Strategy+Business – August 2019

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needs. We must engage our imagination to find new models of organizational
practice and governance. Most of these new models involve new levels of trans-
parency. Egregious practices that once seemed as though they could be hidden
will now be more likely to come to light.

• Rethink leadership. Perhaps most importantly, we need to recognize the
  inherent paradoxes that leaders must navigate today: to be technologically sav-
  vy and acutely focused on furthering humanity; to heroically drive change but
  remain humble enough to recognize our limits; to have the political skills to
  operate among diverse constituencies, but not lose our integrity; to prize that
  which came before and still drive massive innovation. Those who are followers
  — members of businesses, organizations, and society — should expect no less of
  their leaders. Everyone should recognize that at some moment in the near future,
  each person will be called upon to lead in some small way.
  These may seem like daunting or quixotic goals. But they are achievable.
  Indeed, many of them have matured in recent years, away from earlier ideal-
  ism and optimism, and toward more pragmatic understanding. But that, too,
  is reason for hope. We don’t know, right now, what solutions will work best for
  the crisis of legitimacy. But we know that there will be great opportunities, along
  with daunting challenges, involved in finding out. +

Resources
Colm Kelly and Blair Sheppard, “Common Purpose: Realigning Business, Economies, and Society,” upheavals reflect an ongoing misalignment between business and economies (on the one hand) and acceptable societal outcomes (on s+b, May 25, 2017: Today’s economic and political the other).

Bob Moritz, “The Confidence Premium,” s+b, Apr. 22, 2019: In PwC’s annual survey of chief executives, CEOs’ optimism about their own company’s
prospects is a leading indicator of broader economic prosperity. How, then, can we best foster confident CEOs?
Carlota Perez, Leo Johnson, and Art Kleiner, “Are We on the Verge of a New Golden Age?” s+b, Aug. 28, 2017: A long-wave theory of technological and
economic change suggests the financial malaise that began in 2007 may be about to end.
Tonia E. Ries et al., 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report, Edelman: Shows trust inequality at record highs and other significant survey-
based trends.
More thought leadership on this topic: strategy-business.com/world-view

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