Like many Canadians, I listened carefully to Mark Carney’s speech at Davos this week. A number of key indicators of what Integral (“Teal”) Leadership looks and sounds like surfaced loud and clear in Carney’s words. Here are four themes that resonated for me and my work with such leaders.
Power Conscious
Canada’s position within the world order was openly and consistently called out. In this way, Carney doesn’t seek to avoid the fact that Canada is not at the top of the pyramid when it comes to economic or military might – calling this out allows him to speak freely about what is happening.
And the question for middle powers, like Canada, is not whether to adapt to the new reality — we must. The question is whether we adapt by simply building higher walls or whether we can do something more ambitious.
Note that, in doing this, Carney doesn’t abdicate his position as a world leader. Relative power does not deprive him of his leadership. Instead, he calls on the power and strength of conviction of leaders (and nations) who believe in “win for all” outcomes to not abandon their leadership as well.
Systems Conscious
Integral leaders work systemically. They can see and understand the players or entities in the system and speak truthfully about what is actually happening. They understand complex adaptive patterns. They have direct, first-hand experience grappling with them.
And there’s another truth: if great powers abandon even the pretense of rules and values for the unhindered pursuit of their power and interests, the gains from “transactionalism” will become harder to replicate. Hegemons cannot continually monetize their relationships.
Allies will diversify to hedge against uncertainty. They’ll buy insurance, increase options in order to rebuild sovereignty — sovereignty that was once grounded in rules, but will be increasingly anchored in the ability to withstand pressure.
In this way, Carney speaks directly to leaders who are able to function at a similar level of complexity and sense-making. There is no “dumbing down” of language or logic here… because the intended audience is one who has access to understanding. This is not arrogance or aloofness – it is conscious competence. In this way, Carney shows himself to be credible at tackling some of the most complex problems ahead and builds confidence in his ability to engage in generative diplomatic dialogue.
Strategy Conscious
But I also submit to you that other countries, particularly middle powers like Canada, are not powerless. They have the capacity to build a new order that embodies our values, like respect for human rights, sustainable development, solidarity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Declaring a set of values at this time may seem “precious” to some… but this cynicism is not helpful when it comes to deeply held values that are consistently embodied by Integral Leaders. Carney declares his strategic focus to be founded in values and principles that will guide his actions. In so doing, he aims to build his relational integrity based on targeted coalition building based on shared values.
This is not naive multilateralism. Nor is it relying on their institutions. It’s building coalitions that work, issue by issue, with partners who share enough common ground to act together. In some cases, this will be the vast majority of nations. What it’s doing is creating a dense web of connections across trade, investment, culture on which we can draw for future challenges and opportunities.
This IS strategy. Looking at the complex web of conditions under which Carney could operate, he selects targeted values to guide and direct his focus and to support Canada’s actions. In this way, the best actions taken by Canada will reinforce the values expressed – by extension, any actions that draw away from these values are inherently distractions.
Emotionally Conscious
Which brings me to my last point…
We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn’t mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.
There’s a narrative out there that Canadians culturally are very polite and nice. Let there be no ambiguity here – this is not Canada “being nice”. For Integral Leaders, politeness is never prioritized ahead of respect.
This is what consciously held anger looks and sounds like. Words thoughtfully and carefully chosen to provide clarity of position – neither avoiding the “elephant in the room” nor getting personal with it. It also seeks to set a clear direction and to build momentum and the clearest path towards material and “sane” resolutions. Put another way, emotionally conscious leadership does not intentionally set out to do harm in order to coerce a specific outcome… it doesn’t seek to trigger fear or anger in others. Instead, it seeks to inspire and empower in a manner that is pragmatic and realistic.
The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home and to act together.
That is Canada’s path. We choose it openly and confidently.
This is what courageous and authentic Integral Leadership looks like.
The world needs more leaders like Mark Carney.
P.S. If anyone from Mark Carney’s team is looking for an Integral Leadership and Systems Coach to work with them on embodied leadership and communications, please reach out to me… caroline@insideoutagile.ca
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