THE TENSION
Change (and particularly unknown/unexpected change) creates tension. This tension can either fuel or frustrate innovation and growth. Leaders need to manage this tension to ensure the organisation/team can transition to sustainable new ways of working.
Once organisations are over an initial crisis or start-up phase, leaders will know that it’s going to be a case of ‘adapt or die’. But the process will inevitably lead to significant tension. There has never been a more important time to facilitate this tension to ensure it is channelled into productive growth. Some will be itching to explore new options, while others will bunker down and want to maintain current systems. The reality is that we need both approaches. Our Future-Ready, iCLI and innovation suites contents identify how to utilise this tension for leadership and organisation success.
THE PARADOX
How to move forward to embrace change, and how a leader can manage this using the paradox theory of understanding ‘exploration’ and ‘preservation’ biases.
·AMBIDEXTERITY:
How to manage competing demands common in complex rapid change contexts
·ALIGNMENT:
How to work with others with different profiles through a shared core purpose
·AGILITY:
How to develop the flexibility to adapt to change as an individual and in teams
PREPARING FOR FUTURE-READY
The iCLI tool focuses on providing feedback to assist your understanding of what areas can be developed to be ready to face a future that is:
•Complex
•Rapid change
•Requires sustainable innovation
The profile measure is based on research into how to lead to survive and thrive in this context. The research comes from the University of Sydney Business School, and involved interviewing, observing and surveying hundreds of leaders globally to identify the skills and behaviours most needed for this future context.
Designed by Dr Gaia Grant (PhD)
Associate Adjunct Faculty, Discipline of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship | University of Sydney Business School.
Contributing Researchers :
Prof Eric Professor Eric Knight: Executive Dean and Professor of Strategic Management at Macquarie University Business School .
Prof Suresh Cuganesan: Associate Dean (Student Success & Mobility) and Professor in the Discipline of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sydney Business School.
Prof Martin Dowson: Program director of academic development at Excelsia College Sydney.