Sustainable Leadership Programmes

Ania Smolka

Synopsis

The open space session facilitated by Ania Smolka on designing ‘sustainable leadership’ programmes was an intensive exploration of ideas on integrating sustainability into leadership practices across various organisational layers. Ania asked three teams to consider the challenge and we show their outputs below. As well, one of the teams highlighted the concept of Regenerative Leadership (subtly different from Sustainable Leadership). Below, you can download a PDF article on the relationship between this concept and Solution Focus.

Output

Team 1

Team 1 focused on ideas for implementing sustainability through live projects within the organisation. Participants would be encouraged to select projects they feel can bring about meaningful change within the company.
Throughout a development period of 3 to 6 months, leaders would receive educational modules, coaching support, and regular check-ins to facilitate learning and application of sustainability principles. At the project’s conclusion, participants would present their outcomes to higher-level management, demonstrating their initiatives' economic, environmental and social value.
The discussions also explored the crucial role of trainers in ensuring that sustainability principles were not only taught in leadership programmes but effectively integrated into these projects.

Team 2

Team 2 took a more conceptual approach, discussing the broader role of leadership in fostering a sustainable future by considering historical and contemporary contexts. They highlighted the importance of engaging younger members of the organisation, using interviews to gather fresh perspectives on sustainable practices and the importance of cyclic sustainability models (cradle to cradle).
The team advocated for a balance between innovation and tradition and promoted an experimental approach, where leaders are encouraged to test new ideas and share their experiences.

Team 3

Team 3 delved into the characteristics and actions of a sustainable leader, identifying them with the concept of “regenerative leadership” (see Appendix below). The team pondered practical actions that sustainable leaders could adopt, such as initiating each meeting with a sustainability-focused discussion.
They discussed strategies for embedding sustainable behaviour into existing projects and the broader organisational culture, emphasising the need for sustainability to be a core aspect of every decision and operation within the company.
The team also considered how sustainability education could be structured, recommending in-house courses that reflect and reinforce the company’s mission without altering its core objectives.

Conclusion and Article

This session underscored the necessity for leadership programmes to deeply integrate sustainability into all aspects of their curricula, leadership roles, and project management.
Ania Smolka facilitated discussions that led each team to identify actionable steps and theoretical frameworks that could help embed sustainability at multiple levels of an organisation.
The overarching message was clear - for organisations to truly embody sustainability within leadership programmes, it must be woven into the fabric of their operational and strategic frameworks, guided by informed and committed leadership.
You can read an article by the Editors on Regenerative Leadership and the Solution Focused Approach below.

Regenerative Leadership and the Solution Focused Approach