Adaptability in the Workplace: Why it Matters
This month, D&G welcomed guest speaker Vanessa Low, a paralympic athlete who shared her story with us. Her story is one of adaptability, personal growth, and overcoming obstacles. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their own personal success stories and find ways to practice adaptability in their personal and professional lives. The ability to adapt to unforeseen changes, overcome obstacles, and be resilient is important for our personal and professional lives. In this week’s post, we will discuss the importance of adaptability, what it means to us, and how D&G has adapted to changes over time.
In a fast-paced and ever-changing world, being able to adapt to new situations, new environments, new technologies, new projects, or even new clients is an essential skill that can set your company and leadership apart from others. In a previous article, we talked about change management and essential preparations for changes. Sometimes you are prepared for changes and have time to implement a change management plan, but oftentimes that change is unexpected. Our reaction to those types of changes is a huge determinant of success.
Adjusting to new conditions is a part of everyday life and is particularly present in the workplace. Projects that are going well suddenly take a turn for the worse, maybe the colleague that you rely on most days is suddenly on leave, business partnerships dissolve, there is suddenly a new project that needs to be completed, and the list goes on. By developing adaptability in the workplace, these seemingly insurmountable challenges become much easier to navigate and can even provide opportunities for us to grow. Here are some simple ways to practice adaptability in the workplace.
How to become more adaptable
1.????? Practice Problem Solving
A main component of adaptability is problem solving. Luckily, problem solving is something that can be cultivated with practice. Practicing your problem-solving skills is as simple as identifying the problem, brainstorming possible solutions, and then implementing the solution. When brainstorming, don’t be afraid to think of creative solutions that may not work. A large part of both problem solving and adaptability is keeping an open mind. You never know what solutions might actually work if you don’t exhaust all options.
2.????? Practice Open Mindedness
Having an open mind is essential for adaptability. This goes beyond just being flexible, although flexibility is part of adaptability. If you remain open to new ideas, suggestions, and new ways of doing things then you may be surprised how many opportunities and potential solutions will pop up. In an environment where technologies and business practices are rapidly evolving, having an open mind is what will set winners and losers apart. The world is changing right before our very eyes and those who are unable or unwilling to have an open mind will get left behind.
3.????? Push yourself out of your comfort Zone
At D&G, what sets us apart is our willingness to try even when we know that we might not succeed. We never back down from a challenge no matter how far outside of our comfort zone it may be. This is what has led us to upskill when needed and has been a key factor in our successful execution of contracts. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be as big as going after a new piece of business, it can be much smaller. The important part is that you are trying something that you may not feel 100% confident in. That is what pushes us to grow as individuals, as companies, and as a team. Adaptability requires existing outside of your comfort zone in some instances. If we get comfortable with being uncomfortable, we are better able to navigate challenges when they arise even if we don’t feel 100% confident in our ability to solve the problem.
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Each of these things can be done on an individual basis or on a team. Adaptable teams develop targeted skill sets, processes, and frameworks that enable them to navigate changing situations when they arise. As a result, adaptable teams are more productive, more creative, and are more innovative than teams that remain stagnant or resistant to change. However, cultivating adaptability takes practice. For some people it comes naturally and for others it is more of a challenge. Even teams that are highly adaptable can benefit from incorporating these practices into their everyday routine.
D&G’s Road to Adaptability
At D&G, we have been practicing adaptability since our inception. As a small business, we had to be ready for any opportunity that came our way. This meant pushing ourselves out of the comfort zone, solving problems creatively, and using the resources we had wisely. We have grown considerably since then, but those practices remain constant in how we do business.
While we understand that having extensive resources can be an advantage, it can also make you immobile and stagnant. Meanwhile movement, endurance, individual intelligence, knowledge, and courage, and adaptability is what separates winners from losers. Our road to success has had many twists and turns, but one thing that has remained constant is our ability to adapt to new circumstances and allocate our resources in the best way possible. Change is inevitable, and those who navigate it the best are those who are the most adaptable.
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein
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