Introducing ... Human Side Notes
What does it mean to lead on the human side of history?
It’s increasingly hard to ignore the fact that we’re living through history. Multiple domains of the human experience are being disrupted and transformed at a speed and scale that overloads our capacity to process and adapt. And the existential nature of some of the change – and the existential hyperbole about everything else – means our anxieties often impede our ability to make sense of how we got here and where we are going.
What is this project all about?
It’s hard to be a human right now. It’s even harder to lead other humans.
In prior eras, leaders could rely on their expertise, experience and world view to confidently define the next right action. Today, many leaders are realizing the limits of old mindsets and methods given the complexity and turmoil evolving in real time.
As the context becomes ever more uncertain, the job of moral leadership is to clarify what matters and motivate people toward a common goal. That means leaders need new capacities to navigate the age of artificial intelligence, post-truth media, climate change, multipolar power dynamics – and all the vibes and consequences (intended or otherwise) those forces unleash.
That is the focus of this project: to discover those new capacities by wrestling with the pressures on and paradox of moral leadership in this age. Moral leadership is inherently concerned with understanding the human side of decisions guided by ethics, integrity and a commitment to the common good.
Why join this project?
I’ve spent my career helping purpose-driven leaders and organizations advance their vision for a more sustainable world. I’ve advised Fortune 100 executives, global nonprofits, billionaire philanthropists and multilateral coalitions on how to understand and balance the interests of the communities and ecosystems they serve within the realities of the market and attention economies. Together, we’ve been proving that ‘for good’ solutions can generate meaningful returns on investment, both financial and humanitarian.
The counsel and support I provide to clients of all types has been aligned to what had seemed a growing consensus that each sector had a role to play to ensure a sustainable future and that there was shared value to be created together. But this everybody-wins outlook is crumbling in the face of uncertainty and complexity.
At the moment, the principles that guide purpose-driven work don’t appear strong enough to counter polarization, protectionism and the politicization of many ideas that contribute to society and the environment. So we need to find a better, more durable way to advance them.
If we are to find our collective way to a resilient future, we’ll need to become the leaders we are looking for. And that will require us to understand the world in new ways, consider multiple perspectives on the challenges we face and adapt and grow to meet the moment – and beyond.
Why subscribe?
Curiosity sparks growth. And curiosity can be directed by posing ‘powerful questions.’ These are open-ended provocations that invite reflection and prompt deeper understanding. They are designed to move us out of limited binary either/or, yes/no constructs to embark on a both/and inquiry that opens up new possibilities.
Each post will center on a powerful question as a frame for exploring perspectives on moral leadership and the human side of decision making. I’ll also share side notes about resources that may help expand our capacity to grapple with multifactor complexity and become the leaders our world needs.
Together, this community can help rewrite the future to ensure we end up on the human side of history.
Learn more about me here.