Diagnose the Work Before You Lead It
Distinguish technical problems from adaptive challenges before choosing a leadership response.
Technical work needs answers; adaptive work needs learning. Diagnose the work A technical problem can be solved with existing know-how: a policy, a calculation, a specialist, a checklist, or a decision right. An adaptive challenge asks people to shift behavior, tolerate loss, or renegotiate what matters. Naming the difference prevents you from overusing authority when the system needs learning. Regulate the heat Adaptive work creates heat because it exposes conflict. Too little heat and people avoid the issue; too much heat and they defend, blame, or freeze. The leader keeps the room productive by making the stakes visible while narrowing…
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