3 Ways Leaders Adapt to Change

During the 1984 Olympics, then-Indiana Basketball Coach Bob Knight witnessed near perfection in his sport.

In the first half of a game against Spain, Team U.S.A. had a 29-point lead, and Michael Jordan just about played flawlessly, scoring 19 points, gathering 11 rebounds and dishing out nine assists during just 12 minutes on the court.

As his team entered the locker room, Knight knew he needed to say something to inspire his players to play the second half with a sense of urgency. But how? Even for a harsh critic, finding faults in the first half was just about impossible. 

When he entered into the locker room, the first person he encountered was Jordan, which gave him an idea. If he criticized Jordan, the rest of the team would likely be shocked and fearful that they might feel his wrath as well. 

Suddenly, an idea dawned on Knight. He could scold Jordan for not screening well and not helping his teammates. As Knight went after Jordan, the room of superstars was quiet.

Jordan wasn't upset. He knew his coach had previously said he was the quickest player he's ever seen and that his screens were too quick for Knight to observe. Knight quickly said, "Well, slow them down so I can notice." 

In that moment in the locker room, Knight demonstrated flexibility as a leader — allowing Jordan to explain his position without feeling threatened.

Flexibility is an important trait in our rapidly-changing economic and social environment. Flexible leaders can modify their style or approach to leadership in response to uncertain or unpredictable circumstances. 

Here’s what adapting to change for successful leaders really means.

1. Understanding and catering our strategies to the organization's changing external pressures. Who, besides the main competitors, are the opponent? We must be able to identify who the opponent is.  

2. Adjust their management style to changing situations. No one can lead the same way year after year--its important to evolve and understand the people you lead.  

3. Accept changes as positive. Flexible leaders love to change. Don't worry about being consistent, worry about being correct.  

If Bob Knight can find a way to be flexible, so can we.