Germany´s Leaders feel isolated facing future challenges
German Leaders in business, politics, and civil society miss greater cooperation and communication beyond the boundaries of their particular fields of work. The tendency to avoid cooperation makes it difficult to collectively face the challenges of the 21st century. This has been documented by a study by the WZB, Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, and Egon Zehnder International.
Thirty top representatives from the entire social spectrum – including members of government, party chairs, leaders in business, churches and the media – were questioned in qualitative interviews on aspects of management culture.
Respondents consistently lamented about the “isolation of sectors.” Many in leadership positions feel overwhelmed in view of the increasing complexity of problems to be solved, the fast pace of daily life and general skepticism facing other sectors.
Authors of the study, including WZB president Jutta Allmendinger, plead for strengthened exchange beyond individual sectors. This is the only way responsibility for the entire society can be raised. But general social problems cannot be solved without everyone’s cooperation.