We are holding a series of online dialogues to explore how we might develop our practice to develop a new kind of leadership.

Apart from the widespread confusion of leadership with leaders (i.e. people with power) we tend to think of leadership as requiring followers. This sets up a sort of dependency upon the more assertive among us.

This model of leadership no doubt has its value, in some circumstances, but it establishes hierarchies with few at the top and with most consigned to lowly roles. It is not adequate to enable the majority of people to live meaningful lives.

We need a different model.

Meaning derives from a sense of purpose. Leadership a process that aligns energy flows towards that purpose. An ideal society would provide opportunities for meaningful living to all its members, as they carve out their roles within it. Living in harmony with the world around them, they would consume no more than necessary (given the not-unlimited capacity of the planet). As they find fulfilment in a shared sense of purpose, their lives will fill with meaning. The society would thrive through unity of purpose, unlike our own society in which we are divided among ourselves.

Of course, this would require leadership to which everyone contributes in doing what they do. This is not leadership as we know it – the leadership of the power-possessing, deigning to manipulate the unwilling into coercive cooperation.

If you are interested in developing this new way of organsing together please do join the conversation.

Once you have booked your place we will send you details of how to join the conversation.

John Varney and Mike Chitty