Question

What are the respective roles of leader and follower in this approach? What are the three types of situational challenges leaders face? Explain the six leader behaviors prescribed in the model of Adaptive Leadership. What are the four patterns of adaptive change a leader needs to identify in the Adaptive Leadership approach?

Answer 1

The approach is adaptive leadership approach. Here, the role of the leader is to motivate the followers, mobilize them achieve the goals and take initiatives to maintain the focus of followers upon the cause, for that they are being mobilized. The role of the follower is to listen and follow the communication of Leader, show willingness to change according to the requirement and adapt so that goals & objectives are successfully achieved.

There are three types of situational challenges, leaders face. The first challenge is the technical challenge that is clearly defined and it can be resolved if right steps are taken. The second challenge is technical & adapting challenge that is clearly defined, but its solution to resolve the challenge is not defined clearly. The third challenge is adaptive challenge that is neither clearly defined not its solution is properly mentioned.

Six leader behaviors as a part of adaptive leadership are as follows:

1. Get on the balcony behavior that tells the leaders to look at the bigger picture and approach the leadership to achieve broader goals.

2.Identification of adaptive challenges that come with the adaptive leadership. It helps leaders to know what can come ahead even if it is not shown today.

3. Stress management that will help leaders to manage and regulate the stress level among the followers so that they are not overwhelmed by the scenario and achieve the goals

4. Bring discipline in attention among the followers so that they remained focused and motivated.

5. Delegation of authority by offering different roles to different followers so that they remain engaged and involved. It brings out the leadership out of the followers also.

6. Follow bottom-up approach and listen to the feedback at the bottom line so that leaders know the ground realities.

Four patterns of adaptive changes are as follows:

1. Work avoidance pattern that can come while doing only necessary work and not facing the challenging tasks
2. Gap and difference between exposed values and behavior that can be seen in adaptive leadership approach.
3. Competing & conflicting commitment that can come across to the leader and it requires necessary adaptation.
4. Speaking what that is unspeakable pattern that also comes in adaptive approach.