2. Ground-breaking Organisational and Leadership Development
2 info@ComplexAdaptiveLeadership.com
The practical needs of our clients
Markets and the global economy are more dynamic and fluid, with higher levels of complexity. It is
increasingly a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world. There is a need to formulate
winning and sustainable strategies with a more engaged workforce. Organisations need to be able to
adapt and meet changing needs quickly with an adaptive and responsive approach to leadership.
Younger generations (generation Y) have a different attitude to work and authority (mostly
generation X). They are more knowledgeable, inquiring and challenging than ever before. Traditional
hierarchical leadership models do not work so well in enabling innovation.
Organisations need to develop leaders who can lead into the future in a way which engages the whole
workforce in innovation and change. The highest form of leadership needs to be developed to
compete, and to ensure more efficient and effective future-proof leadership.
How we meet practical needs
Complex Adaptive Leadership (CAL) is a global network of over 30 talented associates. The CAL approach is
truly innovative and unique. It meets the needs of organisations at three distinct but inter-dependent levels:
Contextual – the context for leadership has changed
faster than assumptions of what leadership is. In
today’s VUCA world leaders no longer know the
solutions even if they are very aware of the problems.
Leaders in such a world typically waste much time
applying old approaches. We use new non-linear
approaches to strategy and change lending more to
the dynamic traditions of Clausewitz, than to Jomini
and traditional business school ways. CAL offers
innovative, effective, and practical tools.
Organisational – 8 powerful principles can help an
organisation to become more fluid, adaptive and
flexible in challenging changing times. Independent
research has shown CAL principles enable far better
results at company as well as team levels, when
leadership is pushed to the lowest possible levels.
Disciplined self-organisation is faster, and more
adaptive and effective when dealing with complexity.
Individual – 4 key individual behavioural leadership
strategies which can be blended to get better results
for less effort. CAL shows how to achieve, in a very
practical way, the highest form of leadership – “wu
wei” – followers become fully adaptive and lead
themselves. Leaders thus learn when NOT to act and
so can then act even more decisively and effectively.
Our research
Best selling and
world acclaimed
….a startlingly worthwhile read for a business
manager keen to develop a practical understanding of
different strategies with which to engage
subordinates….” Integral Leadership Review Jan 2012
“…a marvellous resource that connects adaptive
leadership with complexity science.” Leadership and
Organizational Development Journal Vol 32 Issue 3
3. Ground-breaking Organisational and Leadership Development
3 info@ComplexAdaptiveLeadership.com
We deliver to three levels, depending on client needs:
Overview to raise awareness: short but highly interactive events (face to face or on line
using a leading edge virtual platform) that raise awareness of a new and powerful
approach for organisational performance.
Encouraging individual leadership performance improvement: 1-2 day workshops which enables leaders
identify specific individual actions that they can employ to improve performance. These can be delivered
within a normal seniority level approach (e.g. leadership pipeline), diagonal slice (e.g. different levels
from around the organisation) or intact teams (e.g. leaders with their direct reports and even some levels
below that). The latter can also be done with teams from around the organisation to help break silos and
enable collaboration. We achieve a high and demonstrable ROI on our highly engaging interventions.
Enabling organisational wide adaptive improvement: Modular programmes of the above plus specific
organisational wide changes to HOW things are done (rather than only adding initiatives), to enable the
whole organisation to become more adaptive and innovative for the challenges of the future.
Our client deliveries and what they say about our practical work – a truly global and locally effective approach
“The independent research we have commissioned shows that CAL principles get demonstrable business results
in terms of revenue and EBITDA growth” Professor ERAU University, USA
“Having attended many such courses over quite some number of years, I would (even a year on) consider CAL
to be at the very top for engagement & content" Country MD, Europe
“One of the most inspiring business programs I have ever had” Senior Executive, Singapore
“The independent research we have overseen on project teams show that those teams which demonstrate the
CAL principles perform far better than those that do not” ICCPM Russia
"Complex Adaptive Leadership guided me to overcome the general assumptions we carry during our leadership
which need to be overcome and adapted as per the situations. Complexity science is a true way of
understanding multiple transitions and make better decisions in complex situations." Senior Manager, India
“It was really an enlightening experience – definitely exceeded my expectations." Executive, China
"Excellent learning! Lots of valuable management working tools and mind opening experiences and radical
ideas to change the mind-set” CEO, Indonesia
Examples of more personal testimonies and some client companies are attached
4. Ground-breaking Organisational and Leadership Development
4 info@ComplexAdaptiveLeadership.com
Examples and references of Complex Adaptive Leadership development work undertaken.
We deliver each year a series of leadership programmes for middle to senior high potential
managers around the world for Nokia.
“Complex Adaptive Leadership (CAL) has delivered powerful leadership development to
hundreds of our senior managers in our MNC around the world. The programmes are
innovative, engaging and ensure specific actions which help move our organisation forward.
Their leading edge approach is changing the management DNA of our company to face an
increasingly complex and challenging future. The programme has been hailed by many
experienced executives as the best leadership development they have seen. I would thoroughly
recommend CAL”
Francisco Menezes, Leadership & Talent Development Programs Manager, Nokia
Ran a series of workshops around the world for UBS and their newly promoted Asia regional
Managing Directors:
“I had the pleasure to work with CAL for a half day piece around Complex Adaptive
Leadership. The journey getting there was fantastic throughout, Nick was professional and on
top of things throughout and his style and humour blended well with the entire group. It was a
great partnership and Nick's expertise certainly made the event a success!”
Ronald Tay, Executive Director of Talent and Leadership, UBS
Ran a programme for European CEO’s on complex adaptive leadership and their teams,
focussing on change and engagement of employees:
“Having attended many such courses over quite some number of years, I would consider CAL
to be at the very top for engagement & content”
Gerry Burke, CEO Ireland, Astra Zeneca
Ran workshops in Beijing and Shanghai for mainly Chinese managers with only a few
westerners included
“I have seen many leadership models in my time as an HR Leadership and Talent
Development professional. However, I recently saw the CAL (Complex Adaptive Leadership)
approach delivered here in Beijing and I believe it is the best western model that suits the
Chinese culture and psyche. The feedback from the participants has been very positive and
they all gained great insights in how to manage themselves, their teams and their managers
better. We look forward to doing more!”
Minna Yu, Region Lead, Talent Leadership and Organization, NSN China
Ran workshop for NHS Wales to introduce complex adaptive leadership:
“CAL’s pragmatic solutions provide pressurised individuals and teams with straight forward
methods to navigate through highly complex systems. The approach is highly influential in the
development of our Organisational Development Practitioners programme for senior
managers who are responsible for delivering highly complex change with multiple
stakeholders across the Health, Social Service and Third sector. I believe that progressive
leaders directly benefit from understanding these theories and applied solutions. We
commissioned CAL Ltd to deliver a workshop ….the delivery was faultless”.
Grant Evans, Senior Leadership & OD, National Leadership and Innovation Agency for
Healthcare
5. Ground-breaking Organisational and Leadership Development
5 info@ComplexAdaptiveLeadership.com
Ran a series of short seminars for CEO members of the YPO covering new ways of looking
at, and exercising, adaptive leadership
“CAL made a significant impact and all participants valued his input. CAL was subsequently
engaged to facilitate and teach in the UK at a YPO University which received accolades as
one of the best YPO Universities ever. Nick combines an enthusiastic and energetic style with
deep thought and new ways of looking at leadership that offers executives down to earth
solutions that can make a difference”
Andrew Abercrombie, Chairman Melbourne Chapter, YPO
Designed and led as Programme Director at London Business School an in-company
programme for Rio Tinto aimed at the top 100 executives from around the world.
“Nick programme directed the design and delivery of our flagship, senior leadership
programme for over 2 years, as well as being a key content contributor to the programme.
Nick was a highly effective programme director who helped deliver both an excellent design
and the delivery of multiple programmes. As a content expert Nick fundamentally challenged
our thinking and presented very powerfully a thoughtful and insightful argument which has
helped us advance our approach to strategic leadership.”
Barry Bloch , Global Practice Leader: Leadership/People Development , Rio Tinto
Delivered leadership and personal development days as part of INSEAD’s International
Executive Programme (IEP). Scored consistently high feedback.
“Nick is fantastic in the classroom. I worked with Nick in my capacity as Program Director
for INSEAD's International Executive Program on more than one occasion. He is very
professional and an excellent presenter. The feedback I received from participants in my
program was overwhelmingly positive.” Michael Pich , Professor , INSEAD
Designed a variety of in-house company programmes as Fellow at LBS
“I have worked with Nick on various programmes and he is excellent working with groups of
senior executives. He brings a genuinely new, unique and powerful view of leadership. His
interventions are engaging, inspiring and generate specific ideas and actions for
implementing the CAL approach. Thoroughly recommended!”
Professor Julian Birkinshaw, LBS
“Nick is a very experienced lecturer, leader of executive education programmes, management
consultant and coach. We have worked together on various programmes. He is an
outstanding, original, thought-provoking and entertaining speaker with deep understanding of
leadership issues and change management. He is highly skilled at guiding and facilitating
senior leadership teams of multinationals, helping them develop strategy, identify core
competence and develop deeper insight into future risks, opportunities and challenges.”
Patrick Dixon , Chairman , Global Change Ltd Fellow LBS
Designed and delivered leadership programme for managers of a leading strategy consultant
boutique and also for partners for a tax law firm
“Nick is a very good consultant to work with, has a very clear overview of systems and
processes, both at an integrating level, but at the individual level as well. I've hired with Nick
in two cases to set up leadership development programs, in both cases he delivered excellent
results to both the individuals involved, and to the organisations.”
Leen De Waal, Operations Director KPMG Netherlands
For more information and/or a meeting to discuss further how this ground breaking approach can
help your organisation and enhance leadership development please contact:
Nick@ComplexAdaptiveLeadership.com
7. See overleaf for more information
Complex Adaptive Leadership
Embracing Paradox and Uncertainty
Nick Obolensky
274 pages, November 2014
Paperback: 978-1-4724-4791-3
Usual price: £27.50 / US$49.95
41% discount – use code G14JAo41
www.gowerpublishing.com
www.gowerpublishing.com/isbn/9781472447913
‘A true tour de force, in a class of its own from being well-grounded both in the science and in practical
experiences.’
Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science and other books
‘…a startlingly worthwhile read for a business manager keen to develop a practical understanding of differ-
ent strategies with which to engage subordinates…a clever integration of ideas about leadership as well as
a practical guide…an entertaining, highly readable, well set out and informative book.’
Integral Leadership Review, January 2012
‘Obolensky’s research on chaos and complexity combined with leadership practice is thorough, detailed,
and more than a little persuasive…his arguments are supported by sound research and a strong familiarity
with organization dynamics…he manages to bring his research into practical organizational application…I
would recommend [this] book to those graduate-level students of leadership who are seeking to gain a
deeper understanding of the ways in which macro and micro currents of chaos and complexity are invit-
ing continued organizational evolution and adaptive leadership. This book will also be a strong support to
researchers and scholars.’
Leadership and Organization Development Journal Vol 32, Issue 3
Complex Adaptive Leadership,
a Gower bestseller, has been
taught in corporate leadership
programmes, business schools
and universities around the
world to high acclaim. In this
updated paperback edition, the
author argues that leadership
is a complex dynamic process
and should involve all those
engaged in a particular
enterprise.
Discount price: £16.23 / US$29.47
8. Contents:
Preface to the First and Second Editions. Part I The Context: A journey of discovery; The world wide
context - a flow towards polyarchy; The organisational context - evolve or die; Finita la comedia - stop
playing charades; A quick breather between Parts I and II. Part II Chaos and Complexity: Order in chaos,
simplicity in complexity - the deeper paradox; Getting to grips with chaos and complexity; Getting chaos
and complexity to work; A quick breather between Parts II and III. Part III The Leadership Angle: What is
leadership anyway?; What about the followers?; Complex adaptive leadership in action; A final breather
between Parts III and IV. Part IV Looking Forward and Other Interests: Beyond this book - the choices you
have…. Appendices; Bibliography; Index.
About the author:
Nick Obolensky has enjoyed a successful career in a number of roles, in the military, third sector,
academia and in business, including those of Associate Director of a FTSE 100 firm, MBA Professor of the
Year more than once, and CEO and Chairman of entrepreneurial start-ups. He is a Chartered Management
Consultant and was an Executive Strategy Consultant at Ernst and Young, where he also led the Research
Associate Practice. He has been a Fellow at the London Business School and was a Founder Fellow at The
Centre for Leadership Studies at the University of Exeter in the UK, Professor of Leadership at Nyenrode
University in the Netherlands and a Visiting Professor at INSEAD in France. His work has been published
by Kogan Page in several languages around the world as well as under the auspices of the University of
Exeter Centre for Leadership Studies and the RSA.
How to order:
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This title is also available in ebook formats
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Since its publication, Complex Adaptive Leadership has become a Gower bestseller that has been taught
in corporate leadership programmes, business schools and universities around the world to high acclaim.
In this updated paperback edition, Nick Obolensky argues that leadership should not be something
only exercised by nominated leaders. It is a complex dynamic process involving all those engaged in a
particular enterprise. The theoretical background to this lies in complexity science and chaos theory -
spoken and written about in the context of leadership for the last 20 years, but still little understood. We
all seem intuitively to know leadership ‘isn’t what it used to be’ but we still cling to old assumptions which
look anachronistic in changing and challenging times.
The book will particularly appeal to practitioners wishing to improve their leadership effectiveness as well
as for students and researchers in the field of leadership.
