Adaptability can be learned

People assume that being adaptable is a natural trait. The truth is, this quality can be learned, and it's one of the most important skills one can have in today's ever-changing world. 

What is Adaptability?

There is a difference between flexibility and adaptability. Flexibility is being nimble enough to adjust your schedule and activities to suit the needs of others. Adaptability is the ability to change, modify or revise your behaviour in response to new situations or surroundings. It's an active process, not a passive one.

Why is it Important?

Adaptability comes from the word, "adapt." Adapt means to change in order to fit new requirements; adjust. Adaptability is the key ingredient for strategic thinking and problem-solving. It enables you to adjust quickly to new situations, thus being successful.

How do you Demonstrate Adaptability?

Adaptability truly comes into play when a situation demands change or alteration. Most of the time it's a matter of meeting new people, dealing with different situations, and working under new and unknown circumstances. All of these situations require adapting one's behaviour and skills according to those needs. Being adaptable is something you do, not just something you are. It's not an attitude or personality trait, but a skill that requires work and development.

Simple actions that you could take to make you more adaptable in your business may include: 

* Dealing with a change in the way customers want to be contacted; for example, instead of calling people by phone, recognise their preference for e-mail instead, and update internal procedures to reflect the new policy or guideline.

* Talking with your boss about taking on a new assignment in another part of the company, or being seconded to another company. If you have experience working with people or groups from different cultures, this can be an advantage when dealing with clients from other countries or regions of the world.

* Acting in different ways based on the situation or environment. For example, being more formal or following formal procedures when dealing with another manager or employee, and being informal when dealing with a client who is used to a more casual way of talking and behaving.

* Being flexible regarding the time of day, location, and people you talk to; for example, managing your time so that work takes place during non-work hours.

* All of these are ways in which you can show that you are adaptable. It's also important to be recognised for your ability to adjust to new situations because it gains respect from others.

The Benefits of Being Adaptable

There are many benefits that adaptability can bring to your everyday life. Here are just a few of them:

1. You will be able to recalibrate your plans and bounce back after unexpected events occur. Imagine you have a big presentation due, but right before you present, the projector stops working. You can't do anything about it (it's not your fault), but it would be inconvenient if you had to reschedule when people are waiting for the meeting to start. Being adaptable, you would easily be able to think of an alternative way to present your material and still get your message across. This earns respect from others when they see how calmly and effectively you can handle unexpected problems.
2. You will worry less about the future and avoid over-planning. Knowing how to tackle unexpected events allows you to stop worrying about the future because you won't be planning for every possible outcome. Instead, you will take things one day at a time and face each challenge as it arises. When you focus on the present moment and how to handle the obstacles that appear in your way now, you won't lose sight of the bigger picture.
3. You will become more aware of people around you and develop deeper relationships with them. Being adaptable means being able to think on your feet when talking to others. This makes it easier for you to keep the conversation going by asking questions or commenting on what your friends say. It also means that you won't be so distracted by your own thoughts but will be fully focused on the person you're talking to. This allows you to connect with others on a deeper level and build better relationships.
4. You will get more out of life because you will feel less stressed. When things go wrong, adaptable people are able to cope with stress much better than those who aren't so flexible.

Don't take this as a message to be passive. The key is to learn how to maintain a balance between being structured, yet allowing yourself to be flexible when necessary. The better you get at understanding how people around you act in different situations, the easier it will be for you to adapt your decisions and actions accordingly.

These are just a few simple techniques you can use to develop your ability to adapt better under pressure.

If you desire to learn how to become more adaptable, a great starting point will be to take an Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient (QO2) Profile coaching at Team Management Systems.

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