It’s a brave new world, right here, right now. Beyond doubt, there is an urgent need for mindful solutions in society, especially in regard to innovation, creativity and leadership. As researcher and leadership expert Margaret J. Wheatley says, “we need better means to engage everyone’s intelligence in solving challenges.”
Poet Gary Snyder says in his poem For the Children, “to climb these coming crests/ one word to you, to/ you and your children:/ stay together/ learn the flowers/ go light.” Positive organizations need this sustenance, passion, enthusiasm and hope to endure, and to co-create within community.
This session's topic has great impact on organizations and individual leaders and learners, addressing key themes. We’ll draw on the work of M.Wheatley, Y. Zhao, H. Tavangar and many others in advising educational leaders and organizations on how to thrive in challenging, dynamic global environments; P. Palmer (2015) in linking personal authenticity and accountability to effective leadership practices that effect social change; and O.Scharmer (2014) on the development of the globally recognized MIT edX course Transforming Business, Society and Self, a highly-recognized "learning environment that is personal, practical, relational, mindful, collective, and transformative." Many other organizational leadership models and examples will be referenced and actively evaluated.
In 2010, IBM interviewed 1,500 CEOs across the globe. All agreed on the following points:
1) complexity has escalated in organizations
2) organizations are not equipped to cope with this complexity
3) creativity and innovation are now the most important leadership qualities
Mindfulness allows individuals and organizations to adapt and navigate in a complex world, while maximizing creative potential. For creativity to thrive, the mind needs to feel empowered and free to explore. Organizational systems that prioritize leadership, freedom, and entrepreneurial creative spirit are adopting regular mindfulness practices, and this is yielding great benefits. Startup incubation is also at a record high, because many larger companies are now realizing the advantages of supporting those who focus on creative solutions and innovation. This has great applications and promise in the education arena.
Leadership has a call to action, in the need for mindful choices that foster creativity and social impact on a global scale. We are at a pivotal societal turning point: the United Nations has just adopted the 17 Global Goals, a series of worldwide values that unite the globe across all cultures, physical and political boundaries. Bridging these gaps, the ultimate goals are to seek better systemic solutions for effective, long-term change— sustainable change that reflects a set of common globe-wide values and leadership objectives.
Mindful Leadership complements these Global Goals across many categories, including “quality education”, “good health and well-being”, “sustainable cities and communities” and “partnerships for the goals.”
This session aims to address leadership practices and principles in education, applying them to co-imagine and invent ways to effect positive systemic change.
