Leaders today face a myriad of issues
on a minute-by-minute basis. Each of
these situations calls for the same person to react completely differently to
each in order to come to a reasonable solution and ultimately resolution of the
problem. As such unless a Leader is
willing to adapt and re-organize, their efforts will be futile and they will
ultimately fail.
Adaptive Leadership is the name given
to the style of leadership that adjusts as needed to meet the challenge at
hand. It is an evolutionary process
undertaken to ensure the success of an organization. In order to succeed a Leader needs to pattern
their leadership style to become like a chameleon.
Like chameleons, Leaders need to be
able to focus on two items simultaneously and independently. This allows Leaders to be aware of situations
happening in several locations at the same time, which allows them to be
proactive in dismantling potential conflicts and other unwanted
situations. When Leaders are able to
lead proactively rather than re-actively, organizations are able to function at
full potential.
When a chameleon eats, their tongue,
which is their primary method used to secure food for survival, can exceed the
length of the chameleon’s body by double and deploy at speeds in excess of 41 G’s. When you think about it that is tremendously
fast. Leaders have to act fast to ensure
the survival of the organization. They
cannot mope around expecting things to work themselves out or waiting for
“inspiration”. They have to be immediate
in their actions and confident in the outcome.
Most species of chameleons can change
color and adapt to their surroundings.
Leaders need to be able to adapt their style and approach to the
situation and individual or group that they are dealing with. This is most difficult with larger
organizations where the Leader has to interact with large numbers, but just
because something is difficult, that does not make it impossible. Nevertheless, good Leaders are able to
quickly analyze the individual need of their subordinates, adapt to the
situation, and employ a style of leadership that best meets the needs of the
individual with whom they are interacting.
Those Leaders who refuse to adapt to the situation are often stuck in a
rut and will find themselves consistently moving towards a less practical style
of leadership when dealing with individuals.
You cannot effectively use a one-size fits all mentality when you are
dealing with individuals that come from all types of backgrounds and personal
situations.
Real Leaders are those Leaders who,
despite of the challenges and difficulties that they face can adapt their
approach to the circumstance that surrounds them and move forward with an
effective style that meets the needs of their subordinates. This is true in the work place, on a team, or
in the home.
There are countless books and
seminars available to teach Leaders how to be more effective Adaptive
Leaders—these books have been written by very smart people who have dedicated
their lives to developing Leaders that are effective and successful.
Nevertheless, you can read every book ever written and attend every seminar and
convention on leadership available, and never be an effective leader unless you
put into practice what you learn. Stop
to ask yourself some important questions about your personal leadership
style. Start with these two and make a
list that focuses on yourself rather than on how you perceive how others
perceive you.
Does my approach to leadership help my team to succeed?
As you approach this question, you
have to be willing to evaluate yourself and listen to constructive feedback
from your team members. They know
whether you help them, and they will tell you— and tell you what you need to
hear.
Do I care about the members of my team enough to figure out what they
need from me?
If you do not care about the members
of your team to determine what they need from you as a Leader, then maybe you
should reevaluate your style to include the needs of your members in order to
ensure the success of the organization.
These two questions will help you as
you pivot towards a more adaptive style of leadership. As you employ more personal leadership
inventories on a regular basis, you will begin to see your effectiveness
increase and the success of your organization as a whole.
