By: For. Rysch Nae Subijano and Ric Christian Tolero
For its 6th episode, Resilience Live explored Geoheritage for Resilience Building in the Anthropocene: Seeking out the leadership challenges of the 21st Century on 29 February 2024 via Zoom.
The episode featured Dr. Christine Mortimer, Deputy Academic Dean at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Beijing Jiaotong University in China through the transnational education collaboration. She was also a Production Manager in Cultural Exchange Management across the UK for 12 years as well as an expert in Organizational Behavior within the international arena, with her research including community leadership and community lead disaster planning and resilience emphasizing traditional knowledge, as well as decolonizing the curriculum, and humanities thinking in business management teaching and learning.
Dr. Mortimer discussed how the world can bring together all the concerned stakeholders to discuss the threat of climate change, highlighting the fact that we all now live in a “VUCA” world that is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. This world exhibits a high degree of social complexity wherein social issues are often at the root of the problems that occur around us. These social issues are unseen and unaddressed by linear problem-solving where people try to decontextualize an issue by detaching it from the attached social context which ironically is the root of the problem itself. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Mortimer emphasized the importance of a ‘pluriversal’ way of thinking wherein many worlds can coexist together in a single world. A pluriversal world embraces an alternative and traditional way of living with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, integrating other ways of knowing in the academic disciplines.
The participant discussions and questions following Dr. Mortimer’s presentation focused on their own personal fields of expertise and how these can introduce new ways of thinking, as well as how other social and cultural groups can engage and contribute to this pressing problem.
For instance, there was an emphasis on society moving towards relational leadership from hierarchical leadership. As Dr. Mortimer pointed out, experts are part of the group rather than its sole leaders. In line with this, a leader’s task is to build trusting relationships among the people working on a particular problem. This leader could be someone who creates connections that bring together diverse perspectives, enabling open and honest conversations where individuals eventually understand each other’s perspectives. In summary, relational leadership entails employing a transdisciplinary approach that encompasses not only scientific communication but also integrates the insights and perspectives offered by the arts and humanities in the process of problem-solving.
In the field of resilience work, the shift towards relational leadership from hierarchical leadership becomes particularly relevant. Consider a real-life scenario in a community facing the aftermath of a natural disaster. Instead of relying solely on top-down directives, relational leadership emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity.
Imagine a scenario where a community leader, rather than dictating solutions, fosters an environment where experts, community members, and representatives from various sectors come together as equals to address the challenges at hand. The leader’s primary task is to build trusting relationships among these diverse stakeholders, recognizing that each brings valuable insights and perspectives to the table. By creating connections that bridge gaps between different groups, this leader facilitates open and honest conversations where individuals can freely express their viewpoints. Through this process, a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and strengths emerges, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.
In this context, relational leadership goes beyond traditional approaches by integrating scientific expertise and drawing upon the rich insights offered by the arts and humanities. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach, leaders can tap into the full spectrum of human knowledge and creativity to navigate the complex challenges of building resilience in communities.
Keeping up with the transdisciplinary approach of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, the Resilience Live webinar series will be held monthly via Zoom and will feature diverse topics with respective subject matter experts.
Episode 6 featuring Dr. Mortimer may be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B5KAa-eN50