How are you taking responsibility for a sustainable world?

Earlier this year, I wrote the first part of my article "Is your organization wise or smart?" Today I put the question to you: How do you take responsibility for a sustainable world? This in response to the article "Different approaches toward doing the right thing: mapping the responsibility orientation of leaders”.

In their article, Pless, Maak and Waldman (2012) present four leadership orientations: the traditional economist, the opportunity seeker, the integrator and the idealist. In this piece, I will walk you through them one by one.

The traditional economist

The traditional economist sees his task as realizing economic value for shareholders. He is motivated to cut costs and maximize profits. With his rational and analytical approach, he has a rule-based management style with autocratic traits. With the traditional economist lurks the risk of myopia. By looking purely at money, he runs the risk of losing sight of the broader interest.

The opportunity seeker

The opportunity seeker realizes long-term economic value for shareholders and if it is advantageous, he certainly looks at the "stakeholders" as well. He is motivated by competitive advantage and a good reputation for his company. He has a mostly rational outlook and a transactional leadership style. With the opportunity seeker, there is a risk of chasing opportunities, with the opportunity seeker also losing sight of the broad perspective.

The integrator

The integrator creates long-term value for the "stakeholders" both for his company and for society. He is motivated by shared values and principles. In his actions he brings reason and emotion together and exhibits a transformational leadership style with which he empowers others. The integrator faces the risk that shareholders may find the social perspective "too expensive.

The idealist

The idealist realizes long-term value for a specific "stakeholder in need" or for society, being motivated by psychological satisfaction. He starts from his emotions and sets himself up as a servant leader. The idealist's pitfall is underperformance (financially), which can jeopardize the ideal.

Are you doing the right things?

Reflecting on yourself, how do you view your leadership? What orientation do you (un)consciously assume? And is that an orientation that is sustainable for you and society?