Are we regressing or evolving? The battle for the future of leadership
The world feels more divided than ever. Strongman leaders are rising to power, ideological clashes are intensifying, and many fear we are sliding backwards instead of progressing. The ideals of collaboration and inclusivity seem under siege, replaced by polarisation, tribalism, and a deep uncertainty about the future.
But is this truly a regression — or is it something more complex?
Through the lens of developmental psychology, leadership and society evolve through three broad stages: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Pre-conventional leadership is characterised by raw power and self-interest, while conventional leadership values hierarchy, structure, and efficiency. Post-conventional leadership, by contrast, embraces complexity, inclusivity, and systemic thinking.
What we are witnessing today is not a simple breakdown, but a moment of reckoning, where a conventional model of leadership (Achiever/Orange) is failing in the face of a post-conventional (Green) shift. And because the Achiever stage cannot even comprehend what lies beyond it, rather than progressing, it regresses to the pre-conventional — reverting to raw power and unilateral force.
The evolution of society: a leadership perspective
Society, much like an individual, evolves through recognisable stages. Each new phase brings innovation and expansion, but also resistance and fear. Today’s political turbulence isn’t just chaos, it’s a symptom of conventional leadership facing its limitations, unable to adapt to a new and more complex way of operating.
The failure of conventional leadership
Conventional leadership, represented by the Achiever (Orange) stage, prioritises control, competition, and results. It thrives on efficiency and strategic action. But as complexity increases, it struggles to comprehend the fluidity of post-conventional (Green) thinking, which values systems over individuals, collaboration over competition, and diversity over uniformity.
When an Achiever mindset encounters this shift, it experiences it as disorder rather than evolution. And because it cannot move forward, it falls back. Instead of adapting to complexity, it reverts to the pre-conventional stage of power-based leadership — where might makes right.
The strongman resurgence: regression or last stand?
In times of uncertainty, people seek control. Enter the resurgence of strongman leadership, leaders who promise stability through sheer force. From a developmental standpoint, this isn’t new. It’s a classic response to perceived societal breakdown.
At its core, strongman leadership is a shadow form of the Achiever stage (Orange). When faced with disruption, instead of embracing innovation, Achiever doubles down on power, control, and dominance. Lacking the capacity to evolve into the post-conventional paradigm, it retreats into pre-conventional methods, enforcing hierarchy through sheer force.
This isn’t regression in the traditional sense. It’s a defence mechanism. The Achiever stage, having long dominated modern society, is fighting to maintain control as new paradigms emerge. The rise of authoritarianism isn’t proof that we’re moving backwards. It’s proof that change is inevitable and that those resisting it feel threatened.
The woke movement: a new leadership paradigm or ideological gridlock?
On the other side of the spectrum, we see the rise of “woke” culture, an unprecedented mass shift towards an early form of post-conventional thinking. This movement, often criticised as overly idealistic or extreme, is actually the societal expression of what developmental theorists call the “Redefining” or “Green” stage (the first, early stage of post-conventional development).
Green consciousness redefines power dynamics. It values inclusivity, pluralism, and systemic thinking over hierarchy and control. It’s not about who’s in charge, it’s about making sure everyone has a voice. For the first time, we are seeing this worldview emerge on a broad scale.
But Green has its own shadow. The push for equality can sometimes lead to ideological rigidity, the paradox of enforcing “no dogma” as a form of dogma itself. This explains the backlash. Those still operating from earlier developmental stages feel threatened, not just by the ideas themselves but by the way they are presented, non-negotiable, uncompromising, absolute.
The result? A collision between two realities. The old world, where power and control reign supreme, and an emerging new world, where collaboration and inclusivity take precedence.
The bigger picture: a turning point in leadership development
If history tells us anything, it’s that societal evolution follows a pattern: resistance, crisis, transformation. The strongman resurgence isn’t proof that we’re moving backwards, it’s proof that we’re on the edge of a breakthrough.
The shift to a post-conventional world is already happening. However, for this new society to succeed, it must evolve beyond the Green stage, transcending the polarisation between assertive and accommodating styles of leadership, to evolve into the Yellow (Transforming) stage and beyond.
But before a new era emerges, the old one fights to hold on. This moment isn’t about choosing sides, it’s about understanding the transition. Leaders who recognise this shift will thrive. Those who cling to outdated models or existing practices will struggle.
What this means for future leaders
So where do we go from here? How do we navigate this turning point with clarity and strength?
- Step Beyond Conventional Leadership – The world is moving past hierarchy-driven leadership. The future belongs to those who can integrate direction with connection, power with collaboration, and efficiency with inclusivity.
- Embrace Complexity, Not Polarisation – The mistake of this era is thinking in binaries. Strongman vs. woke. Control vs. chaos. The best leaders will transcend this thinking and operate from a higher level of understanding.
- Understand the Shadow Elements of Every Stage – Leadership isn’t about rejecting one paradigm for another. It’s about recognising the strengths and pitfalls of each and leading wisely with flexibility. And this means making a firm commitment to one’s own personal development.
The future demands more than just change. It demands vertical development
We’re not regressing. We’re evolving. But evolution isn’t smooth, it’s messy, turbulent, and unpredictable. The rise of authoritarian leaders isn’t a return to the past; it’s a desperate attempt to hold onto a world that’s slipping away. At the same time, the first mass shift into post-conventional consciousness is underway, and with it comes its own challenges.
In an era of rapid change, leaders must elevate their thinking to navigate higher-order complexity, ambiguity, and paradox, by reshaping how they sense, make meaning, and take action in the world. To rise to this challenge, we need to move beyond traditional, horizontal approaches and embrace vertical development.
Traditional (horizontal) development emphasises the accumulation of skills, facts, and perspectives — expanding what you know. Vertical development, however, is about transforming how you perceive and think. It expands awareness and mindset, changing how leaders sense, adapt, and respond in complex, unfamiliar situations.
Are you ready to step into the future of leadership?
At Living Systems, we design and provide transformative Immersive Development Journeys that integrate real-world challenges with deep developmental work. These experiences help leaders cultivate both horizontal and vertical capacity, enabling them to thrive in volatility, complexity, and uncertainty. In this way, we develop leaders who can navigate through the chaos, bring people together, and integrate opposing perspectives by operating from a place of deeper insight.
The world won’t wait, and the choices that you make today will define the leaders of tomorrow.
Transformation starts here…
The future belongs to organisations that unlock the power of Collective Intelligence — feeling, thinking, and acting as one. Are you ready to build that capacity? Start the conversation with us.