In line with the discussions in previous articles and the book The Art of Adaptive Leadership, this article will address the two types of problems we constantly confront each day: technical and adaptive challenges.
Technical challenges are those that can be diagnosed and solved using expertise, knowledge, or learned skills. Examples include fixing a lamp or building a home. Typically, the most sought-after person in this field is the one with the highest degree of expertise, the most experience, the best tools, or the ability to solve the problem quickly and effectively.
In contrast, more complex challenges are termed “adaptive.” These challenges are multifaceted and evolving, and expertise alone may be insufficient for their resolution. Instead, addressing these problems requires leveraging the collective wisdom and insights of everyone affected. In other words, participation from all stakeholders is necessary, as their lives are impacted by the issue. For instance, when a community or company decides to go completely green within a year, the efforts of top leaders alone will not suffice for success; everyone must share the responsibility for going green.
Adaptive problems take time to solve, as they are not easily understood. Identifying viable solutions can be as challenging as generating them. Often, it requires multiple attempts to determine what will work best for achieving the desired outcome. This trial-and-error process is likely to be accompanied by confusion and frustration.
