In general, in every situation that we face, there are two types of scenarios we encounter – technical problems versus adaptive challenges.
In our current global pandemic, this example is even more stark. During pre-Covid, any patient that comes into the hospital A&E with a fever of around 40 degrees can be considered as a technical problem to the doctor, nurses and the hospital, broadly. And this is because very often, such situations are not new and novel problems but there are just problems that can be dealt with by the usual “standard operating procedures (SOPs)”.
However, increasingly as we move into the 21st century, we are actually finding ourselves dealing with less and less technical problems but more frequently with adaptive challenges.
Adaptive challenges are those that presents new problems to us and therefore new solutions need to be sought. A great example of what an adaptive challenge is can be found in this present Covid-19 social-economical-healthcare crisis that we are all facing. Solutions need to be sought, but the way we find these solutions cannot be in the same way and it cannot be in the same manner using previous and familiar solutions to our technical problems.
In fact, adaptive challenges force us to seek out new stakeholder to ensure new strategies and clearer communication to make certain success.
As someone who speaks and teaches on mindset shifts for the development of peak performance and the maximizing of potential in individuals and within systems, I truly believe that that our focus on adaptive challenges will be what that will lead us to the next level of growth in communities and organizations.