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Popularized by Harvard professor Ronald Heifetz, adaptive leadership is about mobilizing people to face challenges that don’t have clear solutions. These are the kinds of problems that require shifts in mindset, new ways of working and collaboration across silos. Adaptive leaders don’t fix every issue themselves—they create the space and confidence for others to grow through change and discover solutions together.

Defining Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive leadership starts by understanding the situation before classifying the problem. Some issues are technical and respond to tools or process changes; others require adaptive work—new ways of thinking, learning and letting go. Even technical fixes benefit from reflection to address the human side of change.

At its core, adaptive leadership is about guiding others through change—not shielding them from it. Leaders practicing this style encourage their teams to experiment, reflect and develop resilience in the process. In doing so, they cultivate a growth mindset, helping individuals build the capacity to adapt and thrive no matter what the future brings.

Core practices of adaptive leadership include:

• Seeing the whole system. Understand both the formal structures and the informal dynamics that shape how work gets done.
• Maintaining productive momentum. Keep change motivating, not overwhelming, which energizes teams to move forward with confidence.
• Building ownership across the team. Empower teams to solve problems rather than looking to the leader to solve problems.
• Inviting every voice to the table. Encourage input from those closest to the work, even when their insights challenge existing assumptions.

In practice, this means leaders step back from being the fixer and step into the role of a guide, creating the conditions where others can stretch, learn and succeed through uncertainty.

How to Lead as an Adaptive Leader

People often mistake adaptive leadership for being leader-centered, but it really is more follower-centered and translates practically into steps leaders can model for their teams.

1. Observe Before Acting
   Adaptive leaders resist the urge to rush to solutions. They take time to see the bigger picture, notice patterns and understand root causes before responding. This awareness helps teams learn how to approach complexity thoughtfully and collaboratively.
2. Experiment and Learn
   Instead of waiting for perfect answers, adaptive leaders encourage experimentation and learning by testing small actions to learn quickly and adjust. This approach encourages innovation and helps teams see change as a process of growth rather than disruption.
3. Share Responsibility
   Change doesn’t stick when it’s dictated from the top. Adaptive leaders share ownership of the process, helping people feel invested in both the challenge and the outcome. This shared accountability strengthens engagement and collective problem-solving.
4. Manage Yourself
   Leading through uncertainty requires self-awareness. Adaptive leaders stay grounded, open to feedback and mindful of their own responses so they can lead with clarity and composure when others feel unsettled.

Why Adaptive Leadership Matters

The need for adaptability has never been greater. According to LinkedIn Learning’s Workplace Learning Report, adaptability ranked as the number one skill employees need to succeed—ahead of technical expertise. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report echoes this sentiment, naming resilience and flexibility among the most in-demand leadership traits.

Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that adaptive leaders drive higher engagement, strengthen organizational resilience and foster innovation. Teams led by adaptive leaders are more likely to retain talent and sustain performance through change because they see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Why Adaptive Leadership Endures

Some leadership models rise and fade with workplace trends, but adaptive leadership endures because it’s rooted in human behavior and growth. As long as change exists, leaders who can help others grow through it will be essential.

Three reasons adaptive leadership stands the test of time:

1. It applies everywhere. Whether leading a small team or influencing an entire organization, adaptive practices scale.
2. It builds trust. By engaging people honestly in the process of change, adaptive leaders earn credibility and loyalty.
3. It develops people. Adaptive leadership aligns with a growth mindset, helping individuals expand their capacity, confidence and creativity with every challenge.

This staying power is why adaptive leadership is more than a practice—it’s a mindset that transforms both leaders and their teams. It’s a way of leading that turns uncertainty into development, helping organizations and individuals grow stronger together.

Leadership Next Step: Build Adaptive Leadership Skills with Villanova

Â鶹´å’s College of Professional Studies offers non-credit Leadership Programs designed to strengthen your leadership skills. Offered 100% online and taught by faculty who are industry practitioners, our leadership course offerings allow you to build a leadership certificate that fits your needs and helps you advance your career goals.

Some of our leadership courses include:
Strategic Leadership, Change Management, Executive Presence and Leadership Communication, Systems and Design Thinking, Agile Foundations for Team Empowerment, and many more.

Explore Villanova’s professional education programs or connect with a member of the enrollment team.