The Qualities of a Sustainable Leader

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A pioneer in the leadership studies field once said, "Leaders are people who are able to express themselves fully."

Fully expressing oneself requires having something to express. Perhaps the most pressing idea facing business leaders today is making the case for sustainability and successfully running a sustainable company. Businesses face a future of fewer and more expensive resources. Pressure from stakeholders on Main Street, Wall Street and K Street will shape how a company conducts its affairs and is publicly perceived.

Certainly, as people grasp the magnitude and speed of change needed to address the environmental, social and economic issues that we face, there is a growing need for leaders who take us "far, fast" -- as Al Gore recently said in a speech.

Taking organizations "far, fast" requires a new breed of individuals who have the know-how, the capacity and the courage to drive broad-based sustainability initiatives that enhance performance and adds value to the bottom line. This type of leadership will be critical for companies that want to adopt effective and competitive sustainability strategies.

What it Takes to Be a Sustainability Leader

Management teams tasked with steering organizations in this new direction need to be able to navigate unpredictable challenges and understand how to turn them into opportunities. Leaders with sustainability know-how learn and adapt quickly, commit people and resources confidently and inspire others. In return, they find themselves heading companies that are innovative, able to attract and retain talented employees and rewarded with increased shareholder value and other financial benefits.

Ray Anderson, founder and chairman of Interface Inc., exemplifies this type of leader. Anderson had a "spear in the chest" epiphany 14 years ago. Since then, he has turned his carpet manufacturing business into one of the country's leading sustainable businesses. He helped Interface significantly increase profits (stock prices have increased 550 percent in the last five years) and his efforts led the carpet industry to change its practices. Today, Interface holds significant market share and is halfway to realizing its goals of using zero non-renewable resources and producing zero waste and carbon emissions by 2020.

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