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Improving Systems, Practices, and Outcomes

Adaptive Leadership Principles for Early Childhood

Updated June 24, 2026, 2:36 PM
Sherri Britt-Williams

Adaptive leadership helps leaders navigate complex systems with challenges that don't have easy solutions. These adaptive leadership principles provide examples of what adaptive leadership is—and isn't—in Part C Early Intervention and Part B, Section 619 Early Childhood Special Education systems.

Use the companion Practice Profile to plan, reflect on, and strengthen adaptive leadership practices with partners.

Suggested Use

This resource is for:

  • State and local leaders in Part C Early Intervention and Part B 619 Early Childhood Special Education programs.
  • Professional Development (PD)/Technical Assistance (TA) providers who offer training, coaching, consulting, and other PD support to people in early childhood systems.
  • Leadership teams guiding system improvement, policy development, or professional development planning.

Use this tool to:

  • Reflect with leadership teams on how adaptive leadership is showing up in practice.
  • Support people to identify opportunities to apply adaptive leadership.
  • Help teams plan system-level change initiatives, such as transitions, workforce development, or professional learning redesign.

Adaptive leadership is not a checklist, but the principles build on one another. This flow reflects both adaptive leadership literature and how change typically unfolds in early childhood systems.

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References

  • Abukalusa, K., & Oosthuizen, R. (2023). Organisational adaptive leadership framework through systems thinking. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 34(3), 245–257. https://doi.org/10.7166/34-3-2955
  • Britt Williams, S. (2025). REAL Framework guidance for co-creating with critical perspectives. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. https://ectacenter.org/topics/leadership/real.asp
  • Britt Williams, S., & Williams, C. (2025). The EPIC-P Cycle: Engaging professional development to improve and change practices. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. https://ectacenter.org/epic-p
  • Chughtai, M.S., Rasheed, M.I., Malik, M.I., Tariq, H., & Mehmood, Q.S. (2023). Role of adaptive leadership in learning organizations to innovation: Examining the mediating and moderating mechanisms. Current Psychology 45, 27262–27281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04669-z
  • Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (2015–2025). ECTA Center resources: System Framework, Indicators of Effective Technical Assistance, and DEC Recommended Practices. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://ectacenter.org
  • Heifetz, R.A., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership: Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Harvard Business Press.
  • Kasprzak, C., Hebbeler, K., Spiker, D., McCullough, K., Lucas, A., Walsh, S., & Peters, M. (2019). A state system framework for high-quality early intervention and early childhood special education. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 40(2), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121419831766
  • McKimm, J., Jones, P. K., & Stokes, P. (2023). Adaptive leadership during challenging times. Medical Teacher, 45(11), 1263–1270. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2022.2057288
  • Uhl-Bien, M., & Arena, M. (2017). Complexity leadership: Enabling people and organizations for adaptability. Organizational Dynamics, 46(1), 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2016.12.001