Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Leadership Without Easy Answers

Tali Heruti-Sover’s article in TheMarker deals with the practical aspects of Prof. Ron Heifetz’s Adaptive Leadership theory which focuses on one’s ability to adjust to a changing reality and to a new set of rules. The Reut Institute bases its impact efforts on Heifetz’s theory.

While traditional leadership required honed analytical and decision making skills, adaptive leadership requires an additional set of skills by which one can lead transformative change in society.

According to Heifetz, a leader is responsible for identifying adaptive challenges as well as the underlying habits, beliefs and values that need to be adapted. Thus, leadership entails the burden of having to face conflict and bear uncertainty.

Reut employs Heifetz’s theory to lead adaptive change in the Israeli public sphere, especially at times where we are not in position of authority. We define ‘Impact’ according to Heifetz’s definition of “adaptive work”: the adaptation of values, priorities or patterns of conduct. (Leadership Without Easy Answers).

Reut’s ‘Cycle of Activities’ begins with identifying fundamental gaps, researching them and then creating new knowledge (using a unique application developed by PRAXIS). Afterwards we try and identify the community of people in positions of authority, leadership or influence that can effectuate the necessary change. Following this, we seek to offer an alternative framework, direct attention to the issue and create a sense of urgency.