'A Guide to Adaptive Leadership', Acumen Academy

This guide explores adaptive leadership, a framework supporting individuals to lead from any position regardless of formal authority. Key themes include:

• Core principles of ‘adaptive leadership’: adaptive leadership is rooted in three principles: holding the tension between current reality and aspirational vision, having the courage to prioritise what’s right over what’s easy, and maintaining flexibility in ideas while staying committed to core values.
• Differentiating ‘adaptive’ from ‘technical problems’: adaptive leadership helps identify adaptive problems, which are complex, recurring issues without straightforward solutions and technical problems that can be more obviously resolved.
• Applying adaptive leadership: steps include gaining clarity by shifting between detailed (dance floor) and big-picture (balcony) views, framing adaptive challenges, and engaging stakeholders. Through active involvement of others, adaptive leadership enables collective problem-solving and new possibilities. Overall, adaptive leadership encourages democratising leadership moments, fostering resilience, and achieving change through collaborative engagement and self-reflection.

The webpage also provides links to a range of other blogs, resources, and free online courses - in adaptive leadership and in other relevant subject areas.