I have just finished reading a great book on this topic by Andy Hargreaves and Dean Fink. Their research is based upon studies of educational facilities but I think provides an insight into what sustainable leadership may look like in businesses too.

The research provides seven principles of sustainable leadership for sustainable schools:

1. Depth – purpose is important

2.Length – incorporates the idea that sustainable leadership is systemic and enduring rather than personality driven and transient.

3. Breadth – sustainable leadership is distributed leadership

4. Justice – sustainable leadership does no harm to any other party, it is socially just

5. Diversity – fosters diversity of ideas and approaches, mimicking the experimentation found in flourishing eco-systems

6. Resourcefulness – develops and does not deplete material resources or people

7. Conservation – honours and learns from the past to create a better future

Check it out http://www2.bc.edu/~hargrean/books.html

Josie

Take a look at Fortune’s assessment as to How Top Companies Breed Stars.  At first , there does not seem to be anything groundbreaking about their list. One item that did catch my eye was “Develop Team Not Individuals.” I am currently reading Senior Leadership Teams: What It Takes to Make Them Great which has been a  great read thus far.  More on it soon. There is also a nice case study on American Express which can be found here. – Scott J. Allen

Some of you may be involved in leadership activities and organizations within the community.  Often, this is a wonderful way to volunteer your talents, skills, and abilities to benefit good causes. 

A good resource to connect with is the Community Leadership Association.  The association offers professional development, resources, and even a conference to improve your knowledge.  Check it out!

- Michael McRee

Here is an article I found on the SHRM website. The article highlights a challenge in leadership development. There are a number of programs “called” leadership development, but the focus is anything but leadership. Take a look and see what you think. – Scott J. Allen

So often we view the undergraduate experience as the ideal setting for leadership development, and rightly so. Logic follows that most undergraduate students in America will hold some type of part-time employment before or during their undergraduate days. I now ask you, wouldn’t these work places prove just as opportune a setting for learning leadership skills as a college campus? I will spare you the many stories – arising mainly from dysfunctional management – of my first job, many of which could have been avoided with a better focus on intelligent leadership. After all, most leadership literature and consulting today is aimed at college degree-holding employees. I feel its time for employers of students to consider doing more for their workers than simply signing a pay check. – Jim Meehan