Recently I have been asked to state my opinion on what is globally responsible leadership. Below is a brief summary of my understanding of this modern and important concept.
Evolution. The World and each of its elements is constantly in the process of evolution. This goes also for new knowledge, experience, and opportunities, as well as for problems and challenges. The more we know about the World, the more we find out about its complexity and interdependence and the more we realize how fragile these interdependences are. Take greenhouse gases (GHGs) for instance: only relatively recently we have discovered how their emissions from factories, automobiles, etc. are harmful to the environment and human health and how they can alter the global climatic balance. And we do not know even the half of the story!
In order to keep up with this “evolution” and consider the above-mentioned interrelations in our decision-making, strategies, and actions, we have no choice, but to push forward the evolution of such important “change-making tools”, as leadership. Nowadays it is no longer enough to lead your organization to success on the market, for example. Now the leader should consider and take the responsibility for what consequences on economy, society, and the environment his/her decisions and actions will have. This responsibility will make the leader strive for finding and implementing solutions to such global issues and externalities as climate change and integrate them into his/her business and way of living.
However, the majority, if not all global issues, or “bads” are public by their nature (that is, non-excludable and non-rival). This indicates the efforts of a single organization, even very large and international, are not enough to solve these issues in an effective and efficient way. Cooperation is necessary. But such unpleasant things as free-riding by other economic agents pose obstacles to this cooperation and motivation to strive for positive change. Thus, globally responsible leadership means not only acting as an agent of positive change, but also assuming the role of a drive force of bringing together other players on the global arena and leading them to common goals, in spite of all the challenges and obstacles.
So, to make it brief, in my understanding, globally responsible leadership is the way of making decisions and acting on their basis with taking responsibility for their consequences on economy, society, and the environment and contributing to reducing / eliminating negative and increasing positive impacts on the global level through driving forward the cooperation of all necessary agents.
But did you know that the best time to learn about and practice globally responsible leadership is when you are young and full of energy and desire to change the World?
Did you know that there exists a global student organization that is focused on “creating” globally responsible leaders?
Did you know…
Note 1: If you want to learn more about the concept of the globally responsible leadership, a recommendation is to see Quinn L., D’Amato A. (2008): Globally Responsible Leadership: A Leading Edge Conversation, Center for Creative Leadership.
Note 2: Discussion about the globally responsible leadership was inspired by the application to the Daimler World Dialogue 2011.
