1 Minute Summary of: Making Messy Challenges Manageable with Adaptive Leadership
Meet complex challenges with adaptive leadership
WHY READ THIS
Use this adaptive leadership model to effectively identify and address business challenges.
WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW
In a rapidly changing world, leaders often struggle to deliver successful change initiatives. Research shows that mistakes are often made in diagnosing what the problem is in the first place. Moreover, leaders commonly address complex and messy issues with the same strategies they would use for simpler, more straightforward problems.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Use adaptive leadership to bolster your existing leadership skills. Problems can be both adaptive and technical. An adaptive approach enables pragmatic selection of the most relevant parts of various frameworks. Reflect on the type of leadership required to effectively tackle today's complex challenges, considering both technical solutions and the human emotions involved in the change.
Accept that the transition process is going to be uncomfortable. It's normal for people to feel a sense of loss or a loss of control over their work environment as changes occur. Make a point of acknowledging these losses and trying to find ways to help people cope. Guiding people carefully through the process will help get them on board with the transition. Make sure individuals feel connected to their role and the organisation’s purpose.
Recognise that other people might be better placed to identify a solution. Try to approach the situation with curiosity and focus on the questions that need answering. Encourage everyone to get involved. Identify where you need to be involved and when you might be getting in the way of finding a solution. Find the people that will help you make the change happen.
Focus on progress. Sometimes a problem is so complicated that it appears unsolvable, or it may require a long time to resolve. Avoid thinking along the lines of quick fixes and instead concentrate on achieving steady progress towards your goal. Really listen to your staff when they tell you about their experiences of the transformation and how it impacts their work. Work across the whole system rather than tinkering.
