Steering and navigating to sustainability

Steering and navigating are terms commonly used to describe the act of controlling the direction and route of airplanes and ships. Steering refers to physically altering the steering mechanism, like a wheel, to change the vehicle’s course. It requires skill in manipulating the vehicle to safely turn it. Navigating involves monitoring instruments, following a planned route, and communicating with others. It requires knowledge and responsibility to safely guide the vessel from point A to point B without causing harm.

In business, steering and navigating refer metaphorically to a leader’s responsibility in strategically directing a company through the complex global environment. Like a pilot, managers must skillfully “steer” the company by making key decisions that alter its course. They must also “navigate” by developing a vision and mission, monitoring progress, and communicating to guide the organization toward its goals through good governance. Effective business steering and navigating require knowledge, skill, and responsibility.

Sustainability is a complex challenge in our globalized world, full of wicked problems. Humanity must rethink how we act responsibly to secure long-term sustainable development. As Pope Francis highlighted, our planet "cries out" from the harm of our irresponsible use of its resources. He calls us to care for Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us. Sustainable leadership involves transforming the world for the better by exercising responsibility with care. It requires knowledge and skill to lead transformative change amidst global complexity. Rethinking sustainability means businesses and society must ground themselves in the intertwined economic, social, and environmental practices that underlie these issues. We must come down to Earth to address the social and material dimensions of sustainability.

Transformative change for sustainability must be driven by initiatives like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs create partnerships and engagement towards shared goals. They act as a compass, guiding leaders to navigate complex issues and steer business strategies toward more sustainable solutions.

Thus, steering and navigation metaphors aptly capture the skills and knowledge needed for sustainable leadership amidst wicked problems. Sustainable business is transforming traditional profit-driven mindsets into more organic, innovative models that benefit people and planet. The SDGs harness sustainability as a driving force for positive change in the world. The 2030 Agenda outlines a values-based route to meet real-world challenges through partnership of people, planet, prosperity, and peace. For transformation to occur, sustainability must be embedded across social, environmental, and governance perspectives. Transformative change can only happen by overcoming key challenges together.

Whether radical or incremental, transformational change must be sustainable. Transformation to new business and societal practices requires more values-based thinking to address real sustainability issues. Transformation provides a map to shift mindsets, guiding the steering and navigation needed to meet global challenges. It breaks old boundaries and guides vision- and values-based processes of change toward something new. Transformation points organizations toward a different future grounded in real-world contexts. By changing mindsets and practices, it can steer companies and societies in a sustainable direction.

As such, steering and navigation metaphors represent the sustainable leadership needed to guide organizations through today's complex global landscape. Leaders must navigate using tools like the SDGs to develop networks and partnerships that create value for customers, stakeholders, and society. Responsible leadership requires meaningful engagement with all stakeholders based on a societal perspective. It involves values-based decision-making that resonates both within and outside the organization to align with societal values and norms. Sustainable leaders steer their organizations toward positive change, navigating challenges through a mindset grounded in ethics and shared global values. They guide transformative change processes needed to meet the issues of our times.