Abstract
What drives business leaders to pursue greater purpose in business? What motivates them to exercise compassion and caring in the workplace? Under what conditions do business leaders transform their organizations into "positive impact companies" committed to generating prosperity for all, achieving regenerative environmental outcomes, and improving human wellbeing?This exploratory research aims to uncover common elements of those business leaders who seek to create a positive impact through their work and through their organizations. It is based on a mixed-methods approach combining findings from three studies: an initial qualitative study based on interviews with 21 business owners and senior executives from a cross-section of industries; a survey-based quantitative study with 322 respondents consisting of business owners, senior executives and middle managers from a cross-section of industries; and a third qualitative study based on an additional 21 interviews across seven case study companies. It also incorporates inferences from interviews with 48 business owners and senior executives as part of the Quantum Leadership Project at the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit.The overall findings suggest that the core of positive impact leadership resides in a shift in the mindset of leaders toward one of connectedness. Defined as a "consciousness of connectedness," such a mindset and way of seeing the world begins with an awareness of how one's attitudes and actions impact all life on earth and future generations. The results of this study suggest that practices of connectedness - both personal and organizational - play an important role in the emergence of a consciousness of connectedness. The results also suggest a close correlation between several core indicators of a fundamental shift in consciousness about the role of business in society: shared values of human wellbeing, a common shared vision, an emphasis on collaboration and caring in organizations, and a long-term perspective toward the creation of shared economic prosperity.