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Are you stuck in a paradigm paralysis?
"All truth passes through three stages.
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as self-evident."
-Arthur Schopenhauer
Change and disruption may seem to be new characteristics related to our modern world but are in fact not new phenomenon. They have been with us since the beginning of time, and some patterns seem to be repeated continuously.
Following her studies of change throughout human history, Connie Gersick described what…
What does opportunity mean to you?
Unleashing the potential of Better Business to address the wicked problems of the world provides vast opportunities - ultimately to build a better future. But what does opportunity mean to you? As inspiration, I've have selected some inspirational quotes from different eras and parts of the world to help get your mind on the journey.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
(Albert Einstein)
"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."
(Francis Bacon)
"Each …
Better Business is a key milestone
"Like the digital revolution before it, the sustainability revolution promises to change everything. Yet, just as with digital, many companies are moving too slowly, taking an incremental approach to a challenge that demands a radical rethink."
-World Economic Forum
The Sustainability Revolution is here, and today's sustainability trailblazers are leading the way. Better Business is a first and urgent milestone. Better Business is however not to be considered an end-destination in itself, …
Moving towards regenerative business models
In 1970, economist Milton Friedman wrote a New York Times article titled “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits.” In the article, Friedman argued that business leaders have no other responsibility than to increase the profits of the firm, and that anything other than a pure focus on profits is to be considered theft from shareholders, and socialism. This 51-year-old article has been attributed to the origin of the short-sighted shareholder capitalism that we have seen …
The consequences of the great acceleration
Over the past century, the world has seen unprecedented economic development and an exponentially growing population. Industrialization and globalization have led to wealth and prosperity; they have increased our lifespan by decades and brought billions out of poverty across the globe.
The exponentially growing GDP has simply created a brand new world over the last century. When my own grandmother was born in 1908, most Swedish households still had no electricity and none had the modern appli…
Sustainability concerns us all
Sustainability can be defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. At least as to the UN Bruntland Commission report ‘Our Common Future’ in 1987. By executive management teams and boards, sustainability has long been considered something outside of the core business. But times are changing.
Sustainability is no longer something for conscious consumers and brands in some of the most developed countries …
Growing vertically as a leader enables Better Business transformation
Have you heard about Vertical Leadership Development? It goes beyond traditional executive coaching methods and traditional leadership education - and focuses on expanding your mindset. You can learn more on Forbes, in Journal of Values Based Leadership, in Journal of Leadership Education, and in Harvard Business Review.
Why it should be of interest to you? Leaders on a higher level of vertical development have been proven to be considerably more successful in orchestrating organization-wide tr…
Build an integrated Better Business strategy
Sustainability strategy and reporting are still often seen as functional responsibilities, rather than something that is well-integrated in the overall business strategy and business model. However, this is changing. The notion of sustainable business is slowly shifting from the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, to one that is deeply embedded into the core business.
Patagonia and Unilever offer examples of companies that have integrated sustainability into their cores. For them, susta…
Live a higher purpose
A purpose is the reason for why something is done, created, or exists. A higher purpose is something to strive for that is bigger than you and your company. It often includes an important societal issue, where the company takes a stand.
We all want to matter and to make a difference in the world, at work, or in someone else's life. A “higher purpose” is how we find deep meaning and fulfilment in our lives by contributing to someone or something that is bigger than ourselves.
Companies that are…
Identify your Better Business opportunity
A business opportunity is generally considered an opening in the business environment that - when exploited - can create economic value.
Good business opportunities normally align with an organization’s competences and skills, are relevant for the current and future business environment, are possible to finance, and are verifiable.
But if you do not understand the wicked problems in the first place, how could you go about seizing the related opportunities?
There is help. The Agenda 2030 was a…