Abstract
Imagine that one were to hold up a large mirror to our entire species. How might we react? Our ability to develop technologies and complex social systems has enabled us to transcend population constraints that limit other species, that is, until now. Our inability to manage the global commons exhibits the characteristics of a tragedy, as described by Garret Hardin. Climate change has become what Kelly Levin and others refer to as a “super wicked problem.” Our image in the mirror is of a species that is the cause, and we cannot agree on a path forward. There is a need for a realistic, yet hopeful, action-oriented, and shared vision for collective action. Nature-centered leaders recognize that a “We Can Do It!” approach is needed, such as the call to action by J. Howard Miller’s classic war-time poster. This paper builds on the concept of “nature-centered leadership” as transformational leadership. Nature-centered leaders empower us to act on a shared vision for a sustainable future. This study demonstrates the power of images and short stories in efforts to understand our relationship with Nature. The author developed the concept of a “six-word-drawing” in the tradition of Ernest Hemingway’s legendary “six-word stories.” The efficacy of several six-word drawings is discussed—they are metaphors for an imaginary mirror held up to our species. How do we react?
Presenters
Spencer S StoberProfessor, Sciences; Business, Communication, and Leadership, Alvernia University, Pennsylvania, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
Images, Stories, Leadership, Nature, Sustainability
