Our Next Evolution : Transforming Collaborative Leadership to Shape Our Planet's Future

by Laura Calandrella

The environmental crisis is advancing at an unprecedented pace and scale. It will outpace us if we don’t turn our attention to an even deeper concern regarding the future of we need to work together to create change.

Our current approach to collaboration is outmoded. To transform our world, we must transform the way we lead. We collectively share the power and responsibility for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future. Leaders who hope to shape that future must develop the ability to embrace relationships—to ourselves, to one another, and to the natural world—as our most impactful, influential tool.

Our Next Evolution delivers a framework for 21st century collaboration through four interlinked leadership Cultivating Presence, Creating Space, Leveraging Diversity, and Sustaining Dialogue. These four practices enable us to take collective action in new ways, carving a path toward a future we crave but can’t yet see.

We have the capacity to create vibrant communities, build thriving economies, and sustain our natural resources—but only when we learn to do so together. Only when we evolve.

222 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2021

About the author

Laura Calandrella is a leadership strategist and consultant. She has spent the past two decades working with organizations from across the environmental community to design collaborative approaches to our most pressing issues. Her career began as a conservation biologist and international development practitioner. These experiences gave Laura firsthand knowledge of the power of collaboration, but also the difficulties that arise when diverse perspectives align under a shared vision for change. Now she guides the growth of sustainability and conservation partnerships by teaching the practices of collaborative leadership. Her work strengthens relationships, delivers more holistic and creative solutions, and allows her clients to achieve impactful results at increasingly larger scales.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautifully written and so insightful and helpful. Excellent leadership model and framework to approach these challenges.

[B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. While I appreciated the discussion of sustainability and the presentation of information on the authors' new leadership framework, this book had a ridiculously large amount of "humble bragging" and that made it rather tedious to read. I found myself skipping the text every time the author started in on something else that she had done - I can tell you that skipping those parts impacted the text in absolutely no ways, so they truly were superfluous. The text concludes with a review of the extant body of literature, though that information is not synthesized. In many respects, this book would have been better had it adopted a more academic tone. It was almost as if the author tried to combine an academic paper on leadership theory with all of the things she wanted to be personally known for. While the writing style is lovely, and while the author's writing is succinct and to the point, the exact type of approach you would want to see in a leadership theory study, a book isn't facebook - if you have to humble brag, keep it on social media (where it can be hidden) and out of a non-fiction text, it just doesn't work and it decreases the impact that the actual content had the potential to provide.

[emily h · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if it was the best leadership book ever as it contained many lessons that I knew from 0 years of experience in the environmental field besides my on-campus jobs with sustainability and new student orientation leadership. However, it was nice to read some of the concepts I utilize or am aware of in succinct wording. Overall, I do really enjoy the model of leadership that is presented in this book. I have felt a lack of CLEAR connection leadership and sustainability in my CSUS courses and this book helped to connect some of those pieces. However, some parts were clearly tailored toward a consulting or highly experienced professional lens and it would be nice to alter for young professionals. As that is the generation that might need this framework the most (as I stated it is simpler in theory-probably not practice ). Anyway I digress I will get more into my thoughts during my sustainability coffee chat on January 23rd.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

it made sense, and i'll use the principles, but i wish it was a bit more inspirational, a bit more concrete

[Charles J Gibson Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended Reading for environmental professionals

Laura Calandrella crafted a wonderful text, highlighting the challenges of modern environmental dilemmas with unique and refreshing leadership strategies. Congratulations on this book that gives us real and manageable options on moving forward in end Iron mental leadership.