Bridges to Achievement: Elements of Success with Indicators (Summary)

Bridges to Achievement: Elements of Success with Indicators (Summary) - "The work of leadership takes many different forms and is the subject of many models. In Heifetz and Linski, 'Leadership on the Line' (Harvard Business School Press, 2002) the authors capture the difference between the technical work of management from the adaptive work of leadership. Most leadership problems come bundled with both components intermingled, but understanding the difference helps identify activities that influence leadership.

Technical Elements relate to areas where there exists a considerable body of research, practical knowledge and experience and/or inservice training programs. Boards (or some members of the Board) may have sufficient knowledge related to the Technical Elements but the Board may need assistance with systemic implementation and/or how to apply the research, experience, or training programs in new and better ways. Adaptive Elements are complex, beyond what we know, and take time to implement.

The Adaptive Elements relate to areas where there is a gap between aspiration and reality, where there is limited research or knowledge about how to implement, and often demand a response outside one’s current repertoire. Adaptive work may require some difficult new learning.

When shining the light of Heifetz and Linski’s work on each of the Elements of Success the characteristics of success become more reproducible when building healthy organizations. Each Element of Success has some components of technical problems that lend themselves training activities as well as adaptive challenges that may require some new learning."

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