A leader who has an impact is not one who wields authority with a scepter. It’s similar to steering a vessel through choppy water with your entire crew focused on a distant, lighthouse. Leading with Bradley Fauteux is about inspiring and motivating your team, as well as making decisions that ripple far beyond what you are doing. This involves fostering a greater sense of purpose beyond the daily grind.
What’s in the secret sauce? It’s nothing to do with a fancy dress or a lot of highfalutin terminology. It’s about having the guts to hold your team and yourself accountable. Knowing that today’s decisions will influence the future of our environment is important. Imagine a ripple caused by the dumping of a stone into a body of water. Your leadership is a pebble. And the waves are all the lives you have touched and the futures that you have influenced.
Sustainability is the key to impactful leadership. Contrary what some may think, sustainability does not mean that you have to save trees and hug whales. The ethos is to think long-term about the planet and its people.
Imagine if the leaders of today ignored sustainability at all. It would be like hosting a rowdy house party while leaving it in ruins. Leaders who integrate sustainable practices safeguard resources, strengthen communities, as well as create environments in which future generations can flourish. Think of it as a planting seed that will produce a beautiful oak tree tomorrow.
What drives leaders to champion sustainability in their organizations? Some may say it is corporate social duty or good public relations, but let’s not be fooled. Knowing you’ve created a cornerstone of everlasting change is the real reward. When you combine sustainability with impactful leadership, it’s not like playing checkers. It’s more like playing chess.
Let’s discuss how sustainable management affects the team. Ever noticed that people gravitate to vision and enthusiasm? When you add environmental and societal responsibility to your leadership style you become more than a “leader”. You’re a “visionary”. Team morale rises, and an air of shared purpose is created, which is more potent than a motivational poster.
Determining how to implement sustainable practices will attract talent just like honey attracted bees. Everyone wants be a part something bigger. By demonstrating commitment to sustainability, not only are you filling positions but also creating a long-lasting legacy. It’s important to offer young recruits the opportunity to make an impact, rather than simply clocking in their hours.
Now flip the coin. What will happen if we ignore sustainability? This is like building a beach sandcastle too close to the shore. While it may seem impressive at first glance, eventually, the sandcastle will crumble. You’ll run afoul not only of ever stricter regulations, but also consumer trends that favor eco-friendliness. This is like riding a biking without handlebars. It can be exciting, but only until it crashes.
Your team will learn valuable lessons of resourcefulness, innovation and collaboration by engaging in sustainable practices. Jane, from finance, might be working on ways to save energy or Bob, from logistics could be optimizing routes for delivery to reduce emissions. Surprise! Team members with hidden talents are often revealed by leaders who adopt sustainability.
Playing for the long term means sowing seeds that will sustain your culture. It is all about growing and nurturing positive change — beyond any tenure or cycle of business. You become something more than a job title or box. You become a brand that has a lasting, positive impact. The kind of legacy you leave behind that enriches not only lives but ecosystems as well.
What direction will your steps lead in this grand dance for leadership?