This slideshare presents lessons from Complexity Leadership Theory and Chaos Theory as they apply to modern organizational leadership.

1. Complexity
& Chaos Perspectives
on Leadership
Amanda Heard
HIED 5364

2. The Industrial Era of the 20th century was a time
of hierarchical administrative leadership.

3. As times have changed and the world has evolved into a new
ERA of KNOWLEDGE, we must let go of the formulaic, top-down
structure of leadership we have grown accustom to.

4. While positional
leadership and
rank are still a
necessary part of
organizational
operations,
successful leaders
can’t cling to this
old model as they
did in the past.

5. Today’s workers are more responsive to
collaboration and creativity.

6. Successful leaders
must create or
enable an
environment that
values the input of
their employees.

7. Organizations must be willing to ADAPT to the
needs of the workers and the change in the
world to be able to continue to grow and
succeed.

8. This type of
environment
allows for
emergent
leadership,
which lends
itself toward
natural and
powerful
growth.

9. In today’s world, leadership that
tries to assert authority to control
chaos only creates MORE CHAOS.

10. is essential in creating relationships with
workers who WANT to give their best and
are satisfied with their role.

11. If productivity is to be increased, supervision
must be decreased, growing the trust
relationship.

12. We must organize around new
values of collaboration
and community to
achieve success.

13. References
Love, P., & Estanek, S. M. (2004). Rethinking student affairs practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Uhl-Bein, M. et al. (2007). Complexity leadership theory: Shifting leadership from the industrial age to the knowledge age. Retrieved
from https://shsu.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-1706473-dt-content-rid-8107439_1/courses/HIED536401815/Uhl-
Bien%20et%20al%20Complexity%20Leadership%20Theory.pdf
Wheatley, M. (2012) Let go and lead. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrD2Po3uUY
Wheatley, M. (2011) Authority on leadership in chaotic times.Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgabFLvMB5I
Ferguson riots image retrieved from
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-17/ferguson-riots-again-police-looters-exchange-teargas-rubber-bullets-molotov-cocktail
Yousafazi, Malala [image] retrieved from
http://parade.com/170557/parade/malala-yousafzai-the-bravest-girl-in-the-world/
Support center cartoon [image] retrieved from http://www.upyourservice.com/learning-library/customer-service-contact/get-out-of-
the-ivory-tower
An Everyone Culture, Becoming a Deliberately Developmental Organization (cover image) retrieved from
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Culture-Deliberately-Developmental-
Organization/dp/1625278624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446139253&sr=8-1&keywords=an+everyone+culture
Knowledge era of Big Data image retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGeoLFueR9U
Industrial era factory, sewing shop with managers image retrieved fromhttp://pinsndls.com/2013/09/09/downtown-uptown-from-
the-dry-goods-store-to-the-palace-of-consumption-part-ii/