FrameChangers in Person: Embracing Complexity with Jean Boulton

Join us for an incredibly insightful conversation with Jean Boulton, author of The Dao of Complexity, as she delves into the core ideas of complexity science and its profound relevance for modern leadership and daily life.

In this episode, Jean challenges traditional mechanical worldviews often adopted by organisational theory, arguing that complexity science offers a more suitable framework for understanding dynamic social systems like families and organisations.  She emphasises that embracing this understanding can lead to better decisions and more effective ways of living and working.

Key themes explored include:

• The essence of Complexity:Jean defines complexity as building on the science of open systems that continuously exchange energy and information, highlighting diversity, reflexive interconnections, and openness as crucial conditions.
  
  
• Continuous Change and Emergent Stability: Discover the paradox of change creating stability, where self-regulating repeating patterns give rise to resilience. 66666Jean discusses the vital role of pattern recognition in navigating this dynamic.
  
  
• Leadership in a Complex World: Contrasting the dominant drive for prediction and control, Jean advocates for a leadership approach rooted in sensing, observing, and responding. 8 She emphasizes intentional leadership combined with experimentation, portfolio approaches, and a willingness to adapt.
  
  
• Working with Polarities:Learn about the "both/and" nature of complexity, where seemingly opposing ideas coexist, requiring leaders to maintain strategic direction while embracing flexibility and learning from failure.
  
  
• Influence of Daoist Thinking:Jean shares how Daoist philosophy, with its processual worldview and emphasis on flow and self-regulation, deeply resonates with and illuminates her understanding of complexity. She highlights how ancient Daoist insights align remarkably with modern scientific understanding.
  
  
• The Unspoken Dimensions of Knowing: Explore the importance of intuition, experience, and "critical subjective methods" in navigating complex systems, suggesting that true understanding involves more than just cognitive engagement. 
  
  
• Teaching Complexity: Jean discusses her innovative methods for teaching complexity, which involve deconstructing mechanical thinking and encouraging the recognition of patterns and opportunities within organisational "messiness" and change. 

She shares practical exercises and real-world examples to illustrate these concepts. 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of complexity and enhance their capacity to lead and thrive in an unpredictable world.

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Chapters

• 0:01 Introduction
• 1:39 Q1
• 3:08 Q2
• 8:37 Q3
• 20:00 Q4
• 25:50 Q5
• 29:32 Q6
• 44:18 Q7
• 51:20 Q8
• 54:52 Q9
• 1:03:15 Q10
• 1:08:02 Outro