Blog Posts
When the system loses sight of itself: why polarisation is a leadership problem
Across Western democracies and global institutions, polarisation is accelerating. In the US, political discourse has collapsed into tribal loyalty and weaponised identity. In the UK, the aftermath of Brexit continues to divide institutions, communities, and generations. In Israel–Palestine, centuries of trauma have hardened into existential binaries. And inside many of our organisations, the same patterns…
Read MoreThree forms of complexity, three kinds of intelligence
Not all problems are created equal. Some are technical, complicated but solvable. They require expertise, analysis, and a solid plan. But others are adaptive – complex, shifting, and relational. They don’t yield to top-down logic or tidy solutions. They require something entirely different. Most leadership teams today are facing the second kind.And most are trying…
Read MoreFrom hero to host: the rise of Collective Intelligence in leadership teams
There was a time when leadership meant having the answers.The sharpest mind. The clearest plan. The firmest grip on the wheel. That time is over. Today, complexity doesn’t yield to certainty. The future isn’t something you can analyse and predict, it’s something you co-create. And no single leader, no matter how brilliant, can do that…
Read MoreLeading in two worlds: why the formal organisation is only half the picture
Most leaders were trained to navigate one world. The world of structure and strategy, of plans and performance metrics and delivery milestones. It’s tidy, logical, and reassuringly linear and familiar. We call this the formal organisation: the structure, systems, and processes that define roles, allocate resources, and drive accountability. But this is only half the…
Read MoreIs the offsite broken? Why strategic conversations fall short in complex times
“We need a reset.”That’s how most offsite briefs begin.A reset for the team. For the strategy. For the culture.A moment to reconnect, regroup, and realign. Yet, for all the time, budget and energy poured into away-days, leadership retreats and strategy kick-offs, most offsites barely scratch the surface of what’s really going on in the organisation.…
Read MoreThe future of leadership is here-and-now: why vertical development demands immersive learning
“You can’t become a better swimmer by reading about backstroke.”— someone who’s nearly drowned in a leadership role The world isn’t just changing. It’s outpacing us. The leaders of today are under pressure to navigate relentless complexity, deep ambiguity, polarised teams, sweeping system-wide change — yet most leadership development still clings to the notion of…
Read MoreFrom passenger to pilot: why leadership development needs action learning
We’ve all been there. You walk out of a leadership workshop, workbook in hand, and feel… no different. Nothing’s really changed. It’s not that the session was bad. The content made sense. The facilitator was good. But you were a passenger — not the one driving. At Living Systems we believe the only development that…
Read MoreLeadership is a network: building collective intelligence in a complex world
“The smartest person in the room… is the room.”— David Weinberger We’re living in a world that refuses to be simplified. Climate breakdown. Digital ethics. Organisational silos. Culture change. These aren’t puzzles with tidy solutions. They’re adaptive challenges — messy, shifting, complex — that demand solutions that no leader, no matter how brilliant, can solve…
Read MoreThe edge of innovation: why leadership learning needs a little theatre, play and chaos
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”— Benjamin Franklin (or someone who escaped an immersive theatre performance alive) Let’s be real: traditional leadership training isn’t just outdated — it’s forgettable. You sit through a slide deck. You tick the box. By Friday, it’s a distant blur.It’s…
Read MoreAre 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…
Read More