ACT Leadership Finds Global Leaders Increasingly Disoriented by Complexity

Many leaders today are experiencing disorientation in their roles, feeling overwhelmed by slower decisions, vague feedback, and complex challenges that their original leadership approaches were not designed to handle. ACT Leadership, a coaching company, observes that this widespread struggle is less about needing new jobs and more about needing updated mental frameworks or 'leadership maps' that fit the current complex environment. These original maps, shaped by early experiences and mentors, rewarded linear thinking and control, but today's world is more dynamic and interconnected, requiring navigation rather than control. Leaders now face dilemmas involving remote teams, global politics, and increased risks in decision-making, making traditional advice less effective since it assumes straightforward problems with clear solutions. Instead, coaching that fosters quality thinking and treats leaders well during the thought process is more beneficial, helping leaders adapt and navigate complexity rather than pushing harder against resistant systems. The insight is that evolving leadership effectiveness depends on rethinking and updating mental models to suit a complex, unpredictable world rather than seeking new jobs.