4 November 2025 13h00-13h30
Sten Delvaux (DEML)
In today’s rapidly changing world, military leaders must navigate uncertainty, complexity, and constant change. Although leadership scholars and practitioners widely acknowledge the importance of adaptive leadership, it remains poorly defined and undertheorized. To address this gap, a doctoral research project at the Royal Military Academy, in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, examines how adaptability contributes to effective leadership. This webinar presents findings from this research project in two parts. In the first, we will present exploratory qualitative research that lays the foundation for an emerging theory of adaptive leadership. Interviews with military leaders revealed how they adjust their behavior and leadership style to meet evolving operational and organizational demands. In the second part, we delve into a leadership paradox identified during the interviews. While leaders recognized the need to adapt, they also stressed the importance of remaining coherent, consistent, and authentic. To probe this tension, we conducted an experimental study exploring how leaders can balance agility with consistency. The webinar concludes with a discussion of the broader implications for both leadership theory and practical application.
Teams Link will be communicated very soon