CON38 | [Workshop] The Power of AND: Rewiring Leadership for Complexity
[Workshop] The Power of AND: Rewiring Leadership for Complexity
Convener: Wendy Smith
Tue, 16 Jun, 15:00–16:30|Room Studio
Tue, 15:00
Leaders working to protect our planet face relentless tensions—between conservation and development, local needs and global priorities, urgency and patience. The instinct is to choose one side, but either/or thinking narrows our options and undermines lasting impact. This workshop introduces both/and thinking as a critical leadership skill for navigating the complexity of biodiversity and sustainability challenges. Drawing on cutting-edge research and global case studies, participants will learn how to embrace paradoxes as a source of strategic clarity, innovation, and more regenerative solutions.
Participants will be able to

- Recognize common leadership paradoxes in biodiversity and leadership and why they are intensifying in today’s world.
- Diagnose and escape three vicious cycles of either/or thinking: rabbit holes, wrecking balls, and trench warfare.
- Apply practical tools and case-based frameworks to reframe tensions and lead with greater agility, resilience, and clarity.