Sustainable Leadership: Five keys to unlock adaptive mindset

As the world continues to evolve, so do society, culture, and traditions. In the 21st century, it is difficult to predict how things may be situated tomorrow. Products, fashion, processes, and entire systems may change instantly. Emerging technologies such as AI, Machine Learning, Virtual and Augmented Realities, and Robotics, among others, have reshaped our traditional learning framework, as well as traditional business.

Who, then, is ready to thrive in this changing environment?

Well, it is simple: Those who can adapt to change, those who consider problems/changes as opportunities, and those who never cease to learn, unlearn, and relearn will thrive!

Today, we are going to look together at how we can unlock the keys to an adaptive mindset by learning the golden skills required for taking your adaptability to the next level. We will use the following infographic that represents funny yet informative shapes. Let's go, and have fun!??

1. The Triangle

The triangle represents the Base or a pavement or a Foundation. For architecture, the foundation serves as a critical part of a building, and everything depends on it. When it is strong, it will make the building stronger to withstand heavy stormy hazards. This is the same for a person who has these key skills: Self-awareness and Emotional Intelligence.

Self-awareness includes all the components of a person, including culture, values (Do's and Don'ts), as well as ethical standards. It also includes one's skills and experiences, as well as their goals. Understanding these gives a person a clear direction and vision of where they want to go. This becomes even clearer by doing a SWOT analysis of one's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that outlines the scope and background of a person's expertise. Having SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) fuels one's success.

Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Intelligence is indeed a must-have skill in developing one's adaptability, resilience, and critical thinking. Emotional intelligence here refers to how you manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence also includes other sets of skills such as empathy, active listening, effective communication, teamwork, stress management, and problem-solving. Adopting all these skills will undoubtedly enhance one's adaptability and resilience.

2. The Trapezoid

A trapezoid represents the balance between stability and flexibility. While it's important to maintain a solid foundation, it's equally crucial to be open to change and new perspectives. Referring to contemporary paradigm shifts, failure to learn new ways of thinking and doing work can be detrimental. As per the 2020 Gartner CFO survey, "Nearly Three in Four CFOs Plan to Shift at least 5% of Previously On-Site Employees to Permanently Remote Positions Post-COVID 19."* COVID-19 is indeed a prime example demonstrating why adaptability is an imperative skill to thrive in this dynamic environment. The chief skills here are:

Strategic thinking: Strategic thinking is a way of thinking that extends from just the company itself but focuses on its position according to market trends as well as its superpowers in the competition. Starting a business without information about the competition is akin to going into battle without weapons or strategy. This strategy is what allows a business to stand out, and when the competition increases, having a clearly defined strategy can help it to revamp.

Situational Leadership: Situational leadership means adapting behavior according to a particular situation. In other words, it means flexibility. How versatile a person can be. It also refers to switching between different leadership styles as per circumstances. Blanchard and Hersey have discussed this concept for the first time and provided 4 leadership styles:

Telling (S1): This style is similar to autocratic style. Leaders make decisions unilaterally and provide detailed instructions. An example is a new employee at an airport company who is given detailed instructions on how to handle baggage check-in procedures, with the supervisor closely monitoring their performance to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Selling (S2): This style is the same as coaching. Leaders motivate and guide team members, explaining the rationale behind decisions. It builds enthusiasm and commitment in the team. For example, consider a sales team struggling to meet their targets. The sales manager sets clear goals and motivates the team by providing them with guidance and offering training.

Participating (S3): This style is the same as the democratic style. Leaders involve team members in decision-making, fostering collaboration. An example is a software development team working on a new project. The project manager involves the team in brainstorming sessions and decision-making processes, allowing them to contribute ideas and solutions, and allowing the participants to sit in the driver's seat.

Delegating (S4): This is similar to laissez-faire. Leaders entrust tasks to competent team members, offering minimal supervision. This style promotes autonomy and self-reliance. An example is a seasoned marketing team tasked with launching a new campaign. The marketing director trusts the team to handle the project independently, providing minimal guidance and only stepping in when necessary.

From here, we can see how situational leadership is a must-have skill for every team leader, as well as for team members, as some team members may also be given tasks to lead their fellows or lead different departments.

3. The Star

A star symbolizes reaching for higher goals and aspirations. Adaptable individuals are constantly seeking to learn, grow, and improve. A clear vision is mandatory for effective leadership. Setting SMART goals helps a leader formulate a good vision statement that outlines the team's ambitions, the short, medium, and long-term goals, and an actionable framework of how to get the work done.

Innovation: Innovation here asks a leader which unique perspective/strategy/solution they are bringing to the market, and how their processes are different from what is available, and it requires detailed analysis and research to understand the needs of the niche and competitor analysis. The team's unique ways of tackling the issue are what makes it successful. However, this should be an evolving, consistent research, as the current market trends require those who never retire to renovate.

4. The Hexagon

A hexagon represents a structured and organized approach. Adaptable individuals have a systematic way of approaching challenges and making decisions. To provide the clear structure your team deserves, it's important to consider the following techniques:

Systems thinking: It is crucial to have a clear understanding of the structure of the team/business to solve its problems successfully. To do this, one has to look at different angles of a problem, bringing and hearing all voices to make inclusive and unbiased solutions. One has to also keep in mind that some problems cannot be solved in a month, a year, or 5 years. These types of problems are called "wicked problems" and may require a shift in mindset or a behavior change in communication. It is also crucial to compare and contrast to understand the interdependency and interconnectivity among different factors affecting the team/organization. Systems thinking is essential in developing adaptation as it gives a clear map of the team's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT).

Agile methodology: Agile methodology refers to removing excessive instructions and rigid rules that slow down the decision-making process. Agile methodology prioritizes action and continuous learning rather than following an already-designed path. Agile involves breaking down a bigger and more complex goal into small and achievable tasks and giving independence to every team to reorganize themselves, make independent decisions, and co-create the final deliverable. It is a super important skill in a dynamic work environment.

5. The Circle

A circle represents the cyclical nature of life and the importance of continuous learning and improvement. The learning process is a continuous loop—a success-failure cycle. When things go as we want, we advance, upskill, and upgrade our skills, and when it goes against how we need it, we unlearn and relearn.

Conclusion

By incorporating these five key elements, one can develop a strong adaptive mindset. This is crucial for developing an unbeatable candidate profile, as well as for building strong and unshakable systems and institutions. Remember, adaptability is a journey, not a destination. By continuously learning, growing, and evolving, you can position yourself for success in any environment.

References

1. *Gartner (2020, April 3) " Gartner CFO Survey Reveals 74% Intend to Shift Some Employees to Remote Work Permanently. "Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-04-03-gartner-cfo-survey-reveals-74-percent-of-orgs-to-shift-some-employees-to-remote-work-permanently

2. Agrawal, S., De Smet, A., Lacroix, S., & Reich, A. (2020, May 7). To emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, companies should start reskilling their workforces now. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/to-emerge-stronger-from-the-covid-19-crisis-companies-should-start-reskilling-their-workforces-now

3. Gluck, F. W., Kaufman, S. P., Walleck, A. S., McLeod, K., & Stuckey, J. (2000, June 1). Thinking strategically. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/thinking-strategically

4. Goodman, M. (2016, August 16). Systems Thinking: What, Why, When, Where, and How? - The Systems Thinker. The Systems Thinker. https://thesystemsthinker.com/systems-thinking-what-why-when-where-and-how/