ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIPIN MUSEUMS:Creating a climate for new ideas

Original article written by Robert Thorpe and Lucy Shaw, from the University of Oxford.Summarized by Museum Hack

Museums are operating in a highly challenging environment – economically, politically and socially.

The ‘business as usual’ approach

isn’t enough.

Leaders need to respond to challenges: by taking risks with new business models and methods.

Museum leaders need to support and create a climate for new ideas.

Playing it safe will not lead to new ways of working or generating income.

Leaders need to uncover the hidden talents and qualities

of their people.

Leaders need to develop and encourage

new ways of thinking.

Changing behaviours and acquiring new skills will help museums adapt.

They have to be honest, courageous

and prepared to engage in measured

risk-taking.

If a leader is open and adaptive themselves, then people will follow.

Adaptive leaders need to take charge of themselves, then their team, and then the task in hand.

They need to be able to

take the pulse of their museum.

Leaders need to be asking questions:● What are we doing? ● What do we need to do?● How can we achieve this?

Today, museums must start thinking more entrepreneurially if they want to be sustainable.

“Adaptive Leadership in Museums: Creating a climate for new ideas”Original article written by Robert Thorpe, Operations Director, Ashmolean Museum of Art and

Archaeology, University of Oxford and Lucy Shaw, ASPIRE Manager, University of Oxford

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