Dynamic patterning

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Dynamic patterning

For a complex world in constant motion

Is your world complex, uncertain and constantly changing? You’re not alone. But are you fully equipped?

Learn how to engage with the dynamic patterning of a complex world in constant motion. Discover practical tools you can use every day.

Leaders are in the midst of it. It’s a great place to be if you want to make your leadership count. But it’s impossible to see the whole picture.

While everyone’s busy, it’s easy to overlook early warning signs of change – unless you know what to watch out for. And that can mean missed opportunities and nasty surprises for those in charge.

In complexity and change, small changes can have surprising and unpredictable consequences. Even the best planned change often takes unexpected twists and turns.

Experienced leaders and managers are well aware of these challenges, but they’ve lacked the practical tools for working with them. Until now!

Thought and practice leadership

Our Dynamic Patterning approach is highly practical. It’s based on our award winning research and has been applied in many settings

Keep an eye on the emerging future in the leading edge of the here and now
Spot the Vital Signs of Change ©
Discover newly emerging opportunities
Engage with emerging challenges sooner
Learn to adapt your responses in a changing world

Our Dynamic Patterning methodology offers much needed insight within complexity and constant change. It explains where to look to discover weak signals about what’s changing. So you can learn faster about newly emerging opportunities and potential problems. And you’ll be better equipped to take responsive action in live change. Rather than reacting automatically, based on old-world habits, you choose your responses into emerging patterns – and learn what works in the new world you’re co-creating.

How we can help

We offer a range of 1-to-1s, Masterclasses, 1-day deeper dives, consulting, leadership and organisation development – all tailored to your needs

Practical tools that help you keep an eye on the leading edge of the here and now
One to ones for CEOs and senior executives, get a head start in just 90 minutes
Masterclasses to help change leaders and others to work more effectively with Dynamic Patterning
1-day deeper dives to help you apply the tools in your world
Leadership programmes help you to notice weak signals, explore emerging patterns of change and develop insights so you can choose how to respond
OD programmes to support the people who support change. Our Organisation Design and Organisation Development programmes help you to integrate our work on Dynamic Patterning
OD interventions to boost the effectiveness of your change plans in a dynamic world.

Read the book

Helping you to engage with real-world complexity. If not now, when?

Part I of this insightful book brings complexity science to life by considering the practical challenges of complexity and its implications for leadership.

Part II considers how leaders can invigorate existing tools and approaches with a new mindset, before offering some new tools and practices for learning informed leadership.

Part III concludes by considering the person in the practice of leadership in complexity and change.

Key ideas are presented through mini-cases and practical examples embedded throughout the book.

Praise for the book

Readers comments

“This is the best book I have read on complexity and leadership. It is very accessible and yet does not shirk from providing a clear account of the theory. The implications for change and leadership are nuanced and rich and practical at the same time … Highly recommended”.
– Dr Jean Boulton, lead author of Embracing Complexity

“I just wanted to relate that my initial first impressions of your book were if anything, unrepresentative of how good your book is. .. So, sincere thanks for your ‘fresh’ and ‘perceptive’ writings. Personally, I think your book will last as a work of significance and insight”.
– email from Head of an International School

“This book is a revelation and will be a must for anyone wanting to understand how to take an insider view of leadership and change in today’s fast-changing and ambiguous times. With marvellous clarity Dr Sharon Varney lays bare the essence of complexity thinking as it applies to leadership, bringing theory vividly to life with rich case studies and key insights”.
– Dr Linda Holbeche, Adjunct Professor, Imperial College Business School, author Organization Development

“Everyone should read this book – particularly if they lead and manage any organisation. As someone new to complexity science I was impressed with how accessible, readable and practical this book is”.
– anonymous review, Amazon

“My hard copy is now getting a somewhat used look, and I’ve found it an excellent read”.
– Dr Naomi Stanford, author of Designing Organisations [Read full review]

Want to know more?

Useful resources and social media links, so you can join the conversation

Read our interview on Dynamic Patterning

Get the book ‘Leadership in Complexity and Change: For a world in a constant motion’

Listen to our Leading Edge podcast for Henley Business School: ‘Slow down to change faster’

Listen to our Cohere podcast ‘Leadership in the midst of constant change’

Revisit Knowledge Cafe recording ‘Does the complexity of today’s working world make you feel in-over-your-head?’

Watch or listen to our Being Human podcast ‘Leadership in complexity and change’

Follow Dr Sharon Varney on LinkedIn

Don’t get caught on the back foot!

Discover how to get on the front foot in complexity and constant change

by starting the conversation now