Deck 11: Adaptive Leadership

Question 1

Which leadership theory includes administrative, adaptive, and enabling leadership?

A) Transformational Leadership Theory
B) Adaptive Leadership Theory
C) Servant Leadership Theory
D) Complexity Leadership Theory

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Complexity Leadership Theory when used in organizations focuses on

A) Behaviors that inhibit psychodynamic subconscious emotional reactions
B) Strategies to enhance the skill level of employees
C) Strategies that encourage learning, creativity, and adaptation
D) A biological perspective of adaptive leadership

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Adaptive leadership is

A) Leader centered
B) Authority based
C) Follower centered
D) Organization centered

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Adaptive leadership is a unique kind of leadership in that

A) It focuses on the leader's behaviors as a reflection of the followers
B) It focuses on the dynamics of mobilizing people to address change
C) It describes the process of rewards and punishments used in leadership
D) It describes the transformational processes in complex organizations

Question 5

Which theory focuses predominantly on how the leader's activities relate to the followers and the context in which followers find themselves?

A) Trait
B) Situational
C) Adaptive
D) Authentic

Question 6

Our organization recently switched information technology support firms. Some of our employees are finding the service slow and having difficulty interpreting the new system. This is an example of

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 7

Workplace problems that lack clarity and cannot be solved by leader expertise or normal organizational structures are

A) Regulatory challenges
B) Adaptive challenges
C) Technical challenges
D) Combined technical and adaptive challenges

Question 8

In which adaptive leadership viewpoint do leaders provide a supportive environment for followers in which they help followers resolve internal conflicts and distinguish between reality and fantasy?

A) Service orientation
B) Biological perspective
C) Psychotherapy perspective
D) Systems perspective

Question 9

The leader in adaptive leadership is conceptualized as

A) One who saves the followers
B) One who gently persuades followers
C) One who is defined by his or her personal characteristics
D) One who uses primarily directive behaviors to support followers

Question 10

Activities that adaptive leaders engage in include

A) Individualizing
B) Mobilizing
C) Organizing
D) Motivating

Question 11

The type of leadership that focuses on the adaptations required of people in response to changing environments is

A) Transformational
B) Transactional
C) Servant
D) Adaptive

Question 12

Which leadership scholar developed the main framework of adaptive leadership?

A) House
B) Bass
C) Kouzes
D) Heifetz

Question 13

The overall goal of adaptive leadership is to

A) Encourage people to change
B) Support leadership roles
C) Adapt to the subordinate characteristics
D) Encourage people to adapt to their leader

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of the conceptual viewpoints of adaptive leadership?

A) Situational perspective
B) Systems perspective
C) Biological perspective
D) Service orientation

Question 15

The process definition of adaptive leadership states that this type of leadership is about

A) The position the leader holds
B) Characteristics of the leader
C) Skills of the leader
D) Behaviors of the leader

Question 16

What type of challenge occurred when the problem employees encountered was identified and the leader selected a workable solution?

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 17

Adaptive leaders

A) Prepare people to deal with change
B) Adapt their style based on follower competence
C) Adapt their style based on follower commitment
D) Prepare people to assess other's behaviors

Question 18

Workplace problems with clearly defined and solvable solutions are

A) Biological challenges
B) Adaptive challenges
C) Technical challenges
D) Psychodynamic challenges

Question 19

Workplace problems that are clearly defined but do not have straightforward solutions are

A) Regulatory challenges
B) Adaptive challenges
C) Technical challenges
D) Combined technical and adaptive challenges

Question 20

The systems perspective in adaptive leadership involves looking at problems that

A) Require people to adapt to both their internal cues and external environments
B) Are complicated, complex, and dynamic that can evolve and change
C) Require service through using expertise in diagnosing and prescribing solutions
D) Are focused on psychological parameters for adapting to difficult problems

Question 21

Who solves technical challenges?

A) Employees
B) Leaders and followers
C) Leaders
D) The organization

Question 22

How many archetypes are used in adaptive leadership to help determine the difference between adaptive and technical challenges?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 6

Question 23

I am the leader in the manufacturing division of an auto manufacturing company and just found a technical problem with one part of how the line places the engine block in the car. I figured out the problem and fixed it right away. Which type of leader behavior was I using during this process?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Create a holding environment
C) Protect leadership voices from below
D) Regulate distress

Question 24

I have been working with the staff on a difficult problem for three days. Everyone is stressed and bickering and losing focus. I decide to go for a run, which is a time when I typically can quietly think and gain perspective on problems. This is an example of which adaptive leader behavior?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Get on the balcony
C) Protect leadership voices from below
D) Speaking the unspeakable

Question 25

You are tasked with creating a brand new food product using a team of people who are unfamiliar with the product and do not know one another. The organizational structure of this group is very loosely defined. This is an example of

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 26

My company states integrity as a core commitment on its website. I see fraud occurring often in my division of the company. Which archetype describes this company?

A) Gap Between Espoused Values and Behaviors
B) Competing Commitments
C) Work Avoidance
D) Speaking the Unspeakable

Question 27

Which of the following is not one of the six adaptive leader behaviors in the model?

A) Get on the balcony
B) Provide a holding environment
C) Identify adaptive challenges
D) Regulate distress

Question 28

What type of challenge occurred when the problem employees encountered was clearly defined but difficult to solve?

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 29

Who solves technical and adaptive challenges?

A) Employees
B) Leaders and followers
C) Leaders
D) The organization

Question 30

Who solves adaptive challenges?

A) Employees
B) Leaders and followers
C) Leaders
D) The organization

Question 31

What type of problem is occurring when identification of issues surrounding the problem and solutions to the problem both are unclear?

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 32

Which leader behavior is a prerequisite for the other adaptive leader behaviors?

A) Regulate distress
B) Identify adaptive challenges
C) Maintain disciplined attention
D) Get on the balcony

Question 33

I am a leader who has identified an adaptive challenge. What do I need to do now?

A) Focus attention on the problem and establish collaboration between myself and my followers
B) Provide followers with a solution that fits the problem
C) Provide followers with a solution that fits the problem and ask them for input
D) Focus attention on the solution then share it will the followers

Question 34

My company decides to merge with another to be more financially stable, but in the process it appears best to downsize our current staff. This is an adaptive challenge identified by which archetype?

A) Gap Between Espoused Values and Behaviors
B) Competing Commitments
C) Work Avoidance
D) Speaking the Unspeakable

Question 35

I am a leader of employees in an auto manufacturing company that just merged with another company after a difficult buyout process. Employees will keep their jobs but will have to learn new systems and work with new people and supervisors, which makes them nervous and anxious about their work. This is an example of

A) A capacity challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) An adaptive challenge

Question 36

The prescriptive nature of the adaptive leadership approach is found in the

A) Types of challenges
B) Actions of the followers
C) Response of the organization
D) Leader behaviors

Question 37

Which behavior am I using when I analyze and diagnose a new challenge?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Get on the balcony
C) Protect leadership voices from below
D) Work avoidance

Question 38

There are how many leader behaviors in the adaptive model?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 6

Question 39

I focus on the big picture and observe the problems as a whole but always stay fully engaged in the challenge with our employees. This is an example of which adaptive leader behavior?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Competing commitments
C) Protect leadership voices from below
D) Get on the balcony

Question 40

A football team decides to completely restructure its offense and use many different players in the process. The players, coaches, and even the fans could have a hard time figuring out the new system and implementing this completely new structure. This is an example of

A) An adaptive challenge
B) A technical challenge
C) A technical and adaptive challenge
D) A non-challenge

Question 41

In adaptive work

A) The leader identifies the problem
B) The followers identify the problem
C) The people involved together identify and solve the problem
D) The followers do all of the work

Question 42

The process toward which adaptive leaders direct their work defines

A) Technical work
B) Creative work
C) The holding environment
D) Adaptive work

Question 43

Our team has been working on a difficult problem for the past week. As the team leader, I sense that the group has a pretty good idea of the issues surrounding the problem. I share with them that I know they can solve it and I encourage them to keep thinking about good solutions. I am using primarily which adaptive leadership behavior?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Regulate distress
C) Give the work back to the people
D) Maintain disciplined attention

Question 44

People like leaders to provide some direction and structure to their work but also want to solve problems without too much directive leadership. Leaders should use which adaptive behavior with these people?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Regulate distress
C) Give the work back to the people
D) Maintain disciplined attention

Question 45

Who does the primary work of adaptive work when in the holding environment?

A) Followers
B) Leaders
C) Leaders and followers equally
D) The organizational structure

Question 46

I provided a solution to a challenging problem that just made things worse. What did I do wrong according to adaptive leadership principles?

A) I tried to take over the situation
B) I tried to solve an adaptive problem using technical leadership
C) I tried to solve a technical problem with adaptive leadership
D) I did not apply adaptive leadership to this problem

Question 47

The maintaining disciplined action behavior in adaptive leadership is

A) Easy because most people naturally want to confront change
B) Difficult because most people do not accept leaders who use adaptive behaviors
C) Difficult because most people do not naturally want to confront change
D) Easy because most people have dealt effectively with adaptive changes before

Question 48

Leaders should direct considerable energy toward and maintaining _____ because of its critical role in the adaptive process.

A) The situation
B) The challenge
C) The balcony
D) The holding environment

Question 49

I try to be sure to listen to and be open to ideas from people on the fringe of the organization. What adaptive behavior am I using?

A) Protect leadership voices from below
B) Regulate distress
C) Give the work back to the people
D) Maintain disciplined attention

Question 50

Collectively, what is the impact of leaders using adaptive behaviors appropriately for adaptive challenges?

A) Technical work suffers
B) Adaptive work suffers
C) Adaptive work can be done
D) Creative work is stymied

Question 51

Creating a holding environment helps regulate distress because

A) It is a space where conflict gets out of control and leaders support this process
B) The tension in the space has enough challenge without negotiations being so tense followers shut down
C) Negotiations are heated up on purpose to create overwhelming tension; then real adaptive work can happen
D) There is no pressure to create new contractual relationships while negotiations occur in the holding space

Question 52

There is just one person in our group, Silvia, who seems to have radically different ideas about how to complete our project. She seems to purposely disagree with the majority opinions of the rest of us though yesterday she said something that made a lot of sense to help us solve our production problem. I suggested to the entire group today that we hear Silvia's suggestions and asked Silvia to share in-depth more of what she said yesterday. I am using which adaptive leader behavior?

A) Protect leadership voices from below
B) Regulate distress
C) Give the work back to the people
D) Maintain disciplined attention

Question 53

Which regulating distress behavior maintains that it is the leader's responsibility to manage the rate of adaptive change for people?

A) Providing direction
B) Conflict management
C) Protection
D) Orientation

Question 54

Which leader behavior in the adaptive leadership model means the leader needs to encourage people to focus on the tough work that needs to be done?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Regulate distress
C) Give the work back to the people
D) Maintain disciplined attention

Question 55

When we create a holding environment for employees we are using which adaptive leader behavior?

A) Identify adaptive challenges
B) Get on the balcony
C) Protect leadership voices from below
D) Regulate distress

Question 56

A leader needs to use the maintain disciplined attention behavior when

A) There is an issue that is being avoided that is pivotal to making the necessary change
B) The holding environment is yet to be established
C) The determination of technical versus adaptive challenge has yet to be made
D) People want to solve problems on their own

Question 57

We avoid talking about the conflict that occurs when our leader lets one employee get away with coming in late to work every day. We all think it's because this employee is the only minority on the staff. This is an adaptive challenge identified by which archetype?

A) Gap Between Espoused Values and Behaviors
B) Competing Commitments
C) Work Avoidance
D) Speaking the Unspeakable

Question 58

A longtime leader of a technology firm hires primarily males even when females in the hiring pool are far more qualified. No one wants to point out this behavior to the leader. This is an adaptive challenge identified by which archetype?

A) Gap Between Espoused Values and Behaviors
B) Competing Commitments
C) Work Avoidance
D) Speaking the Unspeakable

Question 59

Why is the term "follower" used infrequently in writings about adaptive leadership?

A) It is a derogatory term
B) Follower implies a submissive role
C) It lessens the role of the leader
D) It presumes

Question 60

When I establish a workplace environment that is open and safe while also being available and encouraging to employees to solve demanding problems, I am

A) On the balcony
B) Creating a holding environment
C) Establishing protective norms
D) Maintaining disciplined action

Question 61

What is the impact of a leader giving voice to an out-group member?

A) It discourages in-group members to solve adaptive problems
B) It helps out-group members know their interests are being recognized
C) It creates disengagement of the in-group members
D) It creates a more involved and engaged group inclusive of all members

Question 62

What does the holding environment represent in the adaptive leadership model?

A) The space where adaptive leadership work gets done
B) The balcony space
C) The virtual space for solving technical problems
D) The space where groups can function safely as they work on adaptive problems

Question 63

Which leadership approach has a central purpose to help followers confront their personal values and adjust these when needed in order for change to occur?

A) Transformational
B) Servant
C) Authentic
D) Adaptive

Question 64

Adaptive leadership is quite different from which of the following other leadership approaches?

A) Traits
B) Transformational
C) Behavioral
D) Psychodynamic

Question 65

Adaptive leadership conceptualizes the leader as one who

A) Solves problems for people
B) Adapts to various situations
C) Makes the hard decisions for others
D) Encourages others to do the problem solving

Question 66

Research and writing about adaptive leadership has been primarily

A) Anecdotal and observational
B) Descriptive
C) Prescriptive
D) Scientifically based

Question 67

Which of the following is not a strength of adaptive leadership?

A) It takes a process approach to the study of leadership
B) It is follower centered
C) It clearly describes a step-by-step approach to adaptive challenges
D) It directs how leaders help followers deal with conflicting values

Question 68

Adaptive leadership is a complex process comprising which major dimensions?

A) Adaptive work
B) Situational challenges
C) Leader behaviors
D) Legitimate power

Question 69

With technical challenges, the leader should

A) Use authority and expertise to address it
B) Use authority to make people solve it
C) Use the rules of the organization to solve it
D) Use followers to do the menial work

Question 70

In adaptive leadership, leaders and followers mutually affect each other, making leadership a complex interactive process. This is

A) A criticism of adaptive leadership
B) A strength of adaptive leadership
C) The formal definition of adaptive leadership
D) The definition of a technical leadership problem

Question 71

Which of the following is not a criticism of adaptive leadership?

A) It takes a process approach to the study of leadership
B) Empirical research is lacking
C) The conceptualization of the process of adaptive leadership is unclear
D) It is too wide-ranging and abstract

Question 72

What is the first step the leader takes when faced with a challenging situation?

A) Create a holding environment
B) Give the work back to the people
C) Maintain disciplined attention
D) Step back to obtain a fuller picture

Question 73

Which of the following leader behaviors are used to mitigate frustrations and stress people feel during adaptive change?

A) Maintain disciplined attention
B) Conflict management
C) Orientation
D) Providing direction

Question 74

In what context has most of the adaptive leadership research been conducted?

A) Health care
B) K-12 education
C) Higher education
D) Public companies

Question 75

How do leaders identify adaptive challenges?

A) When beliefs, attitudes, and values are part of the challenge
B) When challenges stir up emotions
C) When there is a clear solution to the problem
D) When the problem is easily identified

Question 76

The six leader behaviors in adaptive leadership

A) Are used exclusively in order from one to six
B) Generally are used in order from one to six
C) May overlap and be used simultaneously
D) Should be used simultaneously

Question 77

The three main types of situational challenges in adaptive leadership are

A) Technical
B) Adaptive
C) Technical and adaptive
D) Psychodynamic

Question 78

Adaptive leadership provides a prescriptive approach to leadership that is useful and practical. What are these prescriptions?

A) The adaptive work that takes place
B) The leader behaviors used
C) Correctly identifying the situational challenge
D) The change in followers once adaptation occurs

Question 79

How can adaptive leadership be applied in real life?

A) At the individual level
B) In multiple settings such as family, work, community
C) At the organizational level
D) Between individual followers if they choose to participate in the process

Question 80

Which of the following are the major components of the adaptive leadership model?

A) Leader behaviors
B) Complexity leadership
C) Situational challenges
D) Biological adaptations