The Adaptable Leader
Jun 28, 2024Thinking flexibly allows leaders to adapt to the moment responsively, with calm confidence and skill.
Do you notice that when you are feeling overwhelmed, it's harder to stay open-minded and receptive to new ideas? On the other hand, being mentally flexible allows you to adapt to different situations with calm confidence.
Leaders need to be adaptable and able to shift perspectives quickly to effectively respond to complex issues. Those who cultivate this quality can find creative solutions that not only address challenges but also harness their potential.
Over three decades of robust research led by the pioneering behavioural scientist and ACT founder, Dr Steven Hayes, has found that adaptability (or what ACT refers to as psychological flexibility) is crucial for our mental health, resilience and wellbeing.1
The more open, aware and committed to values-driven behaviour we are, the more we flourish, even through life's toughest challenges.2
Our mindsets shape our worldview. They fundamentally influence how we see, think, feel, and act. 3
Mindsets are the underlying beliefs and assumptions we hold about ourselves, our organisations, and the challenges we face, according to Robert Kramer in his compelling paper, From Skillsets to Mindsets (2016). They critically shape what we perceive and how we make sense of the world – as individuals, leaders or groups.
"Mindsets are leaders’ mental lenses that dictate what information they take in and use to make sense of and navigate the situations they encounter. Simply, mindsets drive what leaders do and why." Harvard Business Review, 2022
Cultivating courageous and curious mindsets fosters openness to new experiences, receptivity to feedback, and perseverance.
The strengths of an adaptable, accepting mindset apply even more powerfully to those in leadership roles.
More open-minded and receptive, leaders with adaptable mindsets actually think differently.5
- They find it easier to recognise patterns and identify novel solutions
- They are more able to think both critically and creatively
- Open to making more informed and effective decisions
By being open to alternative perspectives, leaders can better understand the diverse needs of their employees, clients, and stakeholders and develop better strategies to meet them. They can optimize team dynamics by:
- Fostering rapid rapport
- Facilitating the open cross-fertilisation of ideas
- Modelling effective collaboration
Adaptable leaders make nuanced decisions that benefit the team, improving employee engagement and organisational success.
Adaptability in leaders improves communication, fosters empathy, and enables them to listen attentively and engage with their audience.
"Leaders… need to radically transform their mental models … creating capacity for seeing what others cannot and thinking what others have not thought." R. Kramer, 2016
Shifting outdated mindsets is crucial for managing complexity. It fosters a more agile and responsive leadership style, providing psychological safety, positive engagement, and cohesive team dynamics, leading to creative solutions and unforeseen opportunities.
Adaptability = Self-awareness + Resilience
You might also like to watch...
Psychological flexibility: How love turns pain into purpose, Steven Hayes TEDx, 2016
Duration: 19:40
A compelling TEDx talk (20 mins) with respected Psychologist Dr Steven Hayes on his wrestle with anxiety and panic attacks. He summarises how we tame the mind and develop psychological flexibility.
Sources
- Hayes, S et al. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The process and practice of mindful change, 2012
- Hayes, S. The Liberated Mind. The essential guide to ACT, 2019
- & 6. Kramer, R, From skillset to mindset: A new paradigm for leader development, 2016
- Gottfredson, R & Reina C. To Be a Great Leader, You Need the Right Mindset, HBR, 2020
- Kellerman, G. R. & Seligman M. TomorrowMind.Thriving at Work with Resilience, Creativity, and Connection, 2023