If the news about Crans Montana is confirmed – the owner who, in the midst of the tragedy, thought to save the cash register instead of the young people – we have before us the rawest image of a culture that has put money before people. This tragedy continues to meander in my head, in my body…how avoidable was it if only there would have been more attention to what really matters.
We are seeing left and right violations to increase revenue. in this specific case safety ignored to maximise capacity. Rules bypassed to make more money. Every choice oriented toward profit, never toward people. We are seeing wars, genocides, decisions…to make money, to feed egos…for what? To drive a bigger, nicer car? To be labeled as the most powerful in the world? To defend a position?
I am far from being an expert in geo-politics, but i’m a witness of the time we are living and atrocities, abuses happening right in front of our eyes. The frustration of not being able to have an impact on a larger scale and just observing to see what happens is almost surreal.
And again, this is the perfect metaphor for failed leadership.
How many times in our organisations do we see similar dynamics? Not this extreme, certainly. But how many times does the “result” come before the wellbeing? How many times does pressure on numbers make us forget that behind every KPI there are human beings? I’m not anymore a naive idealist, i know, and I see my CEOs, having to make tough decisions sometimes. But we’re talking about ethics, about systemic thinking, about putting things in perspective and remembering that there is a time line, a history and a future.
I thought the last few years after covid, had taught us something. I thought that in diving in the waters of collective consciousness we would rebuild a more sustainable humankind. Instead, it has gone in exactly the opposite way. We have become more individualistic and selfish. I guess we realised how fragile we are and we just got more scared…that would be the only explanation i can come up with.
So one more time, my participation in this moment that calls FOR ALL OF US TO ACT, is that of having the most positive influence in spaces where we can have an impact.
Like the butterfly effect: understanding that every action, every decision we make, has an impact on the people who work with us. That every word counts. That every gesture of attention – or indifference – leaves a mark.
Truly listen to the people around you.
Choose to slow down and look around you.
Limit your monitor time and breathe, read a physical page, listen to music, contemplate, talk to someone.
Open the door for someone arriving after you.
Push the elevator button open if you see someone approaching it.
Thank someone with a smile and maybe looking at them in the eyes
True leadership isn’t measured by profits, but by the impact we have on the lives of those around that us.
Such a cliché sentence, but how much do you live by it?
We cannot change things overnight, but we can choose to be better persons to inspire other persons, every day, one gesture at a time, one choice at a time.
