Drive High Level Performance with Adaptable Leadership

What is it that motivates people to perform at the highest levels? Is it the promise of extrinsic rewards like bonuses or salary increases? While most organizations offer monetary extrinsic rewards, the research (Deci 2004, Kohn, 1993 & Rackham, 1991) shows they are only part of the performance formula.

Indeed, when it comes to working smarter, offering a carrot at the end of a stick has little to no impact. This is when the often-neglected intrinsic rewards are required to fuel engagement and motivate team members to do their best work.

While intrinsic rewards cost little in terms of dollars or euros, they require an investment in understanding what makes each team member tick. Our Adaptable Leader program, successfully conducted for hundreds of leaders around the globe provides easy to understand insights on how to render the unique intrinsic rewards that will drive performance to the highest level.
The foundation of Adaptable Leadership is the seventeen page Leadership Report based on two assessments: the MBTI and FIRO. Both models have rich histories stretching all the way back to applications to military assignments in World War II.
The MBTI helps us understand similarities and differences in how we think and communicate. Offering a valuable complement to the MBTI, the FIRO enables managers to recognize and address the different interpersonal needs of their team members.
Topics include:
 Leadership style based on MBTI
 Leadership approach based on FIRO
 Bases for power and influence
 Preferred roles in teams
 Problem solving
 Organizational culture
 Sources of power and influence
 Probable leadership strengths & weaknesses
 Dealing with change and stress

Through coaching, we cross the bridge to implementation by facilitating an analysis of the communication and interpersonal needs of the leader’s team. These strategies are mapped out in writing and culminate in an Adaptable Leader Action Plan. (See testimonials on next page.)
The Adaptable Leader Program can either be delivered in a 1.) One- to-one coaching format or; 2.) Instructor led classroom dialogue followed by briefer coaching sessions.


“Arnold – I appreciate the many resources you have brought to our joint effort in improving my leadership skills, but the work from which I continue to most benefit is the coaching you gave me in becoming an Adaptable Leader. I make reference to our discussion and reinforcement materials at least weekly. This speaks very highly of the applicability of this work. Please keep being thoughtful in your approach.”

Victoria Klein
Barclays Global Investors Services

“Roughly five years ago, I worked with Arnie (Dr. Tilden) and his partner Harry Koolen in a large project to advance leadership skills for nearly one hundred managers. The model we used was Adaptable Leadership based on the MBTI and FIRO. It was an excellent program that made a real difference and stuck. In fact, I am still using those tools today in order to optimise my behaviour to different people I have to work with along the different projects I am managing.”

Paul Gennart
Chief Operating Officer
BNP Paribas UK

“Dr. Arnold Tilden has quickly become a training and development fixture within our company. His Adaptable Leader Training is a fresh and creative approach to the challenge of leading others within the workplace. It is an important part of our management training fundamentals and leadership. Arnold’s inventive approach to training coupled with his expertise and familiarity with a breadth of companies makes him a highly effective resource.”

Vincent McDonald
Head of Human Resources
AccuWeather