This Is DesignIntelligence DesignIntelligence

Resilient businesses are marked by certain attributes that operate in an intertwined way to yield the intended results.  Like strands woven together, these attributes have a direct and indirect reliance on one another. 

Upon returning he leaned over and in a low tone said, “I appreciate your speaking with me earlier.  I’ve lost my joy in the job and seem to be carrying negative around everywhere I go.  Your manner and positive way was a good poke in the eye.  Thanks!”

Chris Allen is Global Principal at Jacobs, a purpose-led, technical professional services firm with approximately $16 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of more than 60,000.  He works collaboratively with partners and clients to co-create and align innovative technologies, practices, and business models to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through high-performance sustainable/regenerative solutions. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about balancing optimism with the reality of the complex environmental challenges, why the SDG framework doesn’t have to be specific to be effective, and how Jacobs continues to adapt and evolve by adding diversity in collaborators and points of view.

As a leader, I only got to where I am because others took the time, cared enough, and were patient with my misunderstandings and questions.  They saw the potential best in me and invested the time and effort to seed my fertile soil with what would later become fruit others would benefit from. 

Far too many leaders are running on fumes simply because they neglect to step back and refresh their perspective, awareness, and purpose. Contemplation is the way to this refreshment.

Humans are inclined to judge others’ failures harshly. But it’s awfully lonely living in judgment and beware, because as you so harshly judge others, you’ll get the same back multi-fold.