This essay is in response to the need for schools to move from crisis to adaptation. The essay is informed by the question: how might school leaders use conversation to effectively engage adaptation? Adaptation is about transforming systems. We find that with adaptation as the aim, Transformative Leadership Conversation can be used to guide schools from crisis response to adaptation. The essay lays out suggestions in a theory of action for how school leaders can use conversation to move from crisis to adaptation. These suggestions include the use of framing, questioning, and listening.