In the context of Adaptive Leadership there are 2 key capacities that all leaders should strive to develop on their journey of growth.

These dual capacities are crucial for attaining positive outcomes and are referred to directly in the Practice of Adaptive Leadership (authored by A. Grashow, M. Linsky, and R. Heifetz). These integrated capacities are explained further in this short video…

THE 2 KEY CAPACITIES

1. Diagnosing – The ability to understand the challenge, situation or environment that you are operating within. This can include an awareness of the complexity or ambiguity within that challenge, as well as the internal and external ‘noise’ that can influence your meaning making. Being able to detach and develop a greater awareness of the inherent nature within a challenge, is often a short coming for many leaders, who operate from a reactive disposition. We can develop this capacity through structured learning (new frameworks & models) along with situational and social learning (reflective experience).

2. Taking Action – The ability to execute and take action through your behaviour and choices, whether actively (commission) or passively (omission). This is a natural extension from diagnosis and is the ultimate catalyst for the end results and outcomes achieved. If we repeatedly experience undesired results, it is paramount to review the course of action and behaviour that has been taken. We can develop this capacity by being organised and prioritised on the actions that have the biggest impact.

While these capacities may seem binary in nature, the quote below from Ronald Heifetz highlights the ideal relationship between the two.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

In what ways can you enhance or elevate your diagnostic capacity? How do you remain diagnostic when faced with pressures on your time? When have you realised that a course of action was wrong and what lead you down that path?

For more information on the BESPOKE LEADERSHIP development program or to have an informal discussion regarding your development goals, please contact: philip@bespokeleaders.com