The world moves fast. We used to think that we knew how fast, but every day it seems to get faster. Today’s technological inventions, social reforms, and much more were nothing more than a crazy dream 15 years ago. So what should we do? What should we value? And here is where Darwin’s words become timeless: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Let’s start from the beginning. Adaptability means the ability to be flexible and adjust to changing factors, conditions, or environments. Knowing that nowadays companies and societies change very fast, making this soft skill even more vital not only at work but in life too.
And the good news is that, like any other skill, adaptability can be developed and improved. This ability, in particular, comes very naturally for most of us since we have a genetic disposition to adapt to survive. It’s something we learned as humans ages ago, so we only have to learn how to use it for our benefit.
How Can We Measure It?
Natalie Fratto in her TedTalk Talks about three main ways she uses to measure adaptability on the people she interviews, and those are:
Asking What If…?
In most job interviews you may find questions like what was your biggest accomplishment? or tell me about an experience where… and as you can see those questions are very much related to past experiences.
On the other hand, what if… type of questions forces the brain to simulate. Creating these hypothetical situations and being observant with the responses you get, is a great way to see how well a person could adapt to an unplanned situation.
Fratto says “The strength of that vision, as well as how many distinct scenarios someone can conjure, tells me a lot.” So it is all about learning how to look through the answers for what you need to know.
Look For Signs Of Unlearning
This may sound paradoxical, but for sure, being able to unlearn can help you adapt. Since you won’t get fixated on what you already know, rewriting knowledge with new information would come naturally. As Fratto stated, “Active unlearners seek to challenge what they presume to already know, and instead, override that data with new information.”
So, you can ask yourself how well can I unlearn by trying something simple in a new and different way. You can start by switching the hand you use for brushing your teeth and see how well you adjust to the challenge.
Look For People Who Infuse Exploration
Little kids have this exploration quality all the time, they are always seeking, ever moving forward trying to find the next thing that might entertain them. A kid could discover something important that gives him renowned acknowledgment, but that won’t change the fact that the next day, they will get out of the house into a new adventure.
So what differs between a kid and an adult in this aspect? For starters in the adult world, there’s a tension between exploration and exploitation. How come? Well, if we have a successful idea, we tend to think then we need to exploit it rather than go and look for another idea.
Successful companies and successful people sometimes feel the pressure to live up to their previous success Creating a tunnel vision that leaves little space for exploration.
How to Improve it?
Practice makes perfect. A great way to start is by exposing yourself to change in situations where you would need to adapt but in hypothetical scenarios.
This technique could help to open your vision to new possibilities without the pressure of an outcome.
Another way to boost your adaptability would be developing a growth mindset that embraces a willingness to learn and try new things; as well as the motivation to keep improving upon your skills.
A very important step would be learning to acknowledge and accept change. At the end of the day, it’s part of life, and no one can escape from it, so give yourself time to bond with the idea because, as Heraclitus said, No man ever steps in the same river twice.
This leads us to our final advice: Force yourself to take risks. Challenges are scary, risks are risky, and most of the time, after a little consideration, they are worth taking.
Being adaptable is as important as being smart or emotionally intelligent. You will need them all to move forward in life and the work field because everything changes, people change, companies change, and you need to change too sometimes.
So having a positive approach to change will always come in handy. And tell us, what are you waiting for to improve your adaptability skills?
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See more articles by Laura Navarro.
