voices that seek to aggressively shut down inconvenient ideas. However, as Integrity 20 speaker Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Index of Censorship has said, banning free speech is dangerous i.e. banning an idea gives it more attention and silencing those with whom we disagree is not in keeping with a tolerant and diverse society. Our ability to create further global unity and restore belief in the benefits of democracy is helped by the IPSOS research finding that people across the world believe they have more things in common than things that make them different. Reflecting on discussions at Integrity 20, we are inspired to shape a new way forward and a new architecture for change based on optimistic leadership. A. C. Grayling has said “A survey of the great landscape of history shows steps forward. There might be a step back every now and then. I think we’re in one of those moments of faltering and uncertainty” (Wichtel, 2017 in https://www.noted.co.nz). Perhaps there is no better moment to rethink and reform democracy, recognising new models of optimistic leadership in the process. Harvard psychologist, Steven Pinker’s bestselling book, Enlightenment Now has given us plenty of evidence that the world is getting exponentially better. To cultivate a more optimistic mindset, Pinker has said,
“Keep your perspective. Not everything that happens is a harbinger of the future. Not every problem is a crisis, plague, epidemic or existential threat…problems are inevitable, but problems are solvable” (Gallo, 2018 in conversation with Pinker). Similarly, the Optimists Voices initiative (https://twitter. com/optimistsvoices) led by Victor Perton in Melbourne, Australia has prompted thousands of leaders around the world to consider their view on optimism for the very first time and articulate its value in their individual and professional lives. Buy-in to optimism at all levels of society is critical if we believe it can create a new style of leadership. If we want to make optimism itself the architect of change, this year’s Integrity 20 event inspires us to encourage the world to tap into the optimism that people across multiple nations feel close to their family and home. We must find ways to build intergenerational leadership through active storytelling, engagement and change-making i.e. involving individuals and communities in optimistic thinking and learning and relearning how to make a difference. As Kofi Anan once said, “You are never too young to lead, and we are never too old to learn.” Victor Perton’s challenge to audiences young and old is to repeat the mantra “The leader looks like the person in my mirror.”
There is no ‘them’ for Victor’s optimistic leaders. When did you last declare your optimism in a meeting? When did you last ask your team members what makes them optimistic? Millennials are purpose and people driven and they want the world to be a better place. In this context, events like Brisbane’s Integrity 20 play an extremely important role, not just drawing attention to the declining love affair with democracy but making optimism the architect of renewal and change. In doing so, this event and others like it reflect the great work of The Elders (https://theelders.org/), an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired until his very recent death by Kofi Annan. Neither of these elders ever abandoned hope or compromised on their optimism. ■ For more information about Integrity20 or contact the organisers go to www.integrity20.org and to hear more about the Optimists Voices initiatives, go to http://www.victorperton.com/index.html
Dr Robyn Stokes is a member of Integrity 20 Advisory Board, Brisbane, Australia
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