Center of Adaptive Leadership

Who are we?

The Center of Adaptive Leadership (ALC) is a space for enthusiasts of Adaptive Leadership. In cooperation with the Kansas Leadership Center and local partners, we research, share good practices, give recommendations, and organize seminars and conferences.

Why was such a Center needed?

It has already been a few years since the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University (IIRPS VU) learns, teaches and researches leadership-related topics. We believe that Lithuania, as well as other countries, currently lack the skills to lead through the massive change that is taking place in society. Even more, this lack of competences is among the key hurdles to a successful resolution of local, regional, and global challenges. Our goal is to create space and opportunities for people to learn and share their leadership skills, to mobilize their communities and lead them through changes. In the end, according to one of the creators of the concept, Ron Heifetz, “adaptive leadership is the practice of mobilizing people to tackle through challenges and thrive.”

The current political and economic situation in Lithuania and the Western world challenges the very core of democracy. The events of recent years demonstrate that big groups in our societies feel marginalized and disappointed with the politics and government. They express this dissatisfaction while voting or, in the case of Lithuania, emigrating. In post-soviet societies, the situation is even more demanding as the transformation of culture and values did not catch up with massive changes in economy and politics. We still need to tackle nepotism and corruption, while society, in general, is still apathetic and searches for paternalistic leaders. Consequently, the trust in liberal democracy falls, while people are searching for scapegoats and avoiding taking responsibility. To change this situation and achieve prosperity and stability, we need more than “just” good education and analytical skills. Besides these instruments, we also need to reflect, accept, and tackle adaptive challenges requiring not only simple, technical solutions, but the transformation of our values and beliefs.

What do we do?

We share:

• In March 2020, we organized a workshop for public sector employees.
• We cooperate with the State Audit Office of the Republic of Lithuania, organizing the State Conference on Sustainable Development “SIGNALS.”

The last conference was held on November 27, 2019. We were delighted to talk about the change and why it is so difficult to agree. ALC expert Eglė Daunienė moderated the discussion on the adoption of the Labor Code and VU IIRPS lecturers dr. Vilius Bartninkas and Ieva Giedraitytė shared theirthoughts on changes in the final panel of the conference. The conference or individual papers can be viewed on its website.

• In the fall of 2018, some elements of Adaptive Leadership methodology were introduced to students via three-way internship agreements between the employer, the Institute and the students themselves. Currently, in coordination with employers, the students not only carry out their professional tasks but also attempt to solve relevant practical problems that the hosting institutions face.
• On May 25, 2018, we held a conference, “When reforms do (not) happen?” During the conference, we not only invited to listen to but also to discuss with the participants about different values ​​that clash during the reforms and different ways of combining them.
• In May 2018, we invited an expert in Adaptive Leadership, Jill Hufnagel, to share her knowledge on the case-in-point teaching method in a three-day seminar for teachers and coachers.

We analyze:

• Associate Professor Eglė Daunienė on Leadership during coronavirus crisis for the general public and for leaders (in Lithuanian).
• Comment by Professor Ramūnas Vilpišauskas and Associate Professor Eglė Daunienė on education reforms in Lithuania.