Adaptability is a very “attractive” skill. We all want to see ourselves as adaptable and flexible. We’re team players, we “go with the flow,” and that means we’re not rigid, but open and positive toward change and challenges.
If you ask most people whether they consider themselves adaptable, they will answer yes. If that is truly the case, then we’re talking about people who aren’t discouraged by change, but welcome it with a positive mindset; people whose plans aren’t stopped by obstacles, but who mobilize every resource they have (internal or external) to overcome them. In reality, what usually happens lies somewhere in the middle - most of us have much more resistance to change than we think.
Adaptability is more than flexibility. It is the ability to be open to new things and situations, to step outside your comfort zone, and not to jump to conclusions with thoughts like “I would never do that” or “That’s too hard for me - I won’t manage.” Adaptability is directly related to resilience, as well as to our emotional intelligence.
Since the COVID pandemic, which upended both our professional and personal lives starting in March, the skill of adaptability seems more valuable than ever. It helps us process this new challenge, assess our strengths, and bring into the present whatever will “fit” most effectively with the new reality: jobs are reshaped, shut down, or disappear; partners, colleagues, and technologies change; while at the same time, personal time and self-care shrink as we try to maintain balance.
How easily do you “respond” to change?
Think of it as your own personal approach to change - how well do you adapt to new challenges?
- Do you accept change with positivity?
- Do you see change as an opportunity?
- Do you recognize the need (when it arises) to create a new plan/strategy?
- Do you adapt easily to managing new technologies or processes, e.g., at work?
- Do you suggest change to others after first leading by example yourself?
- Do you take other people’s different opinions into account in your life and work?
- Do you admit your mistakes? Do you learn from them and move forward using that new knowledge?
- Do you remain optimistic despite the new changes that arise?
If few - or none - of the questions above describe you, you’re not alone. Many of us have moments when we struggle, show strong resistance to change, or simply don’t know how to move forward into “uncharted waters,” like the ones we’re experiencing right now.
To survive through changes - whether in your business, your job, or your personal life - you first need to change yourself. That includes finding ways to connect with the new reality, understanding the impact change has on you, and realizing how your own behavior also affects those around you.
Tips to adapt to change at work and in life
Above, we discussed how essential adaptability is in general when something unexpected appears. But what about those for whom change is a core part of daily life, for example, because of their job? What about those who not only have to adapt and find solutions, but also “teach” or demonstrate it to others (their team or their students)?
In these cases, you shouldn’t just adapt to change - you should also help guide it:
- Seek information - be curious. Ask as many questions as you can. Explore, research, look things up, and think before forming a judgment or deciding to act.
- Don’t cling to only one plan or strategy. Always have a plan B, C, or D - while also considering the obstacles to each and ways to overcome them.
- Create support frameworks. You are not alone. Invest in mentors, friends, family, trusted partners, coaches, and others who can act as a supportive environment during transitions or difficult periods.
- Notice how you react to change. If you’re clear about your emotions and thoughts regarding new changes, you’ll be direct and understandable to those around you - both at work (colleagues/team) and in your personal life.
- Encourage yourself to engage with new environments and situations. Skills are like driving: the more we practice, the better we get. Try to “dive into” change not only when it happens to you, but also as everyday practice - meeting new people, learning a new skill, using a new technology, etc.
Coaching and adaptability
With your inner potential and any other resources you can leverage as the central focus, through a direct and dynamic coaching program tailored to your needs, we work on the following:
Different areas of your life: Which ones support you? Which would you like to improve?
Ineffective behaviors or thoughts/beliefs: What obstacles do they create, and how could you readjust?
Your strengths: What are your strongest qualities that activate naturally, and how could you use them to strengthen your adaptability in the area you care about?
A systemic perspective: How does your behavior affect others, and what could you change to improve outcomes and relationships at work and in life?
Effective planning: What steps do you need to take toward your goal, what is your backup strategy, and how will you overcome each obstacle?
Reflection and tracking: How well do your choices fit you? How right are they for you and your goal, and what could you do to improve your effort?
By Mary Spathari, Psychologist | 02/10/2020
