According to Heifetz et al. (2009), “Adaptive leadership is the practice of mobilizing people to tackle tough challenges and thrive” (p.14). Rooted in biological and evolutionary theories, major tenets include: “(1) it preserves the DNA essential for the species’ continued survival; (2) it discards (reregulates or rearranges) the DNA that no longer serves the species’ current needs, and (3) it creates DNA arrangements that give the species’ the ability to flourish in new ways and in more challenging environments. Successful adaptations enable a living system to take the best from its history into the future” (p.14). Adaptive leadership then, when done well, expects that: change enables survival/thriving; builds on past successes and failures to learn; grows through experimentation; relies on diversity; adaptations rearrange/re-regulate/displace old strategies, concepts, tools and approaches; adaptation takes time. Heifetz and colleagues discriminate between authority vs. leadership; and they note that effective leaders properly diagnose technical vs. adaptive challenges to ensure adaptation and progress. Effective adaptive leadership enables opportunity for greater collaboration, inclusion of stakeholders in problem solving, creates complex ownership of stakeholders in solving difficult problems, supports collaborative learning through problem solving, and alters organization culture by giving the work back to teams while protecting all voices involved in the process.

Heifetz, R. A., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership:Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press.