What does leadership in the future look like?

What does leadership in the future look like? People around the world are deeply disappointed by the example set by many leaders. As a result, many young people involved with our work have often said how they dislike the term “leadership” altogether. This is one of the reasons why we called our book “The Change Makers Guide to New Horizons: Organising Differently for a Sustainable Future”. It is also one of the reasons why we are developing a “Next Generation Change Makers” programme. Watch this space.

There is hope! A growing movement of people are determined to bring about change. For decades, a myriad of new and different leadership approaches have arisen. Many of these share an underlying conviction about the compelling need for more sustainable leadership. They share a growing sense of urgency about the need for fresh approaches that address environmental and social injustices in a rapidly changing context, including technological change.

All of these tackle injustice in one form or another: some emphasise social injustices, others highlight environmental injustices, most bring them together. Our model is based on 4Ps of People, Planet, Prosperity and Purpose; for more background and insights about this, see chapter 12 of our book.

New approaches in practice – last week we were with Ella’s, an organisation devoted to doing everything it can to ensure survivors of trafficking and exploitation have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free. The session was facilitated in an inspirational way by Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, one of our Advisors. Here is a picture from the day. Ella’s are an excellent team of change makers determined to meet today’s challenges in effective ways.

Change maker of the week:

Polly Courtice quote: “a leader is someone who crafts a vision and inspires people to act collectively to make it happen responding to whatever changes and challenges arise along the way. A sustainable leader is someone who inspires and supports actions towards a better world.”

Best wishes
Rosie, Lorna and Ian

Who can we learn from?

Most of us contribute to organisations and movements in one form or another. Who can we learn from? Extinction Rebellion has received a very great deal of international attention. What lessons are emerging? A very recent Netflix documentary provides some fascinating insights: click here to watch a trailer of the documentary or you can read an article about it here. Some of the most salient points are not new such as the importance of leaders listening, being open to challenge and being willing to change. Other points are new insofar as we all need to keep exploring and committing to transformational ways to bring about systemic change.

Most of us are also concerned about education at all levels, including tertiary. Who can we learn from? Tertial level education refers to all formal post-secondary education e.g. universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools. Here is an article which explores re-thinking tertiary level education. In this article, institutions across the world are called upon to “re-design their concern (purpose), conception (operation) and consequence (impact) if they are to make the substantial positive difference to the chances of global survival and well-being that they are uniquely capable of.” This is especially important in the context of challenges facing us all, including the environmental crisis.

Change is not quick enough. The reasons why tertiary level educational is not reinventing swiftly enough vary, including because many have departmental silos limiting collaboration. Deeper barriers to change also exist. This article, focusing on the UK, highlights how only around “a fifth of Universities have made genuine attempts to address the legacy of colonialism.”

Who else can we learn from? Many individuals do outstanding things. One of these is our long- standing Advisor, Sue Stockdale. Sue inspires us all to keep stretching what we can do. She has just published a new book and you can read about it here.

Change Maker of the Week:

Quote of the week: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; but when you listen, you learn something new.” Dalai Lama

Best wishes
Rosie, Lorna and Ian

How can coaching and mentoring help leaders?

Many people at the frontline of change can face huge hurdles. Coaching and mentoring are powerful ways for leaders to be supported. And creating an environment that allows change makers to thrive is important. The role of Allyship is relevant to this: you can find out more here - this is a recent ripple paper called “Allyship – Journey to Justice.” Special thanks to Jade Dalton and Dr Lynne Sedgmore for creating this.

What is Allyship? Like mentoring and coaching and other important forms of relationship, Allyship shares an underlying aspiration: to help others to grow and to reach their full potential. What’s distinctive about Allyship is that it is conscious and deliberate about tackling injustices. Hence, in the title of the paper, the link between allyship and a journey to justice.

We’re exploring ways to expand and improve our coaching and mentoring. We want to contribute to enabling the next generation of leaders – especially women, environmental and under-represented change makers – to make a transformational difference. A group of around 15 people are meeting regularly to take this forward.

Recently, Iain Patton started in a new role with us. He is leading our efforts to progress our coaching and mentoring and link to supporting next generation change makers. If you’re in a position to volunteer in some way, then please contact Iain and he can explore this with you (click here to connect)

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
“We need to learn to see challenges as stepping stones instead of hurdles. They can really bring you experience and closer to your goals." Rebecca Garcia

Best wishes
Rosie, Lorna and Ian

How can we improve our sleep to support wellbeing?

We support individuals and organisations to “strengthen their resilience”. This is one of our strategic goals. Part of this relates to the importance of taking care of our health and wellbeing, especially given the pressures faced. How can we all do better in taking care of ourselves and those around us?

Sleep is often not given much attention, yet it is crucial to our health and wellbeing. How can we sleep better? And what are the benefits? According to scientists we spend around 30% of our lives asleep. Recently we did some learning about it with a sleep specialist, Joanna Kippax from Wye Sleep. She underscored what a big difference sleep makes. See our infographic (below).

For instance, whilst it’s often stated that people need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night on average, the need for it changes every day. Joanna highlighted how sleep helps our memory. Also, how it is an important to learning. Furthermore, during sleep the brain is “power washed” and waste products are removed. It can be damaging if you don’t sleep well for an extended period.

Sleep is sometimes compared to surfing?! To catch the wave as effectively as possible, a surfer needs to have the best possible preparation, timing, environment and mindset. It’s similar for a good sleep. Many things can interrupt us of course. Hence, like surfing, sleep is not easy.

There are steps we can take to build the need for sleep: e.g., exercise and being mindful of screentime. To find out more, watch this 13-minute Ted Talk.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
“Discover the great ideas that lie inside of you by discovering the power of sleep." Arianna Huffington

Best wishes,
Rosie, Lorna and Ian

How can we all do better?

During our recent ‘Strategic Change and Development Group’ (SCDG), conversations focused on the role of the NGO sector. In this context, how can all of us involved do better? And are usual ‘sector’ definitions still relevant?

What is the SCDG? We want to move forward in a dynamic, open, inclusive and participatory way. Part of this involves ‘experts by experience’ forming our SCDG. This group was instrumental in forming our strategy. It now gathers every six months to help us ensure different voices inform what we do and how we do it. It makes our governance more innovative and reflective of the work we do (for more insights click here).

The gathering was focused on three questions: (1) should NGOs be advocating for change differently and in a much bigger way; (2) how are NGOs affecting systemic change; (3) how can all of us do better? Click here to read a short report. We had two presentations: one by Rita Chanda, Interim Co-Director at Ella's; the other by Steve Rocha, Executive Director of PRATYeK.

A key message from the event can be summed up by a quote: “what’s got us here won’t get us there”: the discussions prompted everyone involved to learn, think and act differently to meet future challenges and opportunities. This includes collaborating more boldly between sectors.

We need to have the courage to embark on a ‘second curve’. The NGO sector is in danger of becoming set in old-fashioned mindsets and relying on tools and models that have worked in the past, rather than considering what is new, what can be unlearnt and how it can collaborate better across sectors. The idea of the “second curve” (below) was mentioned and the importance of having the courage to consider changing the “winning formula” while it’s still winning and before it’s too late. To find out more about the second curve and the importance of being connected, please read Chapter 6 in our book.

Change maker of the week:

Click here to watch a video about Huda's work.

Quote of the week
“Change depends on ordinary people who have the courage to say, 'Enough is enough and no more'." Kumi Naidoo

Best wishes
Rosie, Lorna and Ian

What connects planetary health to our health?

UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) brings together over 900,000 health professionals to advocate for responses to climate change and biodiversity loss that protect and promote public health.

'What Matters to You?' Recently, our colleague Kemal (Shaheen) published a blog on the UKHACC's website about why the environment and the health of the planet matter to him. To read it, click here.

Kemal also gave a presentation about how UKHACC members can take action by making The Commitment. Over 7,000 people have made The Commitment. Each person has a unique reason for doing this. One of the common themes is human health and wellbeing.

World Health Day was on the 7th of April. The theme was "our planet, our health" highlighting the impact of planetary health on human wellbeing. Given the latest IPCC report, it's more urgent than ever to bring about change.

What can be done? The IPCC report offers recommendations, like phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy, transforming agriculture and land use and decarbonising the urban environment. Here below are six points that are highlighted. For the full report, click here.

Earth day is on the 22nd of April this year and it's theme is 'Invest in Our Planet'. We are living through a crucial time for climate action to come together and act boldly, broadly innovate and equitably implement. To find out how you can get involved in events and campaigns, click here.

Change maker of the week:

To find out more you can listen to the Yikes Podcast episode on "Why climate change is a Health issue" here.

Quote of the week
“We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women's empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all” Ban Ki-moon.

Best wishes,
Lorna, Rosie, Ian and Megan

The challenges require us to transform our approach. How can we do better?

Maya Angelo inspired many people in many ways. She once wrote: “do the best you can until you know better; then when you know better, do better.” How can we do better? How can we transform our approach given the challenges facing our world?

We stand in solidarity with people affected by the Ukraine Crisis. As we have seen the Ukraine conflict unfold, millions of lives have been profoundly affected. In response, so much has happened, including many people generously opening their homes and contributing resources to help those in need. So much is influenced by the stories that are told. Click here to read an article about how stories of dignity and solidarity – stories about “a larger us rather than a them and us” - can help to positively change attitudes and behaviours.

Governments can do better. Women and children are disproportionately impacted by humanitarian crises. In conflict situations, gender-based violence, limited access to education and reproductive health services means many women and children suffer. E.g., you can read this article on the impact of UK government cuts.

How can the NGO sector do better? How can we at Caplor Horizons do better? This week, we have our next “Strategic Change and Development Group” (SCDG) gathering. The SCDG helps us to develop and deliver our strategy. It comprises “experts by experience” of our work. We hold two gatherings per year and consider emerging strategic priorities. To learn more, click here.

This SCDG gathering will focus on the current and future roles of the not-for-profit or NGO sector. The role of the NGO sector has always been to bring about positive societal change. But how does the role of the sector need to change going forward? For instance, should NGOs be advocating for change differently and in a much bigger way? How are NGOs affecting systemic change? How can all of us do better? And what are the implications for Caplor Horizons and others that we work with?

If this sounds of interest, please watch this space: we will reflect on the discussion this week and most probably offer a similar event more widely to people within and beyond our community. Many people have said that this is an important and timely conversation to have.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
“I wish we'd be able to deliver our message at the global level on the need to recognise the past genocides to prevent new ones. Our message of peace and justice will hopefully reach every corner of the world.” Widad Akryeia

Best wishes,
Lorna, Rosie, Ian and Megan

What does Charles Handy say about partnerships and collaboration?

Bringing stories to life. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Charles Handy, a leading thinker of our time and our Thought Leadership Advisor. Charles has been proactively involved with Caplor Horizons since we were established. The conversation centred on partnerships and collaborations. Charles said that the secret to bringing about collaborative change is "talking together in meaningful ways, building relationships and trust, then finding common measures of success". To find out more, read the full conversation here.

We have a new video hot off the press! Charles Handy states, "what Caplor Horizons is very good at is entering into the spirit of an organisation, finding its soul and giving expression to this; then being there to remind them of it." To find out more about what Caplor Horizons does, watch our short 2-minute video here. A huge thanks goes to Gareth (Jones), our Communications Advisor, for putting it together and our various partners for being involved.

Centring farmers and workers in climate conversations. Fairtrade fortnight ran from the 21st of February to the 6th of March. Fairtrade is about social, economic and environmental justice. This year focused on the role that Fairtrade has in centring farmers and workers in the conversations on how to tackle the climate crisis. These insightful and inspirational two weeks showed how everyone has the power to drive systemic change through support and visibility.

How is Caplor Horizons bringing about sustainable transformational change? We are working in many ways, both internally and externally, to deliver a sustainable future. A central theme that runs through all our sustainability work is our commitment to the 4Ps (Purpose, Planet, People and Prosperity). For example, we are currently updating our Sustainability policy to be guided by these. This policy, which will be supported by a Ripple Paper and Action Plan, will inform and underpin all our choices as an organisation.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
“Small scale farmers deserve to be at the top of your list of environmental superheroes." Marike de Pena

Best wishes,
Ian, Lorna, Rosie and Megan

International Women’s Day and the role of Allyship

International Women's Day is on the 8th of March. This year it focuses on #breakthebias. This campaign celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness, and hopes to bring about action for gender equality. Click here to read our Ripple Paper focused on Feminist Leadership.

Hot off the press! Two very impressive people, Jade (Dalton) and Dr Lynne (Sedgmore), have written our latest Ripple Paper titled "Allyship-Journey to Justice". Being an ally is a form of relationship that helps others to grow and to reach their full potential. More specifically, allyship is conscious and deliberate about tackling injustices. This involves the role that an ally can play in addressing the challenges faced by patriarchy, hence it is timely that we are able to share this now. We hope that you find this paper useful, and it encourages you in your journey to being an effective ally!

We are fortunate to have some inspirational partners that are committed to making a transformational difference regarding gender equality. Some are pictured in the collage above and include organisations such as: Ella’s, United Purpose The Gambia, An Cosán, TechnoServe, ActionAid Ireland, International Presentation Association (IPA), United Purpose Malawi and De La Salle. Here are some more specific examples of what they are doing to tackle gender equality…

United Purpose Malawi have enabled women to diversify their income and become more self-sufficient. This has been impactful as it has increased communities’ resilience in the face of changing weather patterns. Read this article to find out more.

ActionAid Ireland has been continuing its activities to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). With the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ActionAid Ireland has adapted this to create an online project where participants can use resources to become more informed.

The IPA has contributed to several initiatives involving indigenous women: e.g., it has been working with the Guarani people in Bolivia, supporting women to protect their local environment, gain access to education and employment and have the right to own land. To find out more click here.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Audre Lorde

Best wishes,
Ian, Lorna, Rosie and Megan

How to keep ourselves accountable

Our learning this week. We have been inspired by the “Access to Inspiration” podcast hosted by Sue Stockdale, one of our longstanding Advisors. During her podcasts, Sue speaks to people from a diverse range of backgrounds as they share their stories of how they have transcended day to day challenges and ignited new possibilities. During this particular 17 minute episode podcast, Celia Garland, a glass blower and naturalist, talks about her experience and learnings from completing the Appalachian mountain trail (which is over 2,000 miles long) with her family. 

What was the key to their success? Before setting out Celia researched the factors that contributed to the successful completion of the trail. She found that it wasn’t about being the fittest or having the best equipment, the key to success was based on the number of people the hikers had told about undertaking this adventure: “The more people you told, the more likely you are to finish it because if you have to go home and explain 1,000 times why you were home early that was going to keep you hiking". We can use this analogy in our own lives.

This learning about the importance of communication is particularly relevant to organisational strategies. By telling your stakeholders about where you want to go and how you’re going to get there it shows commitment to your goals whilst also creating a support network. This form of accountability is incredibly powerful. 

We have been working with Hope for The Future to support their strategy development process. Hope for the Future is a climate charity which works to equip communities, groups and individuals across the UK to communicate the urgency of climate change with their local politicians. In order to support their work, they are currently seeking an interim senior support. If you are interested in the role, please see the job description here.

Hot off the press! We are excited to publish our fourth research paper for The Commitment. The paper is titled “Climate Change and Biodiversity: Using social media advertising to inspire action”. Special thanks go to Kibbo Kift Agency and Sam Narr for co-creating this project which ran for 9 months and explored the use of social media advertising in expanding The Commitment’s reach and inspiring action for a healthy planet. To read the report here.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week
"Things never happen by accident. They happen because you have a vision, you have a commitment, you have a dream.” Oscar de la Renta

Best wishes,
Ian, Lorna, Rosie and Megan