How can you develop adaptability skills to improve your performance?

1 Assess your current level of adaptability

The first step to developing adaptability skills is to understand how adaptable you are right now. You can use self-assessment tools, such as the Adaptability Quotient (AQ) test, to measure your level of adaptability in different domains, such as cognitive, emotional, and environmental. You can also ask for feedback from your peers, managers, or mentors on how well you cope with change, uncertainty, and ambiguity. By assessing your current level of adaptability, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, and set realistic goals for improvement.

2 Embrace a growth mindset

The second step to developing adaptability skills is to adopt a growth mindset, which is the belief that your abilities can be improved through effort, feedback, and learning. A growth mindset helps you to see change as an opportunity, rather than a threat, and to embrace challenges, rather than avoid them. A growth mindset also helps you to accept failure as a part of the learning process, and to seek constructive feedback, rather than defensive or negative. By embracing a growth mindset, you can enhance your motivation, resilience, and creativity.

3 Expand your knowledge and skills

The third step to developing adaptability skills is to broaden your knowledge and skills in various fields and domains. By exposing yourself to different perspectives, ideas, and experiences, you can increase your cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to switch between different modes of thinking and problem-solving. You can also increase your repertoire of skills and tools that you can apply to different situations and tasks. You can expand your knowledge and skills by reading books, articles, or blogs, taking online courses, attending workshops or seminars, or joining communities of practice.

4 Seek new and diverse experiences

The fourth step to developing adaptability skills is to seek new and diverse experiences that challenge your assumptions, beliefs, and habits. By stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar or complex situations, you can stimulate your curiosity, imagination, and innovation. You can also develop your emotional and social adaptability, which are the abilities to manage your emotions and interact with different people and cultures. You can seek new and diverse experiences by traveling, volunteering, networking, or taking on new projects or roles.

6 Ask for and offer support

The sixth and final step to developing adaptability skills is to ask for and offer support from your colleagues, friends, or family. Adaptability is not a solo skill, but a collaborative one, as you often need to work with others to adapt to changing situations, expectations, and demands. By asking for and offering support, you can build trust, communication, and cooperation, and benefit from the diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences of others. You can also share your challenges, successes, and learnings, and celebrate your progress and achievements.