What are the most effective ways for small business owners to develop adaptability?

I don’t think that a growth mindset requires effort necessarily- that feels like a generic prompt. A growth mindset has to do with the willingness to be wrong. To make mistakes and rather than be deflated and quit, to keep going. A growth mindset means you are always open to new possibilities. If you are walking around with your eyes open and your mind open, you can create new opportunities everyday in your life and business. It’s not always about working harder, though many will have you believe it’s about doing more reps in the gym. It’s about being open to flow with the inevitable changes that will at some point affect your business. That is real growth.

I have observed that most of the time, small business owners try to fix every problem by themselves, which leads them to a lonely island where nobody stands beside them because trustful relationships are not built along the way. The second most common reason for not being able to grow or even sustain is not adopting right tools for the business, which fails them to see the real picture in a timely manner to make better decisions.

A powerful way to develop ADAPTABILITY as a biz growth (and personal growth) tool is to EMBRACE your SEASON. This means owning two things (like really getting real and OWNING your sh*t): #1. What are your top priorities in life right now? Sit down and write out your top 5 priorities in life. Any adapting you do should honour and serve these priorities. #2 What season of life are you in right now? If you are in a heads down make big things happen..plan your days accordingly. Are you a parent of 4 kids and struggling to "balance" family and biz time? How can you design your day(s) to meet the needs of your fam? Own where you are at and use adaptability to be flexible in your approach to growing your biz and honouring your top life priorities.

Ability is a key trait for a business leader. As with most traits, it can be learned and refined. The starting point of being adaptable is developing a thirst for learning. Read as much as you can. Attend courses. Listen to the podcast. Talk to other business leaders. Listen to a lot of opinions and success stories. The more you know, the more open to change you will be. Having a deeper understanding of topics will provide you with the perspective of knowing when to change or adjust. Adaptability is the willingness to have an open mind. Build your open mind with diverse learning.

Micro and Small businesses face the threat of extinction due to technology especially technology platforms. In the not so distant past, if you were expert in your business, there was no dearth of work. This is the age of Google search, marketplace platforms and social media. They are ill equipped to weather this technology storm. One way for saving such businesses is for them to pool resources and launch their own platforms. Another way is to initiate a social enterprise with the sole purpose of saving these businesses. If they lose out in their battle of survival, it would be a big drag on regional and National economies on one hand and may cause major social upheavals in the affected communities.

There are plenty of diverse perspectives in the world. Any content you consume will give you a certain perspective with a specific leaning. If you want to broaden your ability to be flexible and adapt in business consume content or advice from those who aren’t trying to sell you a service or product. Often we are being sold to and therefor told what we want to hear. In order to get true diversity in your knowledge bank, look to resources that aren’t trying to seek you anything. Ask a client for feedback. Or better yet, ask someone who didn’t buy from you for feedback. Gaining diversity is not about consuming more mediums, it’s about finding honest content and feedback that is relevant to you and will help you adapt where needed.

One way of developing diverse perspectives is to read books and articles along with online courses. Now free online resources are available which not only give you a new perspective but make you interesting when you talk with clients or stakeholders. If clients are interested in your personality, they're interested to do business with you as well.

When I emigrated from South Africa to Australia I had not enjoyed the privilege of diverse cultures in the workplace. Initially I found it strange and clung to stereotypical micro aggressions that were a product of my previous environment. More recently I lived in New Zealand which for the most part was really monocultured. While the question was about diverse perspectives its my view that these are formed as we grow and respond to our environment. I am truly grateful to be back in Australia and to be working with people across the globe who invigorate every day with different flavours through their perspectives. I missed so much without realising it. At 59 I am growing again and have new purpose my life is full of flavour!

An ancient proverb states that there is wisdom in a multitude of counsellors. Which I’ve certainly found most beneficial in business life especially those with a successful track record. Being open to constructive criticism criticism and accepting sound advice are certainly vital.

Seeking diverse perspectives is indeed a valuable approach to enhancing adaptability and gaining a deeper understanding of various aspects of your business or life

Experiment, test, measure, iterate, repeat. Yes this is the only way to truly know if your business is working. And as you future proof your business your tempted to not test anymore because you want more stability and predictability. But the truth is, you have to continue to keep this practice of life if you want the power of flexibility and adaptability in your business. It is just the nature of business. So the better you get at experimenting and letting go of wanting to be rigid, the more flexible and future proof you will be.

In a past life I was asked to support an imported product by a customer. Me and my mouth refused but I offered to make that product from scratch for them so that I could support it. Through the design and delivery process and real world use I learnt two things . Nothing is just right and fail fast because customers have their own expectations

Think of your business as a mad scientist's lab. Try new things, experiment with different strategies, and be curious like a kid in a candy store. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. When you're open to experimenting, you'll discover what works and what doesn't. It's like fine-tuning a recipe until it's perfect.

In the realm of business, "Experiment and Iterate" is the golden rule. Every trial is a step closer to success. Think of it like fishing - you cast your line, but sometimes you need to change the bait to catch the big fish. So, keep trying, adjusting, and reaping the rewards of innovation. ???? #ExperimentAndIterate

At the heart of every business, there is something hindering it’s growth. And at the heart of every business is a business owner. As much as we want to automate, systematize and simplify our processes, at the heart of our business is us. Simple humans subject to stress, and worry and life. The better you become at understanding how to regulate your nervous system, calm down your vagus nerve, and operate from a sense of calm, the better, ceo you will be. When you are in stress, you cannot access the Neo frontal cortex of your brain, where rational thinking lies, so stress reduction isn’t just a nice to have. It is a strategy for better business thinking.

Incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily routine. Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, or engaging in yoga can help calm your mind and alleviate physical tension. Consistent practice of these techniques can enhance your resilience to stress.

Managing stress is like navigating rough waters while offshore fishing. It's a skill every small business owner needs. Take time to relax and recharge. Maybe even share some quality time on the boat with your family. Remember, just like technology can simplify your business tasks, it can also help manage your stress. Efficient scheduling and data analysis can focus on what truly matters. ???? #StressManagement

Continuous education doesn't have to be vanilla. Podcasts, audible books, reading, attending webinars, going to networking events, doing a workshop and joining a new group are all great ways to learn something new! If you aren't growing, you're dying!

Everything around us continually changes so we must continually learn, what worked five years ago may not work now. Continual education is bound to improve our ability to act correctly

In the business world, the key is to keep learning continuously. It's like refining your skills in the kitchen, always trying new recipes and techniques. Stay curious, explore fresh ideas, and embrace change. Whether it's staying updated on insurance trends or adopting innovative strategies, the hunger for knowledge is your recipe for success. Keep that passion for learning burning bright! ???? #LearnContinuously #NeverStopGrowing

The one thing that stays the same is that everything is always changing. So, embrace it. We encourage our clients to designate time daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly for specific types of skill building and professional development. Webinars, courses, books, podcasts, newsletters, seminars, etc. all have their place. These keep you competitive. The one thing I don't hear a lot that I believe makes the difference: Look to those you feel are successful and value their positions. Leaders you want to emulate and experience the same type of success. Find out how they do it. What methods are they using? Chances are they are working with a mentor/business coach. They may also take time with their teams for deep dive training.

When I started my own business I thought I knew it all. I was moving from a corporate world to the scary self-employed world. I had to quickly realize that I was out of my element and learn, beg, borrow or steal ideas from other professionals. Once you realize what you don't know, you can move forward. When I would go to conferences I would pay attention to the practice management gurus and speak with people who have achieved some success.

We want our businesses to be stable, predictable and future proof. So, of course, it feels counterintuitive to learn how to be more flexible, take feedback with grace and ease, and adapt to an ever-changing world. But survival actually lives in the ability to adapt to the changing future of our economy, technology, human skill levels, and consumer needs. So as counterintuitive as it may seem, your ability to last in your industry will heavily rely on your ability to be open, flexible, and be willingness to be wrong and to change.

Read stoicism, control the ego, accept that both life and business have unpredictable events and things you cannot control. Train your mind to accept that change is the constant. Then whatever adaptability skills you may aquire have a mental basis to sit on. And read Peter Drucker... the man wrote everything there is to know about business, strategy and the entrepreneurial MO.

Small business owners should develop adaptability and keep striving toward it. They should also nurture the same for their team members. * Set policies that foster workplace wellness. * Make friendships and connectivity possible. * Encourage family and hobby activities outside work. * Seek opportunities for team building * Offer professional development to team members and career building opportunities for key staff We do nothing alone. We are all stronger together. Adaptability should be a shared venture ... making the company stronger.

Adaptability is a mental game, especially when the stress levels are off the charts. Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. Take moments to breathe deeply and clear your mind. Try simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises or short breaks to recharge. When you manage stress effectively, you'll find it easier to think on your feet and adapt with resilience. It's like having a mental shield against the chaos, helping you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship more smoothly.