Leading in Complexity

This 2-day virtual classroom program is designed to equip you with leadership competencies that will help you and your organization thrive in a turbulent and rapidly changing world, post-pandemic. You will develop specific knowledge in managing complexity and adult learning development, and acquire tools and techniques to become more adaptable and prepared to navigate new challenges now and in the future.

About This Program

The pandemic has made it clear that business as usual has ceased to exist. Turbulence and transition are the new normal. New ways of thinking and leadership that embraces this new reality are at a premium.

This turbulence is not going to end any time soon, even as we emerge from the pandemic. To effectively deal with this new reality, leaders need to be able to challenge assumptions and develop new ways of seeing and thinking.

This 2-day virtual classroom program will equip you with leadership competencies that will enable you and your organization thrive in a turbulent and rapidly changing world. You will develop specific knowledge in managing complexity and adult learning development, and acquire tools and techniques to become more adaptable and prepared to navigate new challenges now and in the future.

Comprised of three parts, this program begins with a self-paced, two-hour online component followed by 2 days of instructor-led interactive sessions on the course material. The program concludes with small group personal coaching sessions with the instructors.

What You Will Learn
1. Understand complexity and why it matters
2. Distinguish between simple, complicated, complex and chaotic problems
3. Explore complexity as a source of innovation
4. Identify and examine current assumptions
5. Discover models for better understanding your context
6. Learn from case studies how to navigate complex challenges
7. Develop the capacity to identify weak signals
8. Develop complexity fitness
9. Learn to stay present in increasing complexity
10. Cultivate your inner complexity to adapt and lead into action
11. Become a leader who is capable of embracing complexity
Who Should Attend

Anyone planning to lead a team in the post-pandemic recovery period, including directors, managers, supervisors and HR professionals.

Course Content Details

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2 days

Part 1

Asynchronous Online Module: Leadership Challenges in a White-Water World (Participants will need to engage 1-2 hours with the module prior to Day 1.)

Part 2 Day 1

Understanding Complexity I
The White-Water World
Black Swans: Living in an Unpredictable World
Exercise: What’s YOUR Black Swan?
Understanding Complexity II
From Complicated to Complex: The Cynefin Framework
Exercise: Mapping Black Swans
Simple-Complicated-Complex
Small Group Breakout: Identifying Simple, Complicated, and Complex Problems
Working in Complexity I
Applying the Cynefin Framework
The Role of Constraints in managing in Complexity
Working in Complexity I
The Role of Constraints in Managing in Complexity
Small Group Breakout: Case Application
Implications for Leadership
Reflection on the Day (optional; participants may stay for an exploration of open questions)

Day 2

Leading in Complexity I: Context-Awareness
Two Critical Meta-Skills: Developing Self Awareness & Context Awareness
The Role of Inquiry
HIV in Brazil: Case Discussion and Exercise
Asking Divergent and Provocative Questions
Appreciative Inquiry
Assuming Abundance
Leading in Complexity II: Context-Awareness
Identifying Weak Signals
Small Group Breakout: Case Application
Debrief
Leading in Complexity III: Self-Awareness
Developing Complexity Fitness
Staying present in increasing complexity
Cultivating the inner complexity to adapt, decouple from the environment and lead into action
Exercise: Somatic noticing and Grounding in Present
Leading in Complexity IV
Small Group Breakout: Exploring Case ‘Yeah, buts’
Wrap-Up & Debrief
Reflection on the Day (optional; participants may stay for an exploration of open questions)