Natural Leadership as a Solution to Our Challenging Times
Throughout my years as a social scientist and while researching for my doctorate, I explored leadership theories ranging from the "Great Man Theory" posited by Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle in the mid-1800s to late 20th-century literature on leadership. This body of work shifted from a purely leader-centric approach to one focused on a follower-leader dynamic. Transformational leadership, servant leadership, and later "post-heroic," "post-transformational," or "distributed" leadership theories emerged, followed by the aesthetic, emotional, dramaturgical, and embodied leadership approaches. My thesis centred on a more recent, mindful-based approach to leadership. However, as a researcher and social change maker, I felt that these theories somehow missed the mark.
Leadership is undeniably a critical issue today, with the pandemic, economic crises, and social and environmental challenges demanding effective leadership. Unfortunately, a crisis of leadership in many areas has led to dwindling trust and faith in those in authority. To find the leadership answers we desperately need to cope with our increasingly disruptive times, I believe we must look back to alternative approaches with a proven track record. Luckily for us, such an approach exists and has existed for tens of thousands of years. As such, I propose that we explore an indigenous worldview inspired by the intelligence of nature as a potential solution to our current challenges. This philosophy emphasises the interconnectedness of all living beings and a holistic approach to leadership, which I term ‘Natural-Leadership.’
Natural Leadership encourages us to shift away from conventional beliefs that the world operates based on scarcity, individuality, competition, greed, resistance, and fear (unsustainable thinking/being), towards a paradigm based on realigning with spirit, respect, harmony, giving back, responsibility and wisdom (regenerative thinking/being). These natural, regenerative, perennial ways expand to a [W]holistic model of showing up in the world. By embracing this approach, we can learn valuable lessons to address current pressing concerns. Following, I highlight four domains of Natural Leadership as examples of how this may look in practice.
Leadership as Intergenerational Responsibility
An indigenous worldview promotes the concept of intergenerational responsibility, which urges us to consider the impact of our actions on future generations. This is especially relevant to environmental issues, where short-term thinking has caused long-term problems. The Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy, for instance, used a seventh-generation principle in their decision-making process, requiring leaders to assess the effects of their decisions on the next seven generations. Oren Lyons, an Onondaga chief, explained the principle: "When you sit and you counsel for the welfare of the people, think not of yourself, nor of your family, nor even your generation. Make your decisions on behalf of the seven generations coming."
Leadership Reciprocity
Reciprocity, another vital concept in an indigenous worldview, highlights the importance of giving back to nature and the community that sustains us. Many indigenous cultures have developed practices and ceremonies honouring this reciprocity. For example, the Potlatch ceremony of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest involves giving away material possessions to demonstrate generosity and redistribute wealth within the community. Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, a Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation, emphasised this value: "Our future is founded on our past, and we must embrace our mutual responsibility to care for one another and work together to create a world of respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation."
Leadership Led by Nature's Needs
An indigenous worldview also stresses the importance of connecting to nature. This connection entails not only appreciating nature's beauty but also recognising our interdependence with nature. The Maori people of New Zealand have a concept called kaitiakitanga, meaning guardianship or stewardship, which emphasises our responsibility to care for the environment that provides for us and future generations. Maori leader Pita Sharples stated, "Kaitiakitanga is about recognising our role as guardians of the environment, responsible for passing it on to future generations in a healthy state."
Leadership as Community
Lastly, an indigenous worldview underscores the importance of community and consensus-building. Many indigenous cultures have developed decision-making processes prioritising collaboration and consensus. For example, the Iroquois Confederacy's governance system required consensus among leaders to make decisions, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and encouraging everyone to participate in decision-making. Jake Swamp, a Mohawk chief and sub-chief of the Iroquois Confederacy, once said, "Our leaders were instructed to be men of vision and to make every decision on behalf of the welfare of the seventh generation to come."
Conclusion
Historically, indigenous ways of knowing and being were often marginalised or even ignored by modern thought leaders, who tended to prioritise their own frameworks and perspectives. However, recent research has revealed that indigenous thought has, in fact, influenced social change ideas since before the Enlightenment. This influence was often overlooked or underappreciated, leading to a significant gap in understanding the true origins of many progressive ideas. As we face an epoch of pressing social concerns, there is a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous wisdom in addressing these challenges. Scholars and thought leaders are now working to reconcile this previously dismissed knowledge with contemporary approaches, acknowledging the value of indigenous perspectives in guiding us towards a more just, sustainable, and interconnected future. By embracing the insights offered by indigenous wisdom, we can develop holistic solutions that account for the well-being of both people and the environment, ultimately fostering a more harmonious world.
As the first nations leader Chief Seattle once said, "Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." By embracing concepts such as intergenerational responsibility, reciprocity, connection to nature, and community and consensus-building, we can start constructing a more just and sustainable world for ourselves and future generations. Embracing the wisdom of an indigenous worldview in our leadership practices can guide us toward a future that nurtures our relationships with each other and the environment, ultimately benefiting all.
SUMMARY OF THIS ARTICLES MAIN TAKEAWAY POINTS
The article explores the evolution of leadership theories, which have shifted from a purely leader-centric approach to one focused on follower-leader dynamics, including theories such as transformational leadership, servant leadership, and "distributed" leadership theories.
It argues that existing leadership theories have failed to adequately address the global crises we face today such as the pandemic, economic crises, and environmental challenges.
The author proposes an alternative leadership approach rooted in indigenous worldviews and inspired by the intelligence of nature, termed as 'Natural Leadership.'
Natural Leadership encourages a shift away from unsustainable thinking (scarcity, individuality, competition, greed, resistance, fear) towards regenerative thinking (spirit, respect, harmony, giving back, responsibility, wisdom).
The author highlights four domains of Natural Leadership: intergenerational responsibility, reciprocity, leadership led by nature's needs, and leadership as a community.
Intergenerational responsibility urges us to consider the impacts of our actions on future generations, exemplified by the Iroquois Confederacy's seventh-generation principle in decision-making.
Reciprocity emphasizes giving back to nature and the community, illustrated by the Potlatch ceremony of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
Leadership led by nature's needs emphasizes our interdependence with nature and our responsibility to care for the environment, as shown in the Maori concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship or stewardship).
Leadership as a community underscores the importance of consensus-building and collective decision-making, as seen in the Iroquois Confederacy's governance system.
The article concludes by advocating for the acknowledgement and application of indigenous wisdom in addressing modern social concerns, underlining its potential in guiding us towards a more just, sustainable, and interconnected future.