Building Resilient Organizations
“Active values” is a business competency embraced by leaders who define success as making a positive difference in the workplace and in society as a whole. It takes both an inward and outward focus to realize the longer-term impact and the success of an organization’s sustainability efforts.
Sustainability Literacy
Sustainability literacy is the only leadership competency in the Sustainability Talent Management guide that refers explicitly to sustainability. Leaders who have a foundational grasp of the language and principles of sustainability are more likely to have the knowledge and mindset to understand its relevance to their business and society. Those who manage departments, budgets and staff need to be familiar with these ideas to bring them into their mandates and act on them.
Social innovation benefits one, all
Organizations that will survive in today’s economy are innovators: just to remain in the same place, they have to accelerate innovation in the firm. Companies that will thrive in today’s economy are those that embrace social innovation with its focus on innovating business for both financial and social success.
Making products a force for social good – not just “less bad”
Transformational companies integrate sustainability into the full lifecycle of product and service design, use and disposal. They advance sustainability through continuous improvement of core products and services.
External collaboration: Working collectively to find solutions
Collaboration isn’t a new core competency for business leaders; to succeed in organizations, leaders must work together with others. The shift, though, is the focus on external collaboration. Achieving sustainability goals and improving impacts requires that leaders join forces with other organizations to tackle systemic sustainability issues in the value chain and its operating context.
Systems Thinking: Connecting the Parts to the Whole
Forward-thinking companies should add five competencies – three skills and two knowledge areas – to their existing leadership competency models to position the firm for future success.