You’ve heard this term that comes out of chaos theory, and probably understand the concept for which it was coined. Small, seemingly insignificant events can disrupt complex systems and have vast consequences. A butterfly flaps its wings and it eventually causes a storm on the other side of the world.
There is usually a negative connotation attached to the “butterfly effect”…but what about a positive outcome? Let’s apply this concept to leadership within an organization. As a leader, you can approach change in many ways.
Some leaders take a “bull in a china shop” approach: charge in, plow through obstacles and run over anyone who gets in the way of change. There’s a lot of fear, and many unintended casualties along the way – good programs dismantled, great employees dismissed or leaving distraught and disenchanted.
Other leaders take a “lion’s pride” approach: sit at the top and dispatch others to do the hard work, casting blame and dismissing those who challenge authority.
The most impactful leaders who make lasting change in a positive way are the BUTTERFLIES!
Butterfly leaders weren’t born that way: at some point in their journey, they went through a transformational change themselves, maturing from an individual with limited perspective (caterpillar) to into an entirely new version of themselves with the ability to see the big picture AND the smallest details.
Butterfly leaders have immense power in their wings–they can defy gravity! But they know how and when to use it with restraint. They know that seemingly small misguided decisions can have dire negative impacts. They also understand that you don’t need to charge in and make unilateral, drastic overhauls, and that directing change from the top and being completely disconnected from those implementing sets everyone up for failure.
A small, key change that is gently moved through an organization with the leader having touch points along the way will build momentum (buy in) with employees and other stakeholders, with others helping move the change in the positive direction, until it is so vast that it is engrained in the organization.
Be a butterfly! If you aren’t there yet, remember this: transformational change comes from knowing yourself and growing yourself!