Leading change in a complex system
We design and deliver bespoke leadership programmes to support the development of leaders working to solve complex systemic issues in their place. Our programmes strengthen leadership capacity and build cross-sector collaboration across place systems, supporting and empowering people and organisations committed to addressing inequality by doing things differently in times of complexity and change.
Our approach incorporates current thinking in leadership development and movement building, drawing on multiple techniques applied across the civic and social change sectors. We help leaders apply whole-systems, place-based working to address complex challenges with collaboration, creativity, and resilience.
Growing leadership capacity
We work with pioneering place leaders who are prepared to do things differently. Through dedicated programmes of support, we develop, nurture and support leaders from across systems to deepen their capacity for whole-systems, place-based working.
Each workshop and community of practice focuses on these objectives, underpinned with practices, tools and techniques that help participants understand how change happens in complex systems and the importance of new forms of leadership to enable it.
Specific Outcomes
System Leadership Immersion
An exploration of systems leadership in a complex place system, drawing on a range of leadership approaches:
- Understanding the importance of context and centring lived experiences of communities
- Links to wider civic and social change initiatives
- Understanding system leadership using different models that demonstrate how leaders need to think and act differently
- Exploring practices that support collaboration and movement building
Each programme uses an immersive learning approach, with time for reflection and networking, encouraging participants to apply learning directly into their day-to-day practices.
Communities of Practice
Workshops for people who have attended the Leadership Immersion to continue developing and practicing leadership skills, building peer-support and collaborative working skills, and deepening their understanding of systems change. The programme is co-created and responds to emerging needs from the group, drawing from topics including:
- Developing a shared purpose and supporting individual and collective strengths
- Working with communities to tackle things from the root and ensure changes bring them benefit
- Navigating conflict, hearing all voices and challenging embedded power dynamics (Deep Democracy)
- Building resilience individually and collectively in times of change
- Creating conditions for innovation and why imagination is a system leadership superpower
Each community of practice is supported by experienced facilitators using an immersive learning approach. We support participants with tools and techniques to practice, empowering them to pass learning on within their teams and networks.
“Karen and Mark are outstanding facilitators and thought leaders who through this programme have really challenged my thinking and actions in a positive manner to help me in my development and the creation of a multidisciplinary, cross-organisational group of peers to now better face some of the wicked issues and opportunities available to us as place leaders.”
“This was the best development that I have ever taken part in. I was very lucky with the group of people I got to share this experience with. It is essential that everyone trusts each other and the space feel safe and Mark & Karen really helped us with that. I went into this thinking about me at work but came out reflecting on me as a person. At times uncomfortable but so rewarding.”
Why work with us?
We have been at the leading edge of co-creating movements of organisations to overcome complex challenges for over 10 years. Through our work supporting multiple areas with place-based working, we have developed a unique perspective that balances facilitation expertise with lived experience of delivery.
Expert Facilitators
Our approach weaves together multiple models and techniques through which we can navigate the landscape of change in complex systems:
- Delivered leadership programmes to 300+ leaders in multiple place partnerships
- Experienced in challenges and opportunities of whole-system, place-based approaches
- Systems leadership facilitators bringing together latest thinking and best practice
- Blend diverse system leadership practices including Theory U, Deep Democracy (Process Work), Time to Think, The Work that Reconnects, and UN Inner Development Framework
Place Practitioners
As practitioners we balance the theoretical with lived experience of working with multiple stakeholders to co-create potent movements for change. Our experience includes:
- Lead delivery organisation in major place-based programmes
- Pioneers in place-based working nationally including Active Travel, Community Development, and bringing complex systems together for Community Health
On-going System Support
To optimise impact, given the complexity of embedding whole-system approaches, practitioners need on-going support between sessions to deepen learning and support resilience, creativity and collaboration. Our investment includes place leadership partners enabling:
- Regular strategic meetings with place steering groups for continuous review, co-creation, and sharing of best practices emerging nationally and internationally
- Bespoke content platforms with curated newsletters designed to deepen learning, with access to articles, videos and other content to build continuous learning and hold conversations between sessions
- System leadership partnership exploring opportunities to connect with broader global communities working on systems change, building profile and aligning with initiatives like the UN Inner Development Goals
- Impact review and co-creation using relational evaluation approaches that constantly review and evaluate learning and impact, supporting work around system maturity and effectiveness, aligned with wider learning locally and nationally
Based on evaluation, we co-create subsequent phases exploring options such as mentoring and coaching support, residential immersive learning experiences, and subject matter deep dives in techniques including Deep Democracy, Time to Think, Theory U, UN Inner Development Framework, and Imagination Activism.
