Sustainability leadership: lessons from indigenous traditions

In the wisdom traditions of North America's First Nations people there are many teachings that relate directly to leadership. Two of these are the Twin Trail and the Children's Fire.

The Twin Trail reflects a deep understanding of our human psychology, speaking to the primary difference between humans and our animal relatives: the capacity to make moral choices. It was described to me in a challenging encounter I had with my First Nations mentors in 1998.

"We would not trust any leader who is not committed to the Twin Trail – the inner trail of self-understanding, self-unfolding, and deepening; the outer trail of having powerful effect in the world. The Twin Trail of leadership is built upon the knowledge that very few humans can survive the accumulation of power without being corrupted by it. Hubris is the greatest challenge of all successful leaders and it grows most powerfully where there is no valuing of the inner trail. The outer trail of having effect in the world is hugely important, but without the ongoing wisdom path of the inner trail, it will inevitably become hostile to the greater good."

A leader's commitment to the Twin Trail becomes increasingly important as we progress in our careers, make money, build on our professional reputations and find ourselves admired and our opinions sought. Surrounded by evidence of our success, we become increasingly susceptible to childish fantasies, imagining ourselves as different from ordinary folk and tempted to fly too close to the sun. Many leaders have found their way to ruin via this route.

For more information on the article visit: Sustainability Leadership: lessons from indigenous traditions (guardian.co.uk)

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