The sixth principle of Advanced Change Theory (ACT) is take action to the edge of chaos. Chaos is a concept from complexity theory and I absolutely love it. All complex systems need new energy in order to be able to adapt and survive. If a system is closed and completely self-referent, it will experience entropy, continue to decay, and eventually perish.
The energy and information necessary for transformation is found at the edge of chaos. At the edge of chaos, systems have access to new and more complex patterns of organization that they can use to guide their own purposeful transformation. The purpose does not change, but the individuals and organization become different and better as they pursue the shared purpose.
For leaders to take action to the edge of chaos means that we must have the courage to act on faith as we pursue the common good. We have to be willing to step out and do the right thing in pursuit of the shared purpose instead of what is familiar, comfortable, and seemingly safe.
ACT practitioners do not have a safety net but rather operate at the edge of chaos. They must build the bridge even as it is walked on (Quinn, 1996, p. 83). They know that in withdrawing from the present social sanctions and in acting unconventionally, the old self disintegrates and is immediately replace by a new self that is more aligned with the current emerging reality. Virtually the same thing happens to the social system itself, in that the old arrangements disintegrate and new, more aligned arrangements emerge. (p. 153)
Shake things up – purposefully. Give yourself permission to take a risk and try something new and bold. I know this is abstract, but chew on it because it is a fantastic concept.
Stay tuned!
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Bret,
Really enjoying this series. Interesting twist pulling ideas from abstract physics and applying them to leadership ideas. I like it!
Alex
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I have always love complexity theory, Alex. I think it has some cool applications to organization theory. Abstract, but I love that. Thanks! Bret
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This is a good series, Bret. I think chaos/complexity theory can help a manager in the trenches, but that managers must understand that chaos doesn’t have a visible edge. You can’t go up to the edge of chaos and then peer over it to see what chaos looks like. The only way to get to the edge of chaos and know about it is to cross it. In the real world, that means that tolerance for uncertainty and loss of control needs to be part of the manager’s toolkit.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
December 20th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Great point, Wally about chaos not having a visible edge. I think a lot us do the right thing by approaching chaos, but most of us pull back way too early when the edge is still far from sight. Knowing how far to push comes with time and experience. Thanks, Wally! Bret
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As always, Bret, you give me so much to chew on and digest about leadership and change. This has been a great series. Gee, can we all get a certificate for this? LOL.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
December 20th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
ha! I appreciate anyone even tunning in for this, Alain! I’m sure you are already changing lives by changing yourself. That is your certificate. Thanks! bret
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