It has been nearly two years since I stepped down from my role as CEO of the EAUC. I cherished the position, was reasonably good at it, and relished the creative space it afforded me. From building the multi-agency knowledge-sharing Sustainability Exchange to spearheading initiatives like the International Green Gown Awards and the SDG Accord, I was deeply invested in driving sustainability forward. However, despite the promising beginnings of various initiatives such as the Carbon Coalition and the SUMS Sustainability Consultancy, I made the decision to move on.
Deciding when to leave a job is always challenging, especially when you've been one of its founders and poured so much of yourself into it. Although the EAUC was thriving with a strong board and staff, and numerous emerging collaborations on the horizon, I knew it was time for me to depart. My decision may have surprised some, but I was resolute in my decision.
Yesterday, a hernia operation forced me to pause and delve into a book while awaiting recovery. And what a book it turned out to be! Social philosopher Charles Handy's 'The Second Curve - Thoughts on Reinventing Society' resonated deeply with me.
Handy's second curve theory suggests that individuals and organisations must reinvent themselves as they navigate through different stages of life or organisational cycles. It advocates for proactive adaptation to change to sustain success over time. He uses the sigmoid curve, resembling the letter S on its side, to illustrate this concept—a symbol of the constant and inevitable nature of change in all things human: birth, growth, maturity and demise.
Now, I'm not suggesting that the EAUC was on the verge of decline, but according to Handy, the key is to embark on the second curve as the first one peaks and before its decline becomes inevitable. It's tempting to stick with the familiar, to maintain the ease of the status quo, but the sector today is vastly different from when the EAUC was founded 28 years ago. The needs of its members have evolved, and so must the EAUC to remain relevant and impactful.
Leaders must be willing to step aside before it becomes necessary, creating space for change and allowing the next generation to bring forth their fresh perspectives and ideas. This transition is well underway at the EAUC, and every day I delight in the bold, next gen. (and female) appointment!
As the EAUC enters its exciting second curve, so do I! The transition between curves is not without its challenges—there's trial and error, risk, financial strain, and perhaps a challenge to one's ego. However, I've embraced this opportunity to evolve into 'Iain Patton 2.0'. Almost two years on, I find myself immersed in a new realm of second curve innovation and activities, from spearheading initiatives like the UNEP and Times Higher Education International Green Learning and Skills Accelerator. Mediating conflicts within and between climate and environmental organisations, launch The Assessment of Sustainability Knowledge -TASK, and I’m party to a host of inspirational and uplifting community-led enterprises across Uganda and South Sudan.
But it's the leadership coaching aspect of my second curve that brings me the greatest joy. As sustainability leadership evolves and matures, there comes a point when the initial enthusiasm and advances wane, financial constraints tighten, greenwash threatens and leaders can feel exhausted. They, and perhaps sustainability itself, need their second curves. Through my coaching I've witnessed a university sustainability director discover new vision and energy, observed a climate NGO leader overcome imposter syndrome, and galvanised the MD of a B Corp craft a next-level strategic plan. All give me a profound sense of hope and fulfilment, and all are testament to the value of a timely second curve!
So, how can I help you start your second curve?
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