Adaptive Leadership: Practical Strategies for Change - January 2027

One of the most popular courses at Harvard Kennedy School is now available online!

The Adaptive Leadership approach was pioneered over the course of more than 40 years by Harvard Kennedy School Faculty Ronald Heifetz and offers a proven framework for overcoming challenges and creating productive change where traditional approaches fall short.

This course goes beyond theory, exploring the real-world experiences of Heifetz’s former students who have applied Adaptive Leadership principles in their professional careers across industries and around the globe. From policy innovation and crisis response to corporate product management and health care leadership, these stories serve as living examples of the framework in action. You’ll learn to identify the core issue at the heart of your challenge, view it through a broader systems lens, and make targeted changes that drive meaningful progress—while building trust and empowering others to contribute along the way.

Through real leadership stories, interactive exercises, and insights from Heifetz and other changemakers across industries, you’ll develop a systematic approach to leadership that helps you drive progress.