Complexity leadership: a healthcare imperative.

PROBLEM The healthcare system is plagued with increasing cost and poor quality outcomes. A major contributing factor for these issues is that outdated leadership practices, such as leader-centricity, linear thinking, and poor readiness for innovation, are being used in healthcare organizations. SOLUTION Complexity leadership theory provides a new framework with which healthcare leaders may practice leadership. Complexity leadership theory conceptualizes leadership as a continual process that stems from collaboration, complex systems thinking, and innovation mindsets. CONCLUSION Compared to transactional and transformational leadership concepts, complexity leadership practices hold promise to improve cost and quality in health care.