Leadership methods enhancing adaptive capacity in business organisations

The article examines leadership methods that influence adaptive capacity – one of the most important components of organisational resilience in business organisations. The aim of the study is to determine which leadership methods most effectively strengthen adaptive capacity and what conditions determine their effective application. The study used a mixed method approach including semi-structured interviews with 30 managers from 9 companies across 8 European countries, and a quantitative survey involving 3,370 employees. 18 leadership methods that strengthen adaptive capacity through the interactions of its three key elements were identified. The study supplemented theoretical provisions on the relationship between leadership and resilience, offering a structured approach to the application of leadership practices. From a practical point of view, the identified combinations of methods help to strengthen weak areas of adaptive capacity and improve the organisation’s ability to adapt to change. The novelty of the article is new theoretical models that reveal the links between effective leadership and long-term organisational resilience.