Workshop 2 May 2008 Alexander & Kathia Laszlo Miriam Karell and

The Basic Toolkit Evolutionary Leadership Knowing how to choose among existing alternatives as well as how to create new ones Systems Thinking Seeing things in terms of connected relationships, patterns and processes and not just in terms of separate objects, structures, positions Sustainability Strategy Understanding the objectives of sustainable business practice and knowing how to design for them

Evolutionary Leadership

Knowing how to choose among existing alternatives as well as how to create new ones

Systems Thinking

Seeing things in terms of connected relationships, patterns and processes and not just in terms of separate objects, structures, positions

Sustainability Strategy

Understanding the objectives of sustainable business practice and knowing how to design for them

The learning path of the Evolutionary Leader Personal mastery: Integrity and syntony sense -- from walking the talk to dancing the path. The embodiment of evolutionary leadership. Evolutionary Systems Thinking: Understanding patterns of change and our interconnectedness Strategy: Applying sustainability principles and practices, creating solutions, designing living institutions Collaboration and Communication: Bringing people together, harvesting diversity, engaging in conversations that translate the vision into commitments and actions, creating evolutionary learning community Shared Vision: A sustainable world through living institutions

Evolutionary Leadership Mindset - know-why Emergent Worldview Visions of evolutionary leadership Systems and evolutionary thinking Interdependencies of global dynamics knowledge Skillset - know-how Collaborative skills Strategic conversations for effective communication and action Sustainability principles and practices practice Heartset - care-why Learning from nature Syntony Sense: creative and intentional aligning with the dynamic harmony of our broader environment awareness

Mindset - know-why

Emergent Worldview

Visions of evolutionary leadership

Systems and evolutionary thinking

Interdependencies of global dynamics

knowledge

Skillset - know-how

Collaborative skills

Strategic conversations for effective communication and action

Sustainability principles and practices

practice

Heartset - care-why

Learning from nature

Syntony Sense: creative and intentional aligning with the dynamic harmony of our broader environment

awareness

Emerging Mindsets Win-Win-Win Win or Lose Life is value Money is value Networks Hierarchy Biomimicry World as machine The NEW story The OLD story

Life Cycle Assembly of Product Use of Product

Life Cycle

Bridging the gap Creative co-adaptation Vision of a Sustainable World Current Reality

“ A system is less a thing than a pattern” – Joanna Macy

System-defined “ A set of two or more interrelated elements with the following properties: 1. Each element has an effect on the functioning of the whole. 2. Each element is affected by at least one other element in the system. 3. All possible subgroups of elements also have the first two properties. In short, a whole made up of interdependent components in interaction is identified as a system. “ A system is less a thing than a pattern” – Joanna Macy Ackoff, Russell L. Creating the corporate future: Plan or be planned fo New York: Wiley, 1981. Pp. 15-16.

“ A set of two or more interrelated elements with the following properties:

1. Each element has an effect on the functioning of the whole.

2. Each element is affected by at least one other element in the system.

3. All possible subgroups of elements also have the first two properties.

In short, a whole made up of interdependent components in interaction is identified as a system.

What is Systems Thinking?  in order to both know and understand our environment, we must use analysis and synthesis analysis + synthesis = Systems Thinking Analysis Synthesis Structure (identification of components) Function (identification of role) Analysis Synthesis Knowledge (answers to “how to” & “what” questions) Understanding (answers to “why” questions)

A Systems View  Your World Universe Society Our Planet

Reconnecting Views Universe Our Planet Society Your World 

Sustainability Strategy Increasing Resource Demand Declining Resources Sustainable Demand Sustainable Supply Restorative Economy Restorative Economy Current Reality 2 Vision 1 New Reality 3 Bridging Gap

The Sustainability Learning Curve 2nd Stage 1st Stage 3rd Stage 4th Stage time 5th Stage conserve restore regenerate (co)create SAU BAU Compliance - reactive stance seeks to comply with regulatory standards Beyond Compliance - anticipatory stance seeks cost avoidance strategies Eco-Efficiency - proactive stance establishes profit centers Sustainable Development - interactive stance mainstreams environmental goals Evolutionary Development - integrative stance embodies and enacts conscious syntony

Sustainable Sustainable Development

Conversation as Strategy Conversation for relationship Conversation for learning Conversation for possibilities Conversation for action

A Systemic Process Emergent Self-organizing Interdependent Synergetic Evolving Laszlo & Karell © 2008

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination Talking the Talk Walking the Talk Living the Walk Dancing the Path

Talking the Talk

Walking the Talk

Living the Walk

Dancing the Path

Thanks! [email_address] www.SyntonyQuest.org [email_address] www.ThreePointVision.com