TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– This paper aims to illustrate what agile management looks like, why it is increasingly necessary and how it can be developed and supported. Design/methodology/approach– This is a case study from a large complex organization (Lancashire County Council) showing how management restructuring increased managers'spans of responsibility, moving them out of their professional comfort zones, and how in response, the organization identified, supported and developed agile leadership. Findings– Agile, adaptive leaders are able to move quickly and easily from one area of management to another, able to manage a diverse range of complex services and able to quickly and smoothly adapt to a fast-changing business environment. Research limitations/implications– This is a case study from a large complex public sector organization, but the need for agile and adaptive leaders applies equally to the private and not-for-profit sectors. Originality/value– This paper offers insights into the changing role of management across a diverse range of services and provides an example of how organizations can successfully respond. VL - 24 IS - 2 SN - 0967-0734 DO - 10.1108/HRMID-11-2015-0171 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-11-2015-0171 AU - McPherson Blair PY - 2016 Y1 - 2016/01/01 TI - Agile, adaptive leaders T2 - Human Resource Management International Digest PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 1 EP - 3 Y2 - 2024/09/19 ER -