Wicked Problems and Deliberate Leadership: Finding True North

Abstract

Increasing the effectiveness of Big Finance and Big Tech’s in helping address the world’s social problems begins with gaining a deeper understanding of a problem’s fundamental qualities, and the leadership approach necessary to address it effectively. There is no one-size-fits-all solution—remember, Wicked Problems don’t have solutions—but there are approaches to mitigate them and make significant progress. This chapter explores ways to tame Wicked Problems through an ethics-based leadership framework needed to find a True North when confronting complex challenges. Grounded in the most effective business and social sector leadership strategies, this Deliberate Leadership is a social process that produces direction, alignment, and commitment to solutions through the collective and shared work (Van Velsor in McCauley and E. Van Velsor (eds.) The Center for Creative Leadership Handbook for Leadership Development, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2004). Its characteristics are recognized leadership strategies to create lasting positive change within companies, organization, and in the lives of people living in the bottom billion of resources. Subsequent chapters put these concepts into practice through cases content.