Adaptive Leadership: Leading Through Complexity

Abstract

There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the complexity schools are encountering. Complex environments lead to considerable ambiguity around what solutions might be effective. Added to this, complexity can mean challenges may not be able to be solved with the knowledge and skills that currently exist within an organisation. There is an inherent need to test ideas and learn from early implementation. Organisations that work within complex environments often utilise adaptive approaches as a response to uncertainty. This paper explores adaptive leadership as one possible approach school leaders could consider during times of significant change. It explores how the military cultivate adaptive practices to respond to complex environments as well as highlight key principles and practices school leaders could consider leading an adaptive organisation.