Leadership Adaptability

We are living in a day of multiple organizational structures and complex leadership styles and approaches. Gone are the days of the “one size fits all” approach to leadership. The evolution of society has broadened the organizational field to the extent that we are faced with a range from ultra traditional to hyper contemporary and everything in between. This is especially true in the church. This broad diversity has confronted today’s leader with a crucial question. What solutions are most effective in a particular organization? First, we must understand Organizational Type. In comparing organizational theories, a natural distinction appears between classical and more contemporary thought. According to Taylor, Fayol, Weber and other classical theorists, there is a single best way for organization to be structured. The problem is organizations vary considerably on structural attributes. Many theorists today believe that there is no one best way to organize. What is important is that there be a fit between the organization's structure, its size, its technology, and the requirements of its environment. This perspective is known as "Contingency Theory" and contrasts with the perspective of classical theorists who thought that there probably was one way to run organizations that was the best. We, as leaders, must develop the ability to adapt if we hope to be effective in this day of organizational diversity.

Reference:


Wren, Daniel A. (2005). The History of Management Thought. John Wiley and Sons Inc.