The healthcare industry in the US is rapidly expanding, as profound advancements towards therapies and techniques to combat various conditions have been made. Yet in the midst of such progress, some patients and their families note that quality of care and outcomes have become less favorable. Furthermore, critics of the system note that it has become less person-centered. As a result, many organizations are transitioning to a care delivery system that emphasizes and re-focuses on the needs of their patients and other individuals impacted by their services.

This transition can be thought of as an adaptive challenge, or one with no clear-cut solution; it cannot be comprehensively solved with technical or mechanical skills. Instead, organizations must assess their normative valuesand the manner in which they provide care to individuals. Adaptive organizations must then be able to generate novel approaches in response to such assessment. Leaders within these transitioning organizations have an especially important role in aiding team members to adapt to change and tackle these challenges. Physicians and other practitioners are usually in positions of leadership, and thus play a role in promoting change.

Three vital skills that are characteristic to effective adaptive leadership include:

• Delineating goals – An effective adaptive leader sets clear parameters and expectations of the team, so that everyone involved can begin the process of problem-solving.
• Empowering members – An adaptive leader fosters an environment where team members feel that their input and innovative ideas are welcomed and trusted.
• Challenging the status quo – Leaders must be able to not only identify blatant problem areas, but also confront complacency by assessing the organization’s normative values.

The effectiveness and quality of care that healthcare organizations provide depends upon its level of adaptability. A successful organization possesses the ability to grow and respond to external pressures appropriately. Adaptive leaders must able to face challenges head-on, while also motivating team members to innovate and make tangible changes towards more effective care.