Complexipacity
Thriving in Chaos as Individuals and Teams
Complexity isn’t just a challenge—it’s the new normal. Every day, we navigate intricate systems of technology, relationships, and expectations. But rather than shrinking under the weight of this complexity, what if we could thrive within it? Enter the idea of complexipacity.
Complexipacity is the capacity to thrive in complexity. It’s not about simplifying the world around us—it’s about expanding ourselves. As individuals and as teams, we can learn to move beyond survival mode into a space of creativity and growth, using complexity as a catalyst for innovation.
The Two Facets of Complexipacity
Complexipacity operates on two levels: the individual and the team. Each plays a vital role in how we navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
Individual Complexipacity
Thriving in complexity begins with the self. Imagine being at the center of a storm, not fighting the wind but learning to harness it. To develop individual complexipacity, we must:
Cultivate Self-Awareness: When life throws a dozen variables our way, the ability to center ourselves is paramount. Knowing who we are, what we value, and where we’re headed helps us act with clarity in uncertain circumstances. Please don’t just assume these, put in some work clarifying who you are and what you want.
Adapt and Experiment: Static thinking has no place in a dynamic world. Adapting isn’t about abandoning principles but evolving strategies. Think of this as prototyping your way through life: test, learn, and iterate.
Build Resilience: Resilience isn’t just bouncing back; it’s bouncing forward. It’s about finding the strength to grow through what we go through, using adversity to refine our purpose.
Team Complexipacity
If individuals are sparks, teams are bonfires. The ability of a team to thrive in complexity depends on how its members connect and collaborate. Teams can build complexipacity by focusing on:
Shared Vision: Without a unifying purpose, complexity can feel like chaos. A clear and compelling vision acts as the North Star, aligning diverse efforts and ideas.
Diverse Strengths: Complexipacity thrives on variety within a unified vision, and so do the best teams. The more perspectives and skill sets represented, the more adaptive the team becomes, as they focus on their north star together.
Reframing Failure: Teams need space to experiment and fail without fear. This creates a culture of learning, where challenges are stepping stones, not roadblocks.
Why Complexipacity Matters Now
The world isn’t going to get simpler. Leaders in small businesses, nonprofits, and faith communities already feel the strain of juggling limited resources with unlimited demands. Yet, within this chaos lies extraordinary potential.
Consider this: history’s most transformative moments have often emerged from its most tumultuous times. The Renaissance arose from the ashes of the plague. The tech revolution grew out of the Cold War. Complexity isn’t a barrier; it’s a crucible.
Dr. Ian Malcolm’s explanation of chaos theory in Jurassic Park is a perfect illustration. Remember the scene where he drops water onto the back of his hand? Malcolm explains how tiny variations—the slightest change in initial conditions—can lead to wildly different outcomes. This is the essence of complexity: it’s unpredictable, and yet within its unpredictability lies the opportunity to see patterns, adapt, and innovate. Malcolm’s insight reminds us that complexity doesn’t have to be feared; it can be understood and even leveraged. (Yes, I know. And then all the screaming starts when the T Rex gets loose.)
Insights from Leadership Research
According to a Harvard Business article, thriving in complexity requires what they call "Leadership Fitness," which includes four essential capacities:
Sensemaking: The ability to interpret and give meaning to ambiguous or complex situations.
Relating: Building strong relationships and networks to create a support system for navigating challenges.
Visioning: Imagining a future that inspires and aligns individuals and teams toward shared goals.
Inventing: Developing innovative solutions and experimenting with new ways to address problems.
These capacities underscore that thriving in complexity is not about having all the answers but about cultivating the skills and mindset to navigate uncertainty with confidence and creativity.
Moving Forward with Complexipacity
A simple 3-step framework to help individuals and teams make sense of complexity involves three questions:
What? Observe and describe the current situation or pattern. This step focuses on understanding what is happening without judgment.
So What? Analyze the implications of the observed patterns. What do they mean for you, your team, or your goals?
Now What? Decide on actionable steps based on your insights. This is where adaptation happens as you experiment and adjust your strategies in response to what you’ve learned.
Adaptive Action transforms complexity into a series of manageable, iterative steps, enabling you to respond effectively to change and uncertainty.
Both the Harvard Leadership Fitness and this simple three question process mirrors the triad of 21st century leadership described in my book, Makers of Fire (2012). I hope to release this book again this year. Here’s an image from the Makers of Fire Course (2010).
Besides, the skills of describing the present moment (what?), and discerning the meaning (So what?), and discovering paths forward (Now what?), the key to developing a capacity to thrive in complexity is to know yourself.
It’s easy to feel confused if you don’t know what you want. If you know what you want, you’ve taken a big step. Now, rather than waiting to see what happens, you can begin to create your preferred future.
This is huge.
If you’re simply dealing with the chaos that comes your way, you’re not yet awakened to your role as the author, actor, and action hero of your own story. (See, “FutureU: forging a path to your most heroic self” available exclusively through my website, alexandermcmanus.com.)
But if you know what you want, then you can begin the process of creation. And like John Hammond, the creator of the fictional Jurassic Park, says, “Creation is an act of sheer will.” This is what I hope for you, except for all the running and screaming when the T Rex gets loose.
As you think about your own journey, ask yourself:
How am I expanding my capacity to thrive in complexity?
How is my team leaning into challenges as opportunities?
Complexipacity isn’t a destination. It’s a mindset, a set of practices, and a way of being. As we embrace it, we’re not just navigating the world’s complexity—we’re helping to shape it.
Let’s forge ahead, not in spite of complexity but because of it. After all, the future belongs to those bold enough to thrive in the unpredictable wilds of life. No matter the challenges ahead and chaos around, life finds a way. (I couldn’t help ending with a Jurassic Park reference. :))