--- title: Collaborative Leadership | Adaptive Leadership description: This page curates Tamarack supported exploration of Adaptive Leadership. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/book%20laptop%20research.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en) # Collaborative Leadership Theme: Adaptive Leadership ## Adaptive Leadership - An Overview To achieve large scale impact, leaders must learn to navigate complex systems that are continually shifting and changing.  Diagnosing the nature of the problem, understanding the components that make up the complex system and determining how you, as a leader, might effectively influence the system are key components of adaptive leadership.  This spring, Tamarack partnered up with Collaboration for Impact to offer an Adaptive Leadership Masterclass series exploring these issues as well as the connections between leadership, authority and power. Adaptive leaders are skilled at creating a container or holding the environment for complex issues so that different sources of knowledge can be accessed to move from strategy to impact.  Working in an adaptive context is challenging. Making traction on a complex issue means that there will be those that gain and those that face a loss. Building adaptive leadership capacity can help us to identify potential loss early and develop strategies to navigate loss. Below are some of the key resources from our exploration of Adaptive Leadership that we are excited to share with you.   ---   #### The Core Resource: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership **Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Martin Linsky.  2009. Harvard Business Press.** The core resource for the Adaptive Leadership masterclass highlights both ideas and tactics for changing organizations and communities.  The book is divided into sections including the theory behind the practice of adaptive leadership, how to diagnose the system in which you are operating, key strategies for mobilizing the system, seeing yourself as a system and deploying yourself to influence the system.  In the practice of adaptive leadership, the focus on self as both a system and an actor are critical.  Leaders who are in tune with their own capacities, power, purpose and role can learn how to leverage these capacities to mobilize and shift systems. Find out more about The Practice of Adaptive Leadership [here](https://hbr.org/product/the-practice-of-adaptive-leadership-tools-and-tactics-for-changing-your-organization-and-the-world/5764-HBK-ENG).  [![Practice of Adaptive Leadership Book Cover.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Practice%20of%20Adaptive%20Leadership%20Book%20Cover.png?width=500&name=Practice%20of%20Adaptive%20Leadership%20Book%20Cover.png "Practice of Adaptive Leadership Book Cover.png")](https://hbr.org/product/the-practice-of-adaptive-leadership-tools-and-tactics-for-changing-your-organization-and-the-world/5764-HBK-ENG) #### A Webinar  **Explore the core concepts of Adaptive Leadership** - The Adaptive Leadership in a Changing World webinar provides an introduction into the core concepts of Adaptive Leadership. Liz Skelton, Co-Founder, Collaboration for Impact, Australia joins Liz Weaver, Co-CEO, Tamarack Institute and shares her thoughts about change, power, leadership and creating the conditions for adaptive change to occur. Liz Skelton takes listeners through five trends that can either prevent or enable adaptive leadership to occur.  [Watch the Adaptive Leadership in a Changing World webinar](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/adaptive-leadership-in-changing-world-webinar?hsLang=en) [![2018 Webinar Adaptive Leadership in a Changing World.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Webinar/2018%20Webinar%20Adaptive%20Leadership%20in%20a%20Changing%20World.png?width=1280&name=2018%20Webinar%20Adaptive%20Leadership%20in%20a%20Changing%20World.png "2018 Webinar Adaptive Leadership in a Changing World.png")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/adaptive-leadership-in-changing-world-webinar?hsLang=en) #### An Adaptive Leadership Masterclass **Catch up on some of the key resources created at Tamarack's Adaptive Leadership Masterclass** - From May 23 – 29, 2018, Liz Skelton, Collaboration for Impact and Liz Weaver, Tamarack Institute traveled to five Canadian cities (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa) to deliver a masterclass on Adaptive Leadership.  Attached are the powerpoint presentation and resources shared with participants attending the workshop. - Access the Adaptive Leadership Masterclass [Slide Deck](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/2018%20Adaptive%20Leadership%20PPT%20-%20FINAL.pdf) - Access the Adaptive Leadership Masterclass Pre-reading Materials: - [Leadership in a Permanent Crisis](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/Heifetz,%20R.,%20Grashow,%20A.%20&%20Linsky,%20M.%20(2009)%20%20Leadership%20in%20a%20(Permanent%20Crisis).pdf). Heifetz, Grashow and Linsky.  Harvard Business Review. - [Leading across difference: The Australian Leadership Paradox](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/Aigner%2c%20G.%20%26%20Skelton%2c%20L.%20(2013)%2c%20The%20Australian%20Leadership%20Paradox%2c%20Chapter%2008%20-%20Leading%20Across%20Difference.pdf?hsLang=en). Aigner G. Skelton L.  - [Turf, Trust, Co-creation and Collective Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/turf-trust-co-creation-collective-impact?hsLang=en). Weaver. - Access the Adaptive Leadership Masterclass Materials - [Adaptive Leadership Challenge Tool](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/ADAPTIVE%20LEADERSHIP%20CHALLENGE%20Handout%201.pdf) - [Holding Environment Tool](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/Holding%20Environment%20Tool.pdf) - [Adaptive Challenge Stakeholder Map](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Docs%20for%20Collaborative%20Leadership%20Page/Stakeholder%20mapping%20tool.pdf)   ![Adaptive Leadership Square Banner.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Events/One%20Day%20Events/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Masterclass/Adaptive%20Leadership%20Square%20Banner.png?width=800&name=Adaptive%20Leadership%20Square%20Banner.png "Adaptive Leadership Square Banner.png") #### Additional Resources The following resources will deepen your understanding and knowledge as you build your own practice of Adaptive Leadership. - More about [Collaboration for Impact](http://www.collaborationforimpact.com/) - More about the [Cynefin Framework](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7oz366X0-8) - [Embracing Complexity, Connectivity and Change with Brenda Zimmerman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F310ieRmd3U) - Tamarack Webinar: [Adam Kahane, Lessons in Collaborating with the Enemy](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/collaborating_with_enemy_webinar?hsLang=en) - [Julie Diamond on power](http://juliediamond.net/) - Tamarack Institute Tool:[ Start Stop Continue](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/start-stop-continue?hsLang=en) - Tamarack Institute Idea Paper: [Ready Set Go: Building Readiness for Collaboration and Community Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/ready-set-go-building-readiness-for-collaborative-and-community-impact?hsLang=en) - Travis Bradbury from Forbes on [Leadership 2.0: Are you an Adaptive Leader](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2012/11/09/leadership-2-0-are-you-an-adaptive-leader/&refURL=&referrer=#c2badca32c8e) - [Adaptive Learning – A Pivotal Competence for Collective Impact, Chris Soderquist](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/adaptive-learning-a-pivotal-competence-for-collective-impact?hsLang=en) - Tony Schwartz from Harvard Business Review: [What it takes to think deeply about complex problems](https://hbr.org/2018/05/what-it-takes-to-think-deeply-about-complex-problems?platform=hootsuite)   ![book laptop research.jpg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/book%20laptop%20research.jpg?width=3761&name=book%20laptop%20research.jpg "book laptop research.jpg") [[![760 x 420 - Foundation Course Image](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/760%20x%20420%20-%20Foundation%20Course%20Image.png?width=760&name=760%20x%20420%20-%20Foundation%20Course%20Image.png "760 x 420 - Foundation Course Image")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/foundations-collective-impact-sylvia-cheuy?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Foundations of Collective Impact  Join Tamarack's Sylvia Cheuy, Director of Collective Impact, in this online course designed to establish a foundational understanding of the Collective Impact Framework. Learners will have the opportunity to join Sylvia for monthly small group coaching to get more personalized feedback and insight. [![Register for the Online Course](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/c8461359-3f38-4c5b-a500-0b0655f41513.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/c8461359-3f38-4c5b-a500-0b0655f41513)   [[![2020 CE Foundations 820 (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/2020%20CE%20Foundations%20820%20(1).png "2020 CE Foundations 820 (1)")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/foundations-community-engagement-online-course-lisa-attygalle?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Foundations of Community Engagement Take our new self-directed online course and build your Community Engagement toolkit at your own pace.  Hosted by Lisa Attygalle, Director of Community Engagement, the course will guide you through pre-recorded video lessons, case studies, and practical tools and resources. [![Build Your Engagement Toolkit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/4c003c2a-9491-498c-9e90-f33a8084e442.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/4c003c2a-9491-498c-9e90-f33a8084e442)   [[![2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png?width=820&name=2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png "2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en#webinars) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Community Building Webinars Equip yourself for Community Change by joining us for weekly community building webinars and live podcasts [![Explore Our Weekly Webinars](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960) [[![Copy of 2021 Cameron Norman Workshop - Skinny Banner](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%202021%20Cameron%20Norman%20Workshop%20-%20Skinny%20Banner%20.png?width=1500&name=Copy%20of%202021%20Cameron%20Norman%20Workshop%20-%20Skinny%20Banner%20.png "Copy of 2021 Cameron Norman Workshop - Skinny Banner")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/2021-designing-whats-next-workshop-series?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Designing For What's Next The Designing for What's Next webinar and workshop series is aimed at practitioners looking to understand how to best design their organizations, their strategies, and shape their communities for what is to come as we encounter the changes that emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. [![Learn more and Register](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/34838ef5-460d-4039-8d60-ef27d117f2ae.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/34838ef5-460d-4039-8d60-ef27d117f2ae)   [[![2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png?width=820&name=2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png "2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en#webinars) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Community Building Webinars Equip yourself for Community Change by joining us for weekly community-building webinars and live podcasts [![Explore Our Weekly Webinars](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960) [[![ending poverty pathways event listing banner-1](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/ending%20poverty%20pathways%20event%20listing%20banner-1.png?width=820&name=ending%20poverty%20pathways%20event%20listing%20banner-1.png "ending poverty pathways event listing banner-1")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/courses-ending-poverty-pathways?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/crp-west?hsLang=en) #### Ending Poverty Pathways Course Join Vibrant Communities' Natasha Pei, Manager of Cities, in this new five-module course. Topics include Ending Working Poverty, Governments and Communities Ending Poverty, and Big Ideas for Ending Poverty. Through this course, you'll be guided through reflective questions and exercises that will help you make the most of the course materials and content. This course is designed to help you learn at your own pace as you advocate for and advance high-impact ending poverty pathways in your community. [![Learn more ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/c2a3a983-de38-4535-8d0b-f4a8c3dfd7d4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/c2a3a983-de38-4535-8d0b-f4a8c3dfd7d4)     [[![MicrosoftTeams-image (9)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(9).png?width=820&name=MicrosoftTeams-image%20(9).png "MicrosoftTeams-image (9)")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/workshop-abcd-101?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/crp-west?hsLang=en) #### **Asset-Based Community Development 101** **Building Your Community Table** Join Heather Keam for our first ABCD 101 virtual workshop designed to shift your thinking so that your community is able to build their own table, and your role becomes the legs which support the table and the community-centred activities that come from it. [![Learn more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/75cbf774-1864-4223-8a4b-d02b0c5b8cda.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/75cbf774-1864-4223-8a4b-d02b0c5b8cda) [[![2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png?width=820&name=2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png "2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en#webinars) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/crp-west?hsLang=en) #### Community Building Webinars Equip yourself for Community Change by joining us for weekly community-building webinars and live podcasts [![Explore Our Weekly Webinars](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960)     [[![2022 PE Sept 820x312-1](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2022%20PE%20Sept%20820x312-1.png?width=820&name=2022%20PE%20Sept%20820x312-1.png "2022 PE Sept 820x312-1")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/workshop-participatory-evaluation-community-based-assessment-strategic-learning-practices?hsLang=en) #### **Participatory Evaluation: **Community-Based Assessment and Strategic Learning Practices The success of participatory evaluation acknowledges relationship dynamics as central to the process. Join Jean-Marie Chapeau & explore the different types of participatory evaluation, and what it means at the level of community-based work. [![Learn more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/d091c26a-6daf-4622-9e6b-9c044eb8429c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/d091c26a-6daf-4622-9e6b-9c044eb8429c) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Subscribe. Be in the know. Get the latest updates about community change and building vibrant communities. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=en) ![Liz Weaver Headshot.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Administration/Team%20Headshots/Liz%20Weaver%201.jpg) #### Collaborative Leadership The Learning Centre's exploration of Adaptive Leadership has been curated by Liz Weaver and feeds into Tamarack's Collaborative Leadership idea area. Liz is Co-CEO and Strategic Lead for Collective Impact at the Tamarack Institute.  [![Learn more about Collaborate Leadership](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/41c496fc-d9c9-4da1-b4d8-535cb3ad1e89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/41c496fc-d9c9-4da1-b4d8-535cb3ad1e89)   [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest?hsLang=en) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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