The adaptive leadership framework within this chapter—key ideas, principles, competencies, and dimensions—has been used with permission from the author of the book, Your Leadership Edge, Ed O’Malley[1]

The current perception of leadership is much different from that in past years. The idea of one heroic individual single-handedly generating results by enforcing their will is considered outdated. Leadership is now considered a team sport. To this end, we are focusing this chapter on adaptive leadership, which is about mobilizing with others to tackle tough problems where there are no easy solutions. Exercising leadership is not always about seeing the next step but being willing to put your foot out with others and step together into new frontiers. The adaptive leadership concepts presented in this guide are originally based on the work of Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky—two of the foremost authorities on the practice and teaching of leadership. The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) has enhanced Heifetz’s and Linsky’s practice of adaptive leadership by simplifying it and making it more accessible and actionable. The KLC framework is outlined below, including key leadership ideas, principles, competencies, and dimensions. Within this framework, KLC has woven other theories, such as transformational and servant leadership, further enriching the material.

Figure 1: Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive Leadership Competencies

The book Your Leadership Edge frames the adaptive leadership concepts into four competencies: Diagnose Situation, Manage Self, Energize Others, and Intervene Skillfully. To bring these competencies alive and make them more actionable, the book enhances and enriches them with six dimensions each. The following competency framework has its lineage in the adaptive leadership concepts and turns the definition of leadership into purposeful action.

To help you apply the concepts embedded in the competencies and dimensions, bring to mind a leadership challenge you are currently experiencing, one that requires you to work with others to make progress and that you care enough about that you are willing to change your behavior. Using a real-world scenario will help you take up the leadership concepts, bringing new behaviors to life and moving from learning to action.