Leadership for the Greater Good:

Reflections on Today’s Challenges from Around the Globe

We are living in an unprecedented time. While none of us have experienced the specific details of the challenges before us, we are not without resources to help see us through. ILA has invited well-known and respected thought leaders from around the world to share their leadership knowledge, wisdom, and viewpoint to inform and inspire us as we continue our collective work.

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We will post new reflections every week, so be sure to bookmark this page!

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The Power of Belief, The Triumph of Voice

ILA Fellow Katherine Tyler Scott discusses the re-emergence of autocratic leadership around the world and its ties to societal anxiety before exploring Ukrainian President Zelensky’s ability to use his voice to encapsulate the universal yearning of humanity to live free.

Sign saying Stop Putin's Aggression at Protest in London February 2022

Putinology

How long will the Russian people put up with Putin’s aggression in Ukraine? In an authoritarian state, you need the support of the elite. As living standards begin to fall and more Russian and Ukrainian lives are lost, Matt Qvortrup, an expert on comparative democracy, argues that Putin’s position will become more and more precarious.

Photo of Woman Holding a Rock

The Secret Life of Leadership Rocks

Rocks are referred to frequently in leadership literature — from “bedrocks” to “big rocks” and “touchstones” to “cornerstones.” In Aotearoa, rocks occupy an important space in Māori culture. Professor Chellie Spiller opens a window on this Indigenous wisdom, raising intriguing questions for leaders on the role rocks play in their organizations and their practice of leadership.

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May the Life-Force Be With You in 2022

Chellie Spiller discusses the important role leaders have in cultivating and nourishing the vibe or mauri (life force, vital essence) of an organization and of tending to the wellbeing of people, communities, and economies.

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End of the Age of Arrogance?

People in positions of power and influence, like Prime Minister Boris Johnson, tennis star Novak Djokovic, and Prince Andrew, seem to believe that they are free to operate above the rules. But the tide of public opinion is turning against these egregious displays of privilege and inequality. Dr. Richard Bolden uses these cases to shed light on the reciprocal and relational nature of leadership.

Leadership and the God of Small Things

In the middle of COP26, Keith Grint asks: “How do we mobilize the population to take responsibility for the planet when their personal contribution might appear to them to be materially irrelevant?” And, what does this have to do with notions about leadership, followership, and systemic change?

A Crisis of Trust

The level of distrust between individuals and within organizations has become so corrosive it demands the attention of every leader. Katherine Tyler Scott discusses the three Cs of trust: competence, character, and compassion.

Leadership as Integrity and Trust

Leadership is impossible without integrity, and integrity is inconceivable without trust. Erwin Schwella explores the interconnections between these concepts in his latest blog. He concludes, quite starkly that the flip side – leadership corruption – is deadly and kills.