What Are the Characteristics of Adaptive Leaders During Times of Change or Crisis?

Leadership models help us formalize our understanding of how leadership works under different conditions. The study below examines leadership during times of crisis and highlights an important reality: leaders cannot always rely on existing ways of doing things. Sometimes, circumstances require leaders to develop unique solutions to problems.

The study below identifies several characteristics of effective leaders, including flexibility, empathy, innovation, and long-term vision. Leaders need to know where they are going, but they also need to be willing to innovate and adjust their approach along the way.

Empathy is particularly important because leaders must be able to connect with people and understand their emotions and perspectives. Other research has shown that leaders who lack empathy may have difficulty building meaningful relationships with their employees. In turn don't have an intuitive understanding of their needs because they are limited by transactional thinking. A leader may be able to accomplish tasks without strong interpersonal skills, but that approach can sometimes leave a wake of damaged relationships and organizational problems behind. Ultimately leadership will strengthen or weaken an organization. 

Flexibility is equally important because organizations and their environments are constantly changing. Leaders need to recognize when existing approaches are no longer effective and be willing to adapt.

Organizational culture is another important part of this process. When an organization creates an environment that encourages creativity, experimentation, and new ideas, employees are more likely to innovate. A supportive culture can therefore strengthen an organization's ability to adapt when challenges arise.

Overall, there are significant benefits to moving beyond traditional leadership models. Effective leadership is not simply about following established procedures; it is also about knowing when to adapt, innovate, understand people, and respond to changing circumstances.

The study below provides an interesting look at these ideas and how adaptive leadership can help organizations navigate uncertainty.

Adaptive Leadership in Times of Crisis: 

The Importance of Flexibility and ResilienceAdaptive leadership is especially important during periods of crisis because leaders must respond to changing circumstances rather than rely exclusively on established procedures.

1. The study identifies flexibility, empathy, innovation, and long-term vision as important characteristics of effective adaptive leaders.
2. Organizational culture, structure, previous experience with innovation, and organizational strategy can either support or limit the development of adaptive leadership.
3. Leading teams during a crisis is particularly challenging because leaders need additional competencies related to resilience, adaptability, and coordinating people under uncertain conditions.
4. The research suggests that organizations can benefit from moving beyond traditional leadership approaches and developing leaders who can adjust their strategies, support their teams, and respond effectively to changing environments.

Sott, M. K., & Bender, M. S. (2025). The role of adaptive leadership in times of crisis: A systematic review and conceptual framework. Merits, 5(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits5010002