Business as an Instrument for Societal Change: In Conversation with the Dalai Lama

by Sander Tideman

Overview

Business as an Instrument for Societal Change: In Conversation with the Dalai Lama is the result of two decades of research and dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other leaders in business, government, science and education. Author Sander Tideman, a lawyer and banker who has maintained a friendship with the Dalai Lama over all these years, presents a practical framework and methodology to develop a new kind of leadership - one fit to repurpose the business world and tackle escalating social, economic and environmental needs.

The Dalai Lama rarely speaks directly on the topics of business, leadership and economics. Yet in the dialogues recounted here, his wisdom - combined with key insights from business and public leaders -creates a unified shift towards a consciousness of interconnectedness, offering profound insights for practitioners and general readers alike.

Tideman unites the scientific worldviews of physics, neuroscience and economics with the positive psychology of human relationships, and ancient spiritual wisdom, to formulate practical business leadership solutions. While recognizing the need for change in external structures and governance, Tideman highlights the importance of opening our minds, and connecting inner and outer spirituality. At the same time, he focuses on concrete practices for winning the hearts and minds of employees, customers, communities, and society at large, while addressing deep-rooted problems such as extreme social inequality and continued financial collapses.

At the heart of this book lies the journey to discover our shared purpose. This ignites new sources of value creation for the organisation, customers and society, which Tideman terms 'triple value'. We can achieve triple value by aligning societal and business needs, based on the fundamental reality of interconnection.

Business as an Instrument for Societal Change: In Conversation with the Dalai Lama is a readable and intelligent exploration of how leaders can actually help to shape a sustainable global economy by embracing innate human and humane behaviour. It is also Tideman's fascinating personal journey, which brought him to question the underlying motivations and goals of business leadership and to seek a new paradigm for a more sustainable approach. Reflecting Tideman's sharp perceptions and infused with the Dalai Lama's unmistakable joy, this book has the power to change your way of thinking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783534500
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/05/2016
Pages:	315
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sander Tideman is a Senior Research Associate at the Business & Society Center of Rotterdam School Management, Erasmus University, Senior Fellow at Garrison Institute in New York, and Chairman of Education of the Heart.

Sander has co-authored many articles and books, including Doing Business in China, Sustainable Development in Central Asia, Buddhist Economics; Mind over Matter; and Towards a New Paradigm in Leadership of Business and Economics.

Table of Contents

Figures and tables xi

Foreword H.H. the Dalai Lama xii

Foreword Anders Ferguson xiv

Acknowledgments xix

Introductory quotations from the Dalai Lama xxi

Introduction 1

Inspiration for new perspectives 3

Different paradigm for business and economics 4

The shared purpose between business and society 6

Part 1 Compassion or competition

1 The Buddha and the banker 11

1.1 Meeting the Dalai Lama 12

1.2 Encountering economic theory 14

1.3 Finding purpose in economic development 16

1.4 Becoming a banker in China 17

1.5 Business in Tibet 18

1.6 Reconnecting with the Dalai Lama 20

1.7 Sustainable development in Mongolia 22

1.8 Roller-coaster banking 25

1.9 The invisible heart of the market? 28

1.10 Maximizing money or meaning? 29

1.11 Compassion or competition? 30

2 First dialogue: Compassion or Competition (Amsterdam, 1999) 33

2.1 The rise of socially responsible business 36

2.2 Toward the triple bottom line 38

2.3 The increasing role of civil society 41

2.4 Widening the perspective: business needs ethics 46

2.5 The benefits of compassion in business 47

2.6 Changing the rules of the game 50

2.7 Compassionate economics 54

2.8 How to create responsible markets? 57

2.9 What can you do as an individual? 60

Part 2 Designing an economy that works for everyone

3 On the path of purpose 67

3.1 Times of change 68

3.2 Maximizing meaning 69

3.3 If it has benefits, then do it 70

3.4 Spirit in Business 73

3.5 Revolution in the science of the mind 75

3.6 Motivational systems 78

3.7 Money and happiness 82

3.8 Gross national happiness 83

3.9 Designing an economy that works for everyone 87

4 Second dialogue: Designing an Economy that Works for Everyone (Irvine, California, 2004) 91

4.1 The role of technology: cure or curse? 97

4.2 The global responsibility of business 98

4.3 Leadership and organisational change 101

4.4 The role of women in business 105

4.5 The role of management education 107

4.6 What can you do as an individual? 109

Part 3 Leadership for a sustainable world

5 Shared purpose in business 115

5.1 Emotional intelligence and system change 116

5.2 Positive psychology in leadership 117

5.3 Executive coaching for bankers 118

5.4 Unilever: examples of sustainable business transformation 120

5.5 Ben & Jerry's green ice cream 122

5.6 Turning misery into markets' Medtronic and DSM 124

5.7 The hidden driver of success 126

5.8 The purpose gap 127

5.9 The science of transformation 130

5.10 Bodhisattva leadership 132

5.11 Global meltdown 135

6 Third dialogue: Leadership for a Sustainable World (The Hague, 2009) 139

6.1 Learning from the financial crisis 142

6.2 Creating a sustainable economy: where does the leadership come? 146

6.3 Is money leading us? 148

6.4 Global well-being: learning from the East 151

6.5 Leadership from science: the promise of neuro-economics 153

6.6 What can you do as an individual? 156

Part 4 Education of the heart

7 Living shared purpose 163

7.1 The "how" of change 164

7.2 Looking at the new reality with outdated concepts 166

7.3 Compassionate competition 167

7.4 High-performance sustainable teams 169

7.5 High-performance sustainable organizations 172

7.6 The role of management education 174

7.7 Education of the heart toward a new educational paradigm 176

7.8 Beyond religion: the sustainable-relational mind 177

8 Fourth dialogue: Education of the Heart (Rotterdam, 2014) 181

8.1 What does the "education of the heart" mean? 182

8.2 Developing the "heart" in education and business 190

8.3 Applying the education of the heart in practice 194

8.4 Dealing with stress, grief and fatigue 197

9 Shared purpose: the case for societal leadership in business 203

9.1 The changing context of business: new ways of thinking 204

9.1.1 The economic system 205

9.1.2 Mainstream economic ideology 208

9.2 Shifts in organizational theory and practice 212

9.2.1 Business sustainability is a process 215

9.2.2 Creating shared value 218

9.2.3 New performance indicators 219

9.3 Leadership for triple value creation 224

9.3.1 Toward a framework for triple value leadership 226

9.3.2 Leadership mind-set development and purpose 231

9.3.3 Connecting shared purpose to levels of complexity 236

9.3.4 The practice of developing societal leadership 237

9.4 Integrated leadership models 243

10 Six questions to develop shared purpose 247

Concluding remarks 253

Positive capitalism and the opportunity of mirror flourishing: the grammar of interconnection is the business discipline of our age Afterword by David Cooperrider 257

Participants 277

Bibliography 282

About the author 290

Editorial Reviews

"Unique, exceptional, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, Business as an Instrument for Societal Change: In Conversation with the Dalai Lama is a consistently compelling read from beginning to end. A 'must' for the legions of Dalai Lama supporters, and very highly recommended for community, college, and university library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Business as an Instrument for Societal Change" is also available in a paperback edition (9781783534524, $22.95) and in a Kindle format ($15.85)."

Midwest Book Review - Jack Mason

"Sander Tideman’s life-long commitment to building a more compassionate and socially responsible 'values-based' business world shines through in this compendium of dialogues with the HH Dalai Lama. This book is a must read for those who possess a humanistic world vision, strong societal empathy and for those who seek to make the 21st century one that has 'social responsibility' at the center of the global business ecosystem."

Peter Miscovich

"All business leaders should read this book. Wisdom is the most important leadership quality but it has been, for most of us, a serious missing link in our development. This book is not only a great gift but also highlights our great responsibility because – as it clearly demonstrates – change is possible."

Tex Gunning

"I rejoice that Sander Tideman has been able to capture our dialogues with the Dalai Lama in this book. This will greatly help us to understand that, in order for us to develop humanity in the secular world, we need to integrate compassion into our economy and business."

Ruud Lubbers

"Finally – a deep, thoughtful and constructive book that connects our characters, values and intentions with our leadership and entrepreneurship practices. Too often, we fool ourselves into believing that we can achieve a just, inclusive and sustainable economy without first practicing justice, inclusion and respect towards all living things. Sander Tideman’s life-long search, which he generously shares in these pages, is uniquely positioned to be an invaluable guide for all those serious in this quest."

Marcello Palazzi

"Sander has captured the deeply human approach of the Dalai Lama in relation to business and its role in society. Through wonderful dialogues and inspiring visions, the book generates a spirit of hope by providing tangible, practical insights. And it is not just for Buddhists – this is a book for everyone who cares for people and the planet!"

Peter Blom

"Sander Tideman has managed to weave his diverse and broad insights into a framework that enables leaders in economics and business to transform their operations into positive endeavour. The key message is clear: if we truly want to create a more sustainable economy and compassionate society, we should learn to employ new mindsets and concepts. This is, I believe, the path to both personal and business success in the face of today’s multi-level challenges."

Anders Ferguson