A Leadership Mindset of Thriving and Care

This is an excerpt from the Introduction to The Natural Strategist: Cultivating a Mindset of Care and Connection.

“A gardener! Isn’t that the perfect description of what a real businessman is?”

In Being There (1971), a film based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel of the same name, Peter Sellers encapsulates the concept of leadership in a single sentence. In this gem of a film, Sellers plays a simple gardener who unexpectedly rises to become a trusted advisor to a Washington tycoon and politician (Ashby 1979).

Today, I find myself similarly inspired by the intelligence of nature, the drive of business, and the inherent logic of management frameworks. I have learned a great deal from my experiences in the natural world. Through that lens I have come to appreciate the value of being mindful, paying attention, and approaching things with care.

I have come to realize how everything is connected and how there are people behind everything we do. By adopting a mindset of care, we can build sustainable models that achieve the impact we seek. A holistic perspective allows us to act with purpose and intention, and to navigate challenges with agility and nimbleness. We can cultivate the optimal conditions for growth that allow individuals and organizations to thrive and prosper.

At the heart of leadership is a deep understanding of how interconnected our world is, together with a commitment to care for the people and systems within it. This book is about activating strategy in a natural way.

At its core, this book is about inspiring possibilities and bringing them to life. It encourages us to adopt a leadership mindset that takes its cues from nature, where success begins at the intersection of determination and care and evolves with a rhythm of continuous growth. It takes the long view and shows how we can operate from a place of integrity that allows people and businesses to thrive.

If you enjoyed reading this short excerpt, you can get my book at your favorite bookstore.