Article

What Is My Leadership Style? 4 Tips for Becoming an Adaptive Leader

March 10, 2025

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Emily May

How confident are you in your personal leadership style? Have you mastered your ability to adapt to different situations and team needs? Whether you're guiding a new team through a major transformation or tackling unexpected roadblocks, adaptability can make all the difference.

This article will help you answer the burning question “what is my leadership style?” and provide four tips to help you become a more versatile leader.

What Is an Adaptive Leader?

Adaptive leadership is the ability to remain flexible amidst inevitable changes. Harvard University professor, Ronald Heifetz popularized the concept of adaptive leadership through his research, books, and teaching. 


Core characteristics of an adaptive leader include:

  • Embracing change
  • Switching leadership styles based on context
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Empowering and supporting teams

Some leaders may follow strict guidelines or a set leadership style when responding to workplace challenges. However, using an adaptive approach is beneficial because it allows leaders to respond effectively to each situation in service of their teams. 

4 Tips for Becoming an Adaptive Leader

This section provides four tips to help you adapt and lead in any workplace situation.

1. Learn About Different Leadership Styles

A person observes an adjustable control panel labeled "Leadership Styles," symbolizing the ability to adapt and fine-tune different leadership approaches. A lightbulb icon above their head suggests a moment of insight or realization.

Learning about various leadership approaches is crucial for developing versatility. Which style might help support your team through change or motivate them to achieve a particular goal? It’s not about which leadership styles are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, but the aspects of each style that may help you in a particular situation. 

You can maximize impact by leveraging​​ the advantages of multiple leadership styles rather than only your dominant style. Read our article on The Pros & Cons of 10 Common Leadership Styles to get started.

2. Consider a People-First Mindset

Learn about a people-first mindset. This mindset encourages leaders to make decisions that promote the well-being and success of their teams. Understanding the behaviors and attitudes that support people-first leadership will help you apply what you have learned in your daily interactions with team members. 

People-first leadership contributes to creating psychological safety in the workplace. If we focused only on the work and not on the people doing the work, teams would not be able to sustain consistent results over time. By being present and advocating for team needs, we support and retain our team members, lead with purpose, and boost long-term outcomes. 

3. Respond to Workplace Situations with Flexibility and Curiosity

Work environments are ever-changing; from the people on our teams to the changing priorities, budgets, and available technologies. As circumstances evolve, new and complex challenges arise that require innovative and collaborative solutions. Adaptive skills are essential for today’s leaders to help their teams stay ahead.

What does flexible leadership look like? It can involve trying a new approach to resolve a team conflict. It can also look like finding new ways to support your team while experimenting with a new framework. Embracing adaptability helps leaders assess situations and develop a tailored, strategic response.

4. Identify Your Dominant Leadership Style

A person in a white outfit holds a control panel with adjustable sliders, symbolizing the process of identifying and fine-tuning their dominant leadership style. A checkmark icon suggests confidence in their leadership approach.

Let’s say you’re in an interview and asked “what is your leadership style?” How would you describe your leadership style? Maybe you defer to a coaching style or identify strongly as a servant leader. You might feel your leadership is a fusion of a handful of styles. Identifying how you feel the most authentic supporting your team will help you develop aligned skills, and identify situational opportunities to try a different approach when it makes sense. 

How do you begin the journey to find your authentic leadership style? Start with personal development. What are your values, and what is your mission as a leader? Answering these questions will help you identify styles that can magnify your strengths. Additionally, consider chatting with colleagues, friends, and family to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Additional Reading

Conclusion

A person speaks confidently into a microphone while a team of four individuals gives thumbs-up approvals, symbolizing effective leadership and positive influence. The image represents the impact of finding and embracing one's leadership style.

Whether you’re at the beginning of your leadership journey, or have extensive experience, adaptability is a skill that all can improve. Develop your adaptive leadership skills by understanding a people-first mindset and the many leadership styles available. Then, stay curious and practice responding to work situations with flexibility and identify your dominant leadership style. 

Are you ready to speed up your leadership development? Take our 2-4 hour micro-credential course on Leadership Styles. You’ll gain real skills and practical knowledge in all areas mentioned in this article quickly and affordably. 

We look forward to supporting you on your leadership journey.

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TAGGED AS:
Leading Change, Agility in Leadership, Leading with Agility

About the author

Emily May | ICAgile, Marketing Specialist
Emily May is a Marketing Specialist at ICAgile, where she helps educate learners on their agile journey through content. With an eclectic background in communications supporting small business marketing efforts, she hopes to inspire readers to initiate more empathy, productivity, and creativity in the workplace for improved internal and external outcomes.