Leadership and the Eco-systemic Self

Track: Deep Ecology and Ethics Justification: For sustainability conversations to thrive we need to move beyond the combative debating styles of communication and governance that dominate the political discourse. A number of... [ view full abstract ]

Track: Deep Ecology and Ethics
Justification:
For sustainability conversations to thrive we need to move beyond the combative debating styles of communication and governance that dominate the political discourse.
A number of protagonists working in the area of Sustainability Leadership, most notably Barrett Brown, have suggested that in order for sustainability to be effective in culture and organizational life there is a need for the evolution of Advanced Leadership Capacities. Chief among these are the development of a capacity to shift away from ego-based identifications to eco-systemic views of self and society.
Deep Ecology leads us toward such a dynamic view of the self. Both Naess’ definition of the ecological self as “that with which you identify’ and his conception of the self as a self-in-Self point us in the direction of an eco-systemic self. Both help to move away from separated individualism, where the individual is the sole locus of value, to appreciate the individual as a unique self-expression somewhat fluid, co-formed in dialogue with, while co-creating, culture and nature. This paper is an active post-metaphysical inter-active investigation and conversation about the qualities that are needed in order to cultivate an eco-systemic view of the self, an ecological ego and sustainability leadership.
It weaves together insights from Deep Ecology, evolutionary theory and developmental psychology.
Audience:
Decision makers, Political and organisational leaders
Purpose:
To further the practical application of DE theory in action for sustainability
Theoretical Framework: Deep Ecology; Developmental Psychology; Integral Philosophy: System’s Theory
Results/Conclusions: The dynamic view of the self, the cultivation of an ecological ego and an ability to move from mind-dominated to heart based modes of inter-being and inter-acting, in which we co-creatively partner the evolutionary process, are fundamental to the realisation of sustainability culture.
Tipping Points: We are at a point where we need to accelerate the evolution of consciousness and capacity to co-create eco-system conversations.
Key Words: leadership, eco-systemic self, ecological ego, psychology, integral