Executives and managers are facing unprecedented challenges today. Many experienced executives are contemplating retirement or changes in their careers. Employees are looking for more balance in their lives. Demands for coordination and cooperation have never been higher. Many people are struggling to assimilate and integrate new technologies, increased responsibilities and the never-ending need for creative responses in a rapidly changing world. And, perhaps most importantly, our leaders have declared that the public expects new levels of accountability for ethical behavior.

Meeting these challenges requires that every executive be open to changes in how they learn, how they observe and how they relate to people, as well as to changes in their work environment and the competencies they require to navigate successfully in a rapidly changing, dynamic reality.

These are not ordinary changes that can be accomplished piece-meal or by simply applying another conceptual model. They require the full committment and participation of individuals who are engaged in CREATING the future, not simply trying to make marginal improvements on the status quo. These challenges demand a culture in which our basic notions of what is and is not possible are transformed. They call for a new paradigm in which we are able to consider new choices and take unprecedented actions.

We need new ways of thinking and acting. We need new organizing principles that can truly empower us to meet today's challenges effectively and prepare us for the challenges we can't yet imagine.