How to Be a Good Ancestor: Leading for Tomorrow
Sustainable Leadership for the Future
What does it mean to be a good ancestor? It’s a complex question. To be a good ancestor, instead of making decisions solely for your personal or immediate benefit, you must consider the impact those decisions will have on future generations.
Today, I have both bad news and good news for you. The bad news is that our current economy is designed to extract, produce, and dispose. This linear model depletes finite resources and creates an unsustainable amount of waste. The good news is that you can lead a shift in mindset and drive actions toward a regenerative and sustainable model, safeguarding the planet and future generations.
So, the question is: How can I make decisions like a good ancestor?
Lead with a Long-Term Perspective: Before making a decision, ask yourself, how will this affect future generations? This simple shift in perspective can completely transform your leadership style from short-term to long-term.
Adopt Critical Thinking: Don’t change the outcome; change the process. We are wired to make quick and simplified decisions. We need to train our thinking to focus not on what we do (e.g., consuming meat, driving cars), but on how we do it (e.g., unsustainable production, inefficient transportation).
Embrace the Circular Economy: Lead processes and projects that keep resources in use for as long as possible. This means creating high-quality products that can be repaired, reused, and ultimately recycled.
Promote Sustainable Education: Empowering others to lead responsibly amplifies the positive impact.
Being a good ancestor is more than an aspiration; it’s a responsibility. Every decision you make today holds the power to build or destroy the future. Seize your opportunity to create a positive impact that endures.