TtU's insights into the challenges and benefits of diversity of thinking in public and private organisations
All that we take for granted faces existential threat. Most people still struggle to accept that we must all live very differently and do so rapidly in order to ensure our very survival on this planet. But there are flag bearers for new sustainable thinking and living. Here we headline the inspiring lessons from some.
The intense ‘heat dome’ and rainfall events in North America, Central Europe and China have been overwhelming. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the scale of flood damage “surreal”. President Xi Jinping labelled “extremely severe” the implications of one year’s rain falling in Henan province over three days. But no one should consider these as a shock. The events are in line with scientific warnings. Leaders must expect and plan for even greater extremes.
Why do decision-makers consistently make such poor judgements? Why don’t they realise the huge costs, both financial and human? And what can they do to make better decisions? Those are the questions behind a new book called Noise, A Flaw in Human Judgement.
It is time to unleash human potential to new levels so that we can address the dual looming challenges of the pandemic and the climate emergency. Mikael Trolle says the only way to do that is to totally transform the prevailing leadership model.
The past year brought and accelerated great challenges. It also taught us a great deal on what a new way of leading needs to look like. The B Team CEO Halla Tomasdottir lists new positives after a year from hell.
All countries are facing the long ascent. We are joined by a single rope. We are only as strong as the weakest climbers. They will need help on the way up. The path ahead is clouded with extraordinary uncertainty. Faster progress on health measures, such as vaccines and therapies could speed up the ascent. But it could also get worse.
We must challenge our thinking on evaluation in government, accountability and performance in order to innovate, says Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.
While every organisation is different, common themes on what makes an adaptive organisation have emerged from our extensive research. They apply in both the public and private sector and regardless of location.
The extraordinary global anger after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25 has caught leaders off guard. It rightly ignited the largely suppressed issues of diversity, inequality, and above all race. Leaders have been shocked. They should not be.
NBIM is Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. It is one of the world’s largest. So its investment decisions have massive global influence. NBIM is invested in more than 9000 companies in more than 70 countries. It holds on average 1.4% of all listed companies globally. Therefore other leaders and investors need to take note of NBIM’s strategy to help reduce the climate risk, and promote sustainability. So what is it? Carine Smith Ihenacho is NBIM’s Chief Governance and Compliance Officer. Here she describes the uncompromising approach to investing in sustainability. She also explains the reasons.
Highlights from Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s discussion with Thinking the Unthinkable’s Nik Gowing, at the Kiev International Economic Forum.
For struggling leadership experimentation is the name of the game. Plus agility and capacity to test, redirect, stop and start again.