Adaptive Leadership Part One
Ethical Leadership and Historical Roots
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59319/arete.v3i1.915Keywords:
Adaptive Leadership Theory, Ethical Leadership Theory, Global Leadership, Organizational Development, AltrusimAbstract
Background: Adaptable leadership can be indispensable in times of change, crisis, and growth, however, much like its originating theory of ethical leadership, it can be misused while in practice and it can fail to live up to its potential. Understanding and applying the virtue of altruism helps to protect against the pitfalls of the practice that Heifetz identified. The authors argue that further connecting the practice to adjacent leadership theories while also connecting theory and practice, provide an ethical anchor while allowing the practice to operate inside of modern organizations. Objectives: Through this four-part series, the authors aim to enrich the understanding of adaptive leadership with this article focusing on the impact ethical leadership has had on the development of the practice. Approach: The authors will move readers through the ethical foundations and history of the practice (past), through modern uses including crisis leadership and shifting hierarchical structures (present), into further development and transformative leadership opportunities (future), ending in a case study to help develop leaders and their understanding of the theory (leadership as practice).
Author Biographies
Eric Hubbard, Ph.D., Director MLD/MBA/MHA, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Eric L. Hubbard is an assistant professor and Director of MLD/MBA/MHA programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), where he teaches in the Division of Business and Leadership. Eric earned a Ph.D. in I/O Psychology from NU/NCU, an MLD from SMWC and Pro. Aeronautics w/Business Minor from ERAU. Eric serves as Ethicist and Lead Qualitative Researcher for the PARC Project. Eric’s research interests include human factors, well-being, leadership, ethics, and morality. Eric enjoys his family as well as plants and nature, astronomy, archaeology, art and music.
Lisa Thatcher, Research Associate for Center for Evaluation, Policy, & Research, Indiana University, IN, USA
Lisa S. Thatcher’s current work with Indiana University’s Center for Evaluation, Policy, & Research (CEPR) positions her to have frequent collaboration with universities, governmental agencies, and global foundations to conduct social and behavioral sciences research along with both policy and program evaluations for data-driven decision-making. Ms. Thatcher incorporates her all-ages history museum educator past with her anthropology background to contextualize her work inside of socio-cultural constructs. She focused on LGBTQ+ HR policy change during her Master's in Leadership Development and is currently pursuing her PhD in Global Leadership by examining the dynamics of restorative justice in organizational leadership and development. Although her dissertation work is set to take a critical theory interpretivist phenomenological qualitative approach, she often works with quantitative quasi-experimental design through CEPR.
Kourtney Barrett, Program Leadership Specialist, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Kourtney Barrett earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations in 2006 and a Master’s in Education in 2008, pivoting from a corporate path to higher education inspired by her student leadership experiences. She spent 15 years in higher education law, student conduct, and Title IX compliance, holding roles such as Associate Director for Student Conduct and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Indiana State University.
In 2022, Kourtney transitioned to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she serves as Leadership Program Specialist, adjunct faculty in the Master’s in Leadership Development Program, and instructor in Business and Leadership studies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Eric Hubbard, Ph.D., Lisa Thatcher, Kourtney Barrett
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