One of my favorite leadership theorists is the late Margaret Wheatley who was instrumental in the development of chaos theory, in which she taught was “necessary to new creative ordering.” I have long been one who enjoys, and has a knack for, bringing order from chaos, so her writings have intrigued me. As much as I dislike chaos, I’ve come to understand that it is a vital part of growth. Without the disruption of chaos to an existing system, it will stagnate as it clings to the status quo. Similar to chaos is the need to be agile personally, professionally, and as an organization. Wheatley wrote,
“What is it that streams can teach me about organizations? I am attracted to the diversity I see, to these swirling combinations of mud, silt, grass, water, rocks. This stream has an impressive ability to adapt, to change the configurations, to let the power shift, to create new structures. But behind this adaptability, making it all happen, I think, is the water’s need to flow. The forms change, but the mission remains clear.”
What I learn about leadership from Wheatley’s studies of chaos and agility is stated in her statement, “The forms change, but the mission remains clear.” This is a critical lesson for all of us as we lead in the many areas of our lives. Our mission to be a healthy, loving, and thriving family should remain solid, but as kids grow, circumstances change, and needs develop, our methods of leading have to remain fluid, like the flowing stream. The same is true personally as all of us should be in a never-ending pattern of self-awareness, emotional intelligence development, and spiritual growth. And finally, the organizations we lead must be ready to handle the metaphoric ebbs and flows of the water, and the chaos that accompanies innovation and future foresight. What must remain constant is your mission.
As a leader who has had to deal with a great deal of personal and professional chaos, I must say that it is not easy or necessarily enjoyable. As stated earlier, I like to bring order from chaos, so when my ducks, which I thought were neatly in a row, are scattered, I stress out. However, I’ve discovered the value of agility and the necessity of chaos in order to create a new way of doing things. I’m not perfect at the process. In fact, the process of being agile can be exhausting, scary, and expensive, but, it is necessary in order to create the future which I envision.
If you find yourself in chaos, it’s very possible that you’re on the brink of something amazing. So, stay agile in your methods and hold tight to your mission and the future appears.
Lead well.