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Leading Through Complexity: Rewriting the Narrative of Work w/ Graham Abbey
What if the way we talk about work is limiting how we lead it?
In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher sits down with Graham Abbey—Chief Executive of Farleigh Performance and Professor in Practice at the University of Bristol Business School—for a deep dive into complexity in today’s organizations. From metaphors that reveal our worldview to the mechanical mindset still dominating leadership, Graham challenges how we think about control, purpose, ambiguity, and personal growth.
Together, they explore:
- Why leadership isn’t about control—but about creating the conditions for emergence
- How metaphors and narratives quietly shape relationships at work
- Why organizations may be capping our growth instead of nurturing it
- The generational evolution in complexity thinking
- A practical acronym for building complexity capacity: H.A.R.D.
If you’ve ever felt like your workplace is running on outdated metaphors or you’re stuck solving the same problems over and over, this conversation will reframe how you see leadership—and what’s possible.
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