adaptive leadership - leading adaptive change
DESCRIPTION
A short presentation on Heifetz's 'adaptive leadership'....GeoffTRANSCRIPT
Leading Adaptive
ChangeGeoff Higgins
Adaptive Leadership
1. What does ‘adapt’ mean?
2. What could ‘adaptive leadership’ mean??
Conventional Leadership
• Directing activity
• Providing authoritative expertise
• Protecting the workers
‘leadership by solution’
Heifetz’ EPA Story
• William Ruckelshaus re-energising EPA
• Pollution – Asarco copper plant near Tacoma
• EPA expected to make a ruling based on available science (& maybe a bit of politics)
• Science cannot answer: health vs livelihood
• Controversial new approach: ask the community
• New possibilities – diversification
• EPA & the Tacoma community adapted
Source: Heifetz, 1994Image source: ft.com
Conventional or Adaptive?
Conventional Leadership• The exercise of authority• Maintenance of norms• Giving directions• Used when you are
confident your directions will result in useful outcomes
• Working within organisational competencies
Conventional or Adaptive?
Conventional Leadership• The exercise of authority• Maintenance of norms• Giving directions• Used when you are
confident your directions will result in useful outcomes
• Working within organisational competencies
Adaptive Leadership• Addressing adaptive
challenges• Challenging norms• Involving primary
stakeholders• Used in situations of
complexity & uncertainty• Working outside
organisational competencies
The Adaptive Challenge
reality aspirationsGAP
The Adaptive Challenge
GAP
Image sources: backtogeek.com & Thomas Connor at flickr.com
The Adaptive Challenge
Image sources: mindflash.com & getentrepreneurial.com
GAP
The Adaptive Challenge
reality aspirationsGAP
Not Drinking
“drinking is killing me”
• Friendships• Habits• Mindset• Lifestyle
Adaptive Leadership
Understand that change will be difficult.
Adaptive Leadership
Understand that change will be difficult.
Find out WHY the gap exists.
Adaptive Leadership
Understand that change will be difficult.
Find out WHY the gap exists.
Work with others to figure out HOW to close the gap.
Adaptive Leadership
Understand that change will be difficult.
Find out WHY the gap exists.
Work with others to figure out HOW to close the gap.
Have the COURAGE to experiment & implement!
To Do’s for the Leader
1. Identify ‘the adaptive challenge’2. Regulate distress3. Maintain disciplined attention4. Give the work back to people5. ‘Get off the dance floor & onto the balcony’
Source: Heifetz et al, 2009
1. Identify ‘the adaptive challenge’
Diagnose the situation & clearly communicate the challenge.
2. Regulate distress
Expose people to the real issues, while giving them attention and support.
3. Maintain disciplined attention
Keep people focussed on the work.
4. Give the work back to people
Involve people (as per Ricardo Semler).
5. Get off the dance floor…
Frequently stand back from the detail and analyse what you see.
References
• Heifetz, RA & Laurie, DL (2001) ‘The Work of Leadership’ in Harvard Business Review December 2001.
• Heifetz, RA, Grashow, A & Linsky, M (2009)The Practice of Adaptive Leadership, Harvard University Press.
• Heifetz, RA (1994) Leadership Without Easy Answers, Belknap Press, Mass.
© Performance People Pty Ltd, 2009
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