The last touchpoint many of us had with the idea of complexity was at least 10 years ago, when the concept of the VUCA world first entered management conversations. Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity… But don’t worry, this is not another article on the VUCA business environment in which we are trying to see our ventures succeed.
Where the C in VUCA points to the unpredictable nature of the external environment, there is another realm of complexity that people like Lisa Laskow Lahey and Robert Kegan seek to explore in the context of their research on Adult Development Theory. It is the realm of mental complexity in those holding formal leadership positions and its implications for the successful implementation of any transformation within organizations.
This article will escort you into the world of “Immunity to Change,” the focused application of the aforementioned concepts to the business environment. Why does immunity to change matter in business, you ask? Because leaders who do not recognize their own blockers deny themselves the opportunity to think autonomously and self-critically. The consequences vary depending on circumstance, but one thing is certain: A stuck leader is never good news for business.
We will explore what you, as a leader, can do to ensure development and growth for yourself and, therefore, for your organization and business. As the saying goes: The fish rots from the head… Here’s how you can avoid being that fish.
Adult Development Theory and the nature of mental complexity
Until now, science has told us that the development of our brain grinds to a halt around the age of 25 and ushers in the long and slow process of decay. This train of thought imagines that increased markers of intelligence and ability are not due to material changes to the brain but can rather be attributed to us learning how to get more out of the same basic mental equipment. Adult Development Theory, which elaborates on the changes to our perspectives, sense of self, and place in society during adulthood, has recently started to paint a different picture and offers an alternative approach.
It builds on research stipulating that our cognitive development as adults is not linearly correlated to aging. If you have ever been in a relationship with someone older than yourself and, in the process, discovered that age does not, in fact, equal maturity, you will intuitively grasp that our research friends are onto something here.