Adrian College

Challenge 

Adrian College, recognized for its commitment to student and staff development, sought to bridge the gap between leadership theory and practical application. For students, the challenge was to help them transition from individual contributor roles to effective team leaders as they entered the workforce. Staff, on the other hand, had previously completed StrengthsFinder assessments but needed a more comprehensive approach to build adaptive capacity, especially when solving complex organizational challenges like dual enrollment. The goal was to equip both students and staff with the skills and behaviors needed to thrive in leadership roles and solve complex problems. 

Interventions

CLA partnered with Adrian College on two key initiatives: 

1. CLA collaborated with the Leadership Major to design an online course, Make the Shift – For Students, aimed at helping students transition from individual contributor to team leader. The course focused on identifying the necessary behaviors for this shift and was integrated into the curriculum to provide practical leadership skills for future career success. 

2. CLA worked with Adrian College staff to build their adaptive capacity in addressing complex challenges. Staff completed the Adaptive Capacity Profile (ACP) to identify their leadership behaviors and understand how these could be leveraged to tackle challenges. Following the ACP assessment, CLA led a Peer Case Consulting session focused on resolving the dual enrollment issue, applying adaptive leadership practices to explore root causes and actionable solutions. 

Impact

1. The Make the Shift course resulted in strong student engagement, with an average rating of 9.14/10 for effectiveness in leadership development, and 100% of students recommending the course. 

2. Staff demonstrated a clearer understanding of their leadership behaviors, which led to more effective collaboration and problem-solving. The Peer Case Consulting session helped staff make progress in addressing the dual enrollment challenge, with participants identifying actionable solutions to move forward. Overall, CLA’s interventions helped both students and staff develop the adaptive leadership capabilities necessary to navigate challenges and thrive in leadership roles.