ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM LEADERS AS A FACTOR IN THE SUSTAINABILITY AND REVITALIZATION OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

This article examines the theoretical and conceptual foundations of adaptive leadership by public administration leaders as a key factor in ensuring the sustainability and revitalization of public institutions amid dynamic socio-political, economic, technological, and security transformations. The relevance of this study stems from the need to rethink traditional approaches to managerial leadership, which—in the context of high uncertainty, crises, institutional dysfunctions, and rapidly changing societal needs—do not always ensure that public institutions possess the necessary capacity to adapt and recover. The study explores the concept of adaptive leadership as a managerial approach focused not only on responding to problems in real time but also on the systemic transformation of public institutions in line with new challenges and societal needs. The paper substantiates the interconnection between adaptive leadership and the resilience of public institutions, which manifests itself in the ability to maintain functional capacity, the continuity of management processes, institutional memory, stakeholder trust, and the capacity to recover from the effects of crises. The key characteristics of an adaptive leader in public administration have been identified, including systems thinking, change management, strategic flexibility, emotional and communicative competence, the ability to work with uncertainty, delegation of authority, fostering teamwork, innovation, and a focus on social impact. The role of a leader in shaping an organizational culture based on openness to change, learning, mutual accountability, trust, and continuous improvement of management processes is examined. The paper summarizes the main directions for implementing adaptive leadership in the public administration system, including the development of managers’ managerial capacity, the formation of an adaptive organizational culture, the strengthening of horizontal and inter-institutional cooperation, the digitization of management processes, the development of staff competencies, the implementation of change management and crisis response mechanisms, as well as the use of innovative approaches to managerial decision-making. It is argued that it is precisely the combination of leadership adaptability, institutional capacity, and a focus on continuous renewal that creates the necessary conditions for the sustainable functioning and revitalization of public institutions in the modern governance environment.