Future of Leadership in the Brave New World

We are in the liminal space where we have left the old world behind, and have not yet stepped into the new world. What is the future of leadership in this brave and unknown world?

Due to the COVID situation, we seem to be witnessing the truth that our amnesic memories had forgotten and our apathetic hearts had turned away from. That truth is that we are embodied beings and not mere machines and that we are part of nature and governed by its laws.

Just as other species have been made extinct through unconscious human activity (in 2020 alone 7 animal species in India went extinct, notably amongst them are Sumatran Rhino and the Indian Cheetah), today the invisible virus is causing the fatality of the human species. Therefore what seems bizarre to us, is also a reminder that we are not above the laws of nature.

This new world which is being born in front of our eyes is reminding us to remove the veils of unquestioned ways of living and asking us to live in questions, instead. One such question is “how did we become who we are today - individually and collectively”?

When we ask ourselves this question, in the quietude of our mind or in discussion with our tribe, we might unravel our history. This history may not be a pleasant one, and yet it will move us towards the occurrences of trauma that created our individual and collective present. And hopefully towards understanding how we forgot about sustainability, and if the means justified the end.

As we bring in the courage to move towards these historical occurrences or stories that we bought into, we will be able to step through the gateway that is taking us to the new world, with a newer yet wiser spirit. A saying goes “The only way out of the pain is through it”.

Our stepping through the gateway of fear – is in conjunction with the fear of letting go of all that we have learned and clung onto. And this stepping in is necessary so that a new leader is born for the brave new world. As it all unfolds it gets evident that the “Future of Leadership” needs to be all of the following:

Agile – It’s also called dancing in the moment. Since no one knows what the future will be like – leaders will be called to go back and forth and shift gears constantly. And this calls for agile leadership.

Brave – Brave enough to acknowledge parts of oneself that we hid away. Brave enough to step into our own ignorance as leaders. Brave enough to question the systems and structures that contribute to nature’s destruction or unquestioned ways of working.

Humble – It would be normal for leaders to declare themselves as learners instead of experts. The choice to say “I don’t know what to do in this tough situation but I need you all to help us” – is the only way to lead in this new world.

Integral – Integrate all areas of our humanness including our bodies and emotions into every aspect of our life, in the business world too. Instead of being cut off from emotions, becoming aware of them, and stepping towards the gifts they bring honors our natural humanness while creating a compassionate space for others.

Spiritual – Yes this has never been discussed in the boardrooms. But when grief, hopelessness, and fear are rampant, we know there is a part of this universe where faith, trust, and perseverance are the keys that keep the engines of hope and ambition revving.

To sum up, the future of leadership calls for agile, brave, humble, integral, and spiritual domains to be brought to the forefront.

Humans are also part of nature. And the evolution of all species has needed adaptive behaviors of the highest order. The future of leadership is living with an awakened heart and surrendering to our interdependence in the web of life.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house