The Complexity of Crisis

April 2020

Welcome to my latest QuarterlyShare: The Complexity of Crisis

Crisis is triggered by an event that creates fear and uncertainty. Crisis is a natural element of the complex adaptive systems in which we all live and work. Thus there is some comfort in knowing, while we can’t avoid crisis, we can use complexity knowledge to dance with it more nimbly and with greater resilience.

Complexity science tells us a number of things:

1. Things are in constant flux. Nothing remains the same.
2. There is an unpredictability, an unknowing of what may spontaneously occur. Some events cannot be predicted or planned for.
3. We are all deeply connected. What we do reverberates broadly. We do not exist in isolation
4. There is a complex flow or evolution of all activity, which cannot be completely controlled or contained. 

The age-old adage of focusing on what you can control and letting go of what you can’t, is a solid starting point. If we then add to this a complexity lens, it is being mindful of not holding too tightly to control nor being completely dismissive of what you need to let go of. I call this ‘holding things gently or lightly.’

For example: You may have to choose one project to progress with and let go of multiple others. You may have a strong opinion of how the project could look and how the team needs to behave to maximise success and efficiency. This is all fine. If you’re the decision-maker, then someone needs to make the calls when required. However, within the parameters you believe need to be set, there is always opportunity to step back and allow for uncertainty and indeed crisis to play its role. Many a great business opportunity and innovation has come from crisis and chaos.

So let’s celebrate a couple of Crisis Gems, born from uncertainty, fear and sheer chaos!

1.Dominos Pizza, 2009: Two employees began posting prank videos on YouTube. The company went into crisis mode, initially trying to shut down and control the video spread, by publishing a dry, formal video response on their website, which had no impact whatsoever. In desperation, the Dominos PR team created a new, edgier version of the website response video and posted it to YouTube. It went viral, reached millions of customers. Not only was the crisis abated, Dominos branding and reach was elevated as an unintended consequence and a new way of customer interaction was born.

2. Jon Wright, beef producer, Cowra, Australia, 2020: Faced with drought and the pressing climate impact of beef on methane production Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. As a beef producer, Jon wanted to be a player in the solution, rather than being seen as part of the problem. So if you consider the options for going carbon neutral by 2030 a few obvious options spring to mind: go vegan, diversify, carbon offset…. Jon stepped beyond the obvious and decided to create a breed that burped less. Yes, you heard it, farting is not the key methane-producing action we usually associate with cattle, it’s a good hearty, beefy burp! So Jon created his own methane friendly breed for the good of the globe, which eats 30% less and therefore creates 15% to 20% less methane. Thanks Jon! (As a side note: I think the eating 30% less could be something some of us two-legged creatures could be keen to adopt…just sayin…;)

 Leading in the midst of crisis

 But now down to the nub of leadership greatness: The ability for each of us to stand in our own leadership space with grace and grit. Personally, in my nearly 20 years running my own consultancy I have never experienced such blanket commercial rejection as my steady stream of work has dissipated at a breathtaking rate. However, I know I’m not alone and, if I’m true to my word, then it is moments like this that tests my true depth of character and true leadership colours. So, I’ve attended to, and will continue to foster, my own needs in order to ensure I can focus on others. My first step has been to reach out unconditionally to others personally and professionally. Second, has been to ensure I am grateful for all I do have and nurture those riches: family, friends, home life, good health; thirdly to acknowledge the fantastic things going on around me: people supporting each other, strangers connecting, and an Australian bipartisan government uniting for the greater good of us all – truly makes my heart want to sing in a way is hasn’t for many, many years. I am reconnecting with my husband, my children, my self, in ways I have neglected until now. I am embracing the complexity of the unknown and the uncontrollable by doing what I can, lightly and gently, while also stepping back to enable things to unfold and see where it takes me with my deflated business and dwindling finances. If you are finding yourself in a less ‘zen-like’ positon than I seem to be passing through currently, then, please tale a deep breath, take note of all that you do have and leverage these ‘riches’ to get creative with what you need to ‘do’ next. And by do, I mean firstly, what you ‘do’ in your own head with the thoughts and ideas you allow and foster and the ones you diminish or ban altogether. Then consider if or how these chosen thoughts may best manifest themselves in the choices you make in who and how you want to be and what values sit behind those choices. If you pay careful attention you may just find a burden inextricably lifted from your shoulders that you had not even noticed was there.

So to step forward with grace I will continue to be grateful and reach out and connect as much as I can (please get in touch, if I haven’t done so with you..).

To step forward with grit I am battening down the hatches to stay afloat and come out stronger at the other end: I am committed to putting a few extra finishing touches on my book manuscript; I am stepping into online and media spaces I have been dancing around for years and not committing to; I am growing kale from seed (I now have seedlings, a mini miracle for someone who tends to kill every plant she touches) and I am nurturing my physical and mental health in ways I have said I would do for years, but am now actually doing it…My aim in my sharing so intimately with you all, is that you may take some inspiration and hope for your own circumstances as I remain doggedly determined to make this a positive and nurturing experience for myself and those around me.

…Speaking of positive… to really lighten the load and celebrate this opportunity to shift gears as we all float into disequilibrium together, please check out what has caught my eye of late:

 Free Stuff

A brilliant post by Michael Short. Here is a screenshot of the first 5 in a list of 60 movies to keep you busy (if you’re anything like me, this you keep you busy for weeks to come!!)

Check out the rest of the clues here (thanks Michael Short)

And my luddite realisation that you can invite multiple people simultaneously to FaceTime on the mobile and can watch movies remotely on Netflix with all your mates including a chatroom to keep it interactive: Netflix Party

I may never leave my home again!      

Free Support

 My latest LinkedIn post on What ALL Leaders Need to Be Doing Right Now: click here

If you’re after some stay at home health tips, please check out my chat with Karen Tan, workplace health guru here.

Also, if you want to hear me talking with Karen about leaders communicating with Safe Listening, please check out my video here.

And if you or anyone you know could do with a brief chat with me, please shout out and we can catch up by phone 0400771965, Skype maree.mckeown12 or I can arrange a Zoom meeting.

And for anyone needing a more formal coaching conversation before Easter, please go to CoachAid20 a wonderful initiative set up by Conor O’Malley, where a global team of coaches (including myself) are donating our time to support business leaders in need.

So please look after yourselves both physically and mentally. Be kind. Be patient.

Mediocre leaders march, Exceptional leaders dance

About Maree Based in Melbourne, Australia, Maree has run her own Leadership Business Consultancy since 2002, working with business owners, senior management, executive leaders, and CEOs across public, private and non-profit businesses locally and globally. She has facilitated and supported some of Australia’s most prominent Workplace Leadership Programs and coached hundreds of leaders supporting their professional growth and business success. With degrees in education and psychology and experience coaching and training coaches, Maree is known to be tough, but effective. Some of Maree’s clients include leaders from NAB, Telstra, IBM, KKR, VicPol, various government departments, Family Life plus many more.