Given our polycrisis of social, environmental, economic geopolitical problems, increasing numbers of people are calling for systemic change, systems change and for systems thinking. ‘We need leadership,’ is something that we hear often.  Where might this leadership come from?   

As we have created a consumer society we have consumed half of all living matter on our planet – the planet is literally half as alive as it used to be. We need to see ourselves as part of nature, not separate from it.  To transform our society into one which {re}generates life on earth rather than destroying it, can we learn leadership skills from nature?

I enjoyed reading these ‘10 Leadership Lessons we can learn from Nature’ 

1. Respond to the environment
2. Adapt to change 
3. Cultivate collaboration 
4. Repeat successful patterns 
5. Implement small changes 
6. Acknowledge interconnectedness 
7. Repurpose resources
8. Practice patience 
9. Mentor future leaders 
10. Create structure

Yet leadership in natural systems comes from nowhere and everywhere. Do lions lead ecosystems by being apex predators or dung beetles by recycling manure? So perhaps the leadership we need in our society will come from no-one and everyone.  We will need to collaborate around joined-up Shared Outcomes. 

So let’s learn from Nature. Her lessons are not just nice-to-haves or motherhood and apple pie.  They are key to our prosperity and survival.