David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019 Leadership in Times of Uncertainty David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019

David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019 Leadership for Real Change David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019

David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019 Flexibility through Adaptive Leadership David Dawson University of Gloucestershire 20th February 2019

Agenda Consider the drivers of our change Challenge the nature of organisational flexibility Posit the need for different types of leadership Adaptive leadership Adaptive followers

Change

Activity Consider the main changes facing your business right now Lets share them What’s driving them? Which of them can we resolve with existing expertise? For which do we need new solutions?

Types of change Define problems and solutions Technical Adaptive Define problems and solutions Shield the organisation from external threat Restore order Clarify roles and responsibilities Reduce conflict Maintain norms Identify challenges / key questions & issues Let the organisation feel external threats / productive stress Regulate disequilibrium Disorient roles and resist pressure to settle Use conflict productively Challenge unproductive norms

Adaptive change requires Responses outside the current repertoire. Recognition of an organization’s interdependence with its environment. Local adaptations to local environments. Conservative / innovative solutions. Understanding that solutions often lie within the society or organization. Engagement in experimentation. Acceptance that change involves loss as people realign both allegiances and competencies. Disequilibrium. A focus on people. Time.

Flexibility

Atkinson’s flexible firm Static Flexibility

Adaptive firm Progressive Flexibility Distinguish core practices vs obstacles Develop and test new practices Integrate new practices Progressive Flexibility

Adaptive Leadership

Adaptive leadership Distinguishes between technical and adaptive change Adaptive leadership is about change that enables the capacity to thrive. Adaptive change interventions build on the past rather than jettison it. Organizational change happens through experimentation. Adaptive leadership relies on diversity. New adaptations have the potential of significantly displacing, re-regulating, and rearranging the status quo. Adaptive change takes time.

Adaptive leadership Leaders Provide direction by identify challenges and key questions Let people feel pressure (that they can withstand) Challenge roles and don’t settle them too quickly Expose conflict to allow disruption Focus on challenging unproductive norms

Adaptive leadership Followers Are willing to experiment Take on responsibility Lead on their areas of expertise Engage in the change agenda Seek support (but only when necessary)

Discussion points To what extent do you concur with the view of the world presented by the adaptive perspective? What would challenge(s) would you face in adopting adaptive leadership? To what extent do you have adaptive followers? What actions should we take to promote adaptive practices?

Contact To discuss how you can promote positive leadership practices further in your organisation please contact: David Dawson The Business School Oxstalls Lane Longlevens Gloucester Gloucestershire GL2 9HW ddawson@glos.ac.uk 01242-714295