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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Practice of Adaptive Leadership summary
Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow & Marty Linsky
Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World
8 mins
Brief summary
The Practice of Adaptive Leadership is a guide for leaders facing complex challenges. It provides practical tools and strategies to navigate uncertainty, mobilize people, and achieve lasting change in organizations and communities.
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The Practice of Adaptive Leadership
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Diagnose the system
Organizational adaptability is crucial for longevity and success in our rapidly changing world. At the heart of this adaptability lies an understanding of the intricate systems within an organization and how they respond to change.
The challenge in this endeavor is gaining perspective. To fully comprehend how a system evolves, one must step back, observing from a distance to identify the interconnections and subtle shifts. Organizations develop a status quo characterized by deeply rooted structures, culture, and habitual practices. Often, these elements that once propelled success can become the very barriers to adaptability in new circumstances.
Consider the role of incentives. They can spotlight parts of an organization where specific behaviors are encouraged or deterred. Similarly, unwritten cultural norms subtly guide behavior, setting boundaries for what's considered appropriate through shared stories, rituals, and established norms. As a leader or change agent, it's vital to discern these entrenched patterns and reflexive reactions.
Together, these structural and cultural elements set the stage, dictating the constraints and opportunities available when facing adaptive challenges. By diagnosing these systemic forces, one gains the leverage to adjust them. Recognizing the undercurrents of culture and habitual problem-solving approaches can then turn them from potential hindrances to assets, fostering agility and innovation.
In essence, to harness an organization's adaptive potential, one must first understand its inner workings. By delving deep into its systems, structures, and norms, one can effectively unlock its full capacity for change and growth.
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What is The Practice of Adaptive Leadership about?
The Practice of Adaptive Leadership (2009) demonstrates how leaders can mobilize people to tackle tough challenges and thrive in the face of harsh realities that demand new skills and responses. It provides a practical framework for diagnosing situations, distinguishing between technical problems and adaptive challenges, and avoiding common leadership pitfalls that come with over-dependence on authority.
Who should read The Practice of Adaptive Leadership?
- Developing Leaders
- Managers interested in mobilizing people
- People facing new challenges
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