Our Role in Shaping the Future - The Power to Create Change

April has flown by - easter break and some time off usually means that I have less time writing. Whilst I am not a writer, it is helping me to make sense of my thoughts and the world. It is my hope that some of my thoughts are useful and thought-provoking to you as we each build on each other’s ideas.

This month, I took a deep dive into the relationship between the state of the world (however big or small a lens you want to take) and our ability to influence change through our way of being. Whilst it may sound like a very small and perhaps futile contribution, I have come to observe that our way of being is the greatest and most powerful gift at our disposal.

As organisational leaders, we have a unique opportunity to shape not just our companies, but the future of business and society. The principles discussed in this article are particularly relevant to those in leadership positions, as our way of being has an outsized impact on our teams, stakeholders, and the broader ecosystem in which we operate.

We live in difficult times, and if you are anything like me there are moments were the weight of the world seems too heavy - escaping it through work, hobbies or a netflix-binge are a welcome relief at times - despite it fuelling an even deeper sense of helplessness and apathy.

But what if each of us was born precisely for this moment? What if our purpose is to be exactly where we are now, contributing to and co-creating our collective future?

We may not have realised our capacity for change yet but we can begin together.

It is in our shared humanity that we can find ways to contribute to a better future for all.

While some suggest dramatic life changes like quitting your job to pursue world-changing work - admirable as it is -  this path isn't necessary or realistic for everyone.

Instead, the most powerful shift isn't changing what we do, but how we do it.

By transforming our approach to daily life, we can help create a future that safeguards the survival and thriving of future generations, nature, and all beings. This requires connecting to our own way of being and coming together in new ways.

Whilst our systems are designed for individual success, the future is created right here, in this moment, through:

• The quality of our interactions with each other

• Our presence - how we show up from the inside

• The quality of our attention on what truly matters

• Our level of care for each other and the environment

• How we connect to our own way of being

The purpose isn't to create a distant future but to embody the future we desire through our present ways of being.

Imagine if we all looked beyond our individual bubbles and paid attention to:

• How we relate to one another and our environment

• The ways we co-create, co-shape, and co-experience the world

This shift in awareness could create seismic change. Even those working in extractive or exploitative fields would not need to be paralysed by the enormity of systemic change. We each can step into our agency over how we show up in each moment.

This shift in being - with each other, ripples far beyond our own actions - it spreads.

Have you ever changed how you usually engage with someone? Maybe the person at the supermarket check-out? Or a stakeholder at work that is usually challenging to engage with?

The moment you shifted your way of being - you receive very different responses and the quality of your interaction changed.

Shifting how we engage with each moment energises and lifts us out of apathy and fear. By not denying our freedom and responsibility, we can inhabit this moment in ways that embody the world we want to live in.

We alone are capable of and responsible for how we show up. On a practical level, this transformation involves:

• Relating and engaging through presence

• Deep listening

• Slowing down

• Co-creating through dialogue

• Being comfortable with ambiguity and not knowing

• Acknowledging the pain and suffering around us at all levels

Practicing these ways of being will change your:

Individual experience - enhancing a leader's ability to make decisions that consider long-term impacts and broader systemic effects, moving beyond short-term gains to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Interpersonal dynamics - bringing this level of presence and intentionality to stakeholder interactions, leaders can build deeper trust, foster more collaborative partnerships, and navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments more effectively.

Organisational culture - creating a ripple effect throughout the organisation. Teams begin to mirror these behaviours, leading to a more conscious, engaged, and purpose-driven organisational culture.

Central to this approach is attending to our interior condition - our state of being, our deeply held values, and inner life that we easily neglect, as most of education and society has placed little importance on this for sometime. By beginning to relate differently through our presence and engagement, we create ripple effects that can ultimately influence even the largest systems we feel powerless to change.

Through shifting our way of being, we create pockets of change that gradually transform our world - not through grand gestures, but through the authentic embodiment of the future we wish to create.

If you are ready to bring a more intentional way of being into your way of leading, here are some reflective questions to get you started:

Self- Awareness/ Inner Presence

• What would change if I approached this moment with genuine curiosity rather than certainty?

• What assumptions am I making that I could set aside to see this situation more clearly?

• What values am I embodying in this interaction, regardless of what I'm saying?

Interactions/ Relational Presence

• Am I truly listening to understand, or am I just waiting for my turn to speak?

• Am I relating to the whole person before me, or just to my idea of who they are?

• What would change if I approached this interaction believing this person has something valuable to teach me?

Group Dynamics/ Collective Awareness

• How are we making space for both action and reflection in our work together?

• What unspoken norms or patterns might be limiting our collective creativity?

• How might we shift from debate-style discussion to genuine dialogue where new understanding emerges?

Organisational/ Systemic Awareness

• What would change if we considered the impact of our decisions seven generations into the future?

• What living systems (ecological, social, cultural) are affected by our work that we rarely consider?

• How do the structures we work within shape our thinking in ways we might not notice?

To integrate your reflections into a daily Practice - consider these:

• What one interaction today could I approach with radically different quality of presence?

• How might I create small "pockets of pause" throughout my day to reset my attention?

• How might I transform a routine interaction into an opportunity for genuine connection?

• What would it look like to treat this mundane activity as sacred or significant?

And if you are ready to move your reflections into actions here are some Leadership Practices for Embodied Change:

• Start meetings with a moment of mindfulness to set the tone for focused, present engagement

• Implement 'reverse mentoring' programs where junior staff share insights with senior leaders

• Create 'purpose circles' where teams regularly discuss how their work aligns with broader organisational and societal goals

Note: some of these I will address with more detail over the coming months, so keep an eye out.

As leaders, we have the power to shape the future of our organisations and beyond. I challenge you to choose one principle from this article and intentionally apply it in your leadership role this week.

Share your experiences and let's learn from each other as we co-create a more conscious approach to leadership.