Adaptive trust from is an incredibly important model for navigating change and building resilience in times of uncertainty. As experienced change leaders know, trust is the foundation on which everything is built—without it, people disengage, become defensive, and revert to prior ways of operating.

But earning trust takes time, while the pace of change today demands agility and the ability to quickly shift directions. This is the challenge that adaptive trust aims to resolve.

Rather than demanding rigid adherence to plans or micromanaging execution, adaptive trust recognizes that the future is unpredictable. Goals and strategies will inevitably shift as circumstances require. Absolute guarantees can rarely be made.

With adaptive trust, leaders are transparent about changing trajectories. They openly acknowledge when previous commitments must be abandoned or reset while involving others in co-creating new solutions.

By embodying humility and explaining the reasoning behind course corrections, leaders minimize the perception they are untrustworthy or incompetent. People understand plans must flex as complexity unfolds.

This maintains confidence in leaders' overall vision and direction even if specifics meander. Employees grant latitude to adapt while remaining bought into the overarching purpose.

Adaptive trust isn't easy. It requires patiently explaining changing dynamics and bringing people along each step of the way. But it prevents the distrust that damages morale and momentum when plans go awry.

In a world of exponential change, flexibility and resilience are mandatory. Adaptive trust allows direction to evolve while retaining goodwill and engagement. It's an essential tool for any modern leader navigating uncertainty.