A633.5.3.RB - Reflections on Chaos

This video is a real life representation of chaos theory in action. It is only a little over three and a half minutes long and well worth a watch. Especially if you would like any of this post to make sense.

From this video I think a few simple thoughts on chaos (not that chaos theory is simple) start to emerge as it relates to leadership. Simple and clear directions, self-directed participants, and trust in order/results are three concepts that immediately sprang to mind.

The directions were simple and clear. This may sound constraining but it is actually quite liberating. The followers are able to exercise a great deal of freedom within the boundaries of a few rules and having a few rules makes objective very clear. This allows followers to direct themselves towards objectives free of confusion and conflict. Many rules tend to conflict with each and the more rules are written to clarify the worse it can actually become. The old adage, "keep it simple, stupid" can be applied to chaos theory and leadership.

The participants are self-directed. This is almost self-explanatory. Within the framework of the few simple rules the participants were free to decide their own paths. So it is in leadership, allow people to flow towards their destinations without a great deal of hindrance or constraint and solutions will manifest themselves; often more quickly than had a leader meddled with the process.

The third thought I want to touch upon was that "leader" had to trust in the underlying rules of chaos theory to work and that the participants would produce the optimal result. The rule, of course, being that complex systems left to produce their own results will tend produce the best result in the shortest amount of time. That is a very brief statement of the foundation of leadership and chaos theory. There are obviously other facets that must be present for any complex system to be sustained but those facets are dedicated to providing the energy or environment for that foundation to build upon.

I do want to be clear on another point. To simply give a few directions and step out isn't the idea, true laissez-faire environments are (in my opinion) nothing more than pipe dreams. Every system needs a certain amount of constraint or framework in which to operate. Chaos theory in leadership is no different, though I believe the quality and skill of the followers determines the success of chaotic leadership far more than the leader.