The 24th Annual International Leadership Association Global Conference theme invites an inquiry into how wisdom might catalyze transformation in global systems contributing to environmental, social, economic, and political crises.

The Chinese hanzi for crisis consists of two components: danger and crucial pivot point. The crucial pivot point is a moment in time — a moment when a leader takes some action to address the crisis or challenge. In that moment, information is incomplete and/or missing, and indeterminacy prevails. In that moment, speculation on a certain outcome is futile, and it is easy to see the danger of a wrong decision. But in that moment, that crucial pivot point, a leader has the potential to make a difference. How can we help leaders — as well as followers — stand and meet that important moment?

Rumi, a renowned 13th century Persian poet, wrote about the connection between changing the world and wisdom. He was believed to have written “Yesterday, I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

Hidden in that message is an implicit connection between changing the world and changing oneself. In today’s historical moment, we might think of this as the connection between our inner wisdom and our ability to wisely understand and see the systemic and reciprocal relationships between business, politics, economics, public health, the environment, and other world issues.

However, this is difficult to do. Business as usual demands leaders to make daily and often rapid decisions at work, in communities, and in schools. Leaders of various levels respond and react and engage in the dynamics of trying to meet multiple stakeholder needs. Followers also respond and react and engage in the dance of the push-pull of power and authority. These responses and reactions are based on the logics of our current economic, social, and environmental systems—and these logics, we suggest, need to change. That is where wisdom comes in.

The current logics underneath ‘business as usual’ often value human desires over planetary flourishing, economic indicators over individual wellbeing, and perpetuate a world that is becoming more and more fractured, polarized, and polluted. New logics, narratives, and qualities of leading and following are needed to heal, restore, and repair the systems that are currently in place. The new logics must rise above the either/or polarization to see the larger wholeness and interdependence of all systems, of all peoples, and of all nature.

This is where wisdom comes in. Wisdom offers us exciting possibilities to see opportunities in crises, paths forward in complex systems and unpredictable dynamics, and wholeness in times of fracturing. Wisdom is creative inner work with outward manifestations that allow possibilities for systems flourishing. Wisdom is deep listening, or what some call ‘with-nessing’ in community. Wisdom is more than intellect and cognition—it is a way of being and relating to the world and to oneself that heals, brings joy, and offers compassion and dignity to all.

Ultimately, wisdom offers hope for a better future, and we invite conference submissions to help us engage in this exciting conversation with ILA members and friends from around the world by addressing these broad questions:

• What is the role of wisdom in leading and following in this historical moment?
• How does one become wise?
• What are the practices, attributes, and characteristics of wise leaders? Of wise followers?
• What ways can leadership development increase access to and utilization of personal and shared wisdom?
• What are the conditions that support wisdom?
• What is the role of a leader or follower in cultivating, developing, and sustaining the conditions where wisdom can flourish?
• Can an organization be wise? If yes, how?
• How might Indigenous and other non-Western wisdom traditions contribute to large systems change?
• How might we (both followers and leaders) create opportunities to cultivate, nurture, and catalyze system change? What is the role of wisdom in the emergence of these opportunities?
• How might leaders and followers become more aware of their highest inspirations – beyond logic – that can inform creative and generative futures?

#ILA2022Global will offer an expansive space for exploring wisdom and its role in this historical moment, in this historic place. The largest gathering of those who research and study leadership, teach and develop leaders, and engage in the practice of leadership will gather to share creative new ideas, cutting edge practice and theory, hopes, innovations, and suggestions for the future. Come with your ideas and leave inspired!