I am writing this Wheatake on Leadership because where we are at the crossroads in our Territorial development, we need the type of leadership that understands where we came from, where we are, and where we want to go
collectively. This implies that leadership is "complex and multifaceted, requiring flexible problem-solving and cultural agility." The growth of technology brought with it rapid innovations, many changes in communication, new avenues of global connectivity which have placed new challenging demands on leadership. Mary Ludden expresses this as follows:
"Leadership no longer means simply managing individuals and projects. Rather today's leaders continually create and manage change. They must constantly evolve, finding new ways to engage, motivate, inspire, influence, and transform."
Today's environments-globally, nationally, territorially, and of smaller political units are like the chopping waves in a tropical storm of ambiguity and rapid changing demands within unprecedented cultural shifts. Ludden mentions four emerging trends which aspiring and current leaders should keep in mind.
a) The first is cross-cultural leadership.
These skills are fast becoming more important in, relative to, and necessary for the successful leadership of diverse populations. The leadership has to find "new ways to engage, motivate, inspire, influence, and transform" the various national, ethnic, religious, racial, and other elements reflected in the population. The B. V. I. population is a "tinderbox" and requires skilful leadership to navigate it through these very turbulent times.
b) The second trend is strategic agility. Technologies, products, and workforce adaptations have been changing, are changing, and will continue to change rapidly. Leadership has to be able
to adapt to new circumstances utilizing all their resources, human and material, to achieve excellence.
c)The third trend is gender-based leadership practices and opportunities for men and women. This helps to make society more inclusive. "Ye need not one be left behind for God has bidden all mankind." We have made tremendous progress in this trend but there is evidence that we have choppy waters to navigate.
d) The fourth trend is integrity-based topics. It is critical for leaders to engage in making and maintaining integrity-based decisions. Leaders are required to weigh the right with what is possible for the benefit of everyone according to genuinely perceived needs. This is a challenge in the implementation of the CoI recommendations.
I will continue in Wheatake 53.
Dr. Charles H. Wheatley