Bringing Eldership to Leadership

We are facing a BANI world - “Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear, and Incomprehensible”. This shift reflects a world where systems are more fragile, anxiety is prevalent, outcomes are unpredictable, and information is overwhelming. It demands that we become resilient, embrace non-linearity and act decisively amidst incomprehensibility. Facing this world calls for a new way of seeing the world. According to Jeroen Kraaijenbrink, we need to break the illusions of strength, illusions of control, illusion of predictability and illusion of knowledge. It calls us to accept, wonder and flow. We develop our capacity to be flexible, resourceful and being with no knowledge are important meta-skills. It is in this world that true eldership counts.

“Why would we want elders? What we need today are competent and effective leaders, you may ask. Such response is understandable if we only equate the word elder with someone older in age. This reaction highlights a common misconception. This oversimplistic view of a far wider reaching concept needs to be addressed.

While 'elder' traditionally refers to age, eldership transcends generational boundaries. Eldership is fundamentally about embodying specific qualities and perspectives that serve organizations and communities. A more useful way of looking at Eldership is to see it as a role, one that is wise, aware, focuses on momentary realities and can think in terms of the whole system. It is a role that practices a deeper sense of democracy, appreciating and facilitating all the elements of change (Mindell). It means being able to have certain perspectives and being able to bring those perspectives in service to their organization/or It means developing particular perspectives and applying them in service to their organization.

Most current leadership development programs rely on a “how to” approach, looking at effective styles of leadership or on developing a specific leadership skill set. The emphasis tends to be on general competencies and individual capabilities. In a world of high-tech, constant flow of formulas, strategies and so forth it is easy to become hypnotized by strictly quantifiable outcomes. A focus narrows and we lose our awareness of other factors that affect outcomes. This program

The Bringing Eldership to Leadership program focuses on developing and utilizing our awareness, going beyond the purely functional aspects of our job. It will affect you as a person, bringing humanistic values to the fore. Its focus is on fundamental change and becoming more conscious, embracing our fragility, being in the not knowing, embracing complexity and interconnectedness. The program provides an opportunity for personal reflection and conscious change. It aims to bring greater awareness and appreciation of what affects outcomes beyond the usual metrics of optimization and efficiency.

To develop leaders with an eldership perspective.

Gain an understanding of how developing one’s eldership supports our leadership

Become more aware and conscious, thereby tapping into a wider vision for yourself and the world, and be able act accordingly.

Connect with greater sense of vision and purpose on an individual, organizational and global level.

Embrace their eldership role, using their position and power wisely, engaging more effectively and empowering others.

A fuller recognition of the power inherent in their position and a greater appreciation of how to utilize it to enhance their own lives and that of their team.

The program will offer a highly interactive learning experience, engaging case studies, insightful lectures, and role play/ active participation in various formats.