The Dawn of a New Leadership Era: Why we Need Regenerators More Than Ever

As we witness the growing instability in global institutions and the rise of divisive politics worldwide, it's becoming increasingly clear that we're entering a new era of leadership. This shift isn't simply another swing of the political pendulum - it's a fundamental transformation in how power and change operate in our society.

Emerging from The Preserver Era

For decades, we've lived in what I call the 'Preserver Era'. Following the devastation of two World Wars, we built great institutions designed to maintain peace and stability. The UN, the NHS, the welfare state - these frameworks served us well, creating unprecedented periods of peace and prosperity. But as with all institutions, they gradually became more focused on self-preservation than their original purpose.

Today, these systems are creaking under the weight of modern challenges. We see this in the UN's struggle to respond effectively to global conflicts, the NHS buckling under mounting pressures, and the shocking revelations from institutional failures like the Post Office scandal. The problem isn't simply lack of funding - it's a failure of leadership imagination.

The Three Leadership Eras

This is where the three types of leaders emerge:

Preservers, who currently dominate our institutions, genuinely believe they're protecting vital foundations of society. They're not wrong about the importance of stability, but their fear of change often leads to rigidity rather than resilience. They respond to challenges by tightening control and resisting innovation, even when change is desperately needed.

Enter the Destroyers. These leaders have recognised the public's frustration with failing institutions and position themselves as forces for radical change. They're skilled at identifying what's broken but their solution is to dismantle rather than transform. While they may succeed in breaking down outdated systems, they often leave devastation in their wake, particularly for society's most vulnerable.

But there's a third way: the Regenerators. These leaders understand that real transformation requires both the courage to challenge broken systems and the compassion to build something better. They're the ones working at grassroots levels, building community resilience, pioneering new approaches to old problems, and maintaining their connection to both humanity and the planet.

The Role of Regenerators

We're seeing Regenerators emerge in various forms: community organisers creating local support networks, business leaders prioritising both profit and purpose, healthcare innovators developing new models of care. They're not always in the spotlight, but they're laying the groundwork for what comes next.

The challenge we face isn't just about surviving the Destroyer era - it's about preparing to rebuild. This is where Regenerators play a crucial role. Their work has two vital aspects:

1. Holding - maintaining community cohesion and protecting vulnerable people during periods of disruption

2. Regenerating - cultivating new ideas and approaches that can take root when old systems fall

This dual role requires immense resilience. It's not enough to simply resist destruction or dream up new ideas - Regenerators must do both while maintaining their connection to purpose and humanity. This is why many are finding they need to:

- Strip away protective armour that keeps them from authentic connection

- Deeply understand their true selves and their purpose

- Build supportive networks with other Regenerators

- Maintain their energy and resilience for the long haul

While the emergence of the Destroyer era might seem frightening, I find hope in the rising number of Regenerators I encounter. They're the leaders who will help us navigate through this period of transformation, not by simply defending the status quo or tearing everything down, but by nurturing the green shoots of new possibilities.

So What Can I Do?

As we face this transition, the question for each of us becomes: How do we maintain our humanity and purpose while building something better? How do we become the Regenerators our communities need?

This is the work I'm committed to through the Brave Collective - creating spaces where leaders can discover their authentic selves, connect with their purpose, and find the resilience to lead with both courage and compassion. Because in times of destruction, we need builders more than ever.