The concept of leadership in business has undergone a tremendous transformation over recent years – more so than at almost any other time in history. The idea of a captain at the helm, handing down instructions based on wisdom and experience, is now little more than a relic. As are those teams that fail to embrace new ideals, strategies, and models – in particular, adaptive leadership.
This change in leadership style isn’t simply a trend or a change for the sake of it. It’s a vital way to ensure survival in a world in which change is the only constant factor.
The rapid way in which technology has changed and adapted, alongside global events such as the pandemic, has created a business landscape that has evolved in an unprecedented way. And it is through this new landscape that, for any business to succeed, the ‘command and control’ style of leadership is simply no longer appropriate. A captain at the helm, reading an old, outdated map looking for mythical treasure, is a fairy tale. The reality is now very different.
The concept of adaptive leadership is one that has emerged from need, rather than fancy. It was recognized by many that the complex and often unpredictable ways in which technological changes presented new opportunities and challenges meant that leadership had to evolve to work in a more flexible & responsive way than ever before.
In the past, good leaders have often been seen to be the ones with an almost omniscient command. The best one to make the decisions, the visionary, the one with the answers.
Today, a good leader must instead be one who can harness the collective intelligence, creativity, imagination, and expertise of their entire team. Someone who can take risks. And someone who can admit they don’t always have the answers or know what is best. That can be a very difficult role to play for some, but for those leaders who can achieve success with this approach, collective success as an organization is far more achievable.
This change in leadership is relevant across almost all industries, but within web design, web hosting, and SaaS companies, the rate of technological change has been utterly dizzying, and the ability to adapt quickly is more than just a skill – it’s a crucial strategy for survival.
What Is Adaptive Leadership?
Essentially, adaptive leadership is a strategy that allows organizations to tackle complex problems, challenges, and scenarios in an environment that is changing rapidly.
Traditional leadership is built on an established hierarchy, with authority written into every page of the rulebook. Adaptive leadership, on the other hand, is about flexibility, collaboration, and the ability (and willingness) to adapt to change in a proactive way.
The concept of adaptive leadership was first proposed by Ronald Heifetz in his 1994 book, ‘Leadership Without Easy Answers’. He suggested that this approach was an increasing necessity in the face of modern life and the rapid changes already evident. For those of us old enough to remember the 90s well, it’s clear that the pace of change has only ever grown faster, and so therefore, the need for adaptive leadership has also become more vital.
But adaptive leadership isn’t simply an approach any leader can slip on like an old jumper and start transforming the way business works. To begin with, it requires a leader with a strong character, as well as a high level of emotional intelligence.
These are the four key principles that underpin the adaptive leadership approach:
- Emotional intelligence: Effective adaptive leaders need to possess a high level of emotional intelligence since empathizing with others is critical, as is the need to understand that teams and businesses are made up of people, and real people can struggle with change, with challenges, and with the demands of a modern, evolving landscape.
- Organizational justice: A key principle in adaptive leadership emphasis on fairness and inclusivity. The leader’s voice should not be the only one to be heard. All voices should be given the opportunity to be heard, as problem-solving and decision making is reliant upon contributions from the whole team. Diversity of ideas and views isn’t just something to hear – they’re vital for success in solving problems or challenges, and so should be encouraged by a good adaptive leader.
- Ongoing development: A good adaptive leader understands that the learning and development of every individual within the organization is essential for not only their growth, but the growth and success of the business. Learning, and the opportunity for growth, means experimentation, innovation, and the willingness to step out of a comfort zone and approach problems from new, unique angles.
- Strong character: The decision-making within an adaptive leadership model needs to demonstrate integrity and fairness, because it is through this understanding that people will trust and respect not just the leader, but the process. It’s about complete transparency within the business when it comes to decision-making and problem-solving, and for some leaders, this can feel daunting.
Adaptive vs. Technical Challenges
Let’s be clear: not all challenges require, need, or would even benefit from an adaptive leadership approach.
There are many tasks that need to be carried out each day which have clear, established, working solutions. These are often straightforward tasks that address clearly defined problems, and can be solved by following established procedures. These are what are referred to as technical challenges.
This is in contrast to adaptive challenges, where there is often no clear path, no easy fix, and no established way of solving the problem. These are complex challenges, often unexpected, unique, or completely new. It’s this type of challenge that requires established beliefs, values, and approaches to be challenged openly, honestly, and by all.
Adaptive leadership is able to use the collective capacity of the organization to explore the problem, experiment with possible approaches, and push the evolution process to move the business into brand-new territory.
A Practical Framework for Adaptive Leadership
So what sort of person makes a good adaptive leader, and how can they cultivate the skills and mindset needed to embrace this new way of handling how teams navigate unpredictable challenges?
The ability to reflect on both failures and successes: Humility is perhaps one of the most significant characteristic traits of good adaptive leaders. Setbacks are not failures or insurmountable obstacles, but opportunities for growth and learning.
Be comfortable with uncertainty: When there aren’t any clear answers, and the possible routes forwards are ambiguous, the ability to embrace uncertainty and experiment, adjusting strategies as situations evolve is crucial.
Value relationships: A good adaptive leader should understand that the strength of their leadership stems directly from the quality of the relationships they develop with their team. Time needs to be spent nurturing these relationships, building trust and understanding, and fostering a working environment in which open communication and collaboration are not just encouraged – they are the norm.
It’s important to be mindful that adaptive leadership doesn’t just happen by accident – it requires a deliberate and sustained approach. So here’s a step-by-step framework for achieving this, especially within dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors such as web design, web hosting, and SaaS companies.
#1 – Cultivate Emotional Intelligence
This needs to start with the leader’s emotional intelligence, ensuring that they can adequately manage their own emotions, and empathize with others well.
#2 – Foster a Culture of Openness and Inclusivity
Put in place clear and effective mechanisms for feedback and dialogue, to make sure that all voices across the entire team can be heard, and at any time. This could include regular forums, anonymous feedback systems, or specific, dedicated times for brainstorming and open discussion.
#3 – Encourage Experimentation and Learning
Put in place policies that actively encourage experimentation, with a clear understanding that failure will be expected. Ensure you put time and resources aside for employees to pursue innovative projects and ideas. You could also provide a platform for everyone to share the lessons learned from both their successes and their failures.
#4 – Develop Adaptive Decision-Making Processes
It takes deliberate effort, but it is crucial to move away from rigid decision-making and adopt a more fluid and flexible approach to the way these decisions are made. This could be helped by having cross-functional teams for problem-solving or introducing agile methodologies that allow for more rapid iteration and change as the immediate situation unfolds and changes.
#5 – Strengthen Relationships and Trust
Introduce team-building activities that enhance interpersonal relationships between all team members, and across different teams too. Building up relationships and trust across all teams and members is a cornerstone of adaptive leadership. Enabling teams to work together in some of the more uncertain situations can often prove to be hugely beneficial, and in unexpected ways sometimes.
#6 – Lead by Example
It is critical for the success of this framework to succeed that the leaders embody every principle of the approach, demonstrating very clearly and openly the willingness to learn, to change, to grow, and to adapt. The behavior and attitude demonstrated by the leaders sets the tone for the entire organization.
Adaptive leadership offers many advantages in today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving landscape. The ability to navigate change, improve team collaboration, and have a greater capacity for innovation all ensure businesses don’t just cope with the unpredictable and unforeseen – they thrive. An unexpected challenge is an open opportunity, and those organizations with the capacity, ability, and willingness to take that opportunity are the ones most likely to succeed.
But of course, it’s also fair to note that adaptive leadership does present many challenges. For some leaders one of the hardest aspects is the willingness to relinquish some degree of control, placing far greater trust in their teams to take the lead in problem-solving and decision-making.
It’s entirely understandable that this can make some leaders feel uncomfortable, and it can feel quite at odds with the more traditional and established sense of hierarchy. It’s also true to say that the move from solo-decision-making to collaboration and consensus-building can slow down the process of decision-making.
However, in spite of these challenges, the benefits of adaptive leadership are clear to see, and by harnessing the collective expertise and creativity of the entire organization, it’s a compelling and exciting model for businesses working within fast-paced and constantly-evolving landscapes. By embracing this new approach, web companies and SaaS businesses can place themselves in a position that will allow them to thrive, grow, and be able to take full advantage of every new opportunity.
Dynamic collaboration and openness can turn challenges into opportunities to outgrow the competition. Adapt and thrive – or don’t survive!
After Action Report – Implement Systems That Empower Your Team To Do Their Best Work
Adaptive leadership and collaboration go hand-in-hand.
Why? Well, because you owe it to your team to make sure they have all the tools they need to do their best work. Not only creating a better work “culture” that’s conducive to delivering that work, but the system, workflow, and ultimately software that enables truly great work.
With Atarim, you can collect, triage, and action tasks on your design projects. Like sticky notes on a webpage, your product UI, or ad creative, but better – Atarim is the visual collaboration platform trusted by industry-leading teams to get more done, faster. Ship your best work without the guesswork.
And you’ll be in great hands:
- Integrated into the leading visual collaboration platform trusted by 13,000+ agencies (web dev, design, and beyond) worldwide
- Supporting project delivery for 1,200,000+ of their clients and stakeholders
- Deliver projects in weeks instead of months
