Training Adaptable Leaders: Lessons from Research and Practice

摘要

In the post 9/11 environment and the subsequent Global War on Terrorism, the need for adaptable leaders in the military is increasingly apparent. The development of adaptive leaders has become a high priority for the Army; however, current research and practice related to adaptability is still in its infancy. The purpose of this paper is to summarize current theory and research related to developing adaptable leaders. A discussion of the importance of adaptability in the Army's leadership is presented followed by an exploration of the concept of adaptability. Next, characteristics of adaptable leaders are reviewed along a continuum of trainability. The core of this paper addresses training adaptability in terms of institutional, operational, and self-development interventions. Within each of these areas, practical guidance is provided for designing effective training and development programs, and a summary of areas for future research is presented.