Leadership System Mapping: A Process Approach to Teaching Leadership in Small Groups

Leadership in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) calls upon leadership developers to reconsider assumptions about leadership learning. Leadership in CAS requires leadership developers to reconsider the relationship between leadership learning and practice. This article outlines a teaching method of leadership system mapping, relevant concepts, and specific techniques to use leadership system mapping to increase capacity for leadership in CAS. Practitioners will also get a better understanding of how Leadership Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is combining Leadership System Mapping teaching methods with a dynamic leadership assessment platform designed to give students and instructors closer to real-time data on leadership identity, efficacy, and capacity. Readers will consider actionable steps to teach leadership in small groups in civic or work-based leadership learning contexts characterized by CAS.