From: Stead, Jean Garner
I read with interest the discussion about whether or not the Gulf coast oil
spill was a spiritual disaster, whether or not the region is losing its
soul. The discussion appeared to focus on linear logic with comments
including "profits versus the environment, critical thinking versus emotion,
short run eco and socio-efficiency versus long run eco and
socio-effectiveness, the right apologists versus the left
anti-corporate/science, male versus female, etc." Linear logic, however,
cannot solve the divergent dilemmas posed by sustainability. I think the
discussion, as Paul Shirvastava said, must move to a higher, holistic level
where sustainability is viewed as the transcendent core value that
transcends the divergent dilemmas posed above. Visionary leaders, such as
Ray Anderson, demonstrate this spiritual intelligence.
I agree with Hawken, Speth and others who say that there is a bottom-up,
rising spiritual consciousness across the globe. Coevolutionary theory tells
us that the organizations that will survive in the long-run will be those
who develop the capabilities of spiritual intelligence and spiritual
capital, which will enable them to coevolve with this new environmental
force.
I do believe that the tragedy of the Gulf is a spiritual disaster and that
the region is gradually losing its soul as the world watches. This is the
result of the lack of spiritual intelligence on the part of the top
management at BP. Perhaps the world will watch this coevolutionary process
in action as one of the most powerful companies on the globe fades away
because of the lack of this capability. The soul of a region is a high price
to pay for this lack of spiritual intelligence at BP.
Thanks to all who responded to my query. Hope this discussion continues. The
Unconference prior to AOM is a great start (wish I didn't already have my
flights reserved). Change comes from dialogue on the fringe of a discipline,
just as the AOM caucuses in 1991 were the impetus for the formation of ONE.
Peaceful solutions.Jean
Jean Garner Stead, Ph.D.
Professor of Strategic Management
College of Business and Technology
East Tennessee State University
Website:
www.steadandstead.com
Email:
steadj@etsu.edu