Tetenbaum and Laurence conclude that Heifetz’s adaptive leadership model is “the right leadership model for the times.” Post a response to this assertion, stating whether you agree or disagree with their conclusion and the reason for your opinion. Read and respond to the posts of your peers as well.
I agree with Tetenbaum and Laurence’s conclusion. Heifetz’s leadership model focuses on more collaboration between the leader and the associates. The coaching style that I believe best demonstrates this is the use of discovery coaching. In this method, the leader may have the answers, but in order to develop his / her subordinates, he / she uses questions to lead the subordinate to the answers. I have been on both ends of this coaching model and I think that it is extremely effective in building trust and credibility between the manager and the subordinate. It empowers the subordinates to find their own solutions, but still makes them feel supported by their leader, because they were “led” to the solutions. This is not always easy for leaders, who are generally inclined to provide the answers when asked…this is the easiest road to take, and it also takes the subordinates “off the hook” for figuring things out for themselves. However, if a leader is really patient with their subordinate and continues to ask probing questions, such as, “What about ___?”, “Have you thought about _______?”, or “What else do you think would work?”, it forces them to engage in deeper thinking and consider options that they may have not considered prior to talking to their manager.
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