Many of the challenges organisations and leaders are facing today need a new way of thinking. We can’t fix our challenges today using yesterday’s thinking – these are adaptive challenges and can’t be solved with technical (what we’ve done before) thinking.
I have been working with Adaptive Leadership for over 15 years and studied at Harvard Kennedy School under the masters Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky. This experience has shaped my understanding of leadership and the importance of adaptability in the face of complex problems.
Trust is Fundamental
Trust is fundamental as there is seldom a clear roadmap of change, and people and teams need to be able to adapt, learn, and be able to sit with a level of ambiguity and discomfort. Therefore, leaders need to better recognise the emotional and psychological impacts these challenges have on their people and themselves.
Authority vs. Within
On your reflection, are you exercising leadership from a place of authority or from within? Are you clear on your values and how that shows up as you lead? Are you deepening trust and connection within your team to enable the more difficult change work to be sustained?
Navigating Change
Leading through these environments takes all the human skills you can muster. Strong relationships and trust serve as a critical foundation for navigating change and fostering more resilient and committed teams.
My Challenge to You
Interactive Leadership Challenge: Create space at the start and end of each week to reflect on how you are showing up. What are the signals of trust and connection in your team? How are you ensuring the voices of all your team are heard – from idea generation to emotional impacts? By embracing Adaptive Leadership, we can move beyond traditional methods and develop new ways to tackle the complex challenges we face today.
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