Regenerative Leadership is a developmental leadership philosophy grounded in a living systems perspective that honors the inter-being of life through the cultivation of self-awareness and systemic awareness. It views the self as inherently whole and invests in its potential by eliciting self-reflection and personal agency to deliver on a deepening purpose.
Regenerative Leaders are both internally and externally focused. They attune to their own internal sensations, feelings, and emotions to better recognize patterns and blindspots. They also expand systemic awareness to include other individuals, populations, communities, networks and natural systems in their consideration. Regenerative leaders feel compelled to care for the whole while influencing organizational strategies and key choice points about how resources are generated and used.
This "eco-systemic awareness" is a shift away from the egocentric-driven values and behaviors that have been the dominant cultural narrative. We can no longer control our systems by designing them as machines and compartmentalizing them into predictable outcomes. We are becoming more aware of the unpredictable nature of complex, adaptive systems. Our decisions have a ripple effect and we are experiencing the negative unintended consequences of this imbalance.
It is now more important than ever to consider the well-being of others, especially those who have been historically marginalized. As we witness a social movement for justice, we have the capability to tap into a felt sense of grief for the other. As we watch weather patterns become more and more severe, we personally experience the impact first hand. We are not separate.
We need a regenerative approach to re-imagining an organization's purpose, including its social, economic, political, and ecological impact. Organizations have the potential to transform into living, resilient entities that thrive on triple bottom line impact. They have the power to re-define strategies that not only run a business but also unleash employee innovation and deeper purpose at work. This is Whole Systems Thinking in practice.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to have a conversation with us. We partner with conscious leaders who are ready to integrate regenerative thinking and frameworks into their strategic planning and change efforts. Stay tuned for our white paper on this emerging research in the coming weeks!
