Engaging with Complexity: Exploring the Terrain of Leadership for Sustainability

Abstract

Navigating the challenges of the twenty-first century will require differentiated approaches to leadership that are well suited for engaging with complex systems, defined in part by their dynamic, nonlinear, and unpredictable nature. The learning activity described in this chapter is based on an essential question: What skills, mindsets, and dispositions might help leaders address increasingly complex challenges to support a healthier and more sustainable future? The central activity involves a process for hosting a large group dialogue and harvesting the group’s collective wisdom. It draws on a variety of conceptual frameworks and the collective experience of the students to avoid singular answers or predetermined solutions. After completing the activity, students should be able to (1) identify unique characteristics of complex systems and complex social–ecological challenges, (2) examine mindsets and behavioral patterns that may limit their ability to effectively address challenges in complex systems, (3) identify areas of inquiry related to leadership for sustainability that merit further exploration, and (4) reflect on how to apply their newfound understanding about complex systems to improve their own leadership skills for engaging with complex sustainability challenges.