The Future of Environmental Psychology

I was delighted this month to be invited to give a talk to the faculty of the Santo Tomas University in the Philippines, on emergent models of Leadership that support climate change and sustainability.

An elective model, the faculty were keen to learn more about emergent theories of Leadership that can be taught in classrooms, as well as novel means of assessing their students.

Through my work in the Global Psychology Alliance (GPA) I have become increasingly passionate about how we can support all Leaders’ evolution, so that the wicked, complex problems our world faces can be solved.

And it is so clear to see that the old models of Leadership, those that arguably got us into this unbalanced, materialistic, mechanistic mess, in the first place, no longer apply. Out with the hierarchical, power hungry, psychologically unsafe, results at all costs, types of organisations. Those that have driven the pilfering of our resources and wellbeing. Now is the time to wholescale usher in a completely new approach.

In my view, we need to begin with Leaders looking at themselves as individuals, first and foremost. Getting to know their inner landscape, their gifts, their shadows, their priorities, and purpose. And this, in an ever-evolving manner, given that we all evolve and grow over time. We are rarely static. From this whole, alert place of knowing then, we can begin to engage with the wider systems at play, often with a reimagined, regenerative approach to how we design and run our organisations.

Multiple stakeholders’ group are rightly considered, including the communities that our organisations directly impact. Timeframes are lengthened and we begin to take decisions several (ideally seven) generations out. Sustainable and regenerative Leaders have the opportunity to engage in a symbiotic relationship with themselves, their organisations, and their communities. All directly feeding and fuelling and learning from each other. Tapping into our shared humanity, our shared resources, our shared emotions, and pitfalls. All of it. Beyond our ego and into our shared energy. Our spirituality even.

Organisations and their Leaders at the helm, have the opportunity every day to do harm or to do good. And we need to educate our current and our future Leaders as to this potential.

There is a myriad of theories from all disciplines that can be really helpful and supportive to this end, but more and more we need to take our theories out of the classroom and practice them in real life.

And that was my recommendation for the students in the Philippines. Encourage them to engage in local, climate positive actions like carpooling, litter picks, planting. Encourage them to teach and encourage other students at their university. Encourage them to engage with existing climate positive groups, and encourage them to boycott dangerous organisations that do damage. And then ask them to come back to the classroom and present. Let them be the teachers from the coalface. Let them inspire and teach each other and let this momentum spiral out into their families, their communities, and their organisations. Those they may work in today. Those that they may lead tomorrow. That is the future of Leadership and why the old models no longer apply.

If any of this content resonated with you, and you would like support to re-imagine your approach to Leadership as an Individual, an Organisation or a Community, then please get in touch!