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Article
Thriving in Complexity: A Framework for Leadership Education
Journal of Leadership Education
  • Daryl Watkins, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Matthew Earnhardt, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Linda Pittenger, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Robin Roberts, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Kees Rietsema, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Janet Cosman-Ross, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Submitting Campus
Worldwide
Department
Organizational Leadership
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-2017
Abstract/Description

Technological advances, globalization, network complexity, and social complexity complicate almost every aspect of our organizations and environments. Leadership educators are challenged with developing leaders who can sense environmental cues, adapt to rapidly changing contexts, and thrive in uncertainty while adhering to their values systems. In a complex leadership context, inadequate leader responses can result in devastating organizational impacts akin to the butterfly effect from chaos theory. This paper advances a simple model for leadership education based on a program we designed to develop leaders who understand the nature of complex systems, reliably use their ethical value systems, are emotionally intelligent and resilient, and can adapt to emergent situations.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12806/V16/I4/T4
Publisher
Association of Leadership Educators
Citation Information
Daryl Watkins, Matthew Earnhardt, Linda Pittenger, Robin Roberts, et al.. "Thriving in Complexity: A Framework for Leadership Education" Journal of Leadership Education Vol. 16 Iss. 4 (2017) p. 148 - 163
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_a_roberts/8/