Adaptive Management as a Tool for Reducing Teacher Burnout

The article explores the role of adaptive management in mitigating professional burnout among university and college faculty. Amid ongoing educational reforms, digital transformation, and rising institutional demands, academic staff face increasing emotional and cognitive workload, leading to stress, disengagement, and reduced productivity. Drawing on contemporary leadership theories, including adaptive leadership and complexity theory, the study examines how flexible managerial strategies—such as participatory decision-making, emotional support, and responsive communication—contribute to the creation of psychologically safe and motivating environments. Based on a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews with higher education faculty and administrators, the findings highlight that institutions practicing adaptive management report significantly lower levels of burnout and higher staff engagement. The study concludes by offering practical recommendations for integrating adaptive approaches into academic governance and human resource policies.