5th Element Leadership at a glance: The era of connectivity is here — also in organizational and leadership practices. Here is the what, why and how.
The 5th element
We at 5th Element Collective understand the 5th element as the connecting life force that binds everything together. It’s an intrinsic aspect in various cultures, religions and metaphysical studies, often termed as ‘aether’, ‘quintessence’ in ancient greek philosophy, ‘akasha’ in hinduism, “consciousness” in buddhism or in Luc Besson’s legendary movie “The fifth element” simply referred to as love.
We perceive it as the connective life force energy that synchronises the four basic elements — water, soil, air and fire. None of these fundamental elements are ‘standalones’ — they are part of an intertwined system of connectivity within our own bodies and in the outer world alike.
What is 5th Element Stewardship (or Leadership)
In essence, 5th Element Stewardship is a practice that empowers leaders who consciously curate, nurture and foster regenerative connections. These connections are deep and genuine ones that resonate to the core of us.
Such connections are fostered by the leaders within themselves, manifested in their teams, and extend to suppliers and customers alike. They reverberate in the social impact and extend to all the non-human facets of nature, which we refer to as ‘the planet’.
The 5th Element Stewardship is a practice rooted in connection. It may sound simple, but most of us probably agree, that it is one of the biggest challenges we face today, given the prevalence of disconnected, degenerative practices shaping our lives, our society and the planetary (lack of) health. Cut to the bone, such disconnections and degenerative practices may well be at the heart of the comprehensive metacrisis we find ourselves in.
This is evident from the escalating planetary crisis threatening our existence, the widespread human stress, anxiety and loneliness epidemic, economies extracting resources leaving large populations impoverished, and conflicts fuelled by these factors.
The future will belong to those leaders who are able to see and understand the interconnectedness and interdependence of everything.
Giles Hutchins — Author of “Leading by Nature”
Why the 5th Element Stewardship? What does the practice of connection help?
Disconnection often leads to self-harm, harm to others, and damage to our planet. Conversely, establishing deep connections encourages care — if we truly connect with our bodies, we are compelled to maintain our health, making it very difficult to consume unhealthy food.
Similarly, when we foster profound connections with others, there arises a natural urge to understand, assist, respect and collaborate. It becomes decidedly tough to exploit or harm someone you share a deep connection with.
Also, establishing meaningful connections with the communities we impact through our commodities, services or actions promotes accountability. Such connections inspire us to make positive contributions through innovative solutions that serve the greater good.
When we truly connect with nature, senseless actions like littering our natural resources or creating destructive products become significantly challenging, at least with our integrity in balance.
Recognizing this, the practice of 5th Element Stewardship is not just beneficial. It’s essential. It calls for organizational leaders to truly understand and appreciate the interconnectedness and intrinsic value of all aspects of their complete environment — be it within themselves, employees, their operational processes, or the natural world around them.
What’s in it for you?
How does it help? What’s in it for you? By fostering awareness of the interconnectedness of everything, leaders can uncover innovative solutions and strategies that not only further their organization’s goals but also foster sustainability and environmental responsibility on a genuine level.
It’s about viewing business operations as an integral part of a larger ecosystem, rather than standalone entities. This shift in perspective can lead to more efficient use of resources, take no-waste decisions, ultimately contributing to regenerative processes that become part of the solution istead of the problem — and the company’s bottom line.
Moreover, adopting this stewardship also positively affects employee engagement, and attracts the strong drive of gen Z. Recognizing the value of diversity and interconnectedness in the working environment fosters safety to grow and self-expression, inclusion and collaboration. It nurtures a sense of belonging, increasing worker engagement, commitment and loyalty.
When your business becomes a steward of the 5th Element, you’re not just enhancing your corporate image or living up to a wide range of sustainability compliance, but you’re genuinely contributing to a shift en mindset resulting in the longevity and thriving of yourself as a founder, leader, your company, employees, the supply chain and community you impact as well as our planet.
This is the future of business leadership. It’s a future built on the foundation of understanding, caring, and responsible and regenerative actions that impact with deep ripple effects — from inner to outer.
We are all in this together now. Let’s collaborate.
#regenerativeleadership #regenerationfromwithin #plantaryhealth #connection #heartcenteredleadership #regenerativemindset
