The capabilities of effective leadership
MODULE 7
START
START
Effective leaders need a range of leadership skills
and capabilities to deliver future-focussed,
systems-wide change.
Guided by a clear purpose that aligns business success with delivering positive social and environmental outcomes, these capabilities can be developed and strengthened on an individual level
as well as collectively.
The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) describes the essential leadership capabilities as being built on three dimensions: thinking, values and practice.
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Introduction
Effective leaders need a range of leadership skills
and capabilities to deliver future-focussed,
systems-wide change.
Guided by a clear purpose that aligns business success with delivering positive social and environmental outcomes, these capabilities can be developed and strengthened on an individual level as well
as collectively.
The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) describes the essential leadership capabilities as being built on three dimensions: thinking, values and practice.
The capabilities
of effective leadership
Communicating for impact
In the net zero transition, businesses are typically operating in the context of uncertainty and incomplete data. Effective leaders are able to reframe their decision-making frameworks in the face of change to make informed and sometimes courageous decisions to achieve their vision of a net zero future.
Developing a longer-term mindset and systems-thinking skills is an essential part of
purpose-driven leadership. To drive change in complex systems, leaders need
to understand the whole system, appreciate a diversity of perspectives and identify opportunities for intervention.
Courageous decision-making
Systems thinking
Purpose-driven leaders build a sense of individual and collective agency to influence the change needed. They accept ownership and responsibility for their actions, decisions and outcomes, and commit to being part of the solution.
Collaboration across
boundaries
Accountability
Analytical thinking
Communicating
for impact
The systems-wide", climate-related challenges facing businesses today require leaders to
align their targets with the science and take an agile approach to assessing changing risks and opportunities.
Analysing the data behind the trends and working out which opportunities are worth pursuing helps leaders strategically shape and safeguard the future operating context for their business.
Purpose-driven leaders connect to personal and collective values and understand what inspires themselves as well as others. This enables them to create engagement and unlock the courage and motivation to deliver positive outcomes for society, business and
the environment.
Fostering
innovation
Unlocking courage and commitment
Click on the icons to explore each leadership capability.
Unlocking courage
and commitment
Understanding how to create or foster innovation in business models, products and processes helps leaders deliver on positive business performance as well as wider societal outcomes. By actively experimenting and nurturing creativity and agility, leaders can create new forms of value and transform organisations, sectors and value chains.
Leading transformative change means engaging with disruption, dissonance and complexity. Understanding the priorities and concerns of others and the complimentary returns from collaboration is a key part of building the capacity to collaborate effectively beyond traditional boundaries. Encouraging dialogue and building trust helps leaders navigate and alleviate tensions.
Courageous
decision-making
Gaining commitment for change undoubtedly requires clear and compelling communication of purpose, strategy and vision. Successful leaders can harness the power of storytelling to influence the wider system, practice active listening and create opportunities for a multitude of voices to be heard.
Fostering innovation
Collaboration across boundaries
Bibliography
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership [CISL]. 2018. Rewiring leadership: the
leadership we need, the future we want. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership [CISL]. 2018. Rewiring leadership: the leadership we need, the future we want. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Bibliography
In the net zero transition, businesses are typically operating in the context of uncertainty and incomplete data. Effective leaders are able to reframe their
decision-making frameworks
in the face of change to make informed and sometimes courageous decisions to achieve their vision of a net zero future.
Communicating
for impact
Courageous
decision-making
Collaboration
across boundaries
Developing a longer-term mindset and systems-thinking skills is an essential part of purpose-driven leadership.
To drive change in complex systems, leaders need to understand the whole system, appreciate a diversity of perspectives and identify opportunities for intervention.
Gaining commitment for change undoubtedly requires clear and compelling communication of purpose, strategy and vision. Successful leaders can harness the power of storytelling to influence the wider system, practice active listening and create opportunities for a multitude of voices to be heard.
Purpose-driven leaders build a sense of individual and collective agency to influence the change needed.
They accept ownership and responsibility for their actions, decisions and outcomes, and commit to being part of the solution.
Understanding how to create or foster innovation in business models, products and processes helps leaders deliver on positive business performance as well as wider societal outcomes. By actively experimenting and nurturing creativity and agility, leaders can create new forms of value and transform organisations, sectors and value chains.
Purpose-driven leaders connect to personal and collective values and understand what inspires themselves as well as others. This enables them to create engagement and unlock the courage and motivation to deliver positive outcomes for society, business and the environment.
Leading transformative change means engaging with disruption, dissonance and complexity. Understanding
the priorities and concerns of others and the complimentary returns from collaboration is
a key part of building the capacity to collaborate effectively beyond traditional boundaries. Encouraging dialogue and building trust helps leaders navigate and alleviate tensions.
The systems-wide,
climate-related challenges facing businesses today require leaders to align their targets with the science and take an agile approach to assessing changing risks and opportunities. Analysing the data behind the trends and working out which opportunities are worth pursuing helps leaders strategically shape and safeguard the future operating context for their business.
Explore each leadership capability.
5
Unlocking courage and commitment
Select a rating from 1 to 5 for each leadership capability, depending on whether you believe it is one of your strengths or if you think you could work to develop this skill.
Reflect on the list of leadership capabilities.
1
Communicating for impact
Collaboration across boundaries
Fostering innovation
Rate yourself from 1 to 5 for each leadership capability.
Courageous decision-making
1 is develop and 5 is biggest strength
Download
4
Fostering
innovation
Systems
thinking
3
Scroll right
Analytical
thinking
Results
2
Courageous
decision-making
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of which leadership capabilities you may wish to develop further, reflect on where you could find opportunities to strengthen your confidence in these areas.
Who could support you and give you constructive feedback? What tools, knowledge or practice might benefit your development? Also, think about ways that you could maximise the capabilities that you have identified as strengths. How are you currently demonstrating them?
Could you apply them in a new context? As a business leader looking to shape the net zero transition in your own context, cultivating these leadership capabilities further might help you gain wider commitment to your vision.
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Conclusion
Bibliography