1st Edition
Leading Beyond Sustainability Six Aspirations for a Brighter Future
The 2020s present a decade of unprecedented disruption. We have now reached a point where people are overwhelmed and numb to the ever-present news of threat after threat, and challenge after challenge. It’s time for leaders to tell a different story of six powerful aspirations – connection, vitality, peace, abundance, opportunity and wisdom. This is a vision "beyond sustainability", to inspire organisations and people to bring the best of who they are into service of the brighter future that is already emerging.
Alongside the obvious disruptive challenges of climate change, wars and the pandemic, technology has evolved at a blistering pace. Through technological advances in five sectors – energy, transport, materials, food and manufacturing – we are already transforming the world as we know it. The book seeks to give readers the confidence that there is real hope for a brighter future for our world using these developments and other innovations.
The text is supported by inspiring case studies of people and organisations who are already doing amazing things. Crucially, the book highlights the many ways that leaders and organisations can contribute to a better world and encourages dialogue between organisations and people who might not naturally connect. It describes 12 archetypes in organisations that must collaborate in teams to deliver solutions. It also emphasises the need for wise leadership and conscious alignment of everyone to our "brighter future".
A manifesto for positive change, this is the perfect book to help turn the UN Sustainable Development Goals into action and to envisage a positive future for leaders at every level in organisations.
Introduction: Why "beyond" sustainability?
PART I What is beyond sustainability? The six aspirations
1. The power of connection
2. The freedom of peace
3. The joy of vitality
4. A spirit of abundance
5. Infinite opportunity
6. Profound wisdom
PART II Leading a diverse team of players
7. A role for everyone: twelve archetypes
8. Who are you and how do you relate to others?
9. Leading the action
PART III The Wisdom Code: why mankind needs a new approach to personal, corporate and global leadership
10. Why wisdom and why now?
11. The Wisdom Code
PART IV Global alignment
12. Total and conscious alignment to a brighter future
Biography
Clive Wilson is an author, speaker, facilitator and leadership coach who has specialised in "purposeful leadership" for over 20 years. He has two previously published books: Designing the Purposeful Organization and Designing the Purposeful World. His passion is to help leaders consciously create the conditions for a brighter future. He has worked extensively across all continents and with many household-name businesses.
"Very helpful, useful and inspiring."
Satish Kumar, Founder of The Resurgence Trust, Editor Emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist magazine, vice-president of RSPCA, Oxfam UK Ambassador and author of countless articles and books including No Destination
"Reading Leading Beyond Sustainability has inspired me to contribute to making our collective future as bright as possible. It has helped me make more sense of our world, relate deeply to the challenges we face, and has given me more courage to do something about them. On reflection, I can do much more. I’ve taken a personal vow to collaborate, to lead, and to act 'beyond sustainability'. I very much appreciate this book. Thank you, Clive."
Neill Morley, Senior Business Engagement Manager, DLA Piper
"Whether you think you can make a difference for a more sustainable world or not, this book is for you!"
Amcara, Consultants in Consciousness Evolution for a Sustainable World
"Clive Wilson’s book Leading Beyond Sustainability is an essential read for people searching for universal wellbeing. By following his unique perspective of six aspirations – Peace, Connection, Abundance, Vitality, Wisdom and Opportunity, people can have a brighter future and live in a better world. In his aspiration for peace, which he defines as no war and declining violence, he introduces a radical idea, Establishing Departments / Ministries for Peace in every government of the world, an idea which he got from my book How Not To Go To War. This idea has the potential of building a peaceful world by proactive actions to stop the potential conflicts before they start. Leading Beyond Sustainability is a ground-breaking book which has the potential of building a safe, equitable and sustainable world."
Vijay Mehta, Author of How not to go to War and Chair Uniting for Peace; Founding Trustee, Fortune Forum Charity; Board Member, GAMIP (Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace)
"Clive’s book is a massive undertaking encouraging us to engage in securing a brighter future. The book’s scope is broad covering what Clive calls his six aspirations, or you could call them pillars, that frame the undertaking of creating a brighter future. The aspirations of connection, peace, vitality, abundance, opportunity and wisdom create a vast compelling picture to guide us. His narrative is enlivened by the stories of people he has met or worked with and each chapter ends with an invitation to research, reflect and decide your own actions towards a brighter future.The book is also about leadership beyond sustainability and Clive’s leadership framework, also illuminated with stories, is easy to follow and linked to his aspirations. Because the book is also an invitation to notice, encourage and celebrate actions that are moving us towards a better future I recommend reading the book twice (at least!) The first time to embrace the hypothesis and stories and the second to follow Clive’s encouragement to research stuff for yourself and also to connect with your own life story."
John Campbell, Founder of Primeast
"Clive is a true advocate of leadership and has held a life-long career supporting leaders to create a vision in which purpose sets the foundations for delivering success. In his latest book, he brings to the forefront innovative thought-provoking concepts which take "Leadership Beyond Sustainability", inspiring those who recognise that leading means much more than just economic success. Good leadership contributes positively to the world in which we live and supports our global environment, now and for the future. Clive presents real-life examples to demonstrate ways in which high performing teams are aligned to the world in which we all live.
Once again, Clive has produced an insightful and interesting read for anyone looking to develop their knowledge of leadership and I highly recommend it to those who aspire to shape a sustainable future for their business and for future generations."
Tim Hopkinson, Director, E. Poppleton & Son Ltd, Wales
"This is a beautiful, thought provoking book, full of gently challenging questions and inspiring stories of people who possess a willingness to believe that we can all, in our own small and unique ways, change the world. It is a book about the power of noticing, and the power of gratitude. In this work, Clive has also provided us with a workbook to help us with our reflective practice and space and time to think about how we are going about our work in relation to ourselves, those that we love, those who we work with, and our relationship with the world. I don't know anyone else who could have written this book. It is a testament to Clive's energetic, unapologetic and enthusiastic optimism, and to our shared belief in the possibility of something better."
Matt Walsh, Consultant and past Chief Officer in UK National Health Service
"Holding the tension between the beauty and sometimes brutality of life, Clive Wilson, in Leading Beyond Sustainability, boldly envisions with examples from around the world how we all, as leaders, can build on those that have gone before us to go beyond sustainability and reach that brighter future for all."
Chris Burford, Turnaround Director and Psychotherapist
"This important book is what our world needs at this point in time when we are constantly bombarded with negative news and disparity. Clive is generously providing lots of convincing sources of data, cases, own experiences, constructive ideas and reflective questions which is both encouraging and inspiring guidance for how you can act and contribute to a more sustainable life for all on this earth!"
Tor Eneroth, Founder, Amcara
"Reading Clive's book is like sitting by a warm fireside with a mug of (sustainably sourced) cocoa, while a kindly wisdom keeper shares his knowledge, experience, passion and encouragement so that we, the readers can move to deeper levels of being. From that space, we can be inspired to join the global movement that is already transforming life on earth."
Phil Clothier, Founder, Amcara
"This book is truly wonderful with so many different voices testifying to a future that is very much in play."
Francesca Walker-Martin, Reader in Work Based Learning, Degree Apprenticeship Lead at the University of Central Lancashire, CMI Approved Centre Director and ASET Chair
