Sustainability Leadership as 21st-Century Leadership

Contextualizing our Leadership Education Approach to Complex Problem Solving: Shifting Paradigms and Evolving Knowledge: Priority 5 of the National Leadership Education Research Agenda 2020–2025

“…According to UNESCO, the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development relies on the leadership and contribution of informed citizens, including in the areas of peace promotion, conflict prevention, inclusion, and social cohesion (UNESCO, 2019). Shriberg (2012) asserted that sustainability leadership is 21st century leadership. In this spirit, it is submitted that sustainability is an exemplar and representative complex problem; it is both a purpose and method, a process and outcome, and it incorporates a crucial duality of deconstruction (critique) and reconstruction (hope and action).…”

“…Shriberg (2012) asserted that sustainability leadership is 21st century leadership. In this spirit, it is submitted that sustainability is an exemplar and representative complex problem ; it is both a purpose and method, a process and outcome, and it incorporates a crucial duality of deconstruction (critique) and reconstruction (hope and action).…”

University of Michigan’s Sustainability Scholars Program: Empowering Leaders

“…Successfully preparing students for sustainability leadership poses a particularly difficult challenge due to the "wicked" nature of environmental issues. 2 "Wicked" problems are characterized by uncertain facts, conflicting values, high-stakes decisions, and a sense of urgency, and they require an extended peer community for resolution. 3 The wickedness of environmental and interrelated social problems, coupled with the difficulties of defining sustainability and identifying clear solutions, requires institutions of higher education to cultivate a specific set of skills and knowledge in order to prepare students for leadership opportunities.…”

Wicked Leadership Competencies for Sustainability Professionals: Definition, Pedagogy, and Assessment

“…10 Hence, traditional leadership theories emphasize attributes and actions of leaders (e.g., leaders are authentic, charismatic, honest, empathetic, visionary, servants) and how they motivate followers (e.g., through transformative motivation or transactional exchange). 7,9 This focus on leaders and their characteristics has been popular and effective but, the authors and others argue, it is less appropriate for wicked sustainable development challenges. 4,11,12 Instead, the authors recommend (and teach) the theory and practices of shared leadership.…”

“…[1][2][3] Not surprisingly, there is debate about which leadership definitions, theories, and practices are most relevant for sustainability challenges. [3][4][5][6][7][8] This article contributes to this body of work by proposing and assessing a specific set of leadership competencies that sustainability professionals need in order to address the distributive, collaborative, and adaptive dimensions of wicked situations.…”