Mike Bonem
What characteristics are most valuable for a leader? Scores of leadership books offer lists with the 5 or 7 or 10 (but never 11 or 13) attributes that successful leaders must develop. How often have you seen “adaptability’ on one of these lists? Not often enough.
Adaptability is essential for any leader, and especially for ministry leaders today. Adaptability is what enables you to make quick course corrections when a new initiative is not producing the desired outcomes. It is the ability to receive, process, and act on new information that challenges your long-held assumptions. It allows you to respond to unexpected (and sometimes unreasonable) demands without losing sight of your church’s mission.
“Flexibility” is sometimes used as a synonym for adaptability. But this alternate word can become an excuse. “I’m just an inflexible person” suggests an inherent trait that can’t be changed. Physically, I am not very flexible. (Don’t ask me to touch my toes!) But I know this condition can be addressed with stretching or yoga. My physical inflexibility has little to do with how I was born, and everything to do with how I spend my time.
Leadership adaptability is similar. So what is the equivalent of stretching or yoga for a leader? The key is to ask questions and learn continuously. When something doesn’t go as expected, leaders who are stretching to be more adaptable ask “why?” and “what can we learn from this experience?” And when something goes well, they ask the same questions.
Asking and learning requires an honest and rigorous assessment of results. It cannot happen without time for reflection. It is usually most meaningful in a small, safe group where others can wrestle with these questions. It calls for a posture of humility, not claiming to know all the answers. And it requires an openness to hear the quiet whisper of the Spirit.
How could these practices help you stretch toward greater adaptability and more effective leadership?
