Complexity Leadership Model: Solving Intractable Challenges

The leading organizational change methods in use today like ADKAR, Kotter 8-Steps, and the Lewin Change Model were developed 20, 25, and 70 years ago respectively. While such methods might have worked well in a world of stability, pliant competition, and moderate growth, today such methods represent a liability. Such methods were not developed to handle the volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous conditions that we operate in today.

Hence, to be successful in solving your organization’s most intractable challenges a new change method is needed; a method that is attuned to the times in which we live; a method that leverages complexity and embraces ambiguity; a method that was designed to solve the complex adaptive challenges of today. Let’s discuss.

What You’ll Learn

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What is the Complexity Leadership (Theory of Change) Model

• Why a new change model is needed to address VUCA-like conditions

• How we define complex adaptive challenges and why they matter

• The (3) key frameworks that define the Complexity Leadership Model

• How to shift from an OD/Change Leader to a Complexity Leader

Chapters

• 0:00 – Introduction

• 2:11 – What is the Complexity Leadership ToC Model

• 4:25 – Why a new complexity-informed change method is needed

• 8:30 – OD/Change methodological shifts are occurring

• 9:13 – The focus of the Complexity Leadership Model

• 11:00 – Examples of complex adaptive challenges in organizations

• 12:25 – The key frameworks that define the Complexity Leadership Model

• 17:28 – Introducing the Complexity Leader role (3 key capabilities)

• 18:54 – Final thoughts on the next decade of disruption (2024-2034)

Hope you enjoy!

-Randall Scott

Related Reading

• Leading Through Complexity: Faster, Sustainable Change

• Introducing Hybrid OD (Organization Development)

• Innovation Sequences for Solving Complex Adaptive Challenges

See how these ideas come together in practice. Explore the Complexity Leadership Model, our hybrid of diagnostic and dialogic OD.

Watch the Video

Watch the full video on YouTube: Complexity Leadership Model: How to Leverage Complexity to Solve Your Organization’s Most Intractable Challenges

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