Slides for workshop given at ATLE Convergence 2013 Conference.

1. Leading through Ambiguity,
Complexity, and Rapid Change
ATLE Convergence Conference 2013
November 21, 2013

2. SIMPLE
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Sense-Categorize-Respond

3. COMPLICATED
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Sense-Analyze-Respond
SIMPLE
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Sense-Categorize-Respond

4. COMPLEX
COMPLICATED
Emergent practice
[CE]
Retrospectively knowable
Networked Leadership
Probe-Sense-Respond
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
SIMPLE
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond

5. COMPLEX
COMPLICATED
Emergent practice
[CE]
Retrospectively knowable
Networked Leadership
Probe-Sense-Respond
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
CHAOS
SIMPLE
Novel practice
C≠E
Unknowable
Charismatic Leadership
Act-Sense-Respond
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond

6. COMPLEX
COMPLICATED
Emergent practice
[CE]
Retrospectively knowable
Networked Leadership
Probe-Sense-Respond
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
DISORDER
CHAOS
SIMPLE
Novel practice
C≠E
Unknowable
Charismatic Leadership
Act-Sense-Respond
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond

7. Unstable Environment
Stable Environment
OUTLOOK
Do the job
right and …
Make incremental
progress
Limit
Make calculated
investments
Avoid
Reduce risk with
research and data
UNCERTAINTY
NEW EXPERIENCES
Develop
Narrow
Focus on a few clear
ideas
REPERTOIRE
Consider problems
objectively

8. Unstable Environment
Stable Environment
OUTLOOK
Succeed more often in
new situations
Place small bets,
quickly
Manage risk through
action
Develop multiple
opportunities
Do the job
right and …
Make incremental
progress
Limit
Make calculated
investments
Avoid
Continuously
learn , adapt
and …
Reduce risk with
research and data
Accept
UNCERTAINTY
Seek
NEW EXPERIENCES
Develop
Broad
Develop
Narrow
Focus on a few clear
ideas
REPERTOIRE
Consider problems
empathetically
Consider problems
objectively

9. Self-Assessment
1. What are the key positions I’ve held over my
career? Which 2 or 3 gave me the most new
perspectives and skills?
2. What themes, areas of concentration, and broad
capabilities have I developed?
3. Select one or two experiences. What was the
challenge or opportunity? What did I do? What
resulted? What did I learn?
4. What’s missing? What industries, functions and
experiences do I need more of for my current
and future growth?

10. Self-Assessment
Do I:
• Seek out and examine different businesses and industries
for ideas?
• Seek out and get to know different kinds of people?
• Look for patterns and connections between seemingly
disparate ideas?
• Seek to understand the context of problems and
opportunities?
• Expose myself to entrepreneurial thinking by talking to
entrepreneurs?
• Take on different roles and assignments where I currently
work?
• Learn from successes and failures and apply what I learn?

11. Self-Assessment
Do I:
• Spend a lot of energy worrying about making mistakes?
• Consider my ideas fully formed rather than as starting
points?
• Debate the validity of disconfirming data or try to
understand them?
• Measure my progress relative to others or to my own
improvement?
• Handle setbacks as signals to abandon ship or as
opportunities to learn and try something different?

12. Next Steps
• Reflect on your self-assessment.
– What do you notice?
– How do you feel about it?
– What patterns did you notice, or insights did you
gain?
– What are 1 or 2 specific things that you can do to
strengthen your skills?

13. Giving credit where it’s due…
Workshop exercises adapted from:
Agile 42. "Cynefin Framework Lego Game." Agile 42. N.p., 25 Dec. 2011. Web. 17 Nov.
2013
Slides 2-6 adapted from:
Snowden, D.J. Boone, M. 2007. "A Leader's Framework for Decision Making". Harvard
Business Review, November 2007, pp. 69–76.
Slides 7-11 adapted from:
Liedtka, Jeanne M. "How Can We Prepare Ourselves to Be Leaders of Innovation?"
Lecture. Design Thinking for Business Innovation. Coursera. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.