11//6/2024
What is Adaptive Leadership?
Recently, I ran a session with leaders from the engineering firm Aurecon on Adaptive Leadership, focusing on the intricate, complex challenges that leaders face, especially those involving significant behavioral changes. This session not only reaffirmed my belief in the effectiveness of Adaptive Leadership but also reminded me of my own critical encounters with such challenges. It was also something I learned intensely during my year on the Williamson Community Leadership Program.
One standout moment in my career was during the 2009 crisis in Victoria, Australia, known as the Black Saturday Bushfires. My employer, PwC, assembled a pro-bono team to assist in establishing the Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, where I was tasked with managing a $40 million donation pool for the 2,000 impacted individuals. This role demanded a thorough diagnosis of a highly complex situation straddling both public and private sectors, significant self-management under stress, and the strategic mobilization and motivation of a new team. All pillars of Adaptive Leadership.
Within three months, my team and I developed and implemented a system to effectively and swiftly support those affected by the tragedy. Our efforts were recognized with an award from the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) for Innovation in Policy Development.
This experience solidifies my belief in the power of Adaptive Leadership to not only tackle but also triumph over formidable challenges. If you’re facing adaptive challenges and are curious about Adaptive Leadership, I’d love to share more over coffee. This is at the core of what I love.
#adaptiveleadership #leadership #chaos #change
